Warning: the information contained on this page relates to my experience with COPD and its treatment. I'm not a medical professional and my experience may not apply to anyone else in the whole world. - Roy

                        http://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/corporate/asp/news/ndetail.asp?ID=1594

All it takes is lots of patience I guess.  Now it's up to our doctors to use it properly and give a whole lot of people a whole lot of help.  Hooray!

March 5, 2004: I've had lot's of comments from readers about the Spiriva© approval and it's all be good. Several people have already managed to get their Dr's to cooperate and ordered from Canada and are getting good results also.  Nearly makes the wait worthwhile, but I must still express some aggravation about the slow, slow process.  I guess it's necessary in many cases, but in the Spiriva© case I think it was pure bureaucratic delay because the manufacturer is a German company.  Conspiracy theories?

But the only important thing is that people are going to be helped achieve at least some semblance of normality in their everyday lives, and though not a cure, it sure brings relief.  I've been very busy this past couple of months with my son running for county commissioner here in Cleburne TX and that takes a lot of time.  I also help all our Republican candidates with their mailing lists, phone lists, etc from the database of voters that I maintain.  I love politics and the process it entails and being able to breathe makes it a lot easier. 

My last doctor's visit in January didn't reveal anything new, in fact he said the lungs sounded pretty good.  I love to hear that kind of comment this time of year.  Remember of course that after the last pneumonia episode last year he no longer tells me I'm doing great.  I've got one of the world's best doctors (at least I think so) and he always listens and answers my questions fully.  I like that.

Until next time, friends, have a great day and don't let the SOB get you down!

April 25, 2004: It seems to really be spring here in Texas and I've made it through the winter without even having a cold and I feel really blessed.  I've had a little problem with pollen stuffiness this spring but nothing that a good tissue can't take care of quickly.  My recent regular doctors appointment went without a hitch and for the first time Dr. Gates was actually able to give me a legal prescription for Spiriva©.  I'm still ordering from Canada of course since it won't be available here in the states till midsummer from the latest I have heard. 

My diet is still going well - Adkins - and I've lost about twenty pounds and moved my belt buckle up three notches.  Losing that weight helps a lot with the breathing of course but it also just helps me feel better overall.  My dear doctor was convinced that the Adkiins way would drive my cholesterol up (it was up a little in January) but the latest test last week has me under the two hundred mark on total cholesterol. I really think some of the stuff I've read about carbohydrates causing some of our breathing difficulties may really have something to it.  Whatever, I'm going to keep on till I get down to the weight I want.  Then of course I got really lazy on the exercise during the primary elections campaigns (my son ran and won the Republican nomination for County Commissioner) when there seemed to be something going on all the time.  It's quited down now till Labor Day, so guess I either have to start again or find another excuse.

It's nearly May, somehow, and I encourage all of you to get out and enjoy God's green earth.  Plant a few flowers and watch them grow. Take part in the world and you'll feel better even though it may be a great effort to do those sort of things. Take care and God Bless you all!

June 6, 2004: Did anyone happen to see May as it flew by the window?  Seriously my friends, I'm so sorry to be so behind in keeping this page updated, but I have only one excuse.  I just didn't do it.

Today is the 60th Anniversary of D-Day.  Though I was but ten years old on June 6, 1944 I do remember it from the radio and newspapers of the time and what my family told me.  Having had a brother and uncle in the military we kept a close eye on things to do with the Axis and all their despicable minions.  Watching the events from France, sharing in the loss of President Reagan have all contributed to making this a very introspective weekend for me.  I have shed tears in abundance as I've read stories in the paper and on the world wide web about the contributions that those brave men made so many years ago.  I do believe the quote which affected me the most was an editorial cartoon in the paper which made the simple statement:  They gave their tomorrows that we might have our todays. I have nothing I can add to that.

