For around the last 6 months i've been getting help from an Exercise Physiologist under the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) here in Australia. I needed one because two years ago I was extremely unwell and in hospital for 3 weeks. Nearly lost my life (thankfully not! lol)... but actually did lose most of my upper body strength. It was a sobering experience being in hospital, finally starting to be on the mend and a physio came in to check on my progress. He asked me if I could transfer from my bed to my wheelchair, and I was like "Yeah, no sweat, super easy!" *coughs* lol. He told me i've probably lost a lot of strength, and I was like "Nah I'm good". Then he was like "Ok then!". So with all the confidence in the world, I tried to move... but COULDN'T. My entire body was a lead weight. I was mortified! But from that day on I was determined to prove that physio wrong. I worked so hard that I wasn't going to let anyone tell me what I couldn't or couldn't do! 

Anyway it was a really long struggle, It probably took a good 6 months for me to gain about 70% of my upper body strength back so I could do all my regular/normal transfers to/from bed/bathroom/car etc. I was still really shaky and I knew if I had one slip, I was going to break my feet or legs, but I was determined not to let that happen, so I changed the way I transferred slightly so my upper body was supported more on my wheelchair. 

About a year ago most of my health struggles were gone (I had huge pressure wound on my heel that finally healed, recurrent cellulitis in my legs had finally gone and I was on the correct treatment for lymphodema... and my kidneys were also back to full health after the scare a year earlier.

Six months ago I heard about an Exercise Physiologist and then I met him. He did house calls. So every week for the past 6 months i've worked with him doing stretchy band exercises from my doorways, pushed myself up and down my hallway to get my heart pumping, then lifted 3kg weights... as well as learning how to breathe correctly. All of this has helped me tremendously with everything.... and we've ONLY worked my upper body. My strength is back to 100%, my breathing is more efficient and now my EP says that all the work we are doing has become too easy, so he's finally progressing me onto something new!! I am SO excited. Best thing i've ever done working with him! I'm hoping to continue this for the long haul! I highly recommend an Exercise Physiologist!

Wow! You are amazing, girl!!

Omg that's so inspiring! Proud of you!!

Thank you! One of the things I forgot to mention in my original post was that I got to try out archery at a "friends" place around 6 months ago as well, right before I met my Exercise Physiologist. What I didn't realise was that my Exercise Physiologist is also really keen on Archery. He told me that all the stretching and breathing exercises naturally help with Archery... so he's also getting me a new Archery kit on the NDIS to help with strength/fitness/breathing! The one I had was only $20 and it's basically died now lol.

Nice!!