I have suffered from mild URI from last week and being work-a-holic I have been working as I had no fever. Few days ago I jokingly said to one of my co-workers that I will surely get sick when I have my days off...
Well, unfortunately that was true and yesterday morning I went to see a doctor as I was coughing quite badly.

Result of that visit was sick leave to 22nd for viral upper and lower respiratory infections and course of antibiotics because I am asthmatic and in greater risk to catch bacterial infection, and because I was already coughing yellow sputum (sign of bacterial infection).

Getting suitable antibiotics was a quest itself: it took half an hour for the pharmacist and my doctor to find suitable one for me because of my allergies...

So, finally I have some time for finer things of life, but not the energy because those antibiotics make me sleepy.

Anyway, I am glad to announce you that I will be off from 9th to 12th (rather 13th as I come back late) of January because I go to Malaga to see Mr.Wonderful.

Yes, only for a weekend, but we thought it's better than not seeing at all for G-d knows how long period.

I realised yesterday that it is not reasonable from me to stress about the ornament set I have been model stitching for quite some time with an intention to get them published this year. Even though my goal was to get them out this year so much have happened since I started stitching them that I simply have to accept the fact that I am not a machine, only a human.

There's always next year and good things are worth waiting for (and they are, even I say so, gorgeous).

This decision has freed me to think of the designs of next year and I know what I am going to model stitch next: a cute Valentine's Day design which I have wanted to stitch since I designed it - all three versions of it.

I want to know what's wrong with me!

My health issues continue and current ones are rather scary... I almost choked this morning when coughing, twice, and because of this I went to ER. Like that had been a good idea, quite contrary: the doctor honestly said to me that she has not idea nor means to check what's wrong with me (that is a hospital, for Pete's sake!) so she prescribed antibiotics and stronger asthma medication for me - no use, it's Father's Day and I couldn't find a pharmacy which had been open.
I decided to go to my mother's, just in case I get another choking attack and bronchodilator isn't helpful - as it is quite difficult to call an ambulance when you can't breathe.

When I came here I took some terbutaline, which used to cause nasty twitching, and to my surprise I feel quite fine now (I do still cough, but for now my larynx has been behaving) - I just hope this continues and I don't need to have another panic attack in the morning because I simply can't breathe...

Regardless, I am going to book a doctor's appointment through my employer's health care plan (private sector has the fun side that they do have interest towards you because you, or in this case your employer, pay good money for them).

I saw a doctor in Monday... In his opinion there was nothing in wrong with me (despite my erratic breathing and high fever), but the doctor ordered some basic blood tests.

I called my results in Tuesday and even though my CRP was completely normal (keep this in mind for the rest of this entry) my white cell count and other infection indicator were up so the nurse thought that it might be an idea if a doctor calls me.
She called and because of my blood test results she wanted to listen my lungs and take my peak flow before prescribing anything.
So, in Wednesday morning I booked an acute appointment and despite my peak flow being 600l/ min (my normal is nowadays 650l/min) my lungs sang the song of infection which lead to a course of antibiotics and sick leave until 3rd of November (that is the last day off) because I have... bronchitis.

So, when I am one step from pneumonia my CRP is completely normal. This is another oddity that runs in the family: my mother has the same interesting feature in her body (though it can be caused by asthma medication as cortisone is anti-inflammatory drug) and I am sure I will have some fun times in future because of this...

Anyway, 11 days after I first noticed being sick my fever is finally getting lower, albeit slowly. Today (or yesterday actually, but my circadian rhythm has suffered a bit from the medication as it (in addition to coughing my lungs out) makes me sleeeeeeeeepy) I haver actually felt almost alive again...

First of September and it's barely over +10 °C.

First of September and I go from no coat to winter coat and scarf, because it's so cold out there that I can't manage without.

First sign of apparent winter season was that I had to lift my cortisone dose back to prescribed level (1,6 mg) as my lungs just couldn't take the chilliness anymore and the inflammation spread.

I think I am getting old.

