Doctor Visit
After much hesitation, I made and kept the appointment with the Pulmonologist. The results were NOT good. The docter was extremely pleasant and very understanding. Being a 30+ year smoker, that was my biggest fear. I already know all the reasons why I need to quit and don't require a lecture on the dangers of smoking.
The testing results were not conclusive but rather pointed in the direction needed to be taken. The first was a breathing test -- blow into a device for 10+ seconds and I failed. The second was a blood oxygen level test. Simple test, they put a little clip on your index finger and it magically reads the oxygen level in your blood (amazing). Just sitting on the examining table, without exerting myself, I failed the test. My understanding is the level should be around 100 and mine was 85. The third test was a 6 minute walking test while monitoring the blood oxygen level. I failed this test with flying colors. The assistant stopped the test after one minute because my blood oxygen dropped to 75 and I was already short winded.
While the results of the testing do not point to one specific condition, there are 3 possiblities -- Chronic Bronchitis, Asthma or Emphysema, the doctor believes I have Emphysema. I'll have a more in depth test done next month, after giving the inhalers a chance to work, allow my recent bout with Bronchitis to completely clear and hopefully quit smoking. The in depth test will be conclusive and we can determine the best route of action to be taken, at that time.
After a long talk with the doctor, I left the office with multiple inhaler prescriptions and two prescriptions for Chantix (starter & continuation packs). I need to call my insurance provider to see if they will cover Chantix. The website says no but the doctor believes they will cover but only if I also sign up for the support plan. It's going to be a struggle to quit but it must be done.
Wish me luck --- I'm going to need it!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
Time Flies.....
To my faithful readers, I apologize for not updating my blog sooner. Honestly, I thought I had posted around Thanksgiving but apparently not. BAD ME!! I'll ask the cats to give me 30 lashes with wet kitty tails.
Cruise:
The cruise was exactly what I wanted it to be --- relaxing. We pretty much did nothing for the week. Just sat around doing nothing, enjoyed coffee & croissants on the balcony every morning, read a book, and just relaxed. I did watch Game 4 of the World Series on the Lido Deck theater size TV screen. NICE :) Great game even though we were being rained on at the time.
Holidays:
I was suppose to drive to NC for Thanksgiving week but the weather had other plans for me. Something about driving in dense fog on black ice in my new car did not seem very appealing.
Christmas was depressing this year. I had been fighting a chest cold that turned to bronchitis. The cold hit me a couple of weeks before Christmas. By Christmas Day, I was having a difficult time breathing. My parents wood stove normally causes me to wheez but with the bronchitis, I had to leave the house or stop breathing. Then again, outside wasn't much better. Everyone in the area has a fireplace or woodstove going. A couple of days later, I decided it was time to visit the doctor and get meds.
Off to the doctor's I went and returned with all sorts of good meds and a referral to a pulmonologist (lung doctor). It's quite possible I also have the start of emphysema. It took me awhile before I finally called the doctor for an appointment. I'm not sure I want to hear what I know he's going to say -- quit smoking. I know it's coming so I'm gearing up for it. I see the doctor tomorrow, heaven only knows when I'll blog about the results :)
Winter:
With having bronchitis and a bad back, I decided to pay someone to shovel/plow the driveway and sidewalks for me this year. Debbie J. is great and has taken care of it, for the most part, for the last couple of years but I felt guilty. The person I hired will do my driveway, the sidewalk for the length of our property and the walkway to my front door. The guy charges by the inches --- 3"-6" $35; 6"-9" $45; ..... Last weeks snowfall was probably the first one I didn't dread, in a very long time! We got about 8" of snow. The guys showed up and in 15 minutes everything was cleared. NICE! Debbie gets to enjoy it too. With the front sidewalk being shoveled, she only has the end of her driveway and her front walkway to shovel. She has 2 cars in her driveway so there's not much to shovel, except around the cars.
Work:
What can I say -- work has been work. The co-worker with the cell phone addiction was finally terminated on 1/11/08. Her attendance was horrendous, work ethics were non-existant and while I hadn't noticed, several people (including our team leader) had smelled alcohol on her breath. I did pick up the aroma of "beer breath" one night but couldn't tell where it came from. Oh but what I failed to mention is that about the beginning of Decemeber, this same person announced she was pregnant. Myself and several co-workers doubt the pregnancy. Mostly because she wasn't the most truthful person around. Of course, once she made the announcement, we all knew it would be difficult to terminate her. I'm sure she tossed around claims of being fired only because she is pregnant. That makes me think whatever the termination reason, it was well documented, and grounds for immediate termination.
Family:
Not much has been happening with the family. Rick flew in from Hawaii last Saturday and will be here until 2/2/08. Marsha will be flying in at the end of the month, hoping to see Rick while he's here. We're planning to have a family picture taken while Rick is here. This one will be with just my parents and the children - no spouses or grandchildren. It seems everytime we include spouses and grandchildren there are additions and deletions soon after. This time it will be just a picture of our family.