I've had a guest sign the guestbook who said that Spiriva© was available in their local pharmacy at long last.  I haven't priced it locally yet but will do so in the near future.  I am still buying mine from Canada without problem and it cost me about $55 a month after factoring in the exchange rate. Not too bad for something that does me the good it does.  It's a wonderful addition to the drug arsenal of those of us suffering from COPD. I know it's not the miracle for everyone that it is for me, but I do believe that holds true for many of the other drugs. Our systems just react differently to the various medications. Some work for me, some work for you.  Just keep on trying till you find the right combination. Just don't let the SOB get your down (as I frequently say).  See you again soon.

July 4, 2004:  Happy 228th Birthday America! Still standing proud, still the best place on earth to live and a country to love. What a monumental gift our founding fathers gave to us.
    Well after one of the wettest June's on record here in North Texas it's getting hot again for the 4th and all the rain has added just a few percentage points to the humidity level.  It's downright clammy today.
    I hear from more and more people who are deriving the benefits of Spiriva© as each day passes.  It's quite a compliment and most assuring to know that my experience is helping others even though that was never the purpose of this web page.  So for that reason I'll just keep on updating one in a while and letting you know how I'm doing.  That little Handihaler and the minute amount of powder in those capsules continues to work its way with my lungs and breathing. I just realized a couple of days ago that I haven't been to see a pulmonologist in nearly two years now and am none the worse for it. My regular physician, Dr. Gates, is satisfied with what he hears every time he puts the stethoscope on me and that is good enough for me. I'm sure he would recommend going to Dr. Ostranski if he felt it was needed. Considering the condition of my lungs before Spiriva© and how I feel nowadays I have to really consider it a miracle drug. I just wish it could do the same for everyone, but obviously there are going to be exceptions. My goodness I even actually gotten back on the treadmill ( not as much as I know I need to, but give me time) and even after a few sessions can feel improvement.  Aren't we a dumb bunch when we know exercise makes us feel better but still sits on our rears and watch that blasted television?  I think I need to have someone pushy around me all the time to keep me doing the right thing.  Maybe I'll win the lottery and can hire a personal trainer.
    Well I think that does it for this 4th of July 2004. Keeps the flags flying and don't let the SOB get you down.

August 6, 2004:  July whizzed by just about as fast as the fireworks exploded and now we are finally beginning to have a little bit of real Texas summer around these parts.  It's only officially gone over 100 degrees one day but there were several pushing the mark pretty hard.  But then a cool front (lower 90's in these parts) blew in last evening and it is a little bit cooler today.  We've had a bunch of so called high ozone days with several red alerts, but it hasn't affected my breathing any that I can tell.  Frankly it doesn't seem to make a lot of difference to me (from the weather) except when it gets really cold and then I have a little difficulty handling the cold, cold air. 
    I've been getting comments from an ever increasing number of readers about going on Spriva and getting some relief in their breathing.  Medications are a really strange breed and we just never know what is going to work. In my own case I use only Spiriva© where others are continuing with other inhalers too.  Actually, now that I think about it, my pulmonologist prescribed something else for me, but not wanting to spend more money I never took it.  That was before Spiriva© got it's approval from the FDA and he may not have been that familiar with it's efficacy. I haven't seen any need to go back to him and in agreement with my regular doctor he is just there in case we need him.  Dr. Gates was so thrilled to have Spiriva© available that he gave me a months supply of samples to add to my arsenal.  Of course he has been aware of this drug for a number of years and told me about it even before the drug study. As a pharmacist in his first career I think he may have a little better understanding about what he reads and hears from the drug companies. 
    My goodness, I'm just rambling on and not really saying anything of value.  Let's just keep on keeping on folks and if the next drug they develop is as much of a quantum leap as Spiriva© has been for me we'll be practically back to normal. Wish that were true but those years of cigarettes did their damage and now I have to live with it.  I regret that I ever smoked but I sure am not giving up because I've got some pitiful lungs to work with on a daily basis. Exercise, breathe deeply and don't let the SOB get you down.