Still alive, nothing much to tell, only few interesting tidbits:

1. I filled the follow-up forms for depression and anxiety day before yesterday. My BDI score has plummeted from 15 to 7 in about 1½ months.
2. I was visiting my mother yesterday and after taking bronchodilator (it was an extremely dry day, very bad for my lungs) I decided to use her meter and measure my peak flow. It was majestic 700 litres/ minute! Remember that I have an obstructive, chronic lung disease and the median for a woman of my age and height is 440.
   Therefore my lung capacity is 159%. (This probably means that my lung function is recovering.)
3. I have found an excellent combination for workout: goth metal and Stephen King's books.
   If I only watch DVDs or listen only music I can't train more than 20- 30 minutes because I begin to feel too exhausted... when I listen to goth metal and read I can do as much as 64 minutes.
4. My pulse rate bothers me: it seems to be almost impossible to keep it over 140, even less at 160 which should be the best pulse rate for excercise.
5. It seems that caffeine blocks the effect of sertraline: when I drink decaf I am much more energetic than when I drink regular coffee and the meds seem to work better.

The blue scheme? I noticed one day that eLJay's trademark colour scheme was quite nice and soothing so I figured out the colour codes and edited my template.

I checked my info from SII's site (yes, they have online service too, works with online banking PINs): Chronic asthma bronchiale, the decision has been made yesterday and the document has been mailed to me today.

This means... I get special reimbursement for my asthma medication! (Note that SII knows about my cats, as my GP did mention it in the documentation.)

I upped the sertraline to 150 mg/d and all the sudden my systolic pressure has decreased almost 40 units from what is was at its worst and diastolic has gone down 15 units.
My blood pressure is still slightly elevated, even though it seems to me that it's dropping fast: yesterday I measured 146/86, today it was 135/85.

On other health related good news I have been able to lower my daily cortisone dose without any problems in breathing front, so things are getting better - and my GP can think what he wants about my cats.

Well well... my sugars are normal.

My blood pressure on the other hand is still elevated and followed.

My GP also gave me a lecture of how I should get rid of the cats to improve my asthma. Guess will I?
Exactly. I base my opinion on the good care recommendations, which state that if asthmatic person has pets and gets no clear symptoms of them they shouldn't give the away. (And who would take four elderly cats, I ask you.)
And then, there's no guarantee that it would lessen my need for cortisone. If I were to give them away, or - even worse - put them to sleep, and then there weren't change in my condition guess how bad it would be for my mental health?

He promised to give the lecture again in 14th when I meet him again.

Managed one goal, partially. The biscornu is now stitched, it still needs to be assembled.
I blame on sleeping too much (sleeping a day in a row is, by definition, too much.)

Crotty bloomed last two weeks and the flowers looked really good this time - the first edition was a bit lame compared to this one. (The picture is from the beginning of the blossoming phase.)

I am not blossoming and I really hope the friggin' medication doesn't worsen my asthma permanently. If this bronchospam stays for few days the medicine has to be changed... I am not going to use bronchodilator daily as my asthma was behaving beautifully before sertralin.

On the good side I slept only 7 hours last night and I feel like stitching! (Yeah, I know. It should not affect yet - but it does.)

You know how it goes... there is a finishing method you have wanted to try for a while and then someone decides to organize an exchange for that spesific finish...
This means that I have now stitched one humbug on light fabric (I love how it came out) and am still to stitch another one, with the same design and same floss, on dark fabric.
And of course, being me, I have designed the design I use (actually I have also dyed one of the fabrics I use), and, just to make it fun, I have designed additional pieces while stitching the first one and it is becoming a series...

I see the series stitched with certain Crescent Colours' silk on flax Newcastle - just when I had swore to myself to stay away from flax linen for a while.
It's good to have my creativity back, but I'd rather transfer some of the energy to be used in the tasks of life, at least for a while as I am seriously lacking mental energy...

Though, I have surprised myself by doing some serious spring cleaning (it doesn't look like it yet as I have also reorganized my living room, again) and not suffering from it too badly - I still can't stand long time physical activities without straining myself somewhat, but I am doing way better than I was last year about this time (last year this time I couldn't lift one 20 kg pellet sack (hardware stores sell wooden pellet used for heating and grocery stores sell the same wooden pellet as kitty litter... guess which one is WAY cheaper? *grin*) and nowadays I have no problems to lift them up while cleaning the litter box).
Admittedly my lungs sound worse under physical stress than they did last year this time, but I think it may be because my lungs are better now. (As odd as it sounds one of the symptoms of severe asthma can be that you can't wheeze because your airways are so obstructed.)

