Monday, Nov 9
For Nov 8 CPAP. Reported figures. 8 hrs 2 min with AHI=1.37 Events: 11 H, 1 CSR, 14 RERA. No major mask leaks (max=19 L/min); no oximeter.
Rain squalls made a hassle of John’s outside work, including finishing the support posts for a heavy iron “farm” gate. He is trying to get a dry cord of firewood to a needy neighbor and so cuts a little, then splits and loads – then covers with a tarp until the rain stops.
My multitasking continues, with working on the email address list to warn people of our change in domains for our web pages and the blog. I wrote another letter of recommendation for my former student to go into a Ph. D. program in Australia. Retired now for over 5 years and I am still involved in some of my old job expectations. I made chocolate chip cookies to take tomorrow to our Emeriti Geographers meeting, and took out donuts to take along (halving) to provide another plate of goodies, not knowing how many people might show up. We are having a guest speaker, the new Dean of Graduate Studies and Research, Kevin Archer, who was hired here 3 years ago, from Florida, to chair the geography department. Shortly after arriving, he was selected to be the Interim Graduate Dean. That lasted 2.5 years and then CWU advertised externally and narrowed to 3 candidates, with 2 external, but he was chosen to be the new dean. Our Interim Geography Chair who replaced him, was just recently elected to be the new chair. I’m very pleased to announce that John Bowen is on board. I finished running and collating music for Thursday for three new people to our group.
Tuesday, Nov 10
For Nov 9 CPAP. Reported figures. 7 hrs 25 min with AHI=0.40 Events: 3 H, 1 PP, 18 RERA. No major mask leaks (max=12 L/min); no oximeter. First good night with adjusted new Dreamwear mask. Set up from machine on left, over right shoulder in front, not from behind. Nice. Works better.
We left at 8:30 a.m., taking a handout to Hearthstone about upcoming Geography Department events, two plates of goodies: one with 2 dozen cookies and the other with a dozen halved donuts. Hearthstone provides the coffee and hot water for tea or hot chocolate.
John came home from the meeting to work on projects, and I drove myself to Yakima for laser treatment on my right foot’s toenails. On my way home, I stopped off at Les Schwab, got my 2014 Forester tires rotated, and turned in snow chains for my old 2004 Subaru that I had never used. I had the receipt from 2008, and they took them and credited my credit card for $73.89. Currently, the cost of chains is in the $90 range, but my current tires would be larger and require a bigger size of chains that would cost even more. I do not wish to drive in conditions where chains are necessary on an all-wheel drive vehicle, so I didn’t discuss an exchange. Returned home by a neighbor’s to deliver some candies bought for her from Costco.
Now tonight I will turn around and drive back to play music this evening at Hearthstone (where I was for this morning’s 9:00 a.m. meeting). May go by Super 1 to see if they have any donuts/pastry/baked-things marked down from the day’s cabinet selections. At $7.98 / dozen, it is nice to get them for $4.98. They seem to have stopped putting chopped nuts on any – or maybe those are the ones folks buy at full price.
Wednesday, Nov 11
For Nov 10 CPAP. Reported figures. 8 hrs 17 min with AHI=0.60 Events: 5 H, 15 RERA. No major mask leaks (max=19 L/min); no oximeter.
We took off for Yakima first to go to Costco for gasoline, before my cardiologist appointment, to eat lunch, and to shop. Then we went catawampus across a big intersection to Lowe’s, to look at a few things. We did not buy anything but they have stuff we didn’t know existed and stuff that makes you wonder. A leisurely look might be fun.
John went with me to the Yakima Heart Center. First, was to meet with Buffy Sawyer, a Physician Assistant (PA), who is well versed in cardiology. She first examined me and reported on the findings of all my recent tests. All systems are go, and my “numbers” were overall very good. Great news that my ejection fraction (EF**) of my heart (learned from the Echocardiogram) is ~33-35%. Five years ago it was at 25%. Healthy individuals have a value for the EF above 55%. This reading is great for me with my past history of congestive heart failure.
** The left ventricle is the heart’s main pumping chamber, so ejection fraction is usually measured only in the left ventricle (LV). An LV ejection fraction of 55 percent or higher is considered normal. An LV ejection fraction of 50 percent or lower is considered reduced. (Mayo Clinic)
After her discussion and listening to my heart and lungs, my own cardiologist (Dr. Kim) came in to consult and listen to it, as well. He reviewed the same test results that she had discussed with us. He and she determined a change in medications (increased dosage of Metoprolol and adding Allopurinal, for lower uric acid in my blood). Mainly, the discussion centered on my doing well enough NOT to qualify me for an extra wire implant from the new unit to the upper part of my heart’s side where the other wire currently is. This changes the surgery from major, overnight required, to an easier and faster procedure. Take out the Biotronik defibrillator unit (whose battery lasted 5.5 yrs), and replace with a smaller Boston Scientific unit, which has a longer-lived battery (9-10 years). I’m obviously thrilled, that I can go home (John driving), after release. The surgeon expects it to be only a 1/2 hour surgery.
