Very warm, windy, and sunny in the Old Pueblo for the past week. Lots of moisture passing to our north has given us gusty conditions. It's no wonder that I got valley fever, sucking all the blowing dust.
The doctor confirmed that the blood test I had showed a blood antibody level for valley fever. Today, I had a CT scan that showed the mass on my lung had decreased about a cm in size. He called me to advise me that this was consistent with the diagnosis. I'm not on any meds for now; they are useful when one is in the throes of hacking, fever, chills, muscle aches etc. My legacy is shortness of breath and occasional coughing. The antifungals that this is treated with are not friendly to one's liver, so I'm opting to use rest and relaxation as my primary treatment. If things go back to where they were a month ago, I'll call the doc for help. Need a chest x-ray (not CT) in a month for him to review.
Steven finished up 2 classes at ASU this week. He's been working full time as a Sushi Chef for several months, and he may be seeking more than full time in the near future. He's training someone else right now as a relief chef. He has 8 more classes to complete for his BA in Design Studies, Built Environment.
We had carpet replaced in teh bedrooms and hardwood put down in the living room, family room and hall. Looks like somebody else's house. Of course, when you do this kinda remodel, it demands that you paint the walls to add pizazz, and the old furniture (we're talking from 10 to 25+years plus in age) looks like crap in this context, so we'll likely need to replace a few items. I need to wait til May 8 to tap into my Federal savings plan without a tax penalty.
Hope all readers are healthy, wealthy and wild!
a
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Sunday, April 20, 2008
All Doctors are NOT Created Equal
A few weeks ago, a gentleman phoned me at the office to inquire about how to make comments on the upcoming environmental impacts analysis of the Rosemont Mine project, for which we rec'd an application from a copper company last summer.
While we were chatting, he asked me about the public open-houses that the Forest had held during the week before Easter. I told him I had been sick and hadn't attended. He then advised me that he was a retired doctor and asked me what was ailing me.
I explained that I'd been unable to get a deep breath for a few months, especially when i was out walking the dirt roads near my home with David as part of our exercise regime. I continued to tell him I had a nasty cough that was unproductive for awhile, then turned into a gurgling, wheezing nightmare. I told him I had sweats and chills, and that I was sooooo tired that I was sleeping 12-16 hrs per day.
He said it sounded like Valley Fever or pneumonia.
After our phone conversation, and as I reported in my April 10 post, I had the PET/CT done at Scripps, whereafter the radiologist noted the shadow on the upper lobe, right lung. My endocrinologist, Dr. Dailey, phoned me from Scripps and told me to get an appointment with a pulmonary specialist here in Tucson. I called everyone in town, and no one would schedule me until August or September. I even tried David's sleep doctor, who is a pulmonary specialist, and they turned me away. Dr. Dailey had faxed them the radiology report, but to no avail.
That weekend, I felt somewhat better, so I attended our next open house about the mine on Saturday April 5. Whom should I meet there, but Dr. Chrissman, the retired doctor to whom I spoke on the phone. He asked me about my doctor visit, and I reported what they'd seen on the PET scan. He said it was likely valley fever. I explained my frustration at not being able to score an appt. He offered to help.
Long story short, he was able to locate someone to see me. David and I saw Dr. Clements on Wed this week, after which I had blood drawn for an antibody titer and a followup CT scheduled for next week. He told me he was fairly certain in was valley fever, and gave me compelling reasons why it was probably not TB or lung cancer. He also wrote me an excuse requesting that i be allowed to work from home so that i can catch some zzzzzzzzzzzs when i feel worn down, rather than laying on the floor of my office.
I finished this week working at home, napped when i could, worked when i could and more or less feel stronger as of today. Haven't had chills since last weekend, and not much coughing at all. Though Dr Clements encouraged me to keep swimming for exercise, I'm waiting until after the CT scan to be sure that I'm not exacerbating the problem.
Thanks a million to Dr. Chrissman, a caring, compassionate man.
While we were chatting, he asked me about the public open-houses that the Forest had held during the week before Easter. I told him I had been sick and hadn't attended. He then advised me that he was a retired doctor and asked me what was ailing me.
I explained that I'd been unable to get a deep breath for a few months, especially when i was out walking the dirt roads near my home with David as part of our exercise regime. I continued to tell him I had a nasty cough that was unproductive for awhile, then turned into a gurgling, wheezing nightmare. I told him I had sweats and chills, and that I was sooooo tired that I was sleeping 12-16 hrs per day.
He said it sounded like Valley Fever or pneumonia.
After our phone conversation, and as I reported in my April 10 post, I had the PET/CT done at Scripps, whereafter the radiologist noted the shadow on the upper lobe, right lung. My endocrinologist, Dr. Dailey, phoned me from Scripps and told me to get an appointment with a pulmonary specialist here in Tucson. I called everyone in town, and no one would schedule me until August or September. I even tried David's sleep doctor, who is a pulmonary specialist, and they turned me away. Dr. Dailey had faxed them the radiology report, but to no avail.