November 10, 2004:  If anyone saw those last three months fly by please let me know. I missed them completely. I had a very busy fall with my son running for County Commissioner here in Johnson County. He lost the race but put up a grand campaign, run cleanly and fairly.  Too many people just don't vote for the best man though, but that my friends is life.
    But you aren't interested in that anyway so on to my health which is at this point in time great.  Dr. Gates told me last week that my lungs sounded "good" and that's always a nice thing to hear.  With the enormously high pollen counts we had in these parts the past few months I did have to resort to a couple of nebulizer treatments with albuterol by late evening but nothing serious. I've always thought it best to be prudent with medication but not to ignore its beneficial effects when they are there for the taking. Thankfully the air seems a little cleaner now and everything is back to normal.
  Dr. Gates told me that he a patient who had quit playing golf this summer because of COPD and he had put him on Spiriva© and within days he got a call from the guy who said he was back on the golf course. In fact Dr. Gates stated that it appears that about 78% of the people he has prescribed it for were having similar experiences. I grieve for that other 22% and hope something will come along for them too. It's hard to believe that I finished the original Spiriva© study over three years ago now.  Guess that's a good sign of drug efficacy when it is still working three years later.
   So day after tomorrow I turn 70 years old, still working full time and enjoying life and my family and Spiriva© makes it all so much more pleasant and rewarding.  I never dreamed I'd be this old (never really thought I would live to see the year 2000) but as fate would have I have, so what else is there to do but make the most of it. With God's blessings and a little help from the medical community, lots of love from my family, and the wonderful response of all you kind people to my little slice of life recorded here, I plan to just keep on trucking as long as I can. Maybe I can remember to update this page once in a while too.  Happy Thanksgiving and don't let the SOB get you down!

December 21, 2004: It's nearly Christmas and already the first day of Winter. I'm still alive and kicking, breathing relatively well despite continuing high levels of pollen and stuff in the air. We're supposed to get a really hard freeze this weekend so may there is some relief in sight. Considering the stress level I'm incurring right about now I think I'm doing really great.  The stress is coming from having to shut down my business after twenty-three years. We really never economically recovered from the 9/11 attacks and just finally had to give up. It's been a wonderful time and a great trip doing business with my oldest son.  I wish it had turned out differently but wouldn't give up a minute of it for anything. I'm probably feeling right now about like I did when I first found out that I had COPD, and you know what something (Spiriva©) came along to make it all better. That's how God works in my life and I trust him completely.

Everyone, please have a Merry Christmas, love your families, care for your friends and don't let the SOB get you down.

January 15, 2005: We've made it to another year and nearly half the decade is gone. I hope you have all had a wonderful season of family, friends and fellowship.  As for myself I think I've just gone through one of the toughest periods of my life and survived still breathing.  Two weeks before Christmas my son and I looked at where we were in our business and made the decision that the time had come to shut it down.  The big box stores, the Wal-Marts and Circuit City's and Best Buy's have eroded our sales over the years since 9/11 and we just couldn't go any further.  Now don't get me wrong, I'm not asking for sympathy, I just want you to know that even when things go in a direction that looks like the end of the world, our God still has his hand in it all and makes things work out right. He has certainly done that for me and I rejoice in His love. The pressure, the worries and the hours spent shutting down and getting rid of everything should have put me in a really bad way as far as breathing goes, but I only had to use a nebulizer full of albuterol once in the past month and I think that is wonderful, at least from my standpoint. The efficacy of Spiriva© for my particular condition is just too good to believe sometimes. So now that there are just a few things to move into a home office, I find myself umemployed and still able to work. I don't know what I will do, but after the past three weeks I know Judy and I are going to just goof off for a while. She has been moving her Mother into an assisted living center and that took a bunch of work too. Amazing how everything comes together at one time.

Well, again dear friends, a Happy New Year and don't let the SOB get you down.

February 16, 2005:  It would seem that I am falling into this semi-retirement situation pretty easily. I do find that there are still not enough hours in the day to do all the things I want to do, but with persistence perhaps I can get a few things done. We had a long cool and damp spell here the last couple of weeks but spring is trying very hard to break through.  We already have some of our beautiful yellow iris blooming, well one is completely open and several others are going to be that way tomorrow. Hope we don't have a freeze on the way, it still being February.

