Journal entry by Sarah Ims —
hi friends!
A LOT has changed since January- thankfully, mostly good changes. Thank you for your prayers, texts, calls, support, prayers, and love through this long journey. It means more than words could say.
Duke CardioPulmonary Rehab has been essential to improving my cardiovascular strength & overall functionality. I have learned so much from the physical therapists specialized in POTS that have been working with me since August. They challenge me to work hard and be brave in fighting for better quality of life. And if you know me, you know I fight HARD! I am forever grateful for the perspective, counsel, encouragement, and work my PTs have poured into me. Right now, I am an ongoing patient, meaning there isn't a "graduation date" yet. And that's okay; I'm making peace with that. I love that I am able to work hard safely (they know how to handle fainting episodes) and learn how to work with and support my body as I fight severe POTS. I think in January I shared that we pulled back significantly on frequencies of appts at the facility, to ease the exhaustion in between sessions. But until a few weeks ago, I was still on a regimen of home PT exercise 3x/day. As a former gymnast, runner, and generally active person, I can't tell you how frustrating it is to constantly be adjusting (everyday can vary) to my max levels. That said, I also have lost a great amount of muscle strength, specifically cardiovascular, and am making faithful strides to slowly build back up and maybe even STRONGER.
For a few weeks now, my team & I really pulled back on how often I was doing PT, down to 3x/wk, so we could increase the intensity and give my heart and body time to rest up in between sessions so I could push harder. I will only go to the Duke facility once a month now; we'll be able to hopefully make some major changes then and I'll have much longer in between those jumps to adjust, rest, and gain some functionality. We are excited and courageously hopeful for the future! And I am so very grateful for the people supporting, embracing, & carrying at times me through.
I am able to be vertical a little more everyday! :) I have to be careful because my heart, brain, joints, & just whole body can be super sensitive. But I am adjusting and learning more every day. I definitely have days that I'm unable to be vertical without fainting, but more days that I am happy to just be vertical.
A LOT has changed since January- thankfully, mostly good changes. Thank you for your prayers, texts, calls, support, prayers, and love through this long journey. It means more than words could say.
Duke CardioPulmonary Rehab has been essential to improving my cardiovascular strength & overall functionality. I have learned so much from the physical therapists specialized in POTS that have been working with me since August. They challenge me to work hard and be brave in fighting for better quality of life. And if you know me, you know I fight HARD! I am forever grateful for the perspective, counsel, encouragement, and work my PTs have poured into me. Right now, I am an ongoing patient, meaning there isn't a "graduation date" yet. And that's okay; I'm making peace with that. I love that I am able to work hard safely (they know how to handle fainting episodes) and learn how to work with and support my body as I fight severe POTS. I think in January I shared that we pulled back significantly on frequencies of appts at the facility, to ease the exhaustion in between sessions. But until a few weeks ago, I was still on a regimen of home PT exercise 3x/day. As a former gymnast, runner, and generally active person, I can't tell you how frustrating it is to constantly be adjusting (everyday can vary) to my max levels. That said, I also have lost a great amount of muscle strength, specifically cardiovascular, and am making faithful strides to slowly build back up and maybe even STRONGER.
For a few weeks now, my team & I really pulled back on how often I was doing PT, down to 3x/wk, so we could increase the intensity and give my heart and body time to rest up in between sessions so I could push harder. I will only go to the Duke facility once a month now; we'll be able to hopefully make some major changes then and I'll have much longer in between those jumps to adjust, rest, and gain some functionality. We are excited and courageously hopeful for the future! And I am so very grateful for the people supporting, embracing, & carrying at times me through.
I am able to be vertical a little more everyday! :) I have to be careful because my heart, brain, joints, & just whole body can be super sensitive. But I am adjusting and learning more every day. I definitely have days that I'm unable to be vertical without fainting, but more days that I am happy to just be vertical.
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