Does heart-pounding terror count as cardio?

[carolyn_claire]

PT appt accomplished! I have homework to do, exercises and stretches and things, and will go again next week. She hardly hurt me at all, listened when I talked to her about Fibro and pain issues and respected my boundaries (and she was tiny and pleasant and totally non-threatening.) There was a male intern who tagged along and observed, which made me uncomfortable, but I thought I could allow that as long as he didn't touch me; now I think I'd have been more relaxed and could have done more if he hadn't been there, so I'll request that he not be, next time. So I won't be doing anything like push-ups for a bit, yet, but I do have a place to start and guidance, so maybe I will be, soon. I can do cardio and stretching and leg strength, until then. She also suggested pool work--I'm going to think about that.

Comments

[green]

Yay PT! It sounds like the appt went well despite the intern, and you can totally do without him in the future.

[carolyn_claire]

I hate having to explain to people that asking for a female practitioner means I don't want a man in the room, even. When I was confronted with him, I was so anxious about the appt already that I just said, uh, okay--I wasn't even asked, really, just sort of told who he was. As the appt went on, I thought, I'd really prefer he wasn't here--his future as a PT is not my problem and I don't feel obligated to help his with that. It's my body and my well-being and my money paying for this appt, dammit! So I tried to block him out and just concentrate on her and her kindness and helpfulness, and, next time, I'll say I'd prefer not to have any men present if he shows up again. I wish they wouldn't put me in that situation, especially since I'd asked for a female PT, but...you know, maybe I should call, tomorrow, and explain all this to a supervisory person. Maybe that would help. I don't like having to talk about this stuff, but I can, and I know there are people who can't, or who don't want to more than I don't want to. Maybe I should.

Aside from that, yes, it went well. :) I'm very hopeful about eventual recovery.

[just_ann_now]

It absolutely does, as does taking a very positive step forward. Good on you!

[carolyn_claire]

I'm feeling very positive about recovery! And having gotten over that scary hurdle.

[sapote]

I am brand new to this comm (though apparently we have shared a fandom - why hello there, Major Sheppard, I haven't seen you in a while) but I wanted to stick my nose in and say mad props for asserting yourself about the gender of your practitioner. I went through five completely wasted and useless sessions with my last PT because I lacked the basic self-knowledge to know that I'm not okay with strange men touching my legs and would spend all my time trying not to be uncomfortable and learning jack-all about managing my knee pain - now that I have a nice middle-aged lady PT I get so much more out of it.

[carolyn_claire]

I take my SGA love everywhere with me. John says hi. *g*

Aside from my own issues about male practitioners, which are many, it's also true that women are just better, especially with other women--they're more respectful, they listen more carefully, they don't jump to conclusions as quickly and are more likely to be willing to discuss treatment options and not dismiss one as difficult or non-compliant because one questions things. But with PT, especially, it's very important to be able to relax, not only to be able to absorb and retain the info but also because one can't do good PT while tense, and a man in the room (much less one touching me--yeesh!) makes me tense. I'm not going to allow it again.

[sapote]

I hear you there. I did have one good incredibly nonthreatening male PT way back in the day - for instance, he would never ever touch someone without asking and being clear on why it was necessary, which, I was too young to know that that was a rare courtesy - but this time I had to get a referral from my doctor that basically said on the slip "No really, you have to explain things to her thoroughly if you want her to cooperate." And I got a nice calm female PT who started by pulling out a chart and telling me the medical terms for the parts of the knee, which is what I need.