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

Friday, April 25, 2008

Nobody clobbered me on the freeway!

Finding the cancer wellness center was a peice of cake once I had a good chicago & vicinity map! Finding the Hilton in Oakbrook was challenging. I called my friend Rich to help and he talked about nobody would be letting me in during rush hour but, I never had a problem.

I ate very well tonight. I sat at a table w/ Darrel Nall. I told him I needed to get my Prednizone(sp?) prescription filled and Darrel Nall said he'd make sure I was able to get what I needed. He's very good at making sure alphas have what they need at ed days and the National alpha1 convention as far as medical needs are concerned....at least from my observations.

I had been getting burned out on fundraising but, a visit w/ Wally Checkalski last night reminded me why I had wanted to in the first place. I made a last minute pledge drive effort and stopped to visit him as his wife died of ovarian cancer a little over a year ago. He talked about Hope House in Marshfield, about how much he pays attention to whats going on in cancer research and the fact he and Anne were about 8 months shy of their 60th wedding aniversary when she passed. It was very humbling to listen to him. I found myself getting kinda emotional. It was almost as if I was right back in July of 2007.

Saturday, April 5, 2008

Sometimes One Has To Make Compromises

If I want to race sailboats at Wayzata the summer I need to attend their 3 on the water seminars in May. I felt that due to the fact that my alpha1 is still advancing instead of stabilizing I better scrap the Rock 50/50. I can always bike w/ oxygen but, I doubt if I can race a sailboat with oxygen. I just don't know how much non-oxygen time I have left so I am committed to making the best use of it I can!!

I bought a new to me car which I hadn't planned on buying till after I built my healthy home but, when the mechanic says you would need to throw $3000 at a van that gets 26mpg max with 180,000 on it.....it became a no brainer. When I first got my car I had to laugh!! I distinctly remember telling my Dad almost 20yrs ago when I was in college "I'd rather walk than drive a car!". I'm certain if he were alive today he would never let me live it down. That 2003 Bonneville certainly is growing on me!! She gets 5.5mpg more than the van just commuting. I can't wait to see what kind of fuel economy she gets when we go to Chicago.