COPD is a 4-letter word

05 September 2007

COPD is a 4-letter word

Do you know what COPD is? Do you know what the acronym means?

• COPD is a disease of the lungs
• COPD is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

The components of COPD are

• Chronic Bronchitis
• Asthma
• Emphysema
• Bronchectiasis

There are many stages of COPD. Mine began as asthma, when I was about 42 years old. The asthma started out as frequent attacks, about one a month. The frequency increased as the disease progressed. In the beginning, bursts of Prednisone "cured" the episodes. The attacks eventually became worse, lasting longer, and more severe.

More Later...

A little information about COPD

06 September 2007

A little information about COPD

Today I'd like to tell you a little about COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). In the past (prior to 2-3 years ago), COPD was known as Emphysema. It's now becoming more well-known by its official name, COPD.

COPD is an umbrella covering Emphysema, Chronic Bronchitis, and Asthma. It had been thought to have been caused by smoking cigarettes; but more recently, it is known that there are many other factors contributing to the incurable disease. A few of these factors are pollution, working around gaseous materials, farm work, crop spraying, and exposure to noxious cleaning chemicals. Also known to be contributing factors are a history of childhood respiratory diseases, exposure to second-hand smoke, and heredity (which is known as Alpha1 antitrypsin deficiency).

COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in America, yet the percentage of research monies spent to study this disease rank among the lowest, according to the CDC.

There is a test that can determine if you have COPD, called a Spirometry test, or PFT (Pulmonary Function Test), where you blow into a largish tube as hard as you can and for as long as you can. It's a painless test, which detects the presence of COPD long before you have significant symptoms. This means that if detected earlier, treatment begins earlier, you begin exercising earlier (to retain the healthiest lungs possible), the longer you may live a quality life.

Some of the treatments of COPD are...

• QUIT SMOKING if you are still smoking
• Bronchodilators (long-acting and short-acting or RESCUE inhalers)
• Inhaled or tablet-form steroids (such as Prednisone)
• Exercise
• Education - the more you learn about the disease, the more educated you will be about the treatment and management of the disease
• Oxygen therapy
  
• Surgery - LVRS (Lung Volume Reduction Surgery) where upper lobes of the lung(s) are removed which are diseased. This helps the patient to breathe easier for several years. For end-stage COPD, there can be a lung transplant. This happens when there are no alternative treatments for your disease (all treatments have been exhausted). Usually the patients right lung will be replaced with a healthy lung from a donor.
  

It's imperative that a person with COPD remain active, and exercise to full capacity. There are times when this appears to be impossible, especially for those COPD patients with Emphysema AND asthma (exercise-induced asthma in particular). But there are exercises for even these patients. Swimming is one of the best exercises. Even with oxygen use, people can still swim WHILE still using their oxygen. They just cannot (should not) totally immerse their body in the water. I swim with a long length of oxygen tubing attached to my portable oxygen tank. Be sure that other people in the pool are aware that they must watch out for your tubing, or they will become entangled in it. One requires less oxygen while swimming, as you do not feel the exercise due to being in water. Be sure you do not overdo it with swimming or water aerobics. While in the water, ones body weighs only 1/10 of its true weight.


Living with COPD

Living with COPD is going to change your life. There's no question about that.

It is important to keep the air in your home clean. Here are some things that may help you in your home:

• Keep smoke, fumes, and strong smells out of your home.
• If your home is painted or sprayed for insects, have it done when you can stay away from your home.
• Cook near an open door or window.
• If you heat with wood or kerosene, keep a door or window open.
• Keep your windows closed and stay at home when there is a lot of pollution or dust outside.

If you are taking medicines, take them as ordered and make sure you refill them so you do not run out.

Keep your body strong by learning breathing exercises and walking and exercising regularly.

Eat healthy foods. Ask your family to help you buy and fix healthy foods. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Eat protein food like meat, fish, eggs, milk, and soy.

If your doctor has told you that you have severe COPD, there are some things that you can do to get the most out of each breath. Make your life as easy as possible at home by:

• Asking your friends and family for help.
• Doing things slowly.
• Doing things sitting down.
• Putting things you need in one place that is easy to reach.
• Finding very simple ways to cook, clean, and do other chores. Some people use a small table or cart with wheels to move things around. Using a pole or tongs with long handles can help you reach things.
• Keeping your clothes loose.
• Wearing clothes and shoes that are easy to put on and take off.
• Asking for help moving your things around in your house so that you will not need to climb stairs as often.
• Picking a place to sit that you can enjoy and visit with others.

If you are finding that it is becoming more difficult to catch your breath, your coughing has gotten worse, you are coughing up more mucus, or you have signs of infection (such as a fever and feeling poorly), you need to call your doctor right away. Your doctor may do a spirometry test, blood work, and a chest x-ray

Please remember to keep your list of medications up-to-date. When a medication has been changed, be sure to change it on your list.

