BEFORE I GO INTO WHAT’s BEEN GOING ON WITH ME LETS HAVE A FUN FASHION TIP!
DO YOU HAVE AN OLD SWEATSHIRT?
GIVE IT SOME RAZZLE DAZZLE by putting THREE VINTAGE PINS ON IT!
THIS WOULD BE GOOD ON A COAT AND OR JACKET TOO!
IN THE GARDEN I ALWAYS READ YOU PLANT IN THREE’s AS WELL.
I DECIDED TO WRITE MY DOCTOR AS I WAS TIRED OF THIS ANNOYING COUGH I HAVE HAD FOR 10 MONTHS NOW AND WHY I WAS WRITING I ALSO ADDED A FEW OTHER CONCERNS!,”I’VE LOST WEIGHT IN THE LAST TWO YEARS WITHOUT TRYING(40 pounds if not more) AND I HAVE A COUGH THAT HASNOT GONE AWAY IN THE LAST 8 months, thats when I decided to start the whole process November 25,2020. AND I CONSTANTLY have tummy issues. I DO TAKE A PROBIOTIC.
From that email to my doctor I GOT A BLOOD TEST AND A CT SCAN and I was to have been given a vessel to pop some sputum into BUT HEY THE GAL WHO SIGNED ME IN FORGOT TO GIVE IT TO ME!!LAST PLACE I WANT TO BE WITH COVID-19 SPIKING IS THE HOSPITAL IN CALIFORNIA!THE GOOD NEWS WAS THERE WERE ONLY A FEW PEOPLE IN THE MEDICAL BUILDING THAT IS CONNECTED TO THE HOSPITAL.
THIS ALL HAPPENED THE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS!!!
BUT HEY, NO ONE WAS COMING FOR GIFTS AND DINNER so NO STRESS THERE!
I HAD ZERO STRESS THIS YEAR FOR THE FESTIVITIES and NO EXCITEMENT EITHER!
THATS A FIRST FOR ME!
I CRUISED IN AND OUT OF THE LAB HAD TO WAIT A BIT FOR THE CT SCAN BUT ONCE OVER I LEFT………..I even had an EPISODE while waiting there!
Yes,my episodes are back!But I’m not talking about those today!
ONLY TO GET A MESSAGE ABOUT SCARRING ON MY LUNGS……….WHAT?
I had the CT SCAN on December 17,2020.
SO, I WRITE BACK AND THIS IS HER ANSWER ON DEC.22,2020.
“CHEST X-RAY SHOWS NO ACUTE ABNORMALITIES. SCARRING IS STABLE COMPARED TO PRIOR IMAGING IN 2018.”
SO I ASK WHAT SCARRING?I NEVER KNEW ABOUT THAT!
DOCTOR’s REPLY IN EMAIL,”SCARRING COULD BE FROM PRIOR PNEUMONIA OR OTHER LUNG INFECTION.IT COULD ALSO BE FROM NONINFECTIOUS CAUSES SUCH AS ASTHMA OR CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE.
“mild aortic atherosclerosis ” which means narrowing of the blood vessels.(I LOOKED IT UP!)
“ct scan shows prominent lymph nodes bilateral.”
” left upper lobe mild nodularity is also noted major fissures.”
(A FISSURE IS A BOUNDARY IN THE LUNG)
“Yes, lung nodules can be cancerous, though most lung nodules are noncancerous (benign). Lung nodules — small masses of tissue in the lung — are quite common. They appear as round, white shadows on a chest X-ray or computerized tomography.”
THERE WAS A LOT OF WHITE ON MY XRAY!
NOW WHAT IS EXTREMELY FUNNY YES FUNNY TO ME AS THIS WASNOT MY MEDICAL DOCTOR RESPONDING TO ME IT WAS A SUBSTITUTE AND SHE PUT THAT LAST BIT IN CAPS ALL BY HERSELF!!
“CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE.”
DO YOU THINK SHE READS THE BLOG???AND WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT TO A PATIENT?
IN WRITING LIKE THAT!
FROM THIS I WAS SENT TO A PULMONARY DOCTOR WHO DID A VIDEO CHAT WITH ME!
I REALLY LIKED HIM!THAT IS MY GOOD NEWS!HE GOT HIS VACCINE I ASKED!
HE SHARED MY CT SCANS AND SHOWED ME THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 2018 AND 2020………
THEY ALSO SAW THIS HAPPENING IN MY LUNGS IN 2014!
THERE IS CHANGE!
SO, NOW I HAVE TO SPIT IN A VESSEL NOT ONCE BUT THREE TIMES SO THEY CAN DO A CULTURE TO SEE IF THE
MYCOBACTERIUM AVIUM IS INDEED THE LADY WINDERMERE SYNDROME!
