Yesterday brought some welcome news. I met with the pulmonologist for the first time in several months. As usual I had the lung function test where you inhale and then blow into the plastic contraption till you are blue in the face, then – upon hearing the signal – inhale FAST! They gauge how much air you can exhale in so many seconds. My normal numbers went from 90 (with asthma) in 1989 to 74 after my previous lobectomy from the first round of lung cancer in 1998. With this new attack on my lungs the numbers went way down … into the 40s, because I was very discouraged with the numbers plus had a terrible time blowing at all. However, the last visit in July (after the pleuradesis surgery) registered 55, improvement and a good sign. THIS TIME ….. hooray! I got to 64! How about that? The doc was pleased and I was thrilled. It verified the success I’ve had with doing stairs with minimal shortness of breath (not huffing and puffing as much when I arrive at the top). My doc said that he saw a man yesterday morning who had a similar cancer and was doing equally well, so is encouraged by the results for both of us. He thinks very positively and hopefully… and I know that you folks do too!
One correction from the last blog. I mentioned decadron as being an anti-emetic. Wrong (a neighbor here at Greenspring corrected me) …. it’s a corticosteroid – which is why it hyped me up so much! The anti-nausea drug is Zofran …. and it works! All the drugs and treatments are a gift of life. Oh, yes, got my flu shot today too! Hope you’ve all done the same.
🙂
Ann's Hummingbird
Yahoo and Hallelujah! What great news!!!
Great to hear that you have some better and encouraging news. Maybe I should get one of those blow and suck tests as I get huffed and puffed up stairs and hills – but not at all sure that there would be any remedy (apart from your happy pills). I also have had two sorts of jabs recently, the most interesting being typhoid for my trip to Vietnam and Cambodia in November. Decided to go very adventurous this winter whilst I have the opportunity physically and financially.
Happy birthday on 13th. I am a year behind you on the 12th. Family coming to visit. It is also the anniversary of Kenneth’s funeral on the 11th.
Love Ann
Ann, I am so glad about all the good news. Your spirit is amazing!
hugs, prayers,
Rachel
Great news, Ann! I celebrate along with you! A wonderful birthday present!
Love, Betty
Such wonderful news, and happy that you passed it along for all to rejoice with you.
Prayers do work!
Wow! What an upper for a dark and gloomy (cool and peaceful?) day. A reminder that none of us should take for granted things like our lungs, not to mention all the other miraculous organs God has designed to keep us going in this earthly realm. Keep up the good work. You are, of course, daily in my prayers. Love and blessings. Pat
The best news! I have to believe it is your indomitable spirit that is responsible for your great progress. Bravo, Ann. Prayers continue
Allison
So glad to hear your good news and progress… “Fear may keep us limping in the dark, but grace keeps us walking in the light.” ~Barbara Johnson~
God bless, Jan 🙂
Such good news, Ann, about your lung function! Congratulations! You will welcome your 80th birthday with flying colors and a boatload of love !!!
Hugs,
Maureen Jenkins
what excellent news!
blessings,
a
Congratulations on doing so well on that nasty “blow as hard as you can test,” not one of my favorites either, so glad things are going well.
Judy
Congratulations on doing so well on the, “blow as hard as you can” test.” Not one of my favorites either. That is a good upper for sure.
Judy