Author
Bernd Dobbert, as appeared in Alpha1 Journal 1/2022.
In the fall of 2021, I received a letter from my health insurance company. My rehabilitation program, which I had applied for in the summer of 2021, had been approved. I knew that for me, only the sea, not the mountains, was an option. I had often heard about the Borkum Specialist Clinic through a member of my support group in Cologne, and his positive reviews convinced me to suggest this rehabilitation clinic to my health insurance company. A few weeks later, I received the documents from Borkum. My rehabilitation was scheduled to begin on March 1, 2022. I felt very reassured that even the attending physician called me beforehand to inquire about my medication.
My journey to the island in March was by train; I had the required negative PCR test with me. Even the trip to the island was very relaxing, although the ferry was quite full. The colorful Borkum Island Railway took me from the harbor to the island's center.
It took me just under 10 minutes to walk from the island train station to the specialist clinic; thanks to the flat terrain, I managed it easily even with luggage. Check-in at the clinic was also quick and easy. Of course, masks were mandatory inside the building. This didn't bother me much, as I was eager to get to my room. In the elevator, I was very curious to see where I would be staying for the next three weeks.
Stay in the specialist clinic
I got off on the third floor, opened the door, and… had a beautiful view directly onto the beach. Lucky me. But the clinic was firmly in the grip of Covid. The new patients weren't allowed in the dining room at first. We were given a tray, could choose from the buffet, and then had to go back to our rooms. Thanks to the great view, it wasn't so bad, only carrying the tray all the way to the room wasn't exactly easy.
This type of quarantine only ended after almost a week. After arriving on Tuesday, I wasn't scheduled for the rapid test until Monday, and only a negative rapid test allowed me to eat meals in the dining hall. Therefore, I couldn't interact with other patients for the time being.
The day after my admission, I received my treatment plan for the first week. It included lung exercises on the beach, Nordic walking, tissue massages, oil baths, inhalation therapy, and Jacobson's progressive muscle relaxation. The mix of active and passive treatments was perfect. At the same time, there was plenty of time for long hikes around the island. The weather was also on my side; apart from one rainy day, the sun shone for three weeks. This allowed me to rent an e-bike on two weekends and take some lovely tours.
The applications were supplemented by specialist medical consultations, lung function tests, the famous 6-minute walk test and, of course, regular rapid tests.
Success despite the COVID-19 situation
Unfortunately, the pandemic was still very much present. In the first week, I met a young long-term COVID patient who had been unable to work for over six months. A coma patient who had narrowly survived COVID also told me his story. During this time, there were also a few COVID cases in the clinic, but no major outbreak occurred. The clinic's COVID measures were effective.
In retrospect, I can say that the rehabilitation program was a complete success. The Nordic walking, in particular, was very strenuous, not only because it started at 7:10 a.m., but also because I repeatedly reached my limits. Afterwards, however, I always felt like I could breathe better.
Of course, there were also points of criticism, but these were largely due to the Covid situation. Apparently, the kitchen staff had changed, and the food was significantly worse than described. So I was forced to try the restaurants on the island of Borkum from time to time.
Generally, there were also staff shortages. Many employees were new or were working their last days at the specialist clinic. The resulting restrictions were manageable.
My conclusion
The Borkum specialist clinic boasts a fantastic location, and the treatments are also very good. However, the clinic is not suitable for all lung patients. Patients requiring oxygen or with stage IV COPD cannot be treated due to a lack of capacity.
Right next to the specialist clinic is the North Sea Clinic, which can also treat such patients. However, I cannot comment on the quality of the North Sea Clinic.
Overall, the sea air did me a world of good; my health indicators improved, I increased my 6-minute walk distance by 80 meters, and my general well-being was much better than before the treatment. My tip for anyone who is eligible for rehabilitation and has no problems with the sea climate: OFF TO BORKUM!
