Posted by Carl Plaskett on April 13, 2002 at 08:11:50:
In Reply to: My 1600 mile drive home posted by Tim Hawkins on April 13, 2002 at 07:25:24:
Tim: Congrats on making it home after such a drive. I'm glad you stayed around Cleveland for several days after being released. I'm sure that made the difference in your comfort level. I flew out the morning after I was released, and I know I wasn't ready to ride home to Florida in a car.
As far as comfort sleeping, I used a pillow to support my rib cage, and found a Tempur-pedic queen-sized "neck" pillow (lower on one side)to be great. I would lie down with on side of the pillow parallel to my right side, then roll over onto the pillow so that it supported my rib cage. These pillows are made of the same body-heat-activated conforming material which support astronauts on lift-off. They are expensive, but can be found new on eBay for 1/3-1/2 regular price, where I bought 2 from different sources.
As for exercise, there seems to be some wide variation in how much post-mazers do in this regard. I started out with a short walk (1 block down the street and back)for my first walk. Later that day, I went 2 long blocks and back. Then did it again. the second day I believe I walked a little over 1/2 mile 2-3 times, plus a couple of the 4 block walks. The 3rd day I started with a couple miles and found that I could push pretty hard, and that took about 30 minutes. I did it again later, and got down to less than 28 minutes. The 4th day I did 2 three mile (measured with both of our cars' odometers, since I was getting "pumped-up" with enthusiasm). The lst took 31-1/2 minutes and the second 30-1/2 minutes. (I tried jogging about 75-100 feet 2 or three times, but it hurt my sternum). This is about the pace I peaked out at: a very brisk walk, with a little jogging now and then. With me, I can walk almost as fast as I jog, since my walking slows down after running, the total time differs little. I NEVER got my HR above 116-120 during the first month.
- Re: My 1600 mile drive home/CLARIFICATION! Carl Plaskett 14:55:57 4/14/2002 (0)
- Re: My 1600 mile drive home Ed Wehan 09:47:13 4/13/2002 (0)