If I just have enough energy tomorrow I may actually be able to clean the place up. Then there's only left reorganizing the bedroom, washing windows and pile of carpets - maybe I can finally use my carpets now that Masa is castrated.

And... as I can't show you my happy dance piece I will leave you with a picture from last summer:

(Firstly: Angela, I am working on the YMMD, but neither of my brain cells function properly at the moment.)

My first order from Hand-dyedfibers.com came!

The timing couldn't have been better: my asthma has been behaving badly last days - today it decided to freak out completely - and I needed a lift-up.

The colours look just what I anticipated, so I can say right now that the DMC-HDF conversion table Vikki has created is very accurate - but DMC can never look this pretty...

Happy dance №7

And as shocking it is I may have the designs ready to be emailed to Jenna day after tomorrow latest... O_o (Remember, the next launch is in Valentine's Day!)

And I still suffer from insomnia caused by creative activity, no matter how much I wanted to sleep - and it shows in my peak flows, last two mornings have been bad in comparison to the previous week. I wouldn't wonder if the doctor would want to check my medication and either up the dosage or change the cortisone completely.
Though, last night's streak was quite a pleasant one (started from one tiny motif I had in my head and evolved to a pile of sketches).

But to the regularly scheduled memesy: this week's

Stitching Bloggers' Question

was suggested by Kathryn and is:

Are there other crafts that you have tried and abandoned? Why do you like stitching better?

I used to be a knitter in my teens and I actually wanted to become a knitted garment designer when I was young. (Well, I became an artisan of textile designing and manufacturing, but majored in weaves and weaving techniques, and ten years later begun to use my skills for good in form of cross stitch designing...)
Nowadays my issue with knitting is that... I have became very easily bored and I always had issues with not being able to make anything too detailed with knitting needles, no matter how small.
In theory I do still like knitting and would like to do it more often, but those tiny crosses just seem to be more suitable to my anal character...

When my peak flow was metered last time my morning flow was around 400 l/ min, usually under it (woman of my age and height should have around 440 l/ min). After four months of cortisone my morning flow has improved "a bit" and is closer to 600 l/ minute.
Asthma? In me? Oh, never, my lungs just react to cortisone treatment like asthmatic lungs should react.

The funny thing? The doctor who decides about my asthma diagnose at SII (a doctor who has never seen me is the one who decides am I really sick and can I get the 75% reimbursement of my medication - my GP can only state that he recommends the diagnose based on his experience on me and my symptoms) may decide that I am not asthmatic based on one little detail: my peak flow is way too good for an asthmatic female when I am properly medicated...
Well, let's see.

I do love the strong euro as it makes shopping so much cheaper.
Last night I finally got fed up with the continuous sinus problems and as I have heard good things about Neti pots I decided to give it a try.

I chose stainless steel after reading Jalanetipot.com's material comparison and ordered this baby:

It's interesting really: every time when I have had a flu, and nowadays just sinus problems, I have wanted to wash the sinus blockage away with salt water... I just hadn't heard about Neti pots and saline baths for sinuses before this year.
Human body seems to know what's good for it, hopefully. At least I am really waiting to give the Neti a try.

I have suffered from bouts of sinusitis symptoms few times after The Flu (took two weeks) and I finally managed to deduce the cause of it: chocolate!
Milk chocolate to be precise, as milk increases the mucus production (asthmatics should avoid dairy in all its forms) and in my current state it seems to be enough to block my right maxillary sinus. (Though I am dead sure that part of this is caused by the dust from the pistachios my mother and bits_2_whole ate last night.)
Now I just need to wait few days and eat some dark chocolate and hope it won't cause similar symptoms... (As I have used chocolate as a sleeping draft lately.)

And Masa has recovered well from his tiny operation, though he's still a bit sleepier than normally (but isn't that how castrated toms should be: lazy asses? *grin*).