That weekend, I felt somewhat better, so I attended our next open house about the mine on Saturday April 5. Whom should I meet there, but Dr. Chrissman, the retired doctor to whom I spoke on the phone. He asked me about my doctor visit, and I reported what they'd seen on the PET scan. He said it was likely valley fever. I explained my frustration at not being able to score an appt. He offered to help.
Long story short, he was able to locate someone to see me. David and I saw Dr. Clements on Wed this week, after which I had blood drawn for an antibody titer and a followup CT scheduled for next week. He told me he was fairly certain in was valley fever, and gave me compelling reasons why it was probably not TB or lung cancer. He also wrote me an excuse requesting that i be allowed to work from home so that i can catch some zzzzzzzzzzzs when i feel worn down, rather than laying on the floor of my office.
I finished this week working at home, napped when i could, worked when i could and more or less feel stronger as of today. Haven't had chills since last weekend, and not much coughing at all. Though Dr Clements encouraged me to keep swimming for exercise, I'm waiting until after the CT scan to be sure that I'm not exacerbating the problem.
Thanks a million to Dr. Chrissman, a caring, compassionate man.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Have a Heart!
Last Sunday, we left for my biannual diabetes appointment with Dr. George Dailey, head of Endocrinology at Scripps Institute in La Jolla. I had scheduled both an office visit with Dr D and an echocardiogram, which is an ultrasound that shows heart function under stress. This type of stress test is done for people who are unable or unwilling to do the treadmill test.
My tender right foot refers excruciating pain to my lower back if I exert too much pressure on it by walking (that's why I swim), so this was the test of choice. The reason for my having a myocardial function test was becuz of my use of the oral medication, Actos, which comes with a warning about potential heart failure as a side effect.
Get to the cardio lab, all suited up in a glamorous open front nightie, and ready to go, IV pumping toxins into me, electrodes glued down in the netherlands of my anatomy, when the ultrasound technician reported that she couldn't see my heart on the screen. Where was the li'l bugger?
She and the nurse who was going to inject the drugs to stress me tried every which way to move my left boob to get a glimpse of the ticker.
Unable to locate it, they summoned the cardiologist on duty that day, Mike Smith. He looked at the screen, moved the mouse around a bit (the computer kind), then turned to me and said, "Do you have breast implants?"
Indignant, I replied, "Why, I BEG YOUR PARDON!" They all laughed sheepishly, and then I just couldn't resist the opportunity to use a line from an old Seinfeld show where Jerry is trying to find out if a girl he's dating has implants. I continued by saying proudly, "They're REAL....and they're SPECTACULAR!"
We all had a good laugh.
Turns out that there was no way of seeing my heart with ultrasound becuz my breast tissue is too dense. They couldn't get a peek at the heart thru the rib cage either, becuz i have dense and gigantic ribs as well. Next step?
The IV comes out, the electrodes pulled off and i get dressed for a hike over to my endocrinologist's office to try to get approval for one of the best myocardial function tests on the market: the PET scan. After duress with the nurse (Doc had left and didn't answer his pager), another Doc in the endocrinology dept approved the PET scan.
Next day, i have to fast from 8 am til the test at 2:45 pm. Lovely. This test uses a radioisotope (rubidium) to illuminate the heart and every blood vessel you own. Side effects are myriad. My side effect of choice was a booming migraine. I'd had many migraines in my life, most of them associated with changes in barometric pressure and cyclic female hormone changes. With this test, I learned emphatically that changes in barometric pressure cause my sinus tissue to dilate, which produces the sinus headache that eventually continues long enough to give the symptoms of migraine.
But I digress......the bottom line is that you get a stimulant injected into your IV to dilate every blood vessel, then rubidium injected in the IV to glow in the dark on the CT scan that follows. For about 15 minutes, you are in the CT machine enjoying your own personal side effect. Some people have chest pressure, others have tingling fingers and toes. I knew my head was going to explode.
They finish by injecting a drug that reverse the dilation and takes most of the migraine away. 800 mg of ibuprofen to polish off the pain and i was done.
Good news is that the myocardial function was outstanding. And my doctor took me off the Actos anyway, because weight loss and exercise has helped my blood glucose levels remain low.
Not-so-good news was that the scan also shows the lungs hiding behind the heart, and i had a 4cm shadow on the upper lobe of the right lung. I'd been off work with a nasty cough for a week before this, so it was no surprise to me. Dr. Dailey recommended a follow up CT scan here in Tucson with a visit to a pulmonologist. He sent me an email with the reading on April 3, and I've not yet been able to schedule a follow up. Most folks I call say they are booked until September. I have an Obgyn annual on May 5, and if I've been unable to hook up with anyone, I'll ask her to help.
Other stuff: weather was cool in SD but still lovely, flowers were bursting at the seams in all colors of the rainbow cuz of winter rains. Ate at our usual haunts, but this was a rather short visit, so we didn't get to do much but go to the doc and test labs.
