Veem
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Posts: 12,230
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Post by Veem on Nov 2, 2023 21:14:48 GMT 1
Not a good day. When the worst storm in many years was about to hit Europe, I had to be up early to drive to the hospital for 8.15 to do an ‘under stress’ test for my lung capacity and oxygen levels. I set off in the dark (having not driven in the dark for around 7 years, post cataract ops) and hit a few heavy downpours. Scary. I was on the lookout for fallen trees and vehicles halted by the conditions, but arrived at the clinic in time. With Hi Tech equipment strapped to my wrist I set off to do 6 minutes walking as briskly as I could whilst a staff member monitored constantly on a receiver. After what seemed a quick 6 minutes, she stopped me and asked me to sit down. Then Dr Istria appeared to tell me the test had been a ‘catastrophe’ because I was clearly short of oxygen and he had stopped the test early. So I had to do it again, this time connected to an ambulatory oxygen cylinder. Better, but not great.
End result, this afternoon a technician came to set me up with permanent oxygen paraphernalia. A rather loud oxygen concentrating machine which takes the ambient air, removes the oxygen and feeds it to me via a nasal tube. I have in effect a long flexible tube which allows me to roam anywhere within the house within about 15m. I can make it to the fridge, but not the front door. I feel like a gypsy cob tethered on a common.
I’m not allowed to cook when wearing it because of the high flammability of oxygen. At night, I have to disconnect myself from the large noisy machine and attach myself to the overnight CPAP machine into which I have to plug the tube from the large noisy machine so as well as pressurised air via a mask, I’ll receive additional oxygen.
Then, if I want to go out, I have an ambulatory pack. It’s a battery operated machine which is in a bag with a shoulder strap. It weighs about 4 kg, so not inconsiderable. Batteries (there are two) only last 3 hours, which rather limits the time I can be away from a power point or the big noisy machine. In case of power cuts, I have a large oxygen cylinder (lasts about 16 hours) that I plug myself into and then have to stay close to it ……… and ring for replacement if it looks as though the power cut might stretch into days.
It’s a lot to take in.
Have you any similar experience and advice to give? Sorry for the very long post.
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suein56
Member
Southern Morbihan 56 Brittany
Posts: 7,963
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Post by suein56 on Nov 2, 2023 21:27:46 GMT 1
Not a good day. When the worst storm in many years was about to hit Europe, I had to be up early to drive to the hospital for 8.15 to do an ‘under stress’ test for my lung capacity and oxygen levels. I set off in the dark .. Sorry for the very long post. Don't you dare apologise .. you have had a truly awful day. I am in thrall to your composure as I would have been an angry wreck. It never ceases to amaze me that the usually excellent medical staff don't realise that older patients/clients/people are not at their best at the unbelievably early hour they want their charges to get up and then drive, often in stressful circumstances, so they can be tested at a still early hour in unfamiliar hospital situations. I am pleased that you are being treated but I wonder if a less restricting and more flexible solution could have been found.
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Veem
Member
Posts: 12,230
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Post by Veem on Nov 2, 2023 21:50:09 GMT 1
That's a very kind response Sue and much appreciated. Time will tell if I am personally able to adapt to the restrictions and limitations involved in the treatment. I've been used to immense freedom all my life.
Between the hospital appointment and the SOS technician's visit later in the day, a chap came to me who is attending the same B1 French class as I am.
He told me a while ago he had never been taught English grammar when at school, so was struggling to understand the terms used in French class. After we'd had an informal chat about it in the car park he asked if I could help. This afternoon he came for our 5th session which thankfully put pronouns behind us and it is giving me enormous pleasure to use my teaching skills again to enable light bulb moments to happen in front of me.
So today wasn't all bad.
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Post by gigi on Nov 2, 2023 22:11:53 GMT 1
I should think it was a lot to take in, Veem, what a dreadful day!
I can sympathise about setting off in the dark - I’ve always been hopeless at seeing in the dark, but looking out for debris must have really added to your worries. Then finding that your test results were so poor must have been very stressful.
Your equipment seems an awful lot to get used to as well as being restrictive, but hopefully you’ll become a dab hand at using it before long.
I should think it absolutely wasn’t a good day for you, but so good that you had a ray of sunshine this afternoon. I hope you have a restful night. Sorry I can’t help with the use of CPAP machines, but sending hugs.