Keep a list of phone numbers for...

• your doctor
• your spouse
• your children

07 September 2007

Good morning everyone. Today is a brand new day for me, as this is the day that I begin my Digital Photography class. I'm going to learn how to use my digital camera, other than using the AUTO feature. From now on, it's no more "point and click" for me. No sir, I'm going to learn what all those other symbols mean, and how to use them.

I've been a "better than average" picture taker, and have wanted to become much better for quite some time now. The time is here. Perhaps I'll share some of my photographs with everyone, but then again, perhaps not. We shall see just how brave I am.

I registered for an online digital photography class, which started on Friday. Our first assignment was to take five photos in Auto mode around our yard, of things that look interesting. I went out on Saturday afternoon to cut the grass, but took my camera with me, in case I came across something of interest.

I found a couple of things that really captured my interest...first a little lizard that was running across an old piece of log on the ground. He stopped at the very end, so I pulled up and took a couple of photos. The first one was just a regular shot, but I zoomed in for the second shot of him. That was my favorite photo. I was lucky to have seen him, and that he stopped when he reached the end of the log. He was nearly the same color as the wood, so the zoom shot was the better. I rode around looking for something more of interest, but found nothing that really screamed for me to take a picture. I took a shot of my little wire-haired Dachshund's grave site, of the marker. He was a dear little boy and he was so faithful to me. When I started having trouble walking back from the creek due to losing my breath (COPD), he'd stand just a few yards ahead and wait for me to catch up. So when he became old and feeble, and arthritis set in, making it difficult for him to stay right with me, I'd pick him up and carry him. We were best buds. I finally took a photo of my Paper Bark Maple tree, focusing in on the bark, and one of my deceased husbands' grave. I also took one of one of my Magnolia trees, trying to focus in on the fruit, but the fruit didn't show up.

The next evening, I went down to my fish pond and took some shots there. I liked a couple of them, so used one. Then I downloaded them all to my computer. Next I started looking at them, to see if there were any adjustments I could make to make them look better. Not so much. So, I uploaded them to the class site and sent the email letting the instructor know they were ready.

I received an email from the instructor today. Not a good report. None of my photos were good enough. That crushed my ego. I'm the type of person that takes everything to heart, and everything is personal. But I'm hoping to improve a great deal in the near future.

Get over it!!

11 September 2007

Over my "pity party"

There was nothing else to say today . . . except that I did "get over" my pity party regarding the photography review. So I'll get better. I'll learn how to use my camera. Gosh, isn't that the reason I enrolled in this class anyway???!! As you may be able to tell by now, I can at times be too quick to react. Now why did I delete all the photographs from my digital memory chip? That even sounds a tad childish to me. It may be time to grow up, but I appear to be resisting that feat effortlessly! Too bad. It's one of my characteristics that I shall TRY to work on.

Learning about adding videos...

14 September 2007

Learned Something New!

I just learned something new (to me)!!! I can add music to my Blog! WooHoo!!!
I just picked up some Pearl Jam (from "Black"), and am adding it here, for anyone to listen to.

White Balance

17 September 2007

More on my Digital Photography class

White Balance

The second lesson in the Digital Photography class was finally posted last evening. This week we need to take 3 photos of cloud formations at different times of the day. We then need to change the White Balance on our camera, and take photos of something white.

I was totally in the fog when I first read the lesson, but after I played with the camera I found that I'd actually learned more than I thought.

I knew that white is the combination of all colors of the spectrum, and that black is the absence of color. But I never really understood what all that meant until I read Lesson 2, where Jessica showed us examples of some of her photos, pointing out differences in each photo.

Busy, Tired, and Broke!

26 September 2007

Busy, Tired, and Broke!

The Title says it all. That's been me for the month of September. I've been very busy with my online Digital Photography Workshop, with Jessica. Last week was about taking pictures of the sky at different times of the day, and then about the color white. We also had to upload two photos of something white sitting on something white. I used batting for the under piece. I wanted to use my cat Mister for the object, but he's an indoor-only cat, so that was out. He even plopped down on the floor right in front of me as I was walking to the door to take my white objects out for the photos. He wanted to be a part of it, but not this time. Maybe later, Mister. Anyway, one of my photos (that I named "Sun Glow")was judged to be good enough to put in my "Gallery Folder".

More photos

29 September 2007

More photos

Nothing much new has happened since last post. I got my flu and pneumonia shots on Wednesday. My left arm aches and is red and puffy, but it's pretty much back to normal now.

I wanted to go to the local Alpaca Farm Tour today, but that didn't happen. I've been interested in Alpacas for about ten years, first just looking at them on the web, then doing some research. They are interesting and beautiful animals, and very clean. They are now also out of reach as far as owning a pair.