ALSO HE WANTS ME TO DO ANOTHER BLOOD TEST FOR AUTO IMMUNE DISEASE he said that had NEVER BEEN DONE ON ME!!!!!!!!!!
TO MY HORROR!
REALLY………have had MY EPISODES FOR FIVE YEARS and I AM GLUTEN INTOLERANT AND A NON -DIARY person, BUT NONE OF THESE TESTS PERFORMED ON ME EVER!
I AM 60 YEARS OLD PEOPLE!
Lady Windermere syndrome” refers to a pattern of pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection seen typically in elderly white women who chronically suppress the normal cough reflex. A fastidious nature and a reticence to expectorate are believed to predispose such persons to infections with MAC.”
“They named this disease caused by MAC occurring in the middle lobe/lingula of women LWS and suggested that cough suppression in well-mannered women was the likely mechanism for this infection.”
(GOOD TO KNOW I AM IN THE CATEGORY OF WELL MANNERED!!)
I ALSO took part in an INCONTINENCE class.
I AM NOT THERE YET BUT THE SYMPTOMS ARE STARTING TO ARRIVE!
AGING ISNOT FOR SISSY’S as MY MOTHER Would say!
I THOUGHT I HAD AN URINARY TRACT INFECTION BUT THE LAB SAYS NO!
I had to do that TEST TWICE as I did NOT get a GOOD” CATCH!”
They do not tell you this on the JAR SO I AM GOING TO TELL YOU!
YOU can NOT stick the jar in position so as soon as you start peeing you GET IT!
YOU HAVE TO WAIT AND CATCH AFTER ITS STARTS FLOWING!
THAT WAY THERE IS NO CONTAMINATION in your URINE……
AND you get PEE on your HAND NO MATTER WHAT!
I AM JUST BEING HONEST……..with YOU!
WHAT I LEARNED IN CLASS…..
85% of the people who take this class with a PHYSICAL THERAPIST IMPROVE!
It could be caused by an ESTROGEN DEFICIENCY.
STRESS and ANXIETY MAKE YOU WANT TO GO!
WHY?
Because it impacts the NERVOUS SYSTEM.
IF ONE HAS A CHRONIC COUGH THERE ARE MORE ISSUES WITH URINARY ISSUES!!!
DING !!!! DING!!!! DING!!!
COULD BE MY PROBLEM!
A NORMAL BLADDER SHOULD EMPTY 3 to 4 hours a day.
OR 5 to 7 times per day.
THIS IS NORMAL PEE TIME!
IF one has an over active bladder it could be these TRIGGERS:
1.STRESS RELATED
2.CAFFINATED BEVERAGES.
3. DECAF BEVERAGES IS A NO NO!
4. TEA and soft drinks, artificial sweeteners and alcohol also CRANBERRY JUICE makes YOU GO PEE!
SUGAR and HONEY a NO!
FLAVORED WATERS ALL HAVE SUGAR.
These drinks are to be AVOIDED.
WHAT CAN I DRINK YOU SAY?
ONE 8 ounce cup of whatever you want per day.
40 to 48 ounces of liquid a day is recommended.
NOT THIRSTY or NOT A FAN OF WATER LIKE ME?
THE ANSWER is to start drinking early as soon as you wake up!
Or you will be up in THE NIGHT!
(I have started to get up ONCE in the early morning hours!)
DO not “TRAIN YOUR BLADDER TO GO JUST IN CASE!”
I do this all the time before I leave the house I GO even if I do not have too!
She says this is WRONG!
Your bladder can hold from 7 to 10 ounces.
TIPS TO CALM THE BLADDER.
Diaphragmatic breathing will help calm bladder.
Pelvic floor contractions.SIX QUICK pelvic floor muscles.
Push your TONQUE ON THE ROOF of your MOUTH.Once urge to PEE has passed walk calmly to the restroom.
NOW THAT IS FUN BECAUSE I WAS TOLD TO DO THAT WHEN SMILING FOR A PHOTO!!!!
IT LIFTS THE JOWLS!
SO, now we have TWO REASONS TO STICK THAT TONQUE UP TO THE ROOF OF THE MOUTH!
“LIFE IS LIKE A FLOWER IT GROWS MORE BEAUTIFUL THE MORE YOU CARE FOR IT!”
THIS QUOTE WAS ON THE WALL BEHIND THE TEACHERS DESK………
I MAY HAVE MISSED A FEW POINTS AS I SCRAMBLED TO WRITE IT DOWN!
BUT ISN’T IT A NICE QUOTE?
THE CLASS WAS ON ZOOM!
I HAVE FINALLY JOINED THE REST OF YOU!
I RESISTED MOST OF THE YEAR!
