Bridget, the delightful little apparatus you're thinking of is an "incentive spirometer" - I recommend that pre-ops start practicing using it at least several times per day before surgery - you want to develop an actual habit with it, so that you can use it habitually post-op (I think I had to use mine hourly for a week or 10 days after surgery) - it's easy to forget in all of the other stuff we have to do post-op. Also, if you're required to do coughing and breathing exercises post-op, start practicing those beforehand to make them a habit, too. Coughing pillows are a Godsend for doing all that coughing post-op!
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Eric
6'4"
540/470/346.5/215
highest/surgery/current (as of 7/1/08)/surgeon's goal
TT Gym Rat Club member #30
DesertBear
VSG with Dr. Chiasson 2/13/08
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