Friday, March 4, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
2 things
1. This evening, after just brushing my teeth, I find myself wanting a bedtime story. I know, that's silly of me, right? It's probably because I'm nostalgic, but when you're little and sleepy, there is nothing better than falling asleep to a story from mom or dad. I'm quite sleepy, so it just sounds awesome right now.
2. God has presented me with a solution to a big potential problem I was going to have soon. I think it's definitely one of those "He works in mysterious ways" situations because all of a sudden, today I have a way out and I won't have to compromise my health. More details to come later...
2. God has presented me with a solution to a big potential problem I was going to have soon. I think it's definitely one of those "He works in mysterious ways" situations because all of a sudden, today I have a way out and I won't have to compromise my health. More details to come later...
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
I just had to post this little tidbit...
So I have always disliked Miley Cyrus. Hated, almost. I found Hannah Montana incredibly annoying and that "Party In the USA" song sounded like a singing weasel.
Well, I just found out something about dear ol' Miley that has changed my opinion about her. I'm not saying I still don't find Hannah Montana annoying, but I have a lot more respect suddenly than I had ten minutes ago. Turns out in December 2009, Miley went to get her first tattoo (a little young, but stay with me here...) She got a small tattoo that says "Just Breathe" on her upper chest, under her left breast to be specific. Yeah, it's a strange spot for a tattoo, but I'm okay with it since it's not somewhere the world will see all the time. Why did she do this? Well, turns out... it was in honor of a close friend who passed away from cystic fibrosis.
...wow. Hmph.
So I have always disliked Miley Cyrus. Hated, almost. I found Hannah Montana incredibly annoying and that "Party In the USA" song sounded like a singing weasel.
Well, I just found out something about dear ol' Miley that has changed my opinion about her. I'm not saying I still don't find Hannah Montana annoying, but I have a lot more respect suddenly than I had ten minutes ago. Turns out in December 2009, Miley went to get her first tattoo (a little young, but stay with me here...) She got a small tattoo that says "Just Breathe" on her upper chest, under her left breast to be specific. Yeah, it's a strange spot for a tattoo, but I'm okay with it since it's not somewhere the world will see all the time. Why did she do this? Well, turns out... it was in honor of a close friend who passed away from cystic fibrosis.
...wow. Hmph.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
The Ay's have it
Our local paper releases a "Parade of Babies" sort of insert yearly as a way for proud parents to announce the birth of their baby in the past year. I noticed a trend in baby names this year, which I must say I'm starting to find annoying. Pretty much if you name your kid something with a long A sound (as in "ay" in May) you've got a trendy name. Trend numero dos is adding unnecessary y's in place of i's and e's, and more specifically in combination with an "n". And some people even combine these two to form a name that, quite honestly, half the time I can't tell if it's for a boy or a girl. Oh, the quest to be original when naming your kids (yet not so original when it sounds like everyone else's name)...
Here are a sample of names from this year's insert:
Here are a sample of names from this year's insert:
- Braelyn
- Haidyn (girl)
- Westyn
- Ayden
- Josslyn
- Haley
- Gillyann
- Brayden
- Daylyn
- Taevyn (...what?)
- Peyton
- Avery
- Ava
- Mason
- Layla
- Jayson (again, unnecessary y)
- Hayden (boy)
- Ayden
- Aiden
- Leighton
- Caylynn
- Bailey
- Lane
- Kaitlyn
- Jayden
- Aydan
- Hayden (girl)
- Mason
- Callie (not sure if this is a like "cat" or a like "lake")
- Blaine
- Trevyn (...what?)
- Paityn (girl)
- Gwendylan (sorry, but this looks like it's almost the name of a theme park: Gwendy Land)
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Easy-Mac-e Catrastrophe
This morning I did something I've never done before: burnt my Easy Mac. As most of you know, I eat Easy Mac almost every morning for breakfast. This morning, though, I must have been out of it (although... I was quite awake and not tired.)