WHY?
I DIDNOT WANT ONE MORE APP OR TECHIE THING IN MY LIFE!
ANOTHER PREVENTATIVE is to set an ALARM on your phone or a clock radio for every TWO HOURS TO GO PEE.
KEGEL exercises are normally done WRONG she said…….so here is the proper way!
BREATH IN THROUGH NOSE.
(Tummy is going inward)
BLOW OUT CANDLES to EXHALE!
(While you blow out LIFT & TIGHTEN down there.YOU should see your tummy going out.)
LAST bit of INFORMATION if you put your INDEX finger and thumb together when you have the URGE to GO it will help tighten your pelvic.CONSTIPATION contributes to INCONTINENCE which means if YOU GO LESS THAN THREE TIMES A WEEK YOU ARE CONSTIPATED!!A PROBIOTIC MAY HELP THAT!I have started a NEW ONE that does NOT have to be REFRIGERATED!I will let you know if you are interested……and its NOT AS COSTLY!
NOW YOU KNOW MORE THAN YOU WANTED TO KNOW I BET!
If you eliminate these drinks and do the KEGELS she says in a months time you should see a BIG IMPROVEMENT!
85% of the people do!
SO as I write this POST I am DOING MY KEGELS!!!
IT’s ONLY BEEN A WEEK INTO THE NEW YEAR…………..AND IAM HORRIFIED FROM ALL THE NEWS!
If you want to read a GOOD ARTICLE on what our PRESIDENT HAS GO HERE TO LISA’S BLOG and scroll upwards.
IF YOU HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF THE NEWS AND LIFE GO HERE AND WATCH THIS VIDEO ROSEMARIE SENT ME FROM CANADA!
IT does pick up so don’t LEAVE before its OVER!!!
I PROMISE YOU WILL LAUGH AND SMILE AND MAYBE WATCH IT TWICE!!!
I have a new GOAL in LIFE!
To live long enough to do a DANCE like these LADIES!
I GIVE YOU ALL A VIRTUAL HUG AND BIG SMILE!
MAY COVID~19 VANISH IN YOUR HEALTHY NEW YEAR!
XXX
Kathy L says
I appreciate any and all medical information and tips. I hope that your latest test can provide you with more information so that you can be well asap. That is an interesting post about narcissism – and it hits the nail on the head regarding the Orange Clown… so glad his reign of terror is coming to an end in a couple of days… looking forward to the return of decency, democracy, decorum and dedication to public service in the White House.
LA CONTESSA says
THANK YOU KATHY I COULD NOT AGREE MORE!
XXX
D. A. Squires says
I am late to reply, but one of the benefits of being late is reading all the replies and yours… reminds me of old school conversations ‘across the fence’ with neighbors…if only there were real neighborhoods today!! I never know what to expect when when I start reading, and this blog title was esp. intriguing… of course you would have this royal syndrome!! Hope this and other ailments will all have remedies in 2021… growing old is hard work. Period. And you ARE doing a public service to those lucky enough to have found you. Seriously… your descriptions of the ‘Whole Process’ are priceless… from the symptom(s) to the medical response/diagnosis/treatment to the current state of affairs. We are all learning and laughing and cheering you on… you are unsinkable. LOVE the photo of your Alice In Wonderland kitchen (this should be the COVER of a magazine!!!) and the bejeweled sweatshirt AND Banksy’s bottom AND the video of the ladies dancing with their mobile (but somewhat stiff) partners… thank you for always sharing with heart, humor and honesty. XOXO
PS Do get tested for Lyme disease (I know about this) and highly recommend ground flaxseed, 1-2 T per day mixed with drink or food. Excellent for regularity and skin and many other benefits : )
LA CONTESSA says
YOU ARE THE SECOND PERSON TO TELL ME ABOUT Lyme disease THIS WEEK!
I read the synthoms and do not think its me……….NO JOINT PAIN, NO RASHES AND MORE that do not ring home with me but I WILL SINCE TWO OF YOU BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION!AND WE ALL KNOW I AM NOT THE NORM!!!!
THANK YOU for your BEAUTIFUL DESCRIPTIONS OF MY HOME AND LIFE YOU ALWAYS MAKE ME SMILE!!!