On April 7, here in Tucson, I had my second oral surgery for placement of 2 dental implants on the left lower jaw. In a few weeks, I'll have impressions made and they'll order the crowns. David's had to recently undergo 2-hr (not kidding) sandblastings of his gums because of scale buildup. The pH of your mouth is a big determinant of whether or not you get scale; i've lucked out on that, and he suffers.
david got his sleep apnea machine and is resting much better. SO AM I. It keeps him from snoring like a freight train, so I too sleep like a baby when we are in the same bed/room. He thinks it may need some adjusting, but overall is pleased with its results. He no longer comes home in the afternoon and collapses in a dead funk.
i've been having some very interesting dreams again...lots of visitation by dead relatives and crazy activities in them. Not worth repeating, but let me say that when i wake up, for a few hours, i don't know if they're truth or fiction!
hope all who read this are well and blessed.
a
My tender right foot refers excruciating pain to my lower back if I exert too much pressure on it by walking (that's why I swim), so this was the test of choice. The reason for my having a myocardial function test was becuz of my use of the oral medication, Actos, which comes with a warning about potential heart failure as a side effect.
Get to the cardio lab, all suited up in a glamorous open front nightie, and ready to go, IV pumping toxins into me, electrodes glued down in the netherlands of my anatomy, when the ultrasound technician reported that she couldn't see my heart on the screen. Where was the li'l bugger?
She and the nurse who was going to inject the drugs to stress me tried every which way to move my left boob to get a glimpse of the ticker.
Unable to locate it, they summoned the cardiologist on duty that day, Mike Smith. He looked at the screen, moved the mouse around a bit (the computer kind), then turned to me and said, "Do you have breast implants?"
Indignant, I replied, "Why, I BEG YOUR PARDON!" They all laughed sheepishly, and then I just couldn't resist the opportunity to use a line from an old Seinfeld show where Jerry is trying to find out if a girl he's dating has implants. I continued by saying proudly, "They're REAL....and they're SPECTACULAR!"
We all had a good laugh.
Turns out that there was no way of seeing my heart with ultrasound becuz my breast tissue is too dense. They couldn't get a peek at the heart thru the rib cage either, becuz i have dense and gigantic ribs as well. Next step?
The IV comes out, the electrodes pulled off and i get dressed for a hike over to my endocrinologist's office to try to get approval for one of the best myocardial function tests on the market: the PET scan. After duress with the nurse (Doc had left and didn't answer his pager), another Doc in the endocrinology dept approved the PET scan.
Next day, i have to fast from 8 am til the test at 2:45 pm. Lovely. This test uses a radioisotope (rubidium) to illuminate the heart and every blood vessel you own. Side effects are myriad. My side effect of choice was a booming migraine. I'd had many migraines in my life, most of them associated with changes in barometric pressure and cyclic female hormone changes. With this test, I learned emphatically that changes in barometric pressure cause my sinus tissue to dilate, which produces the sinus headache that eventually continues long enough to give the symptoms of migraine.
But I digress......the bottom line is that you get a stimulant injected into your IV to dilate every blood vessel, then rubidium injected in the IV to glow in the dark on the CT scan that follows. For about 15 minutes, you are in the CT machine enjoying your own personal side effect. Some people have chest pressure, others have tingling fingers and toes. I knew my head was going to explode.
They finish by injecting a drug that reverse the dilation and takes most of the migraine away. 800 mg of ibuprofen to polish off the pain and i was done.
Good news is that the myocardial function was outstanding. And my doctor took me off the Actos anyway, because weight loss and exercise has helped my blood glucose levels remain low.
Not-so-good news was that the scan also shows the lungs hiding behind the heart, and i had a 4cm shadow on the upper lobe of the right lung. I'd been off work with a nasty cough for a week before this, so it was no surprise to me. Dr. Dailey recommended a follow up CT scan here in Tucson with a visit to a pulmonologist. He sent me an email with the reading on April 3, and I've not yet been able to schedule a follow up. Most folks I call say they are booked until September. I have an Obgyn annual on May 5, and if I've been unable to hook up with anyone, I'll ask her to help.
Other stuff: weather was cool in SD but still lovely, flowers were bursting at the seams in all colors of the rainbow cuz of winter rains. Ate at our usual haunts, but this was a rather short visit, so we didn't get to do much but go to the doc and test labs.
On April 7, here in Tucson, I had my second oral surgery for placement of 2 dental implants on the left lower jaw. In a few weeks, I'll have impressions made and they'll order the crowns. David's had to recently undergo 2-hr (not kidding) sandblastings of his gums because of scale buildup. The pH of your mouth is a big determinant of whether or not you get scale; i've lucked out on that, and he suffers.
david got his sleep apnea machine and is resting much better. SO AM I. It keeps him from snoring like a freight train, so I too sleep like a baby when we are in the same bed/room. He thinks it may need some adjusting, but overall is pleased with its results. He no longer comes home in the afternoon and collapses in a dead funk.
i've been having some very interesting dreams again...lots of visitation by dead relatives and crazy activities in them. Not worth repeating, but let me say that when i wake up, for a few hours, i don't know if they're truth or fiction!
hope all who read this are well and blessed.
a
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