Re: Re: The six-minute walking test.

[Guest guest]

Hi Owen, My transplant Dr. just told me on the 2nd to get a treadmill and use it every day. The idea is to build strength in your legs. After your transplant you must be able to do some walking to work the new lung and keep it in good shape. The main qualification for a transplant is ( get this ) to be healthy and strong enough. Boy do I ever have the work to do.. Good Luck and God Bless. Peggy PS. I have three acres I'm going to use as a treadmill ..

on 3/5/06 6:23 AM, reillyov at reillyov@... wrote:

Arlen -

Thanks for the first hand information. It's likely I've gotten such

information as I did just plain wrong. Or it might simply be out-

dated. The more often they run the tests on 'earlier' guys like you

the more they learn.

I get a little nutty with precision measurements of stuff. My own

prejudice would be for data collected from something with dials on

it like a treadmill. But sometimes that level of precision just

isn't necessary. And it's likely that testing to the limits isn't

useful either.

I'll report back on my experience. I've had a treadmill test before

for something else and in that case they did want to test my

limits. The nurse with the cattle-prod told me it was just for

show, but I wasn't taking any chances.

But hey - if these tests are going to be so standard for us

pulmonary guys, you'd think the docs would spring for treadmills.

Thanks again Owen

>

> Owen,

> I've done the 6 minute walking test twice now, and was told to

go at a

> comfortable pace, not " as fast as I'm able " . If that was what they

wanted, that

> poor nurse would still be trying to catch up, or wondering where I

went.

> You're hooked up to a pulse-oximeter while you do the test, which

is walking

> back-and-forth down a hallway, while some unfortunate person has

to walk behind you

> carrying the instrument to see how you're doing. I've always

thought the test

> was a little comical looking to anyone walking by.

> I love your description of your wife's communication skills.

>

> Arlen

>

[Guest guest]

all this is scary. what can I expect all this stuff??? Loisreillyov wrote: Arlen - Thanks for the first hand information. It's likely I've gotten such information as I did just plain wrong. Or it might simply be out-dated. The more often they run the tests on 'earlier' guys like you the more they learn. I get a little nutty with precision measurements of stuff. My own prejudice would be for data collected from something with dials on it like a treadmill. But sometimes that level of precision just isn't necessary. And it's likely that testing to the limits isn't useful either.I'll report back on my experience. I've had a treadmill test before for something else and in that case they did want to test my

limits. The nurse with the cattle-prod told me it was just for show, but I wasn't taking any chances. ;)But hey - if these tests are going to be so standard for us pulmonary guys, you'd think the docs would spring for treadmills.Thanks again Owen>> Owen,> I've done the 6 minute walking test twice now, and was told to go at a > comfortable pace, not "as fast as I'm able". If that was what they wanted, that > poor nurse would still be trying to catch up, or wondering where I went. > You're hooked up to a pulse-oximeter while you do the test, which is walking > back-and-forth down a hallway, while some unfortunate person has to walk behind you > carrying the instrument to see how you're doing. I've always thought the test > was a little comical looking to

anyone walking by. > I love your description of your wife's communication skills.> > Arlen>__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Owen - when you were doing the treadmill, you had a nurse with a CATTLE PROD????? Are you serious?? Actually, when I'm short of breath, they could do anything to me and I wouldn't be able to move any faster! I think my initial treadmill test lasted about 60 seconds....I was so embarassed because I thought I was out of shape...that's what they told me, too....at that time, I didn't know that my lungs were that small and should've been on oxygen.

--Diane Quinlan dianequinlan@...

The nurse with the cattle-prod told me it was just for show, but I wasn't taking any chances.