Bitter Sweet Exhaustion!

Over the past few years I have enjoyed exercising; especially after noticing how it has improved my health. I haven't roller bladed for years, and today I decided to try it again since it was a gorgeous spring day. Before I dive into this bitter sweet exhaustion, let me give you some history . . .

I had a cold almost the entire month of April (not good for someone with CF). On April 17th, after 4 days of having a fever of 101 degrees, I finally called my doctor. To no surprise to me, he wanted me to drive to Bismarck that day and be admitted for what we all thought would be a regular "tune-up." (I had stayed out of the hospital for 2 years and was hoping to beat my all time record of 11 years, and now have to start over. But that's another story . . .)

What did surprise me once I got there, is that I had pneumonia!

I haven't had that since I was a baby - I've gone 26 years without getting it and now all of a sudden, boom, there it is. So, the doctor pumped me up with IV meds and sent me home sooner than I had thought at only 5 days later. His instructions to me were to get lots of rest, finish my inhaled and oral antibiotics, and start exercising again.

Well, it is almost one month later and I am feeling better, but still more tired than normal. So, I rest when I need to (this is very difficult for me to do!) The exercising part has been a little more difficult too. I've tried returning to my regular schedule of yoga, budakon, weights, and walking on the treadmill again, but I just can't seem to get back into the swing of things.

Today, was a different story. It was a beautiful, sunny day in Fargo, and I decided to put on my rusty old roller blades (seriously - I need new ones) and go roller blading for a half hour. A little too ambitious I would say!

Twenty minutes into it, I became huffing and puffing so much that I contemplated calling Nate to come pick me up; I was only 4 blocks away from returning home! A few kids on their bikes passed me and looked at me as though they couldn't decide whether to pity me or be disgusted that I was making them slow down too.

I finally pushed myself and made it home, sweaty and exhausted to the max. I stumbled into the house and sprawled across the floor panting and sweating. Then I noticed I was wheezing just a tad so I decided to do a treatment, and now I'm just sitting here blogging.

All I can say about this adventure is that I'm glad I did it, even though it really challenged me. I just wish I was back to the strength I had a few months ago so I wouldn't look like such a wimp to the kids passing me on their bikes!