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

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Staying Nimble and Hopping Off Hay Wagons!

Last fall was such a wonderful comeback story! It has enabled me to do lots of things. One I wasn't dependent on a nebulizer or rescue inhaler. Though few know I had gone out to check my propane levels just before a big snow storm (I think in February). Enroute I took a fall. I didn't expect to go into full blown panic. The harder I struggled to right myself the closer to the melting snow I became. I realised I had to pull myslef together and get a little wet. Perhaps a little cold. It rattled my cage pretty good! I haven't fallen since.

I just wasn't getting the hours at work so I applied for a part time merchandiser position. I have a immediate goal of becoming debt free except for my farm in 1 year. A midsized goal of being mortgage free in 6 years and a long range goal. A long term goal of having $1,500,000 in cash in 10 years. Most of it through mixed real estate interests and the farm. Next year is my return to pastured hogs and returning to being a dog owner. A new foray in a few years into raising and breeding Llewellin Setters from the Dashiing Bondhu line. That should cover the cost of a bi-lateral transplant because I'm not going to struggle along on social security disability!!!! I had a supposedly devote christian literally go into a fullblown belly laugh when I told her. I explained to her I believed I lived in the worlds greatest country in the world. Although we have problems...people start with nothing and become millionaires every day. If I don't try we know I can't but, if I do try there is a very good chance I can achieve it!! (I am a big Dave Ramsey fan so now you know I can live like no one else so that I can live like no one else later. I pretty much don't go much of anywhere except to U of Chicago once a year and now I figured out a way to avoid the expense of not staying overnight.) I retold this story to another Christian and I said "If God be for me who dare be against me?". He said "That's a great response!! You're absolutely right Katie!" I do have a couple indulgences... an ocassional Leinenkugel or Guiness Extra Stout and I eat at a local Mom & Pop cafe.

I've have had to crawl over other merchandise pallets to get to my back stock and hop off of pallets. I've learned to hop off them carefully. As I hoped off one yesterday I thought to myself...Remember when you used to hop off of hay wagons without giving it a second thought. I am so glad after 7 years of people telling me I shouldn't or couldn't do something I didn't listen. I listened to my body! Your body will not let you do something it can't handle. I never rushed into any activity but, I do proceed cautiously!!!