After an estimated 104 hospital admissions for severe asthma and probably 10 times that number of IV sticks, I have no peripheral venous access left. A half a century of IV steroids has rendered my veins useless. The only place they can get lines in, are in my knuckles and toes. So rather than endure [...]
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Figured I better update my blog before people think I died or something. Where do I start. Walking ,I’m happy to report that while my lung function hasn’t been all that great this year, I am indeed still walking. I’m putting in about 22 miles a week, which is actually more than I was doing [...]
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Not only did my new Pulmonologist call me at home, but she called at 8:30 in the evening and talked with me for over an hour. So why am I writing about a silly phone call? Well, in all my years living with this disease I can’t remember a single time when a doctor cared [...]
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It’s actually not a new passion, more like the reigniting of an on again, off again love affair Ive had since early childhood. I’m referring of course to the bass guitar, or for that matter any other heavy string instrument. My introduction into the world of making music actually began at the age of 8. [...]
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Well, after going back and forth with this for almost 2 years, I finally made the switch to a different medical group. Next week I’ll be seeing a Primary care physician as well as a new Pulmonologist. Both are part of the John Muir healthcare network in the eastbay town of Walnut Creek. Should I [...]
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The photo is from the movie “Awake” , but what happened to me last September was not fiction. It was the real deal. I’ll share with you now, what I couldn’t 9 months ago because of pending legal action. Ive since withdrawn my lawsuit against the parties involved and am now free to talk openly [...]
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The next Asthma Support Group teleconference, moderated by Dr Sally Wenzel from the University of Pittsburgh’s Asthma Institute will be held on June 20th at 6pm (EST). If you’d like to participate in this or future meetings, please join my Severe Asthma Support Group on Facebook. Also check out Kerri’s new Living with asthma chat [...]
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Ive written about this before, but this is such an important topic; one that effects most chronic lungers and causes more suffering than any other respiratory symptom, that Ive decided to come out of blog retirement to write about it again. Most of the information that Ive been able to find on the internet regarding [...]
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Just a quick update on what Ive up too the last couple weeks. Lungs I’ve pretty much fully recovered from that last exacerbation and hospital stint. I think the intubation is what caused me to get so sick in the first place. An endotracheal tube is the perfect conduit for introducing bacteria and viruses deep [...]
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The idea for this post came to me during the middle a recent severe exacerbation. Actually, it was the same exacerbation that put me in the hospital for 12 days, for which I am still recovering. Foremost on my mind during one of these really bad flares is the question….how bad will it get? Is [...]
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Greetings from the 14th floor isolation room a top the Moffitt building at UCSF medical center in San Francisco. Your guest host for tonight’s show is..well, me of course. I’ll be discussing how much fun it is being a patient in the hospital with severe asthma. Just happy to be alive, I was hoping to [...]
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They don’t call it the best marathon in the world for nothing , and this year was no exception. The weather was near perfect and the spectators and volunteers outdid themselves. The moment I entered athletes village and the disabled athletes staging area early Monday morning, my worries and stress about the race just melted [...]
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So in just a few hours Bib# 21619 is off to the Boston area to take another stab at the mother of all foot races. Monday morning I will attempt to finish my 3rd Boston marathon in a row and my 8th full marathon since starting this incredible fitness journey 5 years ago. May not [...]
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