My ThermaPool

And 10 Years already since I suddenly lost my Dad! Losing my physical strength so quickly and my dad all at once was so hard on me...The hardest I can remember, but it lead me to today...a promising and positive 2019 to look forward to!!  My Dad was my hero and my best friend and I miss him everyday but carry his spirit in my heart with a smile! I know he would be the happiest father knowing all I accomplished for CMT awareness, Inclusion for us with disabilities, my Thermapool sponsorship and so much more....I have some big projects up my sleeve for 2019...😎  My favorite part of being in my warm water therapy pool is walking and dancing on my own to my favorite oldies songs..I get to utilize my entire body again and it Never gets old. This December I kicked some serious butt in my Thermapool.  Averaging 6 days a week,1 1/2 hours in 93 degree water doing all kinds of workouts and body movements to keep me as strong as possible especially during these cold days which t...

This has been a busy month!!  September is declared as Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease Awareness month so I am busy working online and traveling for my work at HNF.  Working for a non-profit that helps CMT is a dream come true for me.  I get to help others with CMT and meet some amazing people along the way!  I feel it's my duty to help my community and I'm thrilled to be an advocate and Hereditary Neuropathy Foundation social media coordinator!!  Having my Thermapool, I'm able to share with my community the benefits of having your own indoor pool and the extreme benefits of water therapy!  I even have my own Thermapool page on the HNF site where you can purchase a Thermapool at a discount and some proceeds will go the the HNF for CMT research!!  Learn more at www.hnf-cure.org/thermapool-cmt/

Having an indoor pool requires a few things to keep your house safe from moisture and mold.  One, Paint all walls with High gloss paint.  This keeps your walls extra safe from moisture because of the gloss.  Two,  Get a dehumidifier for your pool room!!  Three, Get a high speed exhaust fan built or placed in a nearby window to help the moisture go outside!  This exhaust fan helped my pool room tremendously but doing all three is the safest way to keep your house safe and worry free!  Also, keep the pool cover on when not in use.  It will keep the heat and moisture in the pool and save you money in the long run!  Here are some pics of the exhaust fan...

I was struggling for a while with having a low ceiling trying to get a lift to take me in and out of the pool without spending thousands of dollars.  One of my caretakers and I came up with a solution and it works great for $500!  Most lifts Starting price is in the thousands so this was a great find and solution to my problem.  I use the lift just to get fin the water, coming out I go down on my butt with assistance and its been working out great!!  This hydraulic lift holds up to 250lbs so I'm safe!:).  Very easy to move around and its sturdy, made of steal!!  I have to duck my head slightly when its raised up to pool level but that's it, and I swivel my legs in and slide right in.  It's great!!  My dogs Sadie and Puppy sit patiently while I'm in the pool, on my scooter keeping it safe:). I purchased this  Hydrolic, double scissor cart through Bastian Solutions/Vestil manufacturing is called "CART 200 D"  I use it everytime I...

 The month of July and August I was at the shore a lot! I worked with Mayor in Brigantine Nj and Council members on making Brigantine beach accessible and this summer my hard work paid off!!   The city purchased a 360 foot Mobi Mat that leads right to the ocean water.  I was interviewed by NJ and PA news stations 6 times!!  It’s such an honor to be a part of this movement but I wasn’t able to get in my pool as much this summer as I did last summer!   I do know that being able to drive to the shore and have the energy to do all of these interviews is because of my indoor pool and the strength it gives me to do the things I want to do without so much exhaustion and pain!   I make sure when I get home from the beach that I do extra pool time!!   I had my friend Trey visit from Arkansas this summer!  Trey also has Charcot Marie Tooth Disorder and never met anyone else outside of his family who has it!   I was his first! We had such a great weeken...

It's been 6 months since my friend Rick has had his Thermapool in his spare room.  In the beginning there were a few issues with his pool liner that Thermapools helped take care of it and he is using his indoor pool roughly 6 days a week!  When I see Rick these days, I see he lost weight, gained strength and is walking better with less effort.  He expressed how he loves doing exercises in his warm water right in his home...rain or shine!  We talk about our Thermapool often and how its helped us both in so many ways.  Living with CMT is hard enough so when you can get relief just by going in the other room it's a blessing everyday! I trained Rick for many months before he got his own pool and showed him many exercises to do in the pool and what equipment to buy.  He bought foam cuffs for legs and arms, noodles, ankle weights and a weighted bar to use in the water!  He does different exercises each day!!  Rick also told me his pain level is down an...

