In the transplant program here in Toronto each wait-listed person is classified as either Status 1 or Status 2. I have been Status 1 up till now - which I believe means relatively stable and less urgent.
As a result of my last 6 minute walk test my status has been changed to a 2. Practically speaking that means if a lung becomes available that fits two candidates - a Status 1 and a Status 2 person - the Status 2 person gets it. So this comes under the category of good news bad news. Good news that I have a degree of advanced standing and bad news that I'm getting worse and need it!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Graduating to a Mask in time for Halloween
I've mentioned before the contrasting affects of my improved level of fitness over the last 12 weeks set against my invetable declining lung capability.
One result is that I have had to start using a mask instead of the nasal canulae when I use the treadmill and the bike. Most people, me included, breathe through the mouth when exercising and that cuts down on the oxygen that comes through my nose. The mask concentrates the supplemental oxygen and keeps my oxygen/blood saturation much higher. As a result I can exercise longer and feel less tired at the end of the session.
Wearing a mask cuts down on conversation unless the person you re talking to is used to interpreting muffled wheezes so that's also a benefit. It's suprising how much talking while exercising reduces my numbers.
One result is that I have had to start using a mask instead of the nasal canulae when I use the treadmill and the bike. Most people, me included, breathe through the mouth when exercising and that cuts down on the oxygen that comes through my nose. The mask concentrates the supplemental oxygen and keeps my oxygen/blood saturation much higher. As a result I can exercise longer and feel less tired at the end of the session.
Wearing a mask cuts down on conversation unless the person you re talking to is used to interpreting muffled wheezes so that's also a benefit. It's suprising how much talking while exercising reduces my numbers.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Delroy the Delivery Guy
Every Wednesday and Thursday Delroy tops up my oxygen tanks - the big base tanks of liquid oxygen that sit in my office and at home. This can't be easy work given the size of these things, the rigamorole he goes through to get the office tank up to the 16th floor of BCE Place and the fact that he is working with a liquid at minus 183 degrees Celcius.
Delroy looks a fair bit lighter that the tanks are but he is ever cheerful and, as it turns out, not just interested in getting me oxygen on time but is also very concerned about how his "patients" are doing.
The other day he called ahead as usual and asked how I was doing and I responded that I was half empty and needed a fill up. Turns out he really meant "how was I doing?" and encouraged me to keep positive and keep active. Apparently he regularly reminds his patients of this. Great delivery guy!
Delroy looks a fair bit lighter that the tanks are but he is ever cheerful and, as it turns out, not just interested in getting me oxygen on time but is also very concerned about how his "patients" are doing.
The other day he called ahead as usual and asked how I was doing and I responded that I was half empty and needed a fill up. Turns out he really meant "how was I doing?" and encouraged me to keep positive and keep active. Apparently he regularly reminds his patients of this. Great delivery guy!
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