LOOKING FOR ANSWERS AGAIN!

By Mr. William

“A person without good breathing, is a person with a life of constant caution, so let’s do what we can, to learn what we can, to improve what we can.” (Will Dursens)

Oh, the life of battling one or many chronic illnesses. This is one of those ramblings – do they sound familiar to any of you.

Sometimes it just seems to be test, x-rays, questions, more tests, more doctors and maybe a new med along the way.

Here I am, 3 ½ weeks removed from my first visit about issues in my throat, losing my voice and a few short of breath episodes – and all I got today was more blood tests, more x-rays, a change in a med and now yet another doctor to go see.

Did I mention this appointment was with a different physician’s assistant, still not my regular doctor.

My appointment today was due to my still having issues talking and a heart that seems to want to race along at 95-105 when I am not doing much of anything. Funny thing is, when I have those symptoms and grab my oximeter, I get a good reading of oxygen (between 93-96) and a heart rate of between 85-100.

But that pounding in my heart I get just out of the blue sometimes, hey doc what do you say about that?

The doc says let’s take some blood and test everything, including one for congestive heart failure.

Of course, my blood pressure is the best it has been in like five days and my oxygen is okay at 94.

The doc says let’s get an x-ray to check the lungs.

I say, what about the EKG which I originally called about?

The doc says, oh yes, we must get an EKG!!

So here we go, I get an EKG, they take a bunch of blood and I stand half-naked in front of some board so they can take a couple of x-rays. Gosh, it is so much fun going to the doctor.

Now I get both the physician assistant, a student med intern and oh wow – my regular doctor.

Doc says – x-ray seems to be okay, though you do have some wheezing issues at the moment. Let’s change your nebulizer treatment a bit.

I ask – what about my throat and inability to get my full voice back?

Doc says – lets check out the lungs and heart first.

Doc office calls later to say that ALL THAT BLOOD WORK showed nothing out of the ordinary, we will call when we hear from the cardiologist.

Doc office calls, can you be at the cardiologist by 1:45 p.m. tomorrow? Yes, I can…okay, you will see one of the other cardiologist as yours is on vacation somewhere.

So here is the deal, for the past three plus weeks I have had issues with my voice and what seems to be much phlegm in my throat at times. I have also had issues with my heart pounding as well as racing along out of the blue at those 95-105 beats per minute. I am just looking for answers and I am always tired by the way.

There has been several days where I can get on the exercise bike for up to 15 minutes and clip along just fine, in fact the heartbeat won’t get higher than 110 but my breathing stays okay. Then those days are followed by one or several where I just feel so tired and get short on breath just walking through the house.

But it all comes down to my voice, once which is already a bit unnormal due to a partially paralyzed larynx. When my voice is getting more unnormal, horsey or even down to a whisper, I for one knows that something is going on within this temple I call a body.

Since I have been removed from the run of prednisone for over a week now, that was immediately ruled out. So now we must get down to what is really going on.

My biggest fear is that tomorrow I will drive all the way to the cardiologist (it’s an hour drive one way) only to either be told to come back another day for more tests or everything seems good it must be caused by something else. I am not the only one looking for some results, my wife is as well and trust me you don’t want to not give her some answers as she will only badger the doctor’s office until she gets something she can either understand or accept, she is like that and I much appreciate it because I just get tired of doctors, visits, tests and all which cause me to want to just be left alone.

QUESTION TIME – As we like to do at times, we leave you with a question to think about and maybe respond to. The question(s) I may ask today are:

  • What kind of responses from your medical professionals annoy you the most?
  • How often to you go to the doctor per year or month?
  • How often is your doctor visit found leaving you with maybe more questions than answers?

            We appreciate your answers as they may lead to a discussion in an upcoming “‘Lenny’ & Me 4 Today”, so thanking you in advance.

So, until I can talk again (not literally), that is where Lenny and I are at for today.

And that my friends, is where ‘Lenny’ and Me are 4 today.

A REMINDER – Do you have any comments or questions about my postings, then feel free to leave a comment on either at this blog, at the email address of wheezingaway@gmail.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/copdtravels/.

ALWAYS REMEMBER – If you or anyone you know have any symptoms involving lung and breathing functionality, and they linger over and over while disrupting a lifestyle – then please ask questions and get it checked out.

With that, I bid to all – smiles, prayers, blessings and steady breathing – Mr. William.

(Copyright@2020, CrossDove Writers through wheezingaway.com – no part of this write may be used or copied without written permission.)

NOTES: Sometimes we share what may seem like medical information, but we are only giving descriptions and highlights of various aspects of having COPD and/or Asthma and no way do we ever want our information to be considered medical treatment type of information, always consult your physician for more, clearer medical founded information.