Pulmonary Rehab helps IU Health Saxony patient breathe easier and live fully

Written by Emma Avila, epackard1@iuhealth.org, writer for IU Health’s Metro Region

Carl McGarvey, who has pulmonary fibrosis, attends IU Health Saxony’s Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation program multiple times a week, where the team provides personalized exercise plans that have improved his breathing, energy and quality of life.

Carl McGarvey comes to IU Health Saxony’s Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation four to five times every week. He was diagnosed five years ago with interstitial lung disease (ILD) and pulmonary fibrosis.

Pulmonary fibrosis is one of the most common types of ILD. It is known as scarring and/or inflammation of the lungs, causing difficulty breathing. Some of the most common symptoms include shortness of breath, chronic coughing, fatigue, chest discomfort, weight loss as well as muscle and joint pain. McGarvey primarily deals with a persistent cough.

He began Cardiopulmonary Rehab about a year ago after consulting his pulmonologist at IU Health Saxony, Dr. Marc Rovner.

“It’s an exercise program for our patients that are struggling with a lung disease,” says Megan Keller, a registered respiratory therapist in Cardiopulmonary Rehab. “We provide a personalized exercise program for each patient. We will start very slow for pulmonary patients, very conservative in that regard, so that they can work their way up every session.”

McGarvey graduated phase two of the program in June, and is now in phase three, the maintenance phase. He primarily works with Sarah Hunsley, team lead and exercise physiologist, as well as Keller.

“This is an exceptional group,” McGarvey says. “They are consummate professionals, but they have an exceptional way of getting to know each person. They are very attentive, and they know what they are doing.”

For McGarvey, the benefits of coming to exercise in Cardiopulmonary Rehab include having an exercise program catered to his health needs, the use of oxygen during weight-bearing workouts like the treadmill and the comfort that there are clinical experts on standby if he needs them.

“It has enhanced my energy, my breathing function,” McGarvey says. “It’s benefitted my ability to live a full, normal life.”