Good news, Bad news

Before I start, I want to say welcome to all my new followers. Thank you so much for dropping by and staying a while. I hope you find something interesting here and something you enjoy.

Now, on to the doctor visit. As I said in my last post, I had an appointment with a lung doctor today. Let me just say, this man was a delight. He was kind, funny and put me at ease right away. After the dreaded weight taking and the medication listings, I had to answer some questions by the nurse. Dr. Mejia (I love that name) came in and started questioning me as to why I was there. Sometimes, I think doctors do this to make sure you are sane. Anyway, I explained about the abnormal lung function test and told him I was referred to him. He said that there was nothing terribly wrong with the lung function test so, GOOD NEWS.

However, he asked about smoking so we went through the drill of never having smoked but having been around it most of my life. Then he asked about my cough. I have been coughing for almost a month now and it hasn't gone away on the allergy an cough meds my primary gave me. He listened to my heart/chest. Oh, by the way, I have a heart murmur also and I always like to watch new doctors go back and forth listening.

Then he listened to my back and had me breathe deep....you know the drill.  He also asked about shortness of breath which I have been having for a while. He told me I have decreased lung function. He asked about a chest xray which I had not had so that was scheduled after his appointment. Here comes the BAD NEWS. I am now on an antibiotic, a round of prednisone, an inhaler twice a day and a rescue inhaler. According to the paperwork for the xray, the diagnosis is asthma, unspecified type. Hmmmm. I also got a steroid shot in my booty, big time OUCH and did a breathing treatment in the office.

I have been a little bit hyper this afternoon from the steroid shot. I've also been hot, dizzy and a jabber jaws. BUT, I'm feeling so much better. I'm already coughing very little and feel so, so much better. I don't feel as tired and draggy and I'm looking forward to tomorrow so I can get some things done around. I have to make hay while the sun shines, or rather, work while the shot lasts!

No pictures today. I was so busy running to the doctor, to the diagnostic center and then to the drug store (3 times), I didn't have time to even think about my camera.

All in all, I feel much better about this diagnosis than I did about the possibility of COPD. I think I can handle this but the COPD really scared me. I was very down in the dumps for the two days between doctor visits and tried very hard not to let myself go down very far.

Thank all of you for your wonderful comments. It made me feel so much better knowing I had a support group of wonderful people keeping track and sending me good and happy thoughts. I cannot tell you how much all of you mean to me.

I hope each of you have a great day wherever you might be and thank you for stopping by.

Hugs,
Sharon