The Top10 Things You Should Do If You Test Positive For Alpha1

  • Have A List Of Questions When You See a Doctor About Your Alpha1(If you try to remember the questions you want to ask you may forget half of them)
  • Learn To Breathe Effectively
  • Limit Or Eliminate Your Alcohol Consumption
  • Don't Be Afraid To Be Proactive About Your Alpha1
  • Get Plenty Of Rest(You will likely have a higher oxygenation level)
  • Avoid Sick People(You have a lower immune system than most people)
  • Drink Plenty Of Water
  • Eat Healthy/Avoid Processed Food(Carbonated beverages)
  • Start A Careful Exercise Program/Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program(Your muscles will become more efficient so they won't use as much oxygen and if you have surgery you will likely recover quicker as well)
  • Stop Smoking

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Sailing Is Awesome!

I didn't know what to expect. I've driven a big twin engine motorboat on Lake Superior when I was 11 & 12. I grew up snowmobiling & motorcycling. I've downhill skied, cross country skied, ice skated, water skied, roller skated, roller bladed, showed and rode horseback. It was like every fun & exciting thing I had ever done in life wrapped up in one sport(after I got beyond fearing we would capsize every time the boat would heel). I just can't begin to describe it. It's magnificent, exciting, relaxing, invigorating. It's just totally amazing! When class was over I didn't want to leave the lake. As we were heading for the slip my instructor said "I didn't know how I was going to teach you when you told me you had problems with wind. Then I thought maybe I could relay it to you. And then I thought...Wait, she said she had just completed a 38 mile bike ride a month ago! She'll be fine."

It was a good thing I did though! I got to my truck, looked at my face and thought to myself....You're gonna pay girl! I had remembered to put sun screen on my arms but, not my face. I didn't pay too much in spite of indiscretion, I guess it mostly was due to the wind.

I've been really tired lately. That's why I haven't posted much. I am glad my appointment with Dr. Krowka is coming up this Friday. I also have a mammogram scheduled(I had one scheduled in Rice Lake but, forgot about it). I begged his secretary to see if I could at least get one taken because if it's part of my schedule of appointments at Mayo I won't forget! I also have a PFT and a chest x-ray scheduled. Hopefully he will be able to determine more than the Marshfield Clinic doc's in regard to what's going on with my lungs. I just can't believe that the heat & humidity is what's causing my extreme tiredness. I was forgetting ready about & helms a lee towards the end of the sailing class and had to pull over to the side of the road and take a power nap at Poskin. For about the last 2 months I've gotten about 1.5 - 2 hours down the road on a trip and become so tired I had to pull off the road to take a power nap.

There will be no Alpha-Pack support group started in Eau Claire as had been mentioned in the past...at least for a year. At this point I'm not even sure I want to be a support group leader. I have become increasingly frustrated/irritated with the politics of many in the alpha1 community. I just really feel I might not have the temperment needed for such a position of support group leader.

1 comment:

Team Alpha said...

Katie,
Don't let the politics get you down. If you want to have a support group, just call everybody together once in awhile for lunch or a picnic. It is about having fun, sometimes learning things but always about family. I'll send your TEam Alpha-1 jersey as soon as they come off the press. It should be just in time for the Dairyland 100. Keep riding!
Mary Pierce