Norma's Wanderings around a small section of Montana |
Seems I have a new wrinkle in the game. Now I have a collapsed lung, or fluid on the lung. Some people tell me that is the same thing. I went to the clinic on Friday to get that good news on an X-ray. So I have a week to work on deep breathing with one of those little devices where you blow into a tube and get the air to raise a bellows. Ha, I cannot even move it a tiny bit. That tells you how badly my lung function is. And how badly I need to work on getting back to normal. A church member just happens to be a respiratory therapist and he tells me to drink lots of water - doing that. Take walks - doing that. Use a spirometer - that's the device I described. Take deep breaths even if it hurts - and believe me it does. If I cannot get this lung reinflated, I may have to have a bronchoscopy. Not fun, but I'll do it if need be. Back to the clinic on Friday for another X-ray and check my progress. Fun and games. |
Take a break. Sometimes in life you have to stop. And sometimes that stop is full, put on the brakes, fall on your face. I just got out of the hospital with a case of double pneumonia and RSV. Now double pneumonia is bad enough, but add that ugly virus onto it, and whammy! You're flat on your back. This illness had been building for weeks. I went to the ER last Thursday, they admitted me. I was on 5 liters of oxygen. That's a lot of oxygen folks. Coughing, coughing, non-stop. So I stayed in hospital for 4 days. I didn't even mind being there. Because I knew I was in the very best possible place. When you cannot breathe, you want to be where people can help. I didn't even mind getting poked for an IV and bloodwork and heparin shots. You people do what you do best. I am sick. Make me well. And they did. But darn it, I had to drop out of Wonderland. Nuts. But there is next year. Now I am in recuperation mode. I am walking around the block, taking my medication, resting, being a good patient. Enjoy the rest of the summer! I will be resting a recuperating. |
It has been a while since I posted. And once again, the bombing has started here in Roundup. The 4th of July fireworks are all around and on top of us again. I thought with things being tough, gas and food and all, people would cut back, but no. The rockets and firecrackers and bombs are exploding as I write. I hate it more and more each year. I did complain online. And promptly got chastised by the seller of said fireworks in town. We're a family business, it's our livelihood. Whatever. Veterans with PTSD and those with anxiety issues cannot bear to be in town for a few weeks because of inconsiderate people. I did get away for a few days. I went to Gardiner for a time. I visited my old stomping ground, the motel we used to manage. It is a sad town right now. The town itself was not flooded, but now they have no one visiting, because there is no access to Yellowstone National Park. So the motels are not able to keep help, the restaurants are not able to keep help, the gift shops are not able to keep help. Sad state of affairs for all involved. I did go hiking one afternoon in the national forest. And promptly fell into a small stream, messed up my arm, but it could have been worse, I was afraid I broke something. Since I was 2 miles or more from the car, that would've been dire. And by myself. But it was fine, just a few scrapes that are having a heck of a time healing. I came home to the remodeling project that is about 75% done, a great leap forward from when I left. My garden is growing well. We had a great thunderstorm tonight. So things are going well. The big RIDE celebration has started. Concerts, parades, rodeos, lots of fun here in town. Happy 4th Holiday everyone! I have 2 birthdays in our family on the 4th. What fun! |