We went to the pharmacy to pick up some prescriptions today and thought we'd get a box of masks since it's the time of year that we use them more. You know, time to cut grass, dig garden beds, add compost, trim shrubs, and all the other outdoor jobs. Tree pollen has been crazy. The cars are covered in a yellow-green film. Rain is predicted for the next few days, so that should clear the air.
I'm not allergic to most pollens. Pine pollen is the only one that bothers me, and it has to be in fairly high concentrations. Even then, it's an eye irritant and doesn't affect my breathing. The overcast weather is harder on me, especially because thunderstorms are brewing. Mold releases huge amounts of spores just before thunderstorms, so between that and the increased humidity, breathing becomes difficult. Fortunately, I found battery-operated nebulizers that are compact and nearly silent. The standard nebulizer is a compressor and makes a lot of noise. In addition to being annoying, it frightens the animals.
The swine flu news isn't good. Although it isn't near us yet, it's only a matter of time. There's no vaccine, and one won't be available for months, and by then it will be too late. It's a measure of how small the world has become that there are confirmed cases in New Zealand, brought home by vacationing Kiwis. Our friends there think the government is overreacting, but I'm not so sure. A repeat of the flu pandemic that occurred during World War I would be a hard hit to the all ready shaky global economy. If you're interested, check out Flu by Gina Kolata. It's a well-researched and easy read.
I had a CT scan today because a sinus infection is hanging on. The scan was uncomfortable, but the tech got me in and out in just a few minutes. Every time I think the infection is getting better, it rises up to kick my butt some more. So I'm on a third course of antibiotics, the second 30-day course. I'll be glad when it's finished so I can take some Diflucan and get rid of the annoying yeast infection that's along for the ride.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Back to the urban jungle
We went to Wilmington again yesterday. It's always a long day, two-plus hours one-way and running errands. The weather was perfect, and everything was in bloom, so the scenery was beautiful.
The the fun started. Diesel fumes from buses, check. Auto exhaust, check. The multitude of odors from all the scented items in stores, check. People who leave a scent trail, double check.
We made it through all of that relatively unscathed, although I had to use the nebulizer to breathe easier. And just when we were nearly finished, BAM! I opened the car door and started coughing. That uncontrollable wracking cough that sounds like I'm bringing up a lung or training to be a seal. That hurts a lot. The chronically injured muscle in my back that gets pulled whenever this happens popped again.
The culprit? Smoke from an outside fire, probably leaves. We closed up as much of the car as possible (our friends were unloading groceries for the next three weeks, until our next trip). I put on a mask and started the air conditioner.
Today is, of course, a recovery day. Between the lingering sinus infection - another round of antibiotics in progress and a CT scan later in the week - and yesterday's attack, I'm down for the count even though it is a perfect summer day. Sigh.
The the fun started. Diesel fumes from buses, check. Auto exhaust, check. The multitude of odors from all the scented items in stores, check. People who leave a scent trail, double check.
We made it through all of that relatively unscathed, although I had to use the nebulizer to breathe easier. And just when we were nearly finished, BAM! I opened the car door and started coughing. That uncontrollable wracking cough that sounds like I'm bringing up a lung or training to be a seal. That hurts a lot. The chronically injured muscle in my back that gets pulled whenever this happens popped again.
The culprit? Smoke from an outside fire, probably leaves. We closed up as much of the car as possible (our friends were unloading groceries for the next three weeks, until our next trip). I put on a mask and started the air conditioner.
Today is, of course, a recovery day. Between the lingering sinus infection - another round of antibiotics in progress and a CT scan later in the week - and yesterday's attack, I'm down for the count even though it is a perfect summer day. Sigh.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Short of breath
I love the acronmyn for short of breath, but I hate the feelng. Between travels and visits to places that aren't good for us, plus the lovely rain, we've both been having a little trouble breathing. The effects aren't all that fun, either. When blood oxygenation falls, one gets tired quicker and the brain doesn't function all that well. Add to that shaking like a paint mixer from the inhaled steroids, and everything becomes more difficult.
Places that aren't good for us:
On the plus side, the grass is growing like crazy, and I was able to hold off mowing. Whenever it stops raining for a couple days, I'll be able to get out there. Our neighbors have all ready mowed at least once, but their homeowners association requires it. Their lawns don't look all that good, while ours is a lush, happy, green dotted with color from bulbs and wildflowers.
