Battle of the Titans: Rehab vs. Antibiotics

I realize it's been awhile since my last health update (4 weeks, to be exact). Things have improved moderately since then. I took oral antibiotics for a couple weeks while my lungs calmed down after the assault from the nebulizer. After about a week, I was able to function without oxygen all the time.

I started pulmonary rehab 3 weeks ago. The intent is to get patients on a regular exercise schedule (strength training, breathing exercises, and cardiovascular exercise). I participated last May-July and it helped a great deal but getting sick in November and staying sick through May of this year pretty much wiped out my progress and then some. I have been doing OK with the program but not great. My energy level is not very high and with the fires and heat of the last week it has been difficult to get outside and walk daily.

On top of that, I have been placed back on the nebulizer - this time a different drug, Tobramycin. I am tolerating it, but barely. It basically gives me mild asthmatic symptoms all the time so I have been attempting to find a balance between enough drug to keep the infection at bay and not so much that I get a violent reaction like last time. It also seems to make my stomach a little more sensitive than usual.

Nutrition plays a big role too - another complication as my appetite isn't the greatest lately and even when I am hungry I get full kind of quickly and breathing is difficult if I overeat. My weight is beginning to cause me troubles - my leg muscles (well, I guess all my muscles) are pretty weak and doing almost anything beyond sitting or walking at a slow pace gets exerting quickly. Additionally, my entire left leg hurt earlier this evening - my friend Laura theorized that perhaps something came out of joint and the nerve was pressured. Makes sense. Fortunately, I found a spot to sit and it went away after a while. Regarding weight gain, the Vita-Mix has been great for making smoothies or really anything that needs pureed.

I don't want to sound like I'm terribly down or defeated - I actually have some degree of hope but know it's going to take a while before I'm better. I have goals and plans, the trick is just going to be sticking to those plans. I've always been an excellent planner but not so good at following them.