Hi, I’m 10 weeks post ‘substantial’ life threatening bi lateral PE and pneumonia. I’m 5 weeks out from finally shifting the pneumonia. (I’m asthmatic). I’ve just had the most amazing holiday and waiting for my flight home. Getting a little anxious and having some imagainary/ghost pains so I thought I’d write a post to take my mine off it.
I’m a lover of exercise, keeps me sane and strong. Since discharge from hospital I’ve been focusing on strength based training and walking. We’ve just been on an activity holiday with 12 long term friends, we do it every year. This week I’ve managed three exercise classes a day, again mainly strength based, and not been beaten by fatigue. What I’m most proud of is I managed a 1 mile swim (in a 50m pool)! I warmed up with two 1km swims, the first was quite tough on my lungs but they seemed to kick into gear after that.
I know recovery can be really tough. I was in a serious cycling accident four years ago, a van drove into me. Aside from the physical injuries I received a traumatic brain injury and PTSD, which amount other things caused anxiety and serve fatigue. It was a long three year recovery, which included losing the job I loved but with the help of some amazing people I learnt how to recover. My previous learnings have helped me so much in my recent recovery.
Whilst I sit determined to get on this flight and remain cool and calm, I just wanted to say that recovery may be one of the hardest things you have to do and it certainly isn’t a straight line but it is achievable. Stay determined.
