OT:VERY old and going for operation?Lung excercises!

My friend was telling me that her very old aunt is going to hospital for a leg operation but her doctor told her to first get some lung excercises. She must blow up balloons ! - this will prevent pneumonia which is usually a great concern with old patients after an op. Something to remember seeing that we are all getting older every day!

Hmmm, I'll have to have someone else "break them in" for me. After they blow them up and release the air I should be able to manage a few. I'd better get started well in advance.
Kathy

Marietjie wrote: her doctor told her to first get some lung excercises. She must blow up balloons ! - this will prevent pneumonia!

She might try something like these.
I have never used one, but I know a number of people that do, and they say they really help.

http://www.activeforever.com/p-1537-ult ... cmp=search

http://www.activeforever.com/p-1939-pow ... cmp=search

http://www.amazon.com/POWERbreathe-Clas ... 26&sr=8-10

Whatever your friend's aunt does, I would be interested to hear the results and if it helped.
All the best to her.

I get my lung exercises doing standing hill repeats on my bike.
When I start spitting up pieces of lung, I know I'm good.

carbonman wrote:She might try something like these.
I have never used one, but I know a number of people that do, and they say they really help.
http://www.activeforever.com/p-1537-ult ... cmp=search
http://www.activeforever.com/p-1939-pow ... cmp=search
http://www.amazon.com/POWERbreathe-Clas ... 26&sr=8-10

.......WOW!!!
Thanx for the info! very kind of you.

carbonman wrote:Whatever your friend's aunt does, I would be interested to hear the results and if it helped.
All the best to her.

I will surely ask my friend how her aunt is doing and thanx for the good wishes.

carbonman wrote:I get my lung exercises

...........I don't do ANY exercises...I'm in big trouble

I saw an article a lot like this. It seems one pulmonoligst has had good results having COPD patients learn to play and
practice playing the harmonica. I seen to remember that he attribited some of the help to the combination of resistance on
the exhale and resistance on the inhale.

YIKES

NOT for a very old person. She can get oxygen desaturations from trying to breathe in through that! And we don't even know if her heart is giving her enough oxygen as is!

The doctors want her try breathing out against resistance, not breathing in against resistance.

It's the breathing out properly that's crucial to clearing your lungs after anesthesia.

The lung spitting sportsman in you means well carbonman, but I think he's thinking sportsmen, and not frail old ladies this time.

O.

They gave me a little thingie with three tubes and balls. You suck on the hose and try to raise all three balls. I never got more than two, but it's the trying that counts.

I think it's breathing IN against resistance they're after.

http://www.metromedicalonline.com/8884717301.html

LinkC wrote:They gave me a little thingie with three tubes and balls. You suck on the hose and try to raise all three balls. I never got more than two, but it's the trying that counts.
I think it's breathing IN against resistance they're after.
http://www.metromedicalonline.com/8884717301.html

About 10 years ago I had a hard fall off a horse and broke 5 ribs, my shoulder, and had a bunch of other injuries. One lung collapsed so while I was still in the hospital, I had to have respiratory therapy where I had to use the "little thingie with three tubes and balls"...I aced it pretty quickly being competitive even in a hospital bed I saved my other hospital lung test thing...the Voldyne 5000...hope to never have to use it again.
mar

ozij wrote: The lung spitting sportsman in you means well carbonman,
but I think he's thinking sportsmen, and not frail old ladies this time. O.

It's good to know you realize where I'm coming from.

I get the feeling that you will always have my back, when needed,
and you'll be on me like stink on a monkey, when I screw up.

Thanks!