XXX
Ellie's friend says
Glad to see there’s no change in lung scar but other findings need to be investigated such as lymph nodes.. DO have the sputum test ASAP. If it’s mycobacterium avium it can be treated and they will pick it up on the sputum test. Treating it will prevent further lung damage. I know the woman forgot to give you the sputum cup but somehow get it and do that test. It is important to rule out an infectious cause of your symptoms and the lung specialist is right on top of that from the sounds of it. Unfortunately, women –especially bright women — encounter a very paternalistic attitude from some male doctors (even from women doctors)
who treat intelligent women in a very demeaning way and make all sorts of assumptions that are unwarranted and dangerous when it delays diagnosis. Previously, I suggested that you get an oximeter (about $60) to monitor your oxygen rates. You don’t wear it all the time but I would suggest when you feel as if you’re going to black out. Then you’ll know if you feel lousy due to a drop in your oxygen level. It may not be COPD but it’s REALLY important to rule out infectious agents. I’d also make sure your doctor knows you have a pig because pigs can often carry mycobacterium avian without the pig showing symptoms. Let me know how you are doing. xo
LA CONTESSA says
I DO TAKE MAGNESIUM every night.Prescribed by a doctor.
Yes, I have done two of the THREE SPUTUM TESTS SO FAR………..MAKING progress!Which they will culture.
I am wearing a blood pressure wrist band these days…….and today I was below 100……….eyes went.I am not feeling I will pass out since the EPISODES have returned!SO that is GOOD!JUST the eyes do their thing of seeing double or not being able to focus.IT passes in about 10 minutes.Well, thats A GOOD POINT about THE PIG!THE LUNG DOC mentioned WE ALL HAVE IT! US HUMANS.
SOME JUST REACT MORE and they are tall thin women normally!
I will buy the oxygen GIZMO AS WELL…………….THANK YOU FOR REMINDING ME!!!
ANN I HOPE YOU ARE TUCKED IN AND WINTERING WELL!
XOXO
Ellie's friend says
I LOVED the video of the dancers with their walkers. I laughed and laughed! I saw an ad for a walker on line and it is called an
“rollator independent living device”. I though that was so funny!
Barbara Loyd says
Dear Contessa, I made notes from your post to discuss with my doctor via Zoom this week. I may find a physical therapist in the new town we are moving to. Your ideas of calming the bladder was informative. I drink decaf coffee in the morning. Cannot handle the real stuff, it makes me perspire and feel nervous. Controlling stress and anxiety is very hard to identify sometimes, I must have operated despite it most of my life!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge about so many female issues. I hope you will have answers soon about the spots on your lungs. Please keep us informed, we all love you, your gardens, wardrobe, adorable sense of humor, etc. Your posts are definitely a bright spot in my day.
LA CONTESSA says
OH BARBARA so HAPPY I could be of HELP!I am just repeating what the PT said in our class on line!
If I can HELP YOU I feel MY RAMBLING HERE is worth while!!
Where are you moving too……….that alone can be stressful but very exciting too!
I received an ANSWER YESTERDAY!
IT IS CONFIRMED I DO HAVE THE BIRD DISEASE!MAYBE WE SHOULD scratch LA CONTESSA and call me LADY WINDERMERE FROM NOW ON!!!
In all honesty I am a bit OVERWHELMED BY ALL OF THIS………….
YOU MADE MY DAY!
MANY MANY THANKS………XXX
donna m macdonald says
Oh my gosh, you have been through so much! I’m glad your new doctor is helping to figure it all out. You do look slender and beautiful however. And thank you for all the good advice which I will employ immediately.
LA CONTESSA says
YOU ARE SO WELCOME!I THINK ITS WORKING FOR ME!!!
XXX
Amanda Riley says
Hi Elizabeth, re your cough…are you taking an ace inhibitor drug, for example ramipril? These are notorious for causing an irritating cough, often starts after being on the drug s while. If you are, it might be worth discussing with your doctor whether you can swop to another type of drug. The cough can continue for a couple of months after discontinuing ace inhibitor. Food for thought if you are!
Take care!
LA CONTESSA says
NO ACE INHIBITOR DRUG!!!NEVER…………..no drugs for cough now have had for 11 months I thought it was allergies!
XXX
stacey says
Has anyone suggested putting filters on your showerheads, etc? I just read this:
“In light of the increasing prevalence of Mycobacterium avium pulmonary disease and the challenges of treating patients with M. avium infection, consideration of measures to reduce exposure is warranted. Because M. avium inhabits water and soil, humans are surrounded by that opportunistic pathogen. Because infection has been linked to the presence of M. avium in household plumbing, increasing hot water temperature, reducing aerosol (mist) exposures in bathrooms and showers, and installing filters that prevent the passage of mycobacteria will likely reduce M. avium exposure. Granular activated carbon (charcoal) filters support the growth of M. avium and should be avoided. When gardening, avoid the inhalation of soil dusts by using a mask or wetting the soil because peat-rich potting soils have high numbers of mycobacteria.”
https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/full/10.1513/AnnalsATS.201301-013FR
I hope your team finds a good treatment for you soon!
LA CONTESSA says
WHAT TIMING AND HOW INTERESTING!
THANK YOU!
XXX