I was talking with mom about... something, as she was sewing a button on her pants. I put my Easy Mac in the microwave and got everything ready to make it once it was done. I pulled out the potholders and started to smell something. Mom could smell it too. We both thought something didn't quite smell right; it was like something toasting or burning in the toaster... except I wasn't using the toaster. I sniffed the potholders in case those smelled, and they were not the problem. I then checked by the microwave area and that was definitely the problem. I paused my cooking with 50 seconds left, and opened the door. The culprit was in there, and I then took down my bowl to discover browned, blackened, and charred noodles... with no water. For the first time in my long history of making Easy Mac, I forgot to add the water. I immediately put the bowl outside on the deck. IT. REEKED. Oh my gosh, I didn't know that it could smell that bad. It was worse than burnt popcorn, though I can't quite relate it to anything else.
Later on right before I left dad brought the bowl back in and put my charred macaroni's in a baggie and through it in the trash. After doing that, we could see that I most likely ruined the bowl too. The bottom of the bowl is scarred with brown and black spots, with white areas where noodles were; it's a really
strange pattern, haha.
My cousin Jason did this same thing one time, though his was with one of the microwaveable cups and the cup melted too and left a mark on their microwave. I think his was a little worse, but now we're both in the same boat. But he's 10...
Oh well, first time for everything I suppose.
I was talking with mom about... something, as she was sewing a button on her pants. I put my Easy Mac in the microwave and got everything ready to make it once it was done. I pulled out the potholders and started to smell something. Mom could smell it too. We both thought something didn't quite smell right; it was like something toasting or burning in the toaster... except I wasn't using the toaster. I sniffed the potholders in case those smelled, and they were not the problem. I then checked by the microwave area and that was definitely the problem. I paused my cooking with 50 seconds left, and opened the door. The culprit was in there, and I then took down my bowl to discover browned, blackened, and charred noodles... with no water. For the first time in my long history of making Easy Mac, I forgot to add the water. I immediately put the bowl outside on the deck. IT. REEKED. Oh my gosh, I didn't know that it could smell that bad. It was worse than burnt popcorn, though I can't quite relate it to anything else.
Later on right before I left dad brought the bowl back in and put my charred macaroni's in a baggie and through it in the trash. After doing that, we could see that I most likely ruined the bowl too. The bottom of the bowl is scarred with brown and black spots, with white areas where noodles were; it's a really
strange pattern, haha.
My cousin Jason did this same thing one time, though his was with one of the microwaveable cups and the cup melted too and left a mark on their microwave. I think his was a little worse, but now we're both in the same boat. But he's 10...
Oh well, first time for everything I suppose.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Nuthin' But a "IV" Thang
Tomorrow I have my follow-up appointment after my stay in the hospital. Wish me luck. I do feel much better, and honestly if I wasn't I would REALLY think something is wrong. We are on track to finish up my IV stuff tomorrow night, provided that my appointment shows I am improving as expected. I am so excited to be done with this. I don't mind doing it at work, and fortunately my mom is very generous with her time and has gotten up every morning to come up at 6:00am and run my one dose of meds, but I'm just ready to be done.
Something less obvious about these tune ups: My selection of clothes is always cut down to about 10% or less when I do this because my port is accessed. I have a port just under my skin on the left side of my body, in pretty much the exact spot you would 'put your hand over your heart' for the Pledge of Allegiance. So not only is there a small bump of a needle, meaning no fitted shirts, there is the dressing, which adds a good 2-3 inches of tape around it. In the summertime, this pretty much means I'm wearing T-shirts all the time. Right now, though, it means high-necked sweaters or shirts with SCARVES are totally fine! So trying to dress with this thing in is much easier in the winter.
Something less obvious about these tune ups: My selection of clothes is always cut down to about 10% or less when I do this because my port is accessed. I have a port just under my skin on the left side of my body, in pretty much the exact spot you would 'put your hand over your heart' for the Pledge of Allegiance. So not only is there a small bump of a needle, meaning no fitted shirts, there is the dressing, which adds a good 2-3 inches of tape around it. In the summertime, this pretty much means I'm wearing T-shirts all the time. Right now, though, it means high-necked sweaters or shirts with SCARVES are totally fine! So trying to dress with this thing in is much easier in the winter.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Review: "Exit Through the Gift Shop"
"Exit Through the Gift Shop" has been on my radar for a little while now and I watched it the other day. It's now up for an academy award for Documentary Feature, so that's fun.
