We are dry and safe except for the constant rain. We live on top of the bluff at Clifton Terrace hill off the River Road. We can not get to Alton via the river road right now.
Was happy with dr's appointment. In Dec my breathing function was at 71% and Fri is was up to 84%!!!!!!! Did a sputum sample Fri, Sat, and Sun so will wait the 20 days to see what that shows. Dr Anderson was very positive about the 3 cultures being negative because of how well I've responded to the meds since Jan 20th. If all 3 are negative he said he will start me on the 12 monthly negative sputum cultures. As far as all my aches/pains and hot flashes go he said nothing he could do but take me off the meds and unless I insisted he would not do that. Said if I stopped the meds and MAI came back I could be resistant to the meds so of course don't want that so will just suffer with all the side effects the meds have brought me. He did suggest an eye test but when I told him I'd read on one of the sites to read the stock page daily in the newspaper and if the small print was blurry 2 days in a row to call him immediately. He did not seem too concerned about the meds affecting my hearing. Told me to eat yogurt daily. He did blood work but haven't gotten that result back yet. Go back to him in Sept to see how my breathing is doing by then. We discussed the Smart Vest and are both in agreement that it has been a main thing in helping my breathing scores to go up. Flying to Ca. tomorrow to visit my nephew so will be my first experience flying with this heavy piece of equip.

@becky33, so glad to hear your pulmonary function tests were better. Just wish he had some answers for your other symptoms. Have you had your thyroid checked the medications can mess with thyroid and other hormones too. i also think getting a baseline for eyes and hearing is imperative. If someting goes wrong you have a reference point for them to work from. It's just as important as your blood test and pulmonary function test. Im trying not to sound too overbearing, but your eyes and ears are really iimportant too!! Im so excited you are going to fly to ca. Traveing is a big deal with all of our stuff we need daily. I hope you have a helper. Ive only taken car trips but others have flown and might give some helpful hints if you needed any. Well have a great time and bring back some sunshine, we certainly need it.
Becky