After my first BPABalloon Pulmonary Angioplasty Balloon pulmonary angioplasty, or BPA for short, is a technique for widening narrowed or blocked blood vessels in the lungs of CTEPH patients. Small balloons attached to a catheter restore blood flow to areas of the lungs that do not receive blood due to the disease.  When successful, BPA eliminates or reduces shortness of breath, increases exercise tolerance and quality of life, and extends life expectancy. treatment, I wanted to know if my lung function had already improved. I thought exercise was the best way to find out, so I did squats and push-ups.

Today is Wednesday. My first BPA treatment happened last Monday, two days ago. The doctors did a great job. They treated many lesions in my right lung and reduced mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) by 5 mmHg, or about 9%. The intervention went smoothly, without complications.

I have no breathing issues at rest when breathing room air (no supplemental oxygen), but even mild exercise causes problems. To test my freshly treated lungs, I need to exercise. Since I’m confined to the hospital, a workout in my hospital room is the only option. I’m keeping the door closed; I doubt the nurses would approve.

After my usual warm-up, I completed 2 sets of 12 squats and 2 sets of 12 push-ups, all using just my body weight. It felt good, and I noticed an improvement in my gas exchange. I experienced less heavy breathing, which resulted in shorter recovery times between sets.

Two days after my first BPA treatment, I wanted to know if my lung function had improved, so I did push-ups to find out.

At least three more BPA treatments are scheduled during my hospital stay: one more this week and two next week. Together, they will hopefully bring the desired results, significant improvements in daily life and exercise capacity.