The documentary is about street art, which is kinda fun. In a nutshell: this random French guy randomly stumbles upon his cousin one day who is preparing his street art, and then decides to follow his cousin around at night and such as he places his pieces up around the city. As time goes on, he hooks up with some of the most well-known street artists around to film them as they put up their work at night. Except for one: Banksy. If you don't know who Banksy is, he is possibly THE most well-known street artist around. He lives in Britain and is known for his particular style that is fairly distinct and usually in your face. If you don't know what street art is, it is basically artistic graffiti. Sometime is isn't spray paint, though, but it is all art that is strategically placed, usually in a city setting. The fun part about it is that it is usually temporary, as most times it's illegal. So obviously this random Frenchman filming this is a great thing, as it captures the technique and documents that it happens because sometimes the art is only up for a day or two. The movie goes like this for a while and it is quite interesting, not to mention that it's kind of fun and intriguing to delve into the underworld of street art.
Finally one day Thierry (the guy filming all this stuff) gets a call that Banksy is in town. He speeds off to meet him, literally, and ends up gaining his trust and starts to tape him as he works. This was really cool to me because Banksy is this mysterious guy who is never revealed in the film. We have faces for all the other street artists in this film except him; he is lighted from the back, in a hoodie (which looked very Assassin's Creed-ish) and his voice is processed. But he's a very intriguing person, and his ideas intrigue me. Something I've noticed about myself when it comes to art and design: I typically love things that I would never, EVER, in a million years come up with. I do not think like a Banksy. I can criticize something, sure. But to take that idea and turn it into a satirical work of art? Never.
So watching Banksy and listening to him was quite fun. Honestly, the movie could have ended right after his prank at Disneyland. But it didn't, and then it just went downhill.
Banksy challenges Thierry to go and create his own art. Thierry, thinking Banksy is this all-powerful god, takes this to heart and does just that. So he becomes a 'street artist' and calls himself "Mr. Brainwash." This was about where my internet cut out for the third time and I decided to postpone finishing the movie. I had a feeling that the movie was just taking a turn for the worse, though. And I was right.
So now the scope of the movie has changed. We are no longer following the underworld of street art but the new street art of Thierry. Except... he's not really doing art.
Thierry's ideas are bland and shallow to put it nicely; they have no depth, which is obvious in his explanations of his pieces. Even his name is cheesy, I mean come on, "Mr. Brainwash"? He claims to have no art training whatsoever, and it's kind of obvious. All of a sudden he makes hundreds of pieces of art for his opening show, a show that would typically be the size of someone who is well-established, not brand new. I found this further proof that the guy had no clue what he was doing. Even MORE is that everything he does is a rip off of Andy Warhol. He does the Cambell's soup in 50 different ways, he does Marilyn in 100 different ways, yet they're all still the same. It's very much a one trick pony. And also just like Andy Warhol: he's not making any of his art, he hires people to do that. And the thing is: people eat this shit up! They buy it for thousands of dollars (something else he obviously has no clue about—he just makes up astronomical prices as he goes, proving his ego is as big as ever.)
This documentary gets you thinking. My first thought was that this was further proof that I just don't 'get' post-modern art, or whatever art movement we're in now. But the more I thought about it the more I think the joke is on Thierry. Banksy has some HILARIOUS quotes at the end about Thierry's success and being mostly responsible for it. I won't tell you them because they're good ones, but basically he doesn't think the guy's art is worth crap.
