Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Happy Halloween and My Lungs (if anyone is interested)



Happy Halloween, everyone! I hope the candy Princess will visit all the kids on the East Coast who will not have a Halloween this year and bring them lots and lots of goodies as soon as this crisis is over. And I know that next year all of you will have the most special Halloween of all. I'm just sending this message out there, I don't know any kids on the East Coast, but I believe in  good energy being spread around. 






These pictures are from a couple of years ago. I stopped by this place on Monday to take some new ones, but it was so hot outside that I just turned around and went home. I guess these will be my stock Halloween pictures. Anyone my age will have forgotten all about them by next year anyway.


The pictures are from Murray Farms, a place I pass on my way to and from Bakersfield. About a year ago I had a chest X-ray because I am short of breath. My not very communicative doctor up here (I hope to change him soon, but with my current insurance there are none that will see me) told me I had emphysema. Over the phone, that's all, not another word! I decided to let it be and wait a while to see a pulmonary specialist. 


On Monday I finally went and had the breathing tests. The doctor turned out to be very nice, looked like he was from one of the Pacific Island nations, big and round and dressed in a Hawaiian shirt. Best of all, he told me I did not have emphysema. 



While my lungs have lost some capacity, they are nowhere near that kind of diagnosis. He also said you really can't diagnose emphysema from an X-ray. He wants to see me in six months and will love to see him too. So now I have to have my heart checked again, no fun, but at least one hurdle passed. 


The University has Open Enrollment right now, so I will change our health insurance. We have to pay a lot more in premiums every month and for medicines, but it will be worth it because we can go anywhere and see anyone. I hope I can find a good doctor I like up here, but if not, I have some options. 
  



I guess I strayed away from the Halloween theme, so just one more thing. I said it was hot down in the valley on Monday. It's been hot up here too during the day. A week or so ago, it was 32 F in the morning and 92 F in the afternoon, a 60 degree difference. This week is a bit better, freezing at night and up to the mid-80s in the afternoon. Still horribly warm for the last week of October. With everything that's going on in nature this year, I think there's little doubt that our Earth is not feeling real well. 

Happy Halloween everyone!


21 comments:

  1. i am glad you like this new doctor - sound much better than that other! i do hope the heart checkup will go okay, too.

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  2. and that's quite the temp swing! we've had 30 to 70 in a day, but not that drastic!

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  3. I hope you * the earth feel better soon!! Loved the pictures!

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  4. That was supposed to be &--not *.

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  5. Hi Inger .. love the photos - and at least the pleasant diagnosis .. that's good to know. However just challenging as we get older .. the earth is very odd -

    Hope some balance returns to nature in your part of the world .. cheers for now - those market stalls are delightful ... Hilary

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  6. Wow I cannot believe a doctor told you that without knowing for sure. I bet you have worried needlessly since then. I am so glad you found a doctor that knows what he is talking about. I am excited and happy for you.
    Health care is such an important thing especially as we get older. We are lucky in Canada to have a little more choice even if hard to find.
    I love your photos Inger and am hoping it cools down for you. Hug B

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  7. Love the pictures. It's hard to hear a number like 92! Wow. And that it's freezing in the morning. You're getting the best of the worst, aren't you? Haha.

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  8. What was that about not remembering something? I've forgotten already.

    Love,
    Janie

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  9. Wow, a 60 degree swing in temp... that's amazing! Glad you got a good report from your Dr...

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  10. Keep up the good health reports, Inger and thanks for the well wishes too!...:)JP

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  11. good news on the lungs and on liking the doctor. hope you get the same from the heart doctor. i like your post, its perfect, love all those punkins.

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  12. Uh, heck I is interested in your lungs...duh! Nows awesome news dat you not has dat emphasema stuff. I has an issue withs dat man tellin you sumptin' so serious overs da fone...but I won't gets on my soap box today....hehehe. I just so hopes you can find a dr. you like real soon, it makes such a huge difference.

    Puddles

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  13. These pictures look like so much fun! we don't celebrate Halloween in Latvia so I have no idea what it's like to decorate everything with pumpkins and stuff.

    And, by the way, I watched The Dogs of Riga... LOVED IT! ;D it was weird though, watching about Latvia and Riga in English, but I loved it. And my name is in there so that's awesome as well :) Thank you so much for telling me about it :)

    Have a great holiday :)

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  14. Good news on the lungs and hope you get the same from the heart doc.
    That was some temp swing. Kind of makes it hard to dress for the day. Layers I guess.

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  15. Hi Inger! I am so happy to hear your lungs are fine!! Doctors!!!!

    These pictures are great, and trust me.. by next year I will forget and it will be new to me all over again. LOL.
    Temps in the 90's is too hot for me. Hopefully it will cool off a bit for you soon.

    Happy Halloween! Gracie said to tell Samson "Boo!"

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  16. Good news to get Inger! Good doctors are hard to find....hope you find one soon.
    I still find it difficult to understand the US health care system. Here in Canada we can see anybody/doctor we want to and it is covered. Yes our taxes are higher (from which this public insurance is funded) but it gives us peace of mind in knowing our healthcare system works for everybody, not just those who can afford it. We do not have private healthcare insurance companies here who tell us who or what we can get.

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  17. Wishes for you for the "doctor princess" to bestow on you all the goodness and smartness (is that a word? it is now!)that you need!!!

    (((hugs to Inger))) and Samson too!

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  18. The photos are so pretty I would like to see them every year, and you are correct: I would not remember them from before. Sorry you were given another worry to carry for so long, thank goodness for the good news. Sure, we are interested, and share in the relief along with you. Those high temps would do me in. Good luck with them, which means: do take care. Now, on to Thanksgiving.

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  19. Dear Inger, I so agree that Earth is not feeling well. We need to take tender, loving care of her.

    Wow! All those pumpkins. Like you, I feel sad for those children along the Eastern Seaboard who didn't get to celebrate Halloween this year. It's a big day in a child's life. Peace.

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  20. Glad you found a more caring doctor and he gave you some good news. Take care of yourself dear.

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Thanks for leaving a comment.. ~~ Inger

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