Far Guy and Baxter

 Saturday I took Baxter's one year old photo. 

He is very focused on his people, although sometimes he is happy to see me.   He is pretty much a two person dog.  He can take or leave the rest of us.  He does listen to me...which is a good thing.  He is a center console hog when he is in my vehicle...and then he leans into my shoulder....mostly he is a good co-pilot.  He visits us often...one thing that calms him down is scratching his back..it relaxes him.  He heels off lead for my brother...which is a good thing.

Far Guy is feeling much better. He says it is wonderful to breathe again after feeling like he couldn't breathe for three months....he says it felt like he was dying.  He is working on getting back in shape again...walking and using his weights.  He is back to cooking again and can do all the dishes without sitting down to rest.  Yesterday he even worked on his new/old car.   We hope he continues to improve and get to the point where he was before May 10 2021and the valves.  Many people can breathe much easier with the valves... BUT they are not for everyone.   It was worth a try. 

My left thumb is slightly improved....it doesn't have a constant ache.

We have a busy week coming up; a couple of appointments, bookclub and one last day of a garage sale at my parents.

Far Side

Home again Jiggity Jig

 We were gone yesterday for 13 hours.  It was a very long day.  We are home and tired.  I have to keep one eye on Far Guy for 24 hours. 

This was my waiting around view...it was better than in the waiting room...a storm moved in it got dark like at night enough for the lights to come on outside...it blew a bit and rained and then it was daylight again.  The sculptures are aluminum...and called "Dialogue."  Believe it or not there was a Bunny running around in the gardens surrounding the sculptures.

Far Guy had his procedure...each team of Doctors have different requirements for surgery.  Of course Far Guy met all his Surgeons requirements...but not the Surgeon that was doing the surgery...go figure.  They wanted us to go home, stop a medication for five days and come back...surgery was too risky and he may drown in his own blood.  Far Guy told them to call his Surgeon...they had a conference and decided to go ahead. ( If his surgeon had been doing surgery it would have gone ahead as scheduled) All four valves were removed.  The consensus was " Your lungs are not compatible with the valves so they did not work as they were supposed to...it happens to a few patients."  Luckily there was no bleeding to speak of and Far Guy did just fine.  Far Guy says he feels less short of breath already...and we hope that continues.

We got home just before dark.  In the morning we saw five deer, three turkeys and a cow in a ditch.  In the evening we saw just one deer. 

It was smoky all the way home...from the fires in Northern Minnesota.  Far Guy took a photo for me. 

Today will be a quiet day.  Maybe a lazy nap day.

Far Side

Three R's

 Not the 3 R's you would imagine.  Replace, Readjust or Remove.

Far Guy had appointments at the University of Minnesota this past week.  He had a bunch of tests.  He is going downhill.  Losing weight, extreme shortness of breath and feeling rotten.  The Surgeon says it is the valves that were placed on May 10 2021.  They are not working.  They must be replaced, readjusted or removed and soon.    Far Guy now weighs less than he did in high school, suspenders hold up his pants...and his lung function has dropped from a high of 28 %  on May 10 to 19 % August 18. His oxygen sats drop into the low 80's with the smallest exertion, he doesn't turn blue yet but gasps for breath.

So that is the scoop.  One day at a time...the Surgeon put him back on Prednisone to make his breathing easier until the procedure can be scheduled.

Not many people in the waiting rooms.  

We left on Tuesday and got back home late on Wednesday...we are both tired.

We hope the procedure will happen in the next week.  The surgeon says that if the valves are removed in time some lung function will be restored.

Far Side

Appointment day

 Far Guy had a medical appointment up north...it is a 2 1/2 hour drive there...so most of the day was spent in the car.   Earlier in the morning the new /old car Tilly was ready to be picked up so we went and got her before we left...her gas gauge works now:) 

Far Guy is getting a new Doctor, she seems nice and listened to his concerns...she said "You have challenging issues."   Yes we knew that...hope she likes a challenge.  He is getting referrals to all the specialty Doctors that he needs to see.   His Neurologist retired...His Pulmonary Dr has gone to being in the hospital only...so it was time to get different balls rolling..plus he has never had a Cardiologist...and probably needs to be rechecked after that stent was placed last September.  The clinic we chose partners with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN...so that must be a plus...and our daughter Jen lives very near the clinic up north. ( Bonus...we can visit Jen, Andy, Noah and Adam and Little Elvis)

Far Guy has still not regained his strength since the Lung Valve procedure in May.  His breathing is worse and now he is short of breath at night.  He is losing weight and in four more pounds will weigh what he did in high school.

He was prescribed prednisone to help with his breathing and the new Dr is going to confer with the Doctors at the U of MN.

For now it is all we can do.

Far Side

One Day At A Time

 Yesterday was a looong day.  Up early and a long drive to the University of Minnesota for a cat scan, lung tests and a six minute walk for Far Guy.

The Doctor says, "keep doing what you are doing ... the left lobe of the lung is not all the way collapsed as we hoped for, part is sunken... will reevaluate in six to eight weeks as more procedures/replacing valves may be called for."

And so it goes one day at a time. We arrived home safe and sound last evening. 

Highlight of the day.  Remember the old Police Cars with the bubble on top...think Barney in Mayberry RFD.  We passed one...what fun to see....here it is in the rear view mirror.

Far Side

BLVR

 A week ago Far Guy, Jen and I travelled to Minneapolis to the hospital.  Far Guy had been approved for a procedure to improve his breathing.  The procedure is a BLVR Bronchoscopic Lung Volume Reduction.  The procedure could possibly improve his lung function and make him less short of breath. 

The sunroom at the hospital.

The procedure went well and four Spiration Valves were placed in his left lung.  Some people notice an improvement right away...not Far Guy.   Some people notice improvement over several months. 

Far Guy remained in the hospital for four days and then we were allowed to go home. 

Jen and I stayed in a hotel with secure parking and did not go out at night.  Jen flew home on Wednesday...only one visitor was allowed in the hospital for the entire stay...and it had to be the same person.

Far Guy and I arrived home late Thursday afternoon. Tired and glad to be home.

On Friday Far Guy was worse...and we ended up in the ER explaining what the procedure was to a clueless Doctor....his x ray was ok and bloodwork looked good...so the Doctor kicked the can down the road and chalked up the difficulty breathing to "pollen."  The Doctors in Minneapolis never returned the calls the ER Physician made on Far Guy's behalf.

Presently Far Guy is not breathing as well as he was before the procedure but not as bad as he was on Friday.  He does not feel well at all. 

We are taking it one day at a time...we are both tired.  I am keeping a close eye on him. 

Last week was a tough week we hope this week is better.

Nursing care was excellent.

Far Side