And I feel it should be noted, Banksy is the one who made this film. The decisions to put 'what' in the movie were Banksy's. Therefore, I feel that the joke is on Thierry because he thought Banksy was this god-like person, when in reality Banksy is laughing at Thierry and his 'fame' knowing that the guy has no direction, has no vision, and has no concept as an artist. Banksy's art draws your attention to something, to point out why this is weird or why this is ridiculous. In no way do I feel that Banksy tried to glorify himself in a "my stuff is way better than his" way, but rather this movie is just another piece of Banksy's art: he draws attention to the fact that Thierry has no talent and is mostly trying to make a quick buck. "Exit Through the Gift Shop": you paid for your admission, now buy more of our crap.
The documentary is about street art, which is kinda fun. In a nutshell: this random French guy randomly stumbles upon his cousin one day who is preparing his street art, and then decides to follow his cousin around at night and such as he places his pieces up around the city. As time goes on, he hooks up with some of the most well-known street artists around to film them as they put up their work at night. Except for one: Banksy. If you don't know who Banksy is, he is possibly THE most well-known street artist around. He lives in Britain and is known for his particular style that is fairly distinct and usually in your face. If you don't know what street art is, it is basically artistic graffiti. Sometime is isn't spray paint, though, but it is all art that is strategically placed, usually in a city setting. The fun part about it is that it is usually temporary, as most times it's illegal. So obviously this random Frenchman filming this is a great thing, as it captures the technique and documents that it happens because sometimes the art is only up for a day or two. The movie goes like this for a while and it is quite interesting, not to mention that it's kind of fun and intriguing to delve into the underworld of street art.
Finally one day Thierry (the guy filming all this stuff) gets a call that Banksy is in town. He speeds off to meet him, literally, and ends up gaining his trust and starts to tape him as he works. This was really cool to me because Banksy is this mysterious guy who is never revealed in the film. We have faces for all the other street artists in this film except him; he is lighted from the back, in a hoodie (which looked very Assassin's Creed-ish) and his voice is processed. But he's a very intriguing person, and his ideas intrigue me. Something I've noticed about myself when it comes to art and design: I typically love things that I would never, EVER, in a million years come up with. I do not think like a Banksy. I can criticize something, sure. But to take that idea and turn it into a satirical work of art? Never.
So watching Banksy and listening to him was quite fun. Honestly, the movie could have ended right after his prank at Disneyland. But it didn't, and then it just went downhill.
Banksy challenges Thierry to go and create his own art. Thierry, thinking Banksy is this all-powerful god, takes this to heart and does just that. So he becomes a 'street artist' and calls himself "Mr. Brainwash." This was about where my internet cut out for the third time and I decided to postpone finishing the movie. I had a feeling that the movie was just taking a turn for the worse, though. And I was right.
So now the scope of the movie has changed. We are no longer following the underworld of street art but the new street art of Thierry. Except... he's not really doing art.
Thierry's ideas are bland and shallow to put it nicely; they have no depth, which is obvious in his explanations of his pieces. Even his name is cheesy, I mean come on, "Mr. Brainwash"? He claims to have no art training whatsoever, and it's kind of obvious. All of a sudden he makes hundreds of pieces of art for his opening show, a show that would typically be the size of someone who is well-established, not brand new. I found this further proof that the guy had no clue what he was doing. Even MORE is that everything he does is a rip off of Andy Warhol. He does the Cambell's soup in 50 different ways, he does Marilyn in 100 different ways, yet they're all still the same. It's very much a one trick pony. And also just like Andy Warhol: he's not making any of his art, he hires people to do that. And the thing is: people eat this shit up! They buy it for thousands of dollars (something else he obviously has no clue about—he just makes up astronomical prices as he goes, proving his ego is as big as ever.)
This documentary gets you thinking. My first thought was that this was further proof that I just don't 'get' post-modern art, or whatever art movement we're in now. But the more I thought about it the more I think the joke is on Thierry. Banksy has some HILARIOUS quotes at the end about Thierry's success and being mostly responsible for it. I won't tell you them because they're good ones, but basically he doesn't think the guy's art is worth crap.
