Observations

[larryJ]

On Friday I went for my annual appointment with the respiratory therapist.  I seemed to run out of air a little sooner than in the past.  But they didn't change my oxygen prescription.  It remains the same.  I know that Kaiser hospital is clean, but I think I picked something up while there.  I have been sleeping for the last two days, running a small fever and generally feeling bad.  Fever is not high enough to warrant a trip to Urgent Care.  Hopefully it will be gone tomorrow.

In relation to the mockingbirds they have become a little more vocal now and the wisteria is showing green foliage along with the floweres.
 
Going back to sleep for a while.  zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Larryj

[larryJ]

Yesterday we had our two oldest granddaughters (not our normal day), so I took them to school, etc.  I still wasn't 100% from the weekend, but managed to get through it.  This morning, our normal day, I couldn't get up enough energy to take them, so my wife got up and took #1 to school.  She also insisted that I go to the doctor and called and got me an appointment early this morning.  I have been putting off having to go to the doctor because I know it is only a matter of letting my body recover from the illness which takes a little longer when you're older.  But she is insistent and made the appointment.  So I said yes, mostly to keep her quiet and to let her see that the doctor is going to say the same thing. 

But then I could be wrong, who knows............

Larryj

[larryJ]

In a follow-up, the doctor on Tuesday gave some anti-biotics and had me get a chest X-ray.  He said he would call if the X-ray showed anything.  Then yesterday, his nurse called to inform me that their were symtoms of pneumonia from the X-ray.  Wait.........I was there on Tuesday and you are calling three days later?  I love my Kaiser insurance, but this is just not right. 

Anyway, still sick.......I guess, with pneumonia.  Usually people run fever with pneumonia, but my temp has been normal except for the first two days last weekend.  Obviously, this affects my breathing so any effort used causes problems.  It is mostly the weakness that bothers me.  This can result in humorous things, however.  When I go to bed at night, I put the two dogs in their cages and latch the doggie door which has old fashioned screen hooks, one on each side.  When I let them out in the morning, I unlatch the doggie door.  This morning, with great effort I managed to let them out, but forgot about the doggie door.  R.A.M.B.O. does not go out right away, but Sir Charles will make a exploratory trip through this end of the house and then go out.  He headed for the doggie door and I heard a bang......trying to get out.........  I thought, "Oh, great, I gotta get up and open that."  Then I heard a few other noises and the unmistakeable sound of the doggie door being opened.  Sir Charles, it seems, knows how to open the latches on the doggie door.

At least one of us is functioning.

Larryj

[Diane Amberg]

I'm so sorry you are down. I assume it's viral? Actually when I had it in 04 I don't remember having any fever, but had some cough  really severe weakness and a pulse 0x of 87.That really got my doc's attention and they slapped O2 on me even before the x-ray, which they read right there. The O2 truck almost got to our house before I did. I know you are already on oxygen. Did they raise it any ? Please pay attention to what your body tells you so it can fight this off right away. Get as much help at home as possible.  Have your family baby you for a change. I know you already know this, but don't push it or it may be a hospital trip for you. Hugs and prayers from both of us. Well, at least hugs from me, maybe not Al....HA!

[larryJ]

When I saw the respiratory therapist last Friday, she suggested that I keep my O2 setting on one while resting, but if I go out with the portable, it should be on two.  Then this hit and I moved the concentrator to two for the duration.  I check with my pulseoximeter when I first wake up before I get up and it usually says 98.  By the time I get dressed, go to the bathroom, make it to the other side of the house, pour my coffee, let the dogs out and get back to my recliner, it will drop to 90 or 91.  I can understand them slapping O2 on you with a reading of 87.  Anything under 89 is dangerous.  After about five to ten minutes of sitting in my recliner the O2 will get back to 95 or 96.  You are correct about the weakness.  That's the worse part. 

So today, started off as described above.  Not having any energy, I have not been in the shower for a few days and I was beginning to hate being around me.  Then I had a burst of energy and managed to get in a shower and a shave.  The afternoon was pretty good with moving around and I even got some Vitamin D outside for about a half an hour.  Unfortunately I am not 100% yet and have now tired out for the night.  But the Dodger game is on and my true blue Dodger fan son and I have been texting each other during the game.  He wants me to come down to Newport on opening day and watch the game there.  I will wait and see about that.

As far as getting "taken care  of," both my wife and her cousin are taking good care of me, making sure I eat and get the fluids I need. 

Things are looking up.

Larryj

[Diane Amberg]

Thanks for sharing. I'm so glad you can see some improvement. You have a good family to take care of you and that makes all the difference doesn't it?

[larryJ]

Feeling better this morning, but wife is not well.....stomach problems, nausea........these are not symptoms of what I had so I don't know what she is getting. 

On to an observation:  A friend on FB and a former co-worker, a guy that I worked with on a press crew the last five years I was there, a guy who loved photography and always had a camera sitting on the press console, a guy who took pictures of everyone and everything...........posted a link to 315 pictures of the "old days" including pictures of many of our co-workers from years past.  So I spent the good part of an hour perusing through the pictures.  It brought back lots of memories.  Fortunately most were captioned so that I would remember the names and places.  As I shuffled through, I began to notice that I was not in any of them.  There were pictures of apprentice classes both before and after the apprentice class I was in.  I never got to the end, but close.  The website was starting to have problems loading the pictures.  However, at one point there was a picture of a press crew that I was on and there I was with my '70's haircut and mustache (disco isn't dead).  But it amazes me that I stood next to this guy seven hours a day, five days a week for probably five years and there is only one picture of me and that one was taken 30 years ago.

Sheesh.

Larryj

[Diane Amberg]

There has been a nasty norvo virus going around. It lasts for several days. It spreads fast and even alcohol hand sanitizers don't kill it easliy. I do hope it's not that.  Your press man stories are always interesting. Have you changed so much you didn't recognizre your self in the old photos? Just kidding.

[larryJ]

Funny that you should mention that.  Just yesterday in a conversation with the wife, she stated that she always thought of herself as she was when she was young and that sometimes she is "startled" when she looks in a mirror.  Being my tactful self, I did not say that I was startled when she came into the room.    Instead, I mentioned that although I look my age and know that what I see in the mirror is what people see, I am amazed that when someone takes a picture of me, I look ten years older. 

As far as seeing old photos of myself, I am not so surprised at how I look, but how I evolved with the times.  Going from the '60s hairstyle, Elvis style, through the '70s, disco style, and so on.  Some time back, #1 Granddaughter saw a picture of me that was taken some 20 years ago and the first thing out of her mouth........."Don't you ever change your hair?"

Cute kid.

Larryj

[Diane Amberg]

I hope your wife is better today.