Tuesday, January 15, 2008

It has been a few days since my last post, and several things have happened. The first few days after chemo on the 8th, I was fine. I could not sleep hardly at all, but that was my big problem. On Friday morning, i went to have an x-ray because I thought I may have another collapsed lung. Dr. Thomas did the x-ray here, and he did not see anything. I went home on Friday afternoon and just felt really bad. We stayed home all weekend and I was like a zombie. I could only sleep 1-2 hours at a time. It was weird. All I did was watch football and play some with Addi. I worked from home on Monday and I went to the pulmonary specialist that afternoon.

-- Soapbox time: I had to go to the pulmonary specialist to get a referral to go to have a consultation with rehab.... What a waste of time! --

I saw Dr. Meade and he gave me the referral to go to rehab in Charlotte. I also asked him about oxygen, and he made me do a test called the 6 minute walk. When I did the test, he found that my blood-oxygen level went below the normal levels with exertion. Basically, he said I needed oxygen when I exercise and he wanted me to use it when I sleep. I had a service come over yesterday, and I now have oxygen. This is embarrassing for sure and makes me feel like I am moving down in health, but I still am hopeful this is temporary as the lung transplant will come to be.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Bo.. keep your spirits up. Maybe you can think of Oxygen as a healing addition to your plan. Oxygen makes your body work better at healing itself. So, anything you can do to help it along... go for it! I know it probably makes you feel old and decrepit ... but really...it is SELF CARE!

Anonymous said...

Agreed. Oxygen is nothing to be embarrassed about. Heck, consider yourself a movie star! They pay big bucks to emerse themselves in oxygen rich pods and spend $ for short sessions at the oxygen bar on a daily basis...ever been to LAX or Orange County airports??? LOL. Did you ask the service if they could flavor it for you? :) Oxygen is a healing nectar (okay not a nectar because its a gas, but you get my drift) for your body. AND... it's safe to inhale!!!

Anonymous said...

Bo, You are in my thoughts and prayers as always. We love you and miss you!

Anonymous said...

Bo,

We love you and you are in my prayers. Oxygen is good, if it will make you more comfortable so that is positive if it helps you. Thanks for posting as we were all wondering how you were. E Maddox

Anonymous said...

You are always in our prayers! I think about you all of the time! Keep your chin up...this is just a little bump in the road to recovery! I love you!

rachel

Anonymous said...

Bo- we are thinking about you in hopes that you get to feeling better soon. You are in our prayers at all times- the Whalen family

Anonymous said...

I hope that the oxygen makes you feel better. You, Christi and Addi have been in my thoughts and prayers.

Angel Gabi's Daddy said...

Hey partner. You better than most know that sometimes things are at their worst right before they get better. Isn't there some quote about most people never realize how close they were to success cause they quit right before it happened?

You're one of the strongest most sincere people I know. The Acker Family is always with ya bud.

Love Ya
J

Anonymous said...

Bo,
Think of the Oxygen as a Knock-Off Golf Club...It might be a little embarrassing, but as long as it knocks that little white ball 300 straight down the middle who cares. It's all about the outcome...We pray for you everyday. You can through this...
C-Murder.

Anonymous said...

Hey Bo, A little O2 never hurt anybody! We think of you all often and are glad to see you are doing well. Sue and the Gang, RN's