And I feel it should be noted, Banksy is the one who made this film. The decisions to put 'what' in the movie were Banksy's. Therefore, I feel that the joke is on Thierry because he thought Banksy was this god-like person, when in reality Banksy is laughing at Thierry and his 'fame' knowing that the guy has no direction, has no vision, and has no concept as an artist. Banksy's art draws your attention to something, to point out why this is weird or why this is ridiculous. In no way do I feel that Banksy tried to glorify himself in a "my stuff is way better than his" way, but rather this movie is just another piece of Banksy's art: he draws attention to the fact that Thierry has no talent and is mostly trying to make a quick buck. "Exit Through the Gift Shop": you paid for your admission, now buy more of our crap.
Icetopia
There, I just invented a new ridiculous term for this storm we had. Or rather... semi-storm. Talk about a major disappointment and major goof on the part of the weatherman.
Should we be surprised though? No! Of course not. Every time it snows, their guess is as good as yours or mine as to how much snow will actually fall.
I gotta say that the entire sequence of news coverage just annoys me, and I'm to the point now where I don't really want to watch the local news anymore. Too bad I kind of have to in order to catch what the weather 'might' do.
Every frickin' time it's the same damn thing:
Day 1: Weatherman reports storm will be coming in 3-4 days
Day 2: Weatherman gives better 'estimates' of snow totals for storm that is 2-3 days away.
Day 3, the day before: Each separate news channel sends 3 different reporters to 3 different locations around the metro area. These locations include 1 grocery store, 1 hardware store, and either 1 more grocery store or a store where you can find salt or window scrapers. Proceed with ridiculous "storm mode" coverage of how the bread, milk, and eggs are flying off the shelves like wild monkeys so everyone can go home and make French toast! Observe! The Lowe's on Watson Road as customers flock out of the store in triumphant glory with their new snow shovel! And let us check in wiiiitthhh... Kathy, who is standing outside of the Walmart on Clayton, conducting boring interviews of maniacal shoppers about what they purchased before "the big storm."
Day 4: The snow/ice happens. We viewers are told to stay at home if at all possible. Don't venture out into the danger of all dangers. They treat us as if this is our first snowstorm ever and we have never heard this advice before, nor do we have any common sense. They remind us time and again that if you MUST venture out into this terrible weather: take it slow, keep a good distance between the person in front of you, and allow extra time for your commute. Again, all as if we've never heard it before.
Later on day 4: The snow amounts start to come in. Round two of each separate news channel sending 3 different reporters to 3 different locations commences. Kathy is in Illinois and says "Yes, the snow is in full swing. It is really coming down over here." John is in Ballwin and says "We are having quite a bit of snow over here." Steve in Wentzville says "The snow has hit, we are in the middle of the storm! Stay in folks, this one's gonna be a doozy." Steve bends over to pick up a handful of snow to further prove his point that: snow is indeed falling. We are left to conclude: the snow is falling. And we didn't even need to look out the window to figure it out! (And do I need to mention the irony that just 2 minutes before these reports, they reminded us not to travel in this stuff if we don't absolutely have to?)
Night of day 4: Snow totals are not as expected. They are lower. Weathermen launch into a laundry list of excuses as to why the totals are lower. Way lower. Way long list.
Likely scenario for day 5: Kids are home from school because school was called on account of predicted snow totals that did not happen. Therefore: a free snow day for no reason and another day to make up in June.
Living in Missouri is great...
Should we be surprised though? No! Of course not. Every time it snows, their guess is as good as yours or mine as to how much snow will actually fall.
I gotta say that the entire sequence of news coverage just annoys me, and I'm to the point now where I don't really want to watch the local news anymore. Too bad I kind of have to in order to catch what the weather 'might' do.
Every frickin' time it's the same damn thing:
Day 1: Weatherman reports storm will be coming in 3-4 days
Day 2: Weatherman gives better 'estimates' of snow totals for storm that is 2-3 days away.