Kitties:
Bean is still being "Queen Bean". She guards the kitty door and hisses and anyone that tries to enter or leave. I noticed several of the cats jump on the perch and look both ways before coming through the door. They are looking to see if Bean is in the vicinity. Shadow has figured Bean out. He knows that Bean only hisses and does not attack. Bean is all talk no action :) Now that Shadow has her figured out, he's been known to chase her into the den. He also goes looking for her if she's not in the dining room. Atleast Bean lets him into the kitchen to eat now. For awhile she wouldn't let him near the food dish. Poser isn't doing well, he needs to take a trip to the vets office. He seems to have allergies and they aren't getting any better. His sinuses seem to be blocked along with alot of sneezing and coughing. It doesn't seem to bother him but I'm sure he would like to feel better. BTW, Poser has finally realized that it's ok to curl up in the bed with me and Shadow. With the cold nights we've have, I appreciate the extra warmth!!
To Marsha --- Poser & Shadow absolutely love the laser mouse!! Bean doesn't stay in the same room long enough for me to play with her.
To my faithful readers, I apologize for not updating my blog sooner. Honestly, I thought I had posted around Thanksgiving but apparently not. BAD ME!! I'll ask the cats to give me 30 lashes with wet kitty tails.
Cruise:
The cruise was exactly what I wanted it to be --- relaxing. We pretty much did nothing for the week. Just sat around doing nothing, enjoyed coffee & croissants on the balcony every morning, read a book, and just relaxed. I did watch Game 4 of the World Series on the Lido Deck theater size TV screen. NICE :) Great game even though we were being rained on at the time.
Holidays:
I was suppose to drive to NC for Thanksgiving week but the weather had other plans for me. Something about driving in dense fog on black ice in my new car did not seem very appealing.
Christmas was depressing this year. I had been fighting a chest cold that turned to bronchitis. The cold hit me a couple of weeks before Christmas. By Christmas Day, I was having a difficult time breathing. My parents wood stove normally causes me to wheez but with the bronchitis, I had to leave the house or stop breathing. Then again, outside wasn't much better. Everyone in the area has a fireplace or woodstove going. A couple of days later, I decided it was time to visit the doctor and get meds.
Off to the doctor's I went and returned with all sorts of good meds and a referral to a pulmonologist (lung doctor). It's quite possible I also have the start of emphysema. It took me awhile before I finally called the doctor for an appointment. I'm not sure I want to hear what I know he's going to say -- quit smoking. I know it's coming so I'm gearing up for it. I see the doctor tomorrow, heaven only knows when I'll blog about the results :)
Winter:
With having bronchitis and a bad back, I decided to pay someone to shovel/plow the driveway and sidewalks for me this year. Debbie J. is great and has taken care of it, for the most part, for the last couple of years but I felt guilty. The person I hired will do my driveway, the sidewalk for the length of our property and the walkway to my front door. The guy charges by the inches --- 3"-6" $35; 6"-9" $45; ..... Last weeks snowfall was probably the first one I didn't dread, in a very long time! We got about 8" of snow. The guys showed up and in 15 minutes everything was cleared. NICE! Debbie gets to enjoy it too. With the front sidewalk being shoveled, she only has the end of her driveway and her front walkway to shovel. She has 2 cars in her driveway so there's not much to shovel, except around the cars.
Work:
What can I say -- work has been work. The co-worker with the cell phone addiction was finally terminated on 1/11/08. Her attendance was horrendous, work ethics were non-existant and while I hadn't noticed, several people (including our team leader) had smelled alcohol on her breath. I did pick up the aroma of "beer breath" one night but couldn't tell where it came from. Oh but what I failed to mention is that about the beginning of Decemeber, this same person announced she was pregnant. Myself and several co-workers doubt the pregnancy. Mostly because she wasn't the most truthful person around. Of course, once she made the announcement, we all knew it would be difficult to terminate her. I'm sure she tossed around claims of being fired only because she is pregnant. That makes me think whatever the termination reason, it was well documented, and grounds for immediate termination.
Family:
Not much has been happening with the family. Rick flew in from Hawaii last Saturday and will be here until 2/2/08. Marsha will be flying in at the end of the month, hoping to see Rick while he's here. We're planning to have a family picture taken while Rick is here. This one will be with just my parents and the children - no spouses or grandchildren. It seems everytime we include spouses and grandchildren there are additions and deletions soon after. This time it will be just a picture of our family.
Kitties:
Bean is still being "Queen Bean". She guards the kitty door and hisses and anyone that tries to enter or leave. I noticed several of the cats jump on the perch and look both ways before coming through the door. They are looking to see if Bean is in the vicinity. Shadow has figured Bean out. He knows that Bean only hisses and does not attack. Bean is all talk no action :) Now that Shadow has her figured out, he's been known to chase her into the den. He also goes looking for her if she's not in the dining room. Atleast Bean lets him into the kitchen to eat now. For awhile she wouldn't let him near the food dish. Poser isn't doing well, he needs to take a trip to the vets office. He seems to have allergies and they aren't getting any better. His sinuses seem to be blocked along with alot of sneezing and coughing. It doesn't seem to bother him but I'm sure he would like to feel better. BTW, Poser has finally realized that it's ok to curl up in the bed with me and Shadow. With the cold nights we've have, I appreciate the extra warmth!!
To Marsha --- Poser & Shadow absolutely love the laser mouse!! Bean doesn't stay in the same room long enough for me to play with her.
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