I had my annual physical last week and Dr. Gates says I'm doing fine, except for cholesterol. He ran a PFT on me and the results were about what I would expect. I didn't take down all the numbers but they indicated about a 5% drop in lung function from the last ones done back in 2002. About normal degradation in lung function and certainly no indication of a rapidly worsening condition at all. He was especially impressed with the improvement after using the nebulizer. I guess that is a good sign that medication works or something to that effect. He says just stay on the Spiriva© and didn't even prescribe anything else.  I don't even carry an emergency inhaler anymore. As I've mentioned in a recent post I sometimes will use a single albuterol treatment with the nebulizer if I feel a little winded in the evening. My wife commented tonight that I don't even have the coughing that I used to have all the time. Perhaps this 25 years of not smoking has finally cleared my lungs of that awful stuff that 25 years of smoking put in them.

Let's get ready for spring, clean out the flower beds and start growing this years beautiful crop of flowers or whatever you like to grow.  While you're digging away remember that exercise is good for you and don't let the SOB get you down!

April 11, 2005: Well if time isn't flying by I don't know what else to say about it. I've been telling myself I had best check my COPD page and finally got around to it today and see that it has been nearly two months since I last added anything. That must mean I've been doing fine or you would think I would look for sympathy on this page. It's true, except a little sniffling from all the newfound pollen in the air, I've been feeling really good, enjoying life and busy as can be in my second full month of retirement.  I've found that there are a million things I can do that I've been putting off for years and I am in fact doing a few of them. I've probably got several hundred emails concerning my efforts in family genealogy that need to be answered and if I manage a couple a week it feels like I'm doing something about it.

Probably the most maddening thing is not being able to do a little more. Judy and I wanted to do some day traveling, oxygen being the limiting factor, but it seems like every time we get ready to go another cold front comes in and it starts to rain again. Perhaps that will change in the near future and we can do a little driving. I especially want to get out and get some pictures of bluebonnets this year.  They should be great with all the rain and coolness we've had so far this spring.

I continue to hear from people in the guestbook who are trying my friend Spriva and for the most part most seem to follow my experience. That's wonderful and I certainly appreciate the kind comments about my part in your treatment, even though that simply isn't necessary.  I started this page because I wanted a record of what my life was like living with COPD and the drug study just made it come to pass. It's amazing what four years can bring in one's life and I certainly consider myself blessed by the work of the drug companies to help those of us with COPD.  Considering that it is moving in the next to the top spot on the number one killer list that is of course appropriate but I like to believe that they also care about us as individuals also.

I've finally managed to get some strawberry plants for the strawberry jar planter I bought three years ago and they are really flourishing. Actually had to ripe strawberries the other day and Judy and I got to share one each. Wow how fresh and tasty they were.  We have a bunch more in process and maybe enough to make a bowl full before long. Since the threat of a freeze is over and Judy's birthday is upon us, we will get into planting some flowers in the beds in the next week or so and everything should start looking really nice in the front of the house.

I'm rambling, aren't I?  Perhaps though it shows that I follow my own advice and don't let the SOB get me down. Life's just too precious to waste on feeling sorry for me, let's just get it on. Baseball season started here in Texas today and even though our Rangers couldn't come away with a win I'm happy because we have six months of baseball ahead of us. Have a great day my worldwide friends and don't let the SOB get you down!!!

May 3rd, 2005:  What a pollen filled spring this is turning out to be here in Texas. Post nasal drip and lots of congestion to the point where I am even having a few little SOB times. Went to the Dr. Tuesday on a regular appointment and he threw a little fit about the wheezing in my lungs.  Added Singular and Advair to my regimen (luckily they are samples so I'm not spending more money right now) and they seem to be helping a little. He's got me coming back in three weeks to see if it is all clearing up and if not will do the old steroids routine for a week or ten days. It's absolutely amazing how fast you can go from everything just find to problems in a matter of weeks or days. I'm feeling fine, but I guess the stethoscope says a lot more to the Dr. than I can detect with my own ears.  Of course we had a little talk about exercise too, and diet and all that stuff. I promised that I would try to do better from now on, and I will if I can just get started on doing things right.  I know that no one else has that problem though :-).

I'll let you know if the new things work on this little problem. Meanwhile don't let the SOB get you down.

