Keeping You Informed

Tuesday’s appointment at the VA’s Pulmonary Clinic resulted in my being certified to continue to receive the oxygen therapy for the next 12 months of oxygen.

Remember several months ago when I did the doe-see-doe dance with my primary physician at VA? This certification was similar, except it was much more traumatic since my oxygen bottle (yes, I am now addicted to it) was taken from me as soon as I arrived at the clinic.

Then, I was again walked up and down the hallways without oxygen while the respiratory therapist watched the digital readout of the clip on my finger that measured the oxygen content in my blood. When the alarm sound of the machine began telling the therapist that my oxygen level had dropped into the critical range, we were a good five minutes away from her office where we’d left my portable oxygen bottle. I came very close to passing out before we got back to it. And then it took several minutes before I could breathe again. I’m happy that I won’t have to go through that again for another year!

Today’s appointment at the Pulmonary Care Clinic had far less discernable results. X-rays were taken of my hips and it was confirmed that I have a bit of arthritis there, as well as in my left knee. However, the physician said that although that might account for the localized pain I experience it my upper leg, it would not cause the pain I feel up and down my leg. Perhaps there is something wrong with my back, he suggested.

As for the swelling and dryness in my leg between my knee and foot, the doc suggested that he is fairly certain that is caused by poor circulation which he said was a normal part of the aging process. He suggested that I keep my leg elevated above the level of my heart as much as possible. I think that I can do that when I am in been, but am uncertain how to do it when I am up. Am I a pretzel?

He also suggested frequent massaging of my lower leg with a moisturizing cream to increase blood circulation and help deal with the dryness. Tasha used to do that for me about once a week. However, the doc has suggested that I do it a couple of time daily.

I was exhausted by the time I returned home after both yesterday’s and today’s trip to the hospital. Naturally, Alex and I have been doing a lot of catnapping the past two days and I’ve not visited many blogs. I hope to get around to doing that soon.

The most useful information I obtained today came from a woman who was sitting in the x-ray department’s waiting room with me. We were sharing stories about out cats and she said that her cat behaves exactly like Alex concerning food in his dish. No matter how much food is available to the cat, he demands that she touch the food in his dish before he’ll eat it. That’s Alex exactly! Remember the video I shot of him leading me to his (full) food dish? I’m glad to know that Alex isn’t the only silly cat to evince this strange behavior.

The woman also confirmed that I am a full-fledged cat person because I, like her, will hazard cold, winds, snow, and ice to purchase my cat’s favorite cat food even when there is other cat food in the house. Of course I will! It is the only way to keep the furball from clawing me.