Day 3, the day before: Each separate news channel sends 3 different reporters to 3 different locations around the metro area. These locations include 1 grocery store, 1 hardware store, and either 1 more grocery store or a store where you can find salt or window scrapers. Proceed with ridiculous "storm mode" coverage of how the bread, milk, and eggs are flying off the shelves like wild monkeys so everyone can go home and make French toast! Observe! The Lowe's on Watson Road as customers flock out of the store in triumphant glory with their new snow shovel! And let us check in wiiiitthhh... Kathy, who is standing outside of the Walmart on Clayton, conducting boring interviews of maniacal shoppers about what they purchased before "the big storm."
Day 4: The snow/ice happens. We viewers are told to stay at home if at all possible. Don't venture out into the danger of all dangers. They treat us as if this is our first snowstorm ever and we have never heard this advice before, nor do we have any common sense. They remind us time and again that if you MUST venture out into this terrible weather: take it slow, keep a good distance between the person in front of you, and allow extra time for your commute. Again, all as if we've never heard it before.
Later on day 4: The snow amounts start to come in. Round two of each separate news channel sending 3 different reporters to 3 different locations commences. Kathy is in Illinois and says "Yes, the snow is in full swing. It is really coming down over here." John is in Ballwin and says "We are having quite a bit of snow over here." Steve in Wentzville says "The snow has hit, we are in the middle of the storm! Stay in folks, this one's gonna be a doozy." Steve bends over to pick up a handful of snow to further prove his point that: snow is indeed falling. We are left to conclude: the snow is falling. And we didn't even need to look out the window to figure it out! (And do I need to mention the irony that just 2 minutes before these reports, they reminded us not to travel in this stuff if we don't absolutely have to?)
Night of day 4: Snow totals are not as expected. They are lower. Weathermen launch into a laundry list of excuses as to why the totals are lower. Way lower. Way long list.
Likely scenario for day 5: Kids are home from school because school was called on account of predicted snow totals that did not happen. Therefore: a free snow day for no reason and another day to make up in June.
Living in Missouri is great...
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Books books books
Last night I finished 1984. It's about time, too... it only took me three years, haha. Anyways, I must say I am glad I read it, though I'm going to take a break from the dystopia books for a while. Had it not been for my true push to finally finish the book, and my self-made rule that I couldn't read anything else until I finished one of my books-in-progress, I might have put it back down. The ending is a very uncomfortable one, and I tell you, when he looked at himself in the mirror, that was the worst of it for me. I can't explain why, but it was. Anyways, still glad I read it and it's 'message' is kind of percolating in my brain right now.
So I woke up early this morning in order to get a good shower in, since I'm heading to the hospital and won't get one for another week. And I had time to start another book. I chose to start reading Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God. I started the book, and after 20 minutes of reading, I closed it. I decided to look up the reviews on Amazon about the book. I was specifically hoping to find someone out there who said something like "Being a Catholic, I still thought this book was great" but I found no such thing. I found one review that said this: "His disclaimers aside, it is my opinion that Francis truly, deep down, believes that the believer's work is mystically tied into their salvation. His denials are only at a superficial level so that he can remain "evangelical" and avoid the necessary soul-searching that might lead him toward a Roman Catholic-esque theology." which I found interesting. Anyways, let me step back and explain this Amazonian search: the book was written to "Christians" and had lingo of "Being a good American Christian" and things like that, and I just can't get into that. Catholicism is still Christian, yes, but there is a huge difference between our beliefs and those of a non-denominational Christian (the author.) Never once has my priest ever, EVER said in mass "as good Christians we should blah blah blah." (he usually says good stewards, servants, or something like that.)
Needless to say, I'm taking this book back. I'm sure there's a nice message in it, but it's just not for me. Plus, the whole thing is just one big ongoing sermon. Nah, I think I'll pass. And if I do feel the need to read it, I'll get it from the library.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
State of the Lungs Address
Well folks, it's that time again—3:30am when Jamie is coughing and decides to write a blog! Yay for that... not exactly.
Anyways, I had a doctor's appointment today and, well, it did not go so great. It was a follow-up to my December appointment, in which my PFT numbers were lower, so they had me do a course of antibiotics by mouth, at home. So basically, this was a check to see if I'd gotten better or not.