I had an appointment with my GP in Friday and he left me kind of baffled.
Why he left me bafled probably tells quite much about the quality of the public healthcare: he simply asked how I am doing.

When a GP shows concern you really should draw a cross into a wall (this is how we say it), because that just does not happen.
I am beginning to think that part of my recovery is just having a GP like that: it helps to have a doctor who actually shows concern towards the patient. It makes you feel like a sane person when you have a illness which does not show, and in a culture where being (sick is being weak and being) weak is a big no-no it feels good to actually notice that the one person who takes care of your health really wants to do so.
I could SO marry that man (even his wife would oppose it).

The recovery? I can happily announce you that I have got my physical endurance back. Yesterday, when going to bits_2_whole's birthday (it's actually today: Happy birthday sis!) I decided to be lazy and instead of waiting a bus X took a bus Y which took me 1½ kilometres from our mother's place and walk the rest of it - as a test of my current condition.
It was a chilly and humid day, but yet I managed to walk 1½ kms in my normal, preasthma, speed (which meant that I was there earlier than I had been if I had been a lazy ass and waited for the bus). My breathing was a bit faster than usually when I arrived, but there was no need for bronchodilator spite of the walk in cold.
The G-d is in the details, as certain someone once said to me, and in this case just a notion of becoming what you once were feels good - opposed to that 4 kms/ 2 hours and few days of bed rest speed I encaged during summer.

And first time in long time I had hope that some day I can actually lower my cortisone dosage as the inflammation is getting under control.

I also find it interesting that my physical fitness apparently hasn't suffered from immobility of six months...

/me thinks that the cortisone lift-up has been bad for her concentration skills. I just can't stay put long enough to write a coherent sentence or stitch or... do anything fun - like get decent night's sleep... (my night was about 2½ hours). I know that cortisone causes mania, but with localized dose this small?
Another less nice symptom seems to be bleeding gums, which is really not fun - even less noticing that I do brush my teeth as a good asthmatic person on inhaled cortisone, twice a day (and I use the softest brush available as my gums are sensitive).

/me thinks it's time to decide that I am now well enough to lower the dose back to normal... even though I am afraid that I am not.

Actually I find this whole asthma thing very depressing at this point, as I have learned to hate winter, season I used to love, and I have started to count days to summer when the air should be warm enough to breathe. And when the summer comes I am kept indoors by the fact that there is pollen out there, lots of it.
Either I become a climate refuge and escape to somewhere close to the equator or become a complete indoor animal... Interestingly enough I have gained yet another reason to move out of the country some day.

I saw my all-time favourite GP today and came out with a sick leave due Idiopathic Acute Upper Respiratory Infection and an order to up my inhaled cortisone dose to 2400 micrograms.
He seems to be about the only doctor who can see from me when I am sick - as nowadays that is the only way to diagnose common cold in me (as mentioned, the steroids block the sneezing/ coughing rather well) - as most doctors get baffled due the fact that I look so da*n healthy even when I am sick.

And he is just so oooh after 28 years of having to deal with GPs who couldn't care less (and, even he takes interest he's just as fast with dealing the patients than any other GP - that is what a professional physician is like, /me thinks). I could say that I love that man as much one can love their physician without being weird.

Now I just need to find my appetite... it got lost somewhere.

..with Budesonide is that I can't lower the dose even I should. This is the second time I tried and after three days my body temperature had dropped, again, to the level where I am freezing all the time.
This means that even I tolerate the drug well I can't use it in the long run - as when I get sick I should be able to double the dose and if I am already taking the higher dose it is not possible...

Fortunately it's about time to make the GP's appointment for the medication check. I also should ask about the flu vaccination (i.e. am I already classified as a person with a chronic lung dysfuncion and get it free of charge or do I have to pay for it) - and therefore be prepared to be sick for a week or two after getting it... but then, it means uninterrupted stitching time...

Unconscious Mutterings

Week 248

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Assets :: Qualities
2. Concern ::Worry
3. Over the top :: Over the hills and far away...
4. Supplies :: Thingies
5. Mustache :: Hercule Poirot
6. Doug :: Dawg
7. Coach :: Trainer
8. Bleachers :: -
9. Stripes :: Stars
10. Assortment :: Selection