I check in at 8:00 a.m. to Yakima Memorial Hospital, December 18, and the surgery is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. I cannot eat anything after midnight, but I can drink a little water.
Thursday, Nov 12
For Nov 11 CPAP. Reported figures. 8 hrs 25 min with AHI=0.24 Events: 2 H, 16 RERA. No major mask leaks (max=11 L/min); no oximeter.
For John, today was work again outside. He finished loading a split cord of the “new” wood, Ponderosa pine, to take over to a friend’s house a little over a mile away to put on her porch.
For me, today was all about music and apples. Before the music started, I gave a box of Honeycrisp apples to one of our guitar players who drives each week to join us, from Cle Elum (30 miles away). Our group met at Meadows Place and entertained a happy bunch of residents. We had a new singer join us with her 3 yr old son, and our flute player with her 3 yr old girl was there too. We had a male singer, three guitar players, and me on the fiddle. From there I went to my pharmacy for my meds, and then succeeded in getting apples to a gal in the community for baskets she is making for thanks to six people influential in our community of providing volunteer service to others. From there, on my way home, I stopped by the home or the widow of one of my colleagues in Geography at CWU. She loves Honeycrisp apples as well and had picked up a few from the senior center we had taken in. I was able to help her open a mailed package she could not open. It specifically said, “Do not use scissors.” Weird, unless they were trying to protect the scantily tissue paper-wrapped cashmere sweater inside.
Cool receipt today of the after picture of a give several weeks ago on the BNE (Buy Nothing Ellensburg) site. I made a collage for comparison.
Left photo you have seen before, and the right is from its new house, where it’s being used for an old record player stand. It was ready to be packed in the truck heading to the transfer station, when John asked me what it was, and I said I thought a record player stand. I am so happy it found a new happy home. We have no room for it in our house.
It wasn’t wet this morning so John finished the cord of the “new” wood. While cutting the larger diameter pieces he noticed the saw wants to cut at an angle. He commented: “I will have to do more than just a quick file to the cutters – flip the bar and check it for faults, and file the depth control or gauges. The cutters are likely in need of more uniform shape or a couple hit something hard – like a stone. Ouch!”
Friday, Nov 13
For Nov 12 CPAP. Reported figures. 6 hrs 56 min with AHI=0.72 Events: 5 H, 13 RERA. No major mask leaks (max=17 L/min); no oximeter.
I dressed in my patriotic flag vest for a post celebration of Veteran’s Day at the Senior Center. The program included a lunch, with meatloaf, peas, potato, and a colorful red, white, and blue dessert. Eleven Veterans were honored. I stayed for my SAIL (Stay Active and Independent for Life) exercise class and received more compliments on my vest. {Click on photo to see larger image.}
Left is Katrina Douglas, Director of the Adult Activity Center (Ellensburg’s “Senior” Center), her husband, David Douglas, our Master of Ceremony, me (who took photos for the staff because they were busy serving us). The photo on the right was my close-up of the certificate made by an AmeriCorps volunteer there to present to the eleven veterans who went to the front of the room and shared their story — of the branch of the military, the years, the location, and anything else they wished to share. It was rather fascinating. The neatest was the oldest one there, who is 101 and totally with it. His name is Louis Kollmeyer. He was a CWU faculty member for 25 years and the chair of the Art Department. Below he is with his wife, Faye, who is in my SAIL exercise class. She is 98, and in great health, one of the most flexible and active in our class, but she has macular degeneration. She recognizes us by our walk and our talk. She’s known around town by many people because she was a Realtor here for years.
Louis Kollmeyer—101 yr old veteran 2015
Go into this one below about a minute into the video to see Kollmeyer’s comment about his age. This starts with another veteran’s story from Jim Cummings.
Hereeers Jimmy!
Saturday, Nov 14
For Nov 12 CPAP. Reported figures. 3 hrs 44 min with AHI=0.54 Events: 2 H, 2 RERA. No major mask leaks (max=13 L/min); no oximeter. Awoke at 3:00 a.m. to go down the hall to the guest bathroom, and tried to put the mask back already connected to the hose, back on my head. That didn’t work, so I removed it. The set-up is more involved than I wanted in the middle of the night.
John was up after the rain stopped, working on the fence that will, again, allow the horses’ access to the heated water tank. There is still a small amount of water in the center ditch for the horses, so they will need access to this tank when the water stops and/or freezing happens. Most of the fence is ready and he is working on a small gate that in a past life was a pallet. I haven’t taken any photos recently. Maybe when the sun shines, I will try, but rain is in tomorrow’s forecast. Today was a gray day.