Finally warm weather so when I get out of the pool I can go outside and get some sun:).  It's been a good week in the pool.  I only missed one day.  Somedays I travel for work and don't get a chance to go in so I make sure I get in everyday I'm home.  I enjoy night swimming too...when I have a full day or stressful painful day, being in the Thermapool before bed is so healing and helps me sleep through the night!!  Some days I even go in twice a day.  Once to walk and workout and the other to be calm and still, float and meditate.  I like to reflect and be grateful for all I have.  Meditating in my pool has become a new thing that I try to do a few times a week now!!  Alexa is also a huge help while im in the pool because she plays music, makes calls and has meditation apps built in!!!  Great for us who have a hards time using their hands or are in the water and don't want to get your phone wet:). Thank you Alexa...my new best friend..ha...

I finally got to show my Thermapool to a dear friend Estela this weekend!!!  She also has Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disorder and now works for the HNF like me so we share a lot in common.  She was so excited to finally get to try my indoor therapy pool and reap the benefits!!  Estela uses AFO's to walk and has weakness in her arms and legs due to CMT so getting in 92 degree water with NO leg braces, up walking around in an indoor pool could only feel amazing....She instantly stated how warm the water was and how free she felt.  I let her enjoy the pool and get used to the size and depth of the water before we started our workouts!! This was so fun for me to train Estela because I know how much she loves to stay fit and active despite having a chronic illness like myself!!!  She is like a soul sister to me and I am forever grateful for her friendship and inspiration!!!! We worked out together for the first time and it was awesome!!!  She said using my blue ankle...

My friend Rick, who also has CMT, bought a Thermapool a few Months ago and seems to be loving the freedom of your own private therapy pool.  Some things had to be sent back and the company was very good to Rick and helped him get to where its all running smooth.  He said he feels such a difference physically and emotionally.  Stronger and more confident with less pain on a daily basis.  I concur with Rick...This indoor warm water pool keeps me the strongest I ever been!!! He had steps built for easy access to his TP1 5' deep pool!!! This was a spare room now a pool room!!!  Congrats and Good Luck Rick!!  I'm so glad I was a part of helping you feel better!!

This is the cheapest and best solution I could come up with!!  Getting in my Thermapool was difficult for me even with assistance.  I had to get something that would work with my low ceiling and that wasn't thousands of dollars.  Most chair lifts that would have worked were over $3,000...not in my budget. I knew I needed something sturdy that would lift me just a few feet up.  Luckily I can still support myself with getting in the pool from the top of the lift and I just transfer over to the steps in the pool and I'm IN!  For $500.00 and already put together, I purchased this  Hydrolic, double scissor cart through Bastian Solutions/Vestil manufacturing.  I spoke to a sales rep before purchasing and told him what I was using this lift for and he said as long as your careful and weigh under 220lbs. I should be just fine!  It raises to 51'' which is the exact height I need to get in safely.  Very smooth ride going up and down.  A foot pump ...

The last few weeks I have been in the pool for two hours each day!!  The first hour is usually with 5 or 8 pound weights on my ankles and wrists.  Walking, stretching, moving around in ways I can not do on land.  I always have my iTunes playing some of my favorite songs like oldies music, R&B, Dance music and so much more.  It depends on my mood. Some days I play Rocky soundtrack and some days you may hear some classic Rock and Roll.  Music helps get me going and motivated.  The second hour I take off the weights and use my blue foam cuffs that add resistance to my movement.  They are great to use daily on resistance strengthening.  I feel some soreness and tired after the pool but always feel better than before I got in!!  The thermapool is running great, no problems and maintenance isn't bad at all.  My caretaker will change and since the filters for me and put a cup or 2 of chlorine in every week.  It's almost time to drain t...

