Breathing Easier after Pulmonary Rehab

Roger Adams can breathe easier after his pulmonary rehab visits at Community HealthCare System.

In February 2024, Adams was diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a disease that causes swelling and irritation in your lungs. In April of 2024, after numerous bouts with difficulty in breathing and enduring several trips to the Emergency Room, he was referred to pulmonary rehab by Sheila Talley, PA, Dr. Marcus Weiser and his cardiologist who suggested the program could help him better cope with his symptoms.

After 17 visits, Adams will affirmatively say, “the program taught him techniques to breathe easier and has given him his life back.”

Adams remembers one of the first things the “girls” (pulmonary rehab staff) told him was that he would have good days and bad days “Boy were they right!”, he said. “But they taught me new breathing techniques that lessened my anxiety and shortness of breath, provided education on exercise and nutrition and how to use my albuterol nebulizer in a more effective way. I now exercise nearly every day and feel more confident,” Adams said.

Pulmonary rehabilitation nurse Meranda Schmitz, RN, said Adams was a “pleasure to work with” in the program which includes exercise counseling and training, education on disease management and emotional support to help participants with anxiety and depression. Pulmonary rehab helps those with COPD, lung cancer, asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema and other lung issues.

Schmitz noted Adams, “really put in the work and it was great to see how much his breathing improved during his time with us.” “Roger was very willing to learn new things, he was very open and honest, wanting to learn to have the best quality of life possible,” said Michelle Budreau, respiratory therapist and member of the pulmonary rehab team. “We worked together figuring out what would help him to achieve his goals.”

Adams says he would definitely encourage others with this condition to participate in pulmonary rehab. “It has changed my life,” he stated as he fondly recalled his last session, remarking that he was sad when it ended. “I remember how encouraging everyone was as I was evaluated to see how far I could walk and realize the difference the sessions had made. Everyone was cheering and wished me the very best.”

Now that he is breathing easier, Adams can once again enjoy the things he used to do like going to the casino, gardening and sitting on his deck. He and his wife Judy are excited to be able to camp again next summer and get out and see people more.

And he won’t soon forget how grateful he is for Michelle and Meranda for their support and dedication to helping him meet his goal of having a better quality of life.