This afternoon we left for the 90th birthday party dinner for a friend, Gloria, given by her daughter and her husband at their home about 20 minutes from us. Fun time with 16 people present. Actually, her sister Shirley’s birthday is Nov 17 and hers was Nov 11. Her sister is visiting from CA until the first week in December. She will be 86. We had homemade lasagna, salad, bread, fresh fruit skewers, various pickled things, and a piece of chocolate-frosted white layered cake.
Table of honor—Cindy, Gloria (90), Phyllis, Shirley (86)
Cindy and Phyllis live in the part of Seattle quite close to where my grandparents built their house in the early 1900s – when Fauntleroy Way was a trolley line.
Here’s Fauntleroy – West Seattle
Two videos follow for your enjoyment.
Gloria’s Introduction of Guests at her Party
Then, Happy Birthday song to Gloria (90th) and her sister Shirley (86th). Link — sing along
Sunday, Nov 15
For Nov 14 CPAP. Reported figures. 5 hrs 2 min with AHI=0.40 Events: 2 H, 9 RERA. No major mask leaks (max=17 L/min); no oximeter.
Rain began and the wind was blowing about 8:30 a.m. Just before 9:00 a.m., snow started falling making the already started rain, slushy. John put on a Safari hat over a knitted cap to go take care of the horse feeding.
We had a nice phone call from John’s brother, Dick and his wife, Kit, in San Jose’.
I will end this week with the story of my new CPAP mask I’m still learning to use. I thought I had found the best alternative for me, with a nasal pillow, (the AirFit P10), but it started chafing my nostrils. I have now switched to one called Dreamwear, pointed out to me by a friend who also uses a CPAP machine. This mask has nothing entering the nostrils. The compressed air hose connector is on the top of my head and not beneath my chin. It has been a little worrisome to get used to the connection above, but when properly set, the mask provides a more comfortable and definitely quieter sleep.
The story started over a week ago with the wrongly sized head gear. The medical supply place allowed me to request a replacement of the a Medium I was given for a Small, and it was drop-shipped to me, arriving Friday, Nov 6. I didn’t manage to get it set correctly until Tuesday night this week. The picture collage below will give you an idea and I will describe a little bit more beneath it (especially for my friends and relatives with whom we share CPAP evaluation information). I’m serving as the guinea pig for this newly released mask (also evaluating it for my medical supplier).
The shot on the left shows the new mask with the air tube connecter on the top of the headpiece. That is awkward and “weighty” on the head because of the weight of the long (somewhat heavy) compressed air tubing that connects to the CPAP machine. The one on the left does not yet have the soft flannel pads attached to the cheek straps. The one on the right shows the cheek pads added to the plastic straps. Now, I have taken the new pads that came with the smaller headgear and added them to the top plastic pieces across the top of my head on both sides. That seems to work quite well. The disadvantage is I have to put my mask on, while disconnected from the tubing, adjust the pillow behind my head and move the tubing across my chest, and then over my right shoulder and back over the pillow, to take the weight off the top of my head. The top of my head is still very thin on hair from the shock to my system (I guess) 5 years ago from the heart valve replacement surgery. My hair thinning/loss is not related to drugs, such as chemo and others cause, but I definitely have very thin hair on top still. I have used all the tricks of the trade, and faithfully use Nioxin shampoo. While it is a little better, it still is not what it used to be. Age certainly is not a factor! My sleep is better with this mask than any of the five I have tried (and suffered with, since October 2014). I hope the success story continues.
Right before our brunch, 3 resident deer arrived out back. John carried out my leftover tomatoes I decided were past their prime. I had been eating about 4/day (they are small) until yesterday, when it was tougher to find enough good ones. Below is a collage I took through the window on our new patio door.
Notice the flying tomato over the top of the post at John’s elbow, headed at the little buck, with a doe looking on. The right shows a few on the ground and one to the right of his right foot and another in front of him. It didn’t take them long to eat up the remainder and move on.
John went out while there’s still light to clean out the horse trough to set up for the horses to have water with a heater as the temperatures decrease. I noticed the sun came out so I went out in 40° temps to walk around his newest fence/gate project.
The sun didn’t last long, but this shows the cleaning materials, and John in the background near the horse trough, in front of the old red barn. In the foreground is the fence supported by pallet structures. And, below is a very short tour around to a gate near the rest of the fence that needs 30 feet completed before the horses are released to this area.
On my return trip, I walked around the back of the new garden and admired our little resident buck, laying inside (John opened the gate so all the deer could nibble off and prune the strawberry plants). The buck was the only one inside as I walked around. Others were there, but outside the fence.
Hope your week was fine.
Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan