Just the facts.

 Just a short catch-up. If you're not into medical details of an elder, just skip this post. I think I've given just the facts, with perhaps a bit of my feelings. But not the details of the medical terms!

My MRI cardiac stress test was last Friday. I had had to reschedule from the last time scheduled, because I couldn't even drive to the hospital from anxious nausea.

My anxiety was definitely better going into the MRI, but about 3/4 way through I had lots of trouble breathing, so they pulled me out and kept saying my oxygen level looked ok. But I kept saying, I can't breathe! I really felt lots of coughing. But no clearing. Finally I said, I think it's an asthma attack, and the nurse went to my purse and got my inhaler. 

Ah ha. That did it, and I could finish the test. Of course they had already given me the antidote to the stressing meds...but they did finish another 5 minutes of MRI.

The Patient Portal shows just a few things, but I still haven't talked with the cardiologist, so I don't quite understand them. Apparently nothing worth a call that day from him.

But I had already scheduled the pulmonologist visit later in the afternoon, because I was always feeling short of breath. Just bending over or walking around the apartment made me panting. They did a walking test to see my oxygen level, and decided I could start having oxygen both portable and while sleeping. A big thing, but if it helps, I'll be glad of it.

They're also putting me back on the same antibiotic again, since I was wheezing away when just sitting still. With steroids this time. Whee!

So they also want me to use the "thera-vest" which shakes my torso to loosen up the mucus. I admit to having not used it much in the last few months. And to start back on a med that I'd tried doing without. Of course that may well have contributed to the shortness of breath - duh. So add another inhaler and the 15-20 min on the vest thing, and start using oxygen. I haven't even started the new drug for bronchiectasis...and will wait another week of taking antibiotic, just to make sure any side effects are just from it.

I'm not thrilled about more stuff to have to treat the condition my condition is in.

These are the exact words I said to my friend in an email that evening. I noticed that as tired as I was, it was really difficult to sleep. Though the nurse assured me the medicine which made my heart think it was exercising strenuously had been gone from my system, I think this old body was still somewhat stimulated. I also had very little appetite.  I'm slightly befuddled and discombobulated...just very out-of-sorts!

And the good news is my attitude changed. I had survived the ordeal. And I was just going to keep on keeping on no matter what medicine told me was needed. But I woke up Saturday morning (after at least 2 hours of wakefulness in early hours) and told myself I loved myself! What a good feeling!

So I'll share some pretty photos now...not of myself!

Heavy frost on the roof of the building downhill from me, and a few blossoms on the trees barely visible in morning sun Friday morning.

Same view Sunday shows the Bradford pear has bloomed.

Waiting for MacD's where I stopped for lunch Friday.

Mission Hospital. The windows on the second floor on far left are right outside the MRI and other radiology labs.  

I took these shots while leaving.

I had spoken of my difficulty finding parking and walking to the entrance originally when the scheduling happened. That was a main source anxiety. It wasn't until my confirmation phone call the day before that they told me there was a valet service, and it was "gratis." And once inside the hospital I checked in right at that door and they wheeled me around in a wheelchair to get to the next place to go. If only they had told me these details the first time, the anxiety would have been much lower!

To me, every hour of the light and dark is a miracle, every cubic inch of space is a miracle…

WALT WHITMAN