Craig breathes a sigh of relief after shock diagnosis
Happy and healthy electrician Craig Palmer, 62, didn’t expect to be walking laps in a scout hut five years after getting over covid, but he’s glad he is.
Craig, from Faversham, is walking and talking to us at his regular pulmonary rehabilitation session at 6th Whitstable Scout HQ in Swalecliffe.
Volunteer Jacqueline Green, Respiratory Physiotherapist Rebecca Andrade and Craig Palmer exercise at a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Service session.
The specialist programme is held at local venues, such as church halls or community centres across north and east Kent.
Craig said: “It wasn’t the pandemic that knocked me for six, it was how I felt after.
“I was fit and well before, but after struggling to breathe during my recovery, I knew something wasn’t right.”
After continued breathlessness and finally collapsing, Craig received a shock diagnosis when he went to A&E to get checked over.
Craig was told he had idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a chronic lung disease characterised by scarring (fibrosis) of the lungs. IPF makes it difficult for oxygen to pass from the lungs into the bloodstream, leading to shortness of breath and other respiratory problems.
He said: “My life changed in an instant. We’ll never know for sure if it was caused by an underlying issue, long covid, or working with toxic materials for so many years.
“However, I got it, I had to face up to some serious life changes. I’d never smoked, I worked out and looked after myself, but suddenly I was no longer able to work in a job that I loved and wasn’t ready to give up. Coupled with crippling fatigue, relentless shortness of breath and aching arms and legs, it was a lot to take in.”
Craig was referred to our Pulmonary Rehabilitation Service, made up of highly experienced physiotherapists, specialist rehabilitation assistants and respiratory counsellors.
After an initial assessment with a respiratory physiotherapist, he was offered a place on a six-week pulmonary rehabilitation programme.
“I was hesitant to join but desperate to get some quality of life back,” continued Craig, who uses portable ambulatory oxygen equipment to maintain adequate oxygen levels during activities such as walking, exercising, or performing daily tasks. “It really helped that I could get the care I needed close to home and out of hospital,” he added.
Respiratory Physiotherapist, Rebecca Andrade explained: “Pulmonary rehabilitation is an evidence-based treatment for chronic respiratory diseases. It includes exercise and extensive education.
“The tailored programme of exercise for people with moderate to severe lung disease aims to improve exercise tolerance, reduce symptoms and increase quality of life.”
Craig said: “As well as helping me to manage my condition, the weekly meet-ups with clinicians and fellow respiratory patients, have taught me so much about what’s going on in my body and why.
“I used to be scared to move, for fear of breaking, but now I know gentle and regular exercise is the best thing I can do. I know what to do, and not to get scared, if I get breathless, which makes for a much calmer life.”
Find out about our Pulmonary Rehabilitation Service in Ashford, Canterbury, south Kent Coast, Thanet, Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley.