It's been a cold winter here in PA. and lots of snow which keeps me in the house a lot.  My scooter doesn't work in the snow, can't get wet from rain and being outside in the cold makes my joints and muscles ache and burn which is very painful.  Having a progressive neuropathy is painful in itself, then the bitter cold just makes it worse.  Needless to say, I would rather just stay in unless I need to run errands with my caretaker.  Having my warm water thermapool in my basement the last year had make my winter not so bad.  I'm still able to workout, walk, swim and dance in my pool whenever I want!!  It's changed my life and made me even more health conscious then I was. My general health has improved and I finally quit that nasty habit of smoking!!  I will never touch a cigarette again!!!  I feel better every week and eating more fruits and greens.  It's been a goal of mine to quit smoking and eat more green and well I DID IT!!!  I'm s...

It's been about 2 months since I started my new physical therapy and occupational therapy program with Dynamic Home Therapy!!  Here is some pics of Liz (OT) and I working on my traps and upper back.  Due to the way my body progressing with CMT symptoms, my shoulders neck, back are starting to become more painful and some arthritis is forming so I'm doing my Best to stay active but gentle in my daily workouts!!!  Being in 93 degree water and standing is also a huge factor in my well being and strength!!  The circulation in my legs lasts for hours even after I get out of the pool!!  Here are some standing rows using my green band for resistance!  #BandtogetherforCMT

Some days I have my friends come over and their kids wanna swim.  I'm always up to going in my warm water pool, so I don't mind at all.  It's always a good time and kids just love the pool and how warm it is.  I've had a few friends come over to workout as well and try my underwater treadmill.  Everyone that tries it says how nice it feels on their joints.  Fun times this week in the Thermapool!!

The last 4 weeks I've been doing physical therapy again.  Every year in the winter I like to get Physical Therapy and or Occupational Therapy to keep me in tune during the cold months and to help me isolate the muscle groups needed to sustain my strength.  It's motivating to feel my body get a bit stronger even if it's a slight difference.  Liz helps stabilize my hips while I perform the exercises. Pain management for me is going in the pool at 93 degrees and just moving, stretching walking and of coarse listening to my favorite tunes....

The steps getting in my Thermapool has been a challenge since day one but there are many factors involved that held me back from getting an accessible lift.  One, the chair lifts are at Least $2,200 and most that would actually work are over $3,000, way out of my reach financially.  It's been a year now every few weeks I would research pool lifts or alternate lifts and finally found something in my price range and easy to use!!  Looking forward to getting in and out more independently and safer!!!:)   

Getting in my Thermapool is a challenge.  I don't get to use the pool as much as I would like to because only a few people can put me in.  I need help getting up the steps.  I go up sitting with assistance from my caretaker.  It's starting to take a toll on her back and makes me less eager to want to get in.  Getting out with only minimal help is not a problem, It's just getting in the pool.  I've been researching pool lifts for months but since my ceiling is low, it's a challenge.  Also they run close to $2,000 for a handicap chair pool lift which is something I can't afford.  So until I find a solution I will not be able to use the pool everyday which is a bummer.  Hopefully this new year will bring some new ways to get me in the pool safe and with ease...

With the weather here in PA being in the negative, I feel more pain, stiffness and I'm in the house a lot because it's just too cold for me.  Even with a warm jacket, scarf and boots, I feel horrible when It's this cold.  Fortunately, I have a Thermapool in my basement which has helped my physical and mental state.  It's hard living with CMT everyday, but the warm water therapy has made this winter so much better then the past winters!!  I have never felt this good this time of year!!  Whether it's training, or just getting in the water to walk and move, it's a good day.  I always feel so much relief after I get out of the warm water, it never fails me....Ever!!!!   :). I will NEVER give up!!!!!

The more I workout in my Thermapools, the more I am learning about the huge benefits of just being emerged in warm water!  It's pretty fascinating how the body reacts to water.  Tissues in the body start to heal where needed and the heart rate goes down oxygen levels up, heart and blood flow is running smoother and so much more!!  It's not just my arms and legs that are benefiting, but my entire body inside and out!!  I can already tell my breathing is stronger as is my core which was always a huge struggle for me to strengthen do to CMT!  2018 is coming up, I think it's going to be a good year for my health thanks to my indoor pool!! Look for me doing a new program exercise with my new OT Liz.  We start next week doing core and back strengthening along with shoulder exercises. We will incorporate my thermapool in my program and use my leg braces in the water for walk training..... stay tuned!!