New and undiagnosed

Hugs to you too! You have helped me so much! I'm in BC Canada. This weekend suddenly got turned into a long weekend because of the Queens funeral so many people are angry and struggling to find day care.
I'm looking forward to spending some time with my daughter in law. My son and 5 year old grandson came over tonight and had such a good visit I didn't think of myself once! Will be in touch! Hugs!!!

I'm hoping your "long weekend" is going well. Today was my rest day - literally all I did was clean up a few patio pots, take a few garden photos and mess with the irrigation system. I think I overdid it for a few days, and my body is telling me to rest. Tomorrow we plan a trip to the apple orchard with our little grands and their parents - we love our mini-adventures.

Here are a couple of pics from the yard today. We have a tiny pond with a copper scuplture. The monarch butterflies are on their annual journey to Mexico, and stop her to rest a few days on the sunflowers.

Oh Sue how beautiful! I'm so glad your enjoying your weekend!
But yes please rest. I know how you feel! My 16 year old granddaughter and I got out and did the shopping. I shopped the smaller stores, she did the bigger stores. I went to the drug store for some new make up, vitamins and a jug of water. Came home, put it all away (I'm still moving slower) but oh my back and my legs were hurting like never before. Took tylenol, but it didnt touch it. Sats stayed up pretty good but even tho 94-97 at rest, still 90 and 91 on first movement and then rises. Dips again, when I first sit. Yesterday was the first time i saw an 89 creep in after i sat down from being "active". Only checked twice yesterday but just watched to see what's "normal" right now. I dont understand. No breathlessness, no wheezing, not blue, but sats of 89 90 and 91?

Hi again Sue. Sunday evening. Day was definitely different. My sats were good. However, I noticed still, my heart rate was up but getting worse. Standing making a salad. Felt my chest racing. Put on the oximeter and my heart rate was 140. It was also fluttering around today and I was not myself. A lot of lower back pain on one side close to the thigh. Did some digging on my new bp med amlodipine. I went on a site and a lot of people wrote of their experiences with this drug. Most said it started great. And as time progressed and it got into their systems things got worse. I always had anxiety but not like this. My ativan hasnt helped like it usually does. I read over 100 accounts of people who have the same symptoms as me, one is frequent night urination. I rarely go at night till now. So I'm wondering if the high heart rate which is getting higher with no extra output is from the amlodipine.

Hi again Sue. Sunday evening. Day was definitely different. My sats were good. However, I noticed still, my heart rate was up but getting worse. Standing making a salad. Felt my chest racing. Put on the oximeter and my heart rate was 140. It was also fluttering around today and I was not myself. A lot of lower back pain on one side close to the thigh. Did some digging on my new bp med amlodipine. I went on a site and a lot of people wrote of their experiences with this drug. Most said it started great. And as time progressed and it got into their systems things got worse. I always had anxiety but not like this. My ativan hasnt helped like it usually does. I read over 100 accounts of people who have the same symptoms as me, one is frequent night urination. I rarely go at night till now. So I'm wondering if the high heart rate which is getting higher with no extra output is from the amlodipine.

Oh dear, Yvonne, you are in danger of "falling down the rabbit hole" into your anxiety again.
For everyone with any health condition, there are good and bad, better and worse days.

Look at what you accomplished last week!
- up out of bed and doing
- stopped messing with the pulse/oximeter all day
- went to the doctor and got a good report
- took a walk outdoors
- had a visit with your son & grandson
- went shopping with your granddaughter, then put everything away

Did you think a week ago that you could have done all of that? Of course you were tired yesterday! And your back hurt from doing stuff you haven't done for a month or more. But then, you "old brain" got in your way! You needed to think "I did a lot after being inactive for quite a while. My body is tired & needs to adjust. I need to get out a book, a glass of water or cup of tea, and relax."

Instead you fell into the old habit - reading "bad stuff" on the internet, getting more and more anxious, using that pulse/ox over and over, worrying...

Today is a new day - will you try using your "new brain" again?
Put away the pulse oximeter. If you are not blue or gasping, just chug along - slow is better than stop.
Focus on CAN DO.
Stop looking for and reading "bad stuff" on the internet. Instead of "over a hundred people had a problem..." think - "wow, millions of people take this drug safely. If I am really worried about it I'll call Tuesday and ask the doctor." (PS My husband took about 3 months to adjust to it, has now taken it safely for years.)
If your back hurts try this little exercise: lie down on the bed, bend your knees, & "hug them" towards your chest. Hold for 10, release, do it again a couple times.

Will you let me know how you are doing today?
Hugs!
Sue

Sue
Back in the hospital again. Crashed Monday morning. Same as before. I'm praying hard. On 100% oxygen. If I need anymore they will intubate.

Hi again Sue. Back from doctors. He said there are no crackles, no rattles or rales, no wheezing. He said I looked good and even after walking from the parking lot into the building, down a hallway to his office waiting room then down a long hall to his office he said I wasnt blue or even fighting for air. He said we will know more after my next ct in Dec. He asked questions but they arent fitting in with a lung disease that he can see. Before this incident, I was crazy busy. I had a flashback last night. I recall talking to a co worker and thinking my god it's taking 2 breaths to finish a sentence! But i put it on the back burner because I had to keep on with work, the commute, trying to get sleep and taking care of house and disabled husband! I hope I've not done irreparable damage!

Hello Yvonne, I am wondering if you had a chest xray or CT in the hospital to look at your lungs?

Wow, Yvonne, the report on your improved sats sounds like healing to me!

Thank you for sharing your history with me, it helps me understand better what you are experiencing now. Please don't stop taking your long term meds "cold turkey" to see what the effect is - it won't give you a true picture, and depending on the med it can be unhealthy to just quit. Also, there are many newer meds now available that weren't 20 years ago, so your docs should be able to find safe replacements.

Can we chat some more to try to find a "next step" for you toward regaining your confidence in your ability to breathe? Do you have any follow-up appointments to try to figure out the cause of this episode?
Sue