I first heard of this
harmonica trick
40+ years ago on the Mike Douglas Show. At the time I was was a
2-3 pack a day smoker.When I quit (for good) in 1997 I was 4
packs. Fast forward to diagnosed COPD. Three years ago,
remembering
that Mike Douglas Show advice, I bought a harmonica and set about using
a You Tube "Play Mr.
Tambourine Man" primer to get started. Using that, and a Fitbit to monitor my steps (and
calories) I was soon enough 30 years old again. Seriously.
Alas, for various and sundry reasons I lapsed to the point where I was
sent to a pulmonary rehab 3
days/week. Worked like
magic and after 3 months I was back in the pink
(and my insurance was used).
However, by that time my knees had
suffered the slings and arrows of time, and .... you know. GAH!
Things
got so bad that, what the hell, lets do the harmonica
again. After
just a week here is todays blood/oxygen
level after doing *I
wish all the girls were like ... for 10 minutes. Yesterday I
logged a 100 Blood Oxy. Holy
Fn Sht!. This morning a 97. (The highest I got
during pulmonary rehab was 97. FWIW.)
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That's pretty much why I took up the recorder. I've been mostly inactive with it for the last 5-6 years, but am thinking about starting up again.
ReplyDeleteMusical instruments involving exhalation of air can be a wonderful aid to improved breathing capacity for lung/respiratory-impaired patients.
http://www.in-isrc.org/2011FallSeminar/Harmonicas%20for%20Health.pdf
So, win-win. Improved function, and fun, as well.
Yeah, it's amazing how that helps. Which makes me the fool for not keeping up. Thanks Linda.
ReplyDeleteThanks you for that story. Had to move to KS to get off O2 24/7. Bought a trumpet due to friend with COPD that playing the trupmet every day helped him immensley. Target to get back on the trupmpet, cause apparently IT WORKS!
ReplyDeleteHow often did you play per day?
ReplyDeleteI have a digeredoo that did help COPD, but it is a bit large at 41" and sets the dogs off. A harmonica sounds fun, and I can go outside to play.
Kevin ... maybe 20 minutes or so. Actually, it was based on when the cries for me to stop became unbearable.
ReplyDeleteI've got to try some of this exhalation therapy instrument stuff.
ReplyDeleteBut I wanted to mention that my BIPAP has an oxygen concentrator hooked up to it, and that thing helps a whole lot. My blood O2 is 98 to 100 every morning when I get up, and if I need a mid-afternoon rest an hour with that gets me right back up to 98+.
They come in several sizes - 3L/min, 5L/min, 10L/min, and the smaller volume ones are pretty quiet. You get used to the sound anyway. They do eat some electricity, but keep the bedroom warm as a side effect.
Most health insurance will cover the rent, but you may be able to work out rent to own, which is cheaper after less than 2 years.