Jessica sent her critique of my Week 3 photographs. Again one of them was good enough for my "Gallery Folder". Her remarks on that one were... "Magnolia Fruit - F4.8, P, AWB, 1/60, SPOT

Spot metering this turned out very well (GF) because it made the pink nice and bright against the dark background, and because the Pink is sort of a middle value, it didn't lose the background either, This is a beautiful photo.
Jessica" I was quite pleased with that compliment! And here is the photo...

It's been a while...

11 October 2007

It's been a while...

I know, it's been quite a while since I've posted anything. Just haven't had the time and/or haven't felt like it. When I've wanted to post, I didn't have time, yet when I had the time, I didn't want to post. You figure it out!

I've been busy with my photography, but haven't taken any photos in nearly a week. I'm missing it. We're taking a little break, just to catch our breath and try to figure things out. HA!!

Anyway, I have a couple or so photographs that I want to share with you. Not because they are great, but because I want to. There are a couple of Mister being vacuumed, which he loves. I have one of three of my Fenton Art Glass vases, and one showing three of my Rooster/Chicken collection. These are the "still life" photos for last week/this weeks lesson. I'm not real happy with them, but they were the best I could do with what I had on hand at the time. I wanted to use some chicken wire with the Roosters, but Bill forgot to get it out for me. I also didn't have a good background. I'm learning from this class, and maybe you'll see a tiny improvement or two. I'll start with the photos of Mister, my big clown.

Casey's here for the weekend

13 October 2007

Casey's here for the weekend

Yea, we finally have Casey out here for the weekend. We've been needing a Casey fix for a few weeks now. We've been missing him, as we haven't seen him since July. He's such a great kid, and so sweet, although he wouldn't like to hear me say that probably. But he's my Grandson, so I can call him sweet and tell him that I love him all I want, and there's not a thing he can do about it. Case is such a good young man, very helpful to his Grandpa and me. He likes visiting us, especially because his Grandpa allows him to drive the Gator around. I have a couple of photos of that for you to see . . .




As you can see, Case is dressed in his "Army gear" today. I think that gives him a sense of pride. My goodness, his feet are a size 10 1/2-11 now!! Can you believe that? He's growing up so fast.

They just came into the house, and they're hungry! So, gotta go.

Two New Photos

28 October 2007

Here are two more photos I took last Sunday, for my digital photography workshop. The instructor liked both photos, but the first was the favorite.







These were the action shots for Week 5 of the class. Initially I was unsure that I'd be able to find an action shot. But, when I mentioned the word action, well, Casey went into action for me. He did all sort of tricks, but this is the one I liked best.

Then a little later, Grandpa was digging a couple of holes to plant some new plants. I noticed the action of the dirt falling from the shovel at the very end of his digging. I quickly snapped a few photos of the dirt falling. That worked out well.

Later that day, we took Casey to meet up with his Dad. After transferring his overnight bag and other goodies, Bill and I went into a grocery store to purchase a few necessities. When we walked out of the store, Bill told me to look. There were two hot air balloons just to our left. They'd lifted off about 10 minutes earlier. I looked both ways to cross the thoroughfare, and told Bill to look behind him. There was a hot air balloon that had just left the ground, and was like a giant hovering over us. I immediately thought that I need to hurry to the car to get my camera, when it hit me. When leaving home, I started to grab my camera, just in case there might be something of interest to take a picture of. Then left home without it. That taught me a lesson . . . NEVER leave home without it! You never know when you will see something, such as these three hot air balloons, that could be a snapshot of a lifetime. Now, my camera goes where I go.

11 January 2008 - It's been a while...

11 January 2008

Wow, it's been about 2.5 months since my last post! It would appear that I've been very busy with something.

I was in the hospital for two weeks (from 7 November thru 21 November) due to colon complications. What started out as abdominal tenderness turned into something much more serious. After a second colonoscopy, in as many days, I was found to have ischemia, diverticulosis and irritable bowel disease of the sigmoid colon, and ulcers in the mid transverse colon. Lying on your back for two weeks, and being served only broth and yellow jello for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, makes one weak. When I was released from the hospital, I needed a walker to get around, for about a month. I had home health nurses and physical therapists visit me twice a week for a month. I'm feeling much better now, but need to return to my Gastroenterologist next month for another colonoscopy. We need to see if the ischemia (dying colon due to lack of oxygen to the blood vessels) is improving on its own, or if I will require surgery. I think it's healing on its own, as my functions appear to be working somewhat properly now.

I wasn't able to complete my photography workshop, as the hospital stay was right in the middle of the class. I should be able to finish up in the Spring. I'm looking forward to that.

My self-portrait after my self-haircut

This photo was taken by me, immediately after I trimmed my hair. Not too bad, and VERY cheap! I really need a professional haircut, but it'll be a while before I can afford one. Ah well, there are worse things in life! Here goes...


Here's another photo of me, taken on Christmas Day, me holding my granddaughter, Ella. She's the cute one!