May 23, 2005:  Had a good visit with Dr. Gates as a follow up, especially after I realized that the congestion and wheezing were my fault.  There was nothing organically happening, it just was the result of working in a cleanup day at our Republican Headquarters and I probably inhaled five tons of dust. Stupid me I think. Next time I won't be so cavalier when someone mentions that maybe I shouldn't be in that environment and I reply that it doesn't bother me. Obviously those of us with COPD should be careful  of being immersed in dust. Anyway the lungs sounded much better, the Advair stopped the SOB completely and I'm wheezing less all the time. I'll confess that I was a little worried about the deterioration but glad to find out that it was something I did and not something sneaking up on me. Live and learn. Now if I can just get the exercise regime in action things will be all better. See you later- and don't let the SOB get you down.

July 10, 2005:  No excuses, just haven't gotten around to updating my life.  Perhaps because it is going by much faster than I can type, but still no excuse for not sharing it with you.  Wow, it's finally really summer around North Texas and we have already broken the 100 degree mark a couple of times.  The weather reports keep telling me that the pollution levels are high but quite frankly I haven't noticed any degradation in my breathing.  I think a lot of that has to do with the Spiriva© and the calming effect it seems to have on COPD. I've even been pretty good on the treadmill the past month, getting up to over 30 minutes at a time and walking a little faster than 2 miles and hour. I'm going to keep pushing it and see where I can end up, either in better shape aerobically or lying on the floor trying to get my breath back.  For those of you who have used my guestbook, and I appreciate your comments by the way, it was being inundated with spam messages which certainly detracted from the purpose. So I updated the software and now you have to answer a question to get your message on the guestbook. "What color is the sky" should be easy for everyone unless they happen to live somewhere where the sky is not blue. For everyone else that shouldn't be a problem.

I haven't seem any reports on the subject, but I am guessing that Spiriva® has become the drug of choice for most patients with COPD.  Obviously there are many others which achieve approximately the same results, but required multiple dosing during each 24 hours and in most cases multiple medicines too.  I am still using the Advair® inhaler at least through my next visit with Dr. Gates just to make sure I've gotten past the effects of that dust situation I reported on last month. Better safe than sorry and I can afford one three month cycle of the stuff added to my medical bills. Considering the importance of being able to move air in and out of the lungs I think it is probably worth it. Someone, somewhere along the line, told me that if I don't breathe there may be some serious consequences for the human body.

Hope you all had a marvelous and Happy 4th of July.  It has to be one of my favorite holidays and this year I rode in three separate parades in local communities in the Republican party entry. Hot but fun waving and talking to people along the route. I recommend it highly to anyone who wants to do something uplifting on our nation's birthday. God be with you all and don't let the SOB get you down!

August 15, 2005: If anyone out there can explain to me how this can possible be the middle of August, I would sure love to find out the answer. The days just fly by and there just doesn't seem to be enough time in a day to do the things I want to do. My health is really on the up-side right now, despite days of heat and high ozone levels in the DFW metroplex. I'm not sure that ozone has ever bothered me, but it sure seems to get all the pulmonologists (?) up in arms about the dangers to those of us with lung disease. So just in case I don't go out any more than I have to on those days when the level gets highest.

Perhaps one of the best things going on for me now is the simple fact that I have gotten back into regular exercise (could there be a relationship between that and my feeling great?) five days a week. I'm on the treadmill for 30 to 40 minutes M-W-F and workout on my Bowflex on Tuesday and Thursday.  Believe me it is making a big difference. Just on the treadmill I've managed to up my walk to 2.2 mph on a 1.5 degree incline and slowly increase the time.  Obviously I walk and exercise using my oxygen, but I consider that precautionary as much as anything. I probably would get into an SOB situation without it, but why stress things any further than they have to be.

Along with the exercise I'm limiting my diet to about 1700 calories a day, increasing the amount of fruits and losing some weight too.  It kind of fluctuates but there is a definite trend towards my goal of 155 pounds. I'm using a program called DietPro to tract all this stuff and I think it helps make everything a little bit more mandatory for me. I find myself feeling kind of guilty if I don't exercise and have a hole in the data.  Amazing how we find the things that motivate us and its to each his own.