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Post by specsavers2 on Nov 2, 2023 22:17:52 GMT 1
Sounds like a stressful day but appears you have coped very well given all the obstructions in your day. Good to see you are still so positive. A trooper. 💐 🍇
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Post by houpla on Nov 2, 2023 22:20:40 GMT 1
Bon courage, Veem. I'm in the process of trying to adapt to a nocturnal CPAP and God knows that's bad enough! It's scary what sleep deprivation can do to a human being ![:-/](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/undecided.png) Does your OH cook? If not he's going to have to learn pretty quickly ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/grin.png) Seriously, I wish you an easy adaptation to circumstances that will hopefully improve, whether in the equipment supplied or alternatives as they become available. xx
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JohnnyD
Member
Mayenne (53) When Covid allows..........Which isn't very often these days........
Posts: 2,091
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Post by JohnnyD on Nov 2, 2023 22:51:59 GMT 1
Wow, that is a lot to take in in a day Veem, I applaud you, did you know you had a lung condition and problems before the visit, sorry I do not know the history.
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mysty
Member
Posts: 1,728
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Post by mysty on Nov 2, 2023 23:45:22 GMT 1
I can send you some pasta and tuna is a proper cheddar sauce. The driving in the dark gets more difficult as we all get older.
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Post by cernunnos on Nov 3, 2023 9:05:07 GMT 1
Sorry to hear about your troubles Veem , it can't be an easy change to accept.Is this permanent or just a temporary solution ? We refuse to make early morning appointments for docters and specialists , leave those for the younger folk.
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Post by jardiniere on Nov 3, 2023 9:38:10 GMT 1
Well, that's an understatement! So sorry to read this news. That's a huge adjustment to your life. On the plus side, hopefully you're feeling much better in yourself with all the extra oxygen circulating. But I do hope some less restrictive alternative is found for you. Bon courage.
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suein56
Member
Southern Morbihan 56 Brittany
Posts: 7,963
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Post by suein56 on Nov 3, 2023 9:55:00 GMT 1
We refuse to make early morning appointments for docters and specialists , leave those for the younger folk. If you are seeing a specialist at a Hospital it can be difficult to avoid an early appointment. The Drs days are divided up into regimented segments, so that tests - such as Veem's - can only be scheduled early in the day and on certain days. But I agree having to be at the Hospital/Clinic between 7 and 8 in the morning, especially in winter, can be horribly stressful if you happen not to live within 1/2 hour of the place.
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Veem
Member
Posts: 12,230
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Post by Veem on Nov 3, 2023 10:02:37 GMT 1
'A trooper'? Maybe not. I think I'm a bit of a wimp and get very stressed at the thought of appointments such as that.
When the appointment was made I asked (as I always do) for an end-of-morning time, but as the patient does the 6-minute walk in a rather narrow corridor between two mini bollards, they arrange it early before people start arriving for other consultations. When I arrived there was an older lady already taking the test at a much more sedate pace than I did it, but clearly her breathing was more efficient.
JD I smoked for 55 years longer than I should have, blithely thinking that I wouldn't succumb to any effects like 'other mere mortals' do. I've known for about 6 years that I had caused permanent and irreversible damage. So this treatment can only be expected to make getting oxygen into my system a little more efficient and I shall have to continue it forever.
Will that delicious meal come to our boite a lettre Mysty?
Houpla. If cooking were a trick, then Biggles is the proverbial 'old dog'.
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exile
Member
Massif Central
Posts: 2,765
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Post by exile on Nov 3, 2023 12:15:03 GMT 1
What a stressful place to be.
Is Aide à domicile available?
Sending my best wished and hopes that you can quickly adjust to the new way of life.
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Veem
Member
Posts: 12,230
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Post by Veem on Nov 3, 2023 12:43:16 GMT 1
What a stressful place to be. Is Aide à domicile available? Sending my best wished and hopes that you can quickly adjust to the new way of life. I don't think my present condition would qualify me for A de D. I'm looking more at making the adjustments fit into my current way of life. I haven't quite worked out how as yet .............
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suein56
Member
Southern Morbihan 56 Brittany
Posts: 7,963
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Post by suein56 on Nov 3, 2023 13:53:39 GMT 1
I don't think my present condition would qualify me for A de D. Anyone over the age of 60 - whether poorly or not - can ask for help at home. You pay for the help but the level of contribution by the state towards the cost depends on how incapacitated or not you are. First point of call perhaps for information about the possibilities and your rights : www.mairie-confolens.fr/le-centre-communal-daction-sociale-ccas/There is also the local 'meals on wheels' equivalent - doesn't need to be permanent but could possibly help whilst you come to terms with your new situation.
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