We have a quiet week ahead. No road trips, no shopping (well, milk, bread, and bananas), no doctor visits. Next week is a different story.
Places that aren't good for us:
- Urban areas. Well, more urban than where we live.
- Houses where cigarette smokers live. Even when they aren't smoking, the odor and effects linger, especially in damp weather.
- Homes with scented candles, air fresheners and other fragranced items.
On the plus side, the grass is growing like crazy, and I was able to hold off mowing. Whenever it stops raining for a couple days, I'll be able to get out there. Our neighbors have all ready mowed at least once, but their homeowners association requires it. Their lawns don't look all that good, while ours is a lush, happy, green dotted with color from bulbs and wildflowers.
We have a quiet week ahead. No road trips, no shopping (well, milk, bread, and bananas), no doctor visits. Next week is a different story.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
April showers
We've had some much-needed rain this week. We're also in the midst of tree pollen season, and soon it will be the time of year when cars are coated in a film of yellow pollen. Several of our friends are miserable this time of year, but to us, it's just another aggravation.
I think what bothers us is the extra particulate matter in the air. I'm allergic to pine pollen - found out on an Easter visit to my paternal grandparents, who lived outside Chattanooga, Tennessee, when the pine pollen count stayed around 400 for several days, my eyes swelled shut and we had to find an optometrist to remove my contact lenses - which will be present soon, but there has to be a lot of it to affect me. That doesn't bother Marlene, but some of the deciduous trees do, as do a few grasses.
Today is also our monthly visit to Walmart. We shop for Marlene's dad, too, which will make this a two cart trip. He's 88 and a half (props to George Carlin), and still lives on his own. Our masks are ready.
I think what bothers us is the extra particulate matter in the air. I'm allergic to pine pollen - found out on an Easter visit to my paternal grandparents, who lived outside Chattanooga, Tennessee, when the pine pollen count stayed around 400 for several days, my eyes swelled shut and we had to find an optometrist to remove my contact lenses - which will be present soon, but there has to be a lot of it to affect me. That doesn't bother Marlene, but some of the deciduous trees do, as do a few grasses.
Today is also our monthly visit to Walmart. We shop for Marlene's dad, too, which will make this a two cart trip. He's 88 and a half (props to George Carlin), and still lives on his own. Our masks are ready.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Working in the yard
I was stupid and didn't wear a mask earlier this week when I went out to start some of the yard chores. I know better, too, but it just didn't stick. It was a gorgeous day, sunny and in the 70sF, and I wanted to take advantage of it.
Putting compost into garden beds wasn't bad. But the neighbors were doing laundry, and I kept smelling bleach and fabric softener, even after I came inside. That should have been a clue, but no, I just took a break and headed back out to tackle the ornamental grasses.
We have seven ornamental grasses in the front, plus two in pots. There are four very large clumps of pampas grass, one small clump which may be going to a new home, and two smaller grasses whose name I don't know. I managed to cut down three of the big pampas grass plus the small one, one of the potted grasses, and the two unknowns. By the time I finished this, I was done for the day.
I was still smelling the laundry products, and scratched up from the pampas grass, which has very sharp blades as well as lots of decaying bits around it, and had to use the nebulizer twice before going to bed.
In the future, I'll try to remember to wear the mask, as much as I hate it. Beats the heck out of the next day's misery - difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, multiple uses of the nebulizer.
Putting compost into garden beds wasn't bad. But the neighbors were doing laundry, and I kept smelling bleach and fabric softener, even after I came inside. That should have been a clue, but no, I just took a break and headed back out to tackle the ornamental grasses.
We have seven ornamental grasses in the front, plus two in pots. There are four very large clumps of pampas grass, one small clump which may be going to a new home, and two smaller grasses whose name I don't know. I managed to cut down three of the big pampas grass plus the small one, one of the potted grasses, and the two unknowns. By the time I finished this, I was done for the day.
I was still smelling the laundry products, and scratched up from the pampas grass, which has very sharp blades as well as lots of decaying bits around it, and had to use the nebulizer twice before going to bed.
In the future, I'll try to remember to wear the mask, as much as I hate it. Beats the heck out of the next day's misery - difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, multiple uses of the nebulizer.
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