I did my PFT (pulmonary function test) and was shocked by the results, a bad shocked. The lady asked me "Have you been sick?" I said no. But even after a few more tries, my numbers never improved. At that moment, she grabbed a pulse/ox and my oxygen levels were only 94%, which is not terrible but fairly low for me as I am usually in the 97%+ range. I can't remember the total volume of air I blew out, but my FEV1 (which is the amount of air blown out within the first second) was at 33%. This was 10% lower than last time, in December, which is a huge drop. What this all means is that for a person of my height and weight, my lungs are expelling 33% of the air they should be. In other words, 33%-ish of my lungs is working, the rest is sort of on sick leave. There are other amounts measured in the PFT, such as total volume and FEV2 (2 seconds) but the FEV1 is what most of their diagnosis is based on. I'm not totally sure as to why this is, but studies and such over the years and years of CF care have shown that this number, more than the others, indicates most accurately how the person is feeling and the rate their lungs are declining.
This all was quite a shock for me, actually. I have not felt terrible and my cough hasn't been outrageously bad (the cough is usually what signals to me that it's time for a tune-up.) I'm a tad short of breath, but even that isn't that bad. So as I was sitting waiting for the doctor, I was on the verge of tears. The news was just unexpected and I didn't think I should be coming back in the hospital this soon, which is what I knew we would have to do.
So, yes, this means a trip to the hospital for me. I am planning to go in next week. I guess I should be thankful I don't feel that bad that I need to come in tomorrow. Jarrod and I will celebrate our anniversary this Saturday, and I would like to at least enjoy that (as much as I can.) We've been together for five years. Also, I wanted to see our friends at Trivia Night this weekend too.
I'm pretty bummed about the whole thing, but I'm sure tomorrow will be better. This is all just a part of a 'routine' for me, so it's nothing too crazy, I suppose.
Anyways, I had a doctor's appointment today and, well, it did not go so great. It was a follow-up to my December appointment, in which my PFT numbers were lower, so they had me do a course of antibiotics by mouth, at home. So basically, this was a check to see if I'd gotten better or not.
I did my PFT (pulmonary function test) and was shocked by the results, a bad shocked. The lady asked me "Have you been sick?" I said no. But even after a few more tries, my numbers never improved. At that moment, she grabbed a pulse/ox and my oxygen levels were only 94%, which is not terrible but fairly low for me as I am usually in the 97%+ range. I can't remember the total volume of air I blew out, but my FEV1 (which is the amount of air blown out within the first second) was at 33%. This was 10% lower than last time, in December, which is a huge drop. What this all means is that for a person of my height and weight, my lungs are expelling 33% of the air they should be. In other words, 33%-ish of my lungs is working, the rest is sort of on sick leave. There are other amounts measured in the PFT, such as total volume and FEV2 (2 seconds) but the FEV1 is what most of their diagnosis is based on. I'm not totally sure as to why this is, but studies and such over the years and years of CF care have shown that this number, more than the others, indicates most accurately how the person is feeling and the rate their lungs are declining.
This all was quite a shock for me, actually. I have not felt terrible and my cough hasn't been outrageously bad (the cough is usually what signals to me that it's time for a tune-up.) I'm a tad short of breath, but even that isn't that bad. So as I was sitting waiting for the doctor, I was on the verge of tears. The news was just unexpected and I didn't think I should be coming back in the hospital this soon, which is what I knew we would have to do.
So, yes, this means a trip to the hospital for me. I am planning to go in next week. I guess I should be thankful I don't feel that bad that I need to come in tomorrow. Jarrod and I will celebrate our anniversary this Saturday, and I would like to at least enjoy that (as much as I can.) We've been together for five years. Also, I wanted to see our friends at Trivia Night this weekend too.
I'm pretty bummed about the whole thing, but I'm sure tomorrow will be better. This is all just a part of a 'routine' for me, so it's nothing too crazy, I suppose.
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