Breathing

We had fun yesterday. I ran several errands with mom after her hair appointment then we had a nice, long, chatty lunch at Nordstroms. Not being able to avoid the long drive home, I began the journey at 1:48. My twenty-five minute drive took one hour and five minutes. Not too awful. Frank Sinatra Live at the Sands with Count Basie, double record set was blasting through the speakers. Lots of history there:
http://livingwellwithabaddiagnosis.blogspot.com/2009/11/my-dad-frank-sinatra-and-rehab.html

The weather was the cause of my problems. It was stunning, bright, warm, just beautiful on the coastside. It was hot and miserable everywhere else so thousands came to the water's edge. My home. It is always a pleasure to share it with everyone. Others can breathe in the clean air. Others can enjoy the cooler breezes. But, it is nice when they all go home!

Breathing. The beautiful Susan from the ILD Support Group phoned. She is still dealing with receiving a proper diagnosis and there is some hint that she might actually have HP. Fearing the side effects, she didn't want to do a run of prednisone and cellcept that her doctor recommended. I remember my first run on 40 mgs - seven weeks of nothing but frenetic energy and no sleep but I felt fantastic! She has just moved into a new home and is totally exhausted. There is an overlayment of inflammation so this run could calm that down to allow her to breathe better. After talking it through, she is going to contact the doctor to tell him she has changed her mind and wants to try a run of the drugs.

She is also dealing with needing supplemental oxygen for the first time. So confusing. She thought the portable oxygen systems were indeed portable. She thought they would be worn as a backpack. No one mentioned that they are heavy and hard to get Medicare approval because that has to become your only supplemental oxygen system. They are great during travel but for every day use? Not so much. My oxygen company, which she is joining, no longer is offering liquid oxygen systems for their new clients. It seems that she is going to need 2 liters during exertion and probably at night. Not a lot of oxygen. So, the best systems for her seemed to be the small gas canisters in a backpack for daytime use and a larger tank in her bedroom for nights. No electric concentrators yet!

Today? It is already simply gorgeous. I am running into town early this morning for some meat for dinner then I am staying home the rest of the day. The hidden garden off our bedroom needs some hand trimming but that is the only thing planned. Thousands more will make their way to our little town on the ocean today to breath in the cool, clean air.