Well just wanted to let you all know that I'm alive and well.  Don't let the SOB get you down!

September 29, 2005:  Perhaps summer just ended here in North Texas.  Yesterday afternoon, just about the time I had to pick up grandkids from school, the temperature reached the 104 degree mark and believe me it was hot. Now this morning after a cold front blew in late yesterday evening it is a very pleasant 70 degrees. I have to admit that these over 100 degree days do get me down a little and I find it just a little harder to breathe well, so I am pleased with this sudden drop in temperature. Enough about the weather.

Breathing, breathing, breathing - that seems to be a fact that those of us with lung diseases seem to be preoccupied with the status of our breathing. Mine is fine at this point in life, at least for a person with COPD.  The combination of Spiriva and Advair seems to be the right thing for me (even though I frequently forget the evening dose of Advair) and I'm really feeling great.  Walking on the treadmill three times a week for at least 30 minutes at a speed just over 2 miles an hour. Then I work out on my Bowflex at least two days (and sometimes three) for at least half an hour.  All in all, combined with my low fat diet, I really believe my overall health is improving. Of course that's what all the doctors say should happen, so once again those "know it alls" seem to be right. I've even reached a point after a little over two months of this regimen that I might be starting to look forward to doing it, and that my friends has never happened to me before.  I've always kind of hated exercise but this time I'm ready every morning to get going again.  Perhaps it has something to do with age and wanting to do whatever is best to keep on going for a few more years.]

So with the advent of fall and October soon upon us Judy and I are starting to gear ourselves up for a cruise in the Western Caribbean at the end of October. My oxygen supplier, Rhema Medical, is arranging for liquid oxygen to be delivered to the ship in Galveston. Since we will be driving down there I won't have to worry about the hassles of oxygen and airline travel.  Both Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and Rhema Medical seem to be doing everything possible to make this a hassle free vacation. I'll tell you more when we get back.

Well, I think that is enough stuff for one day, so dear friends and readers don't let the SOB get you down. Happy fall to all..

November 23, 2005:  See what happens when you don't pay attention. It's been nearly two months since I last updated this page and that is far too long for those following the life and times of me!  It has been a busy and even hectic couple of months.  Of course Judy and I went on the cruise the end of October / first of November so that takes up one week.  The rest of the time I've just been tied up getting ready for the cruise and now that I'm back home, I'm working a part time job to give me something to do.

I need to make public my thanks to the wonderful folks at Rhema Medical here in Cleburne for all the help they gave me in making the cruise possible.  The outfitted me with a travel liquid oxygen tank which fit in the back seat of our Sable, so I didn't have to mess with those old green tanks and then the full size cylinder, freshly filled, was in our stateroom when we boarded the ship. That's service above and beyond in my opinion and I thank them from the bottom of my heart. Great people in my estimation.  The cruise was wonderful and we enjoyed the getaway very much. Ate too much, but managed to control weight gain a little too. So I have to rate it a successful venture.

I got the first regular head cold I've had in a number of years, probably from people on the cruise, when I got back and it is slowly but surely goin away without any complications. I saw Dr. Gates for a regular appointment this morning and he gave me an antibiotic to take since he heard a little wheezing.  He worry's about things like that, and I don't because I can't hear myself wheeze. Guess I need a stethoscope to listen to my lungs, but since I have no idea what they should sound like it probably wouldn't give me much info.  I'll just let the doctor take care of things like that.  Dr. Gates say I am his poster child (71 years old poster child?) for Spiriva and again I just have to say that for me, and I hope for many others it is indeed a wonder drug and makes my life so much more livable.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving day, which we will spend with out children at the oldest son's home.  Judy had hand surgery last week and wouldn't be able to cook so the invitation to come to someone else's home was very welcome.  We'll all be together except for the middle son. He and his wife and our grand-daughter Hannah are in Michigan picking up my two newest grandsons Gary and Nicholas.  Right now they are waiting on some paperwork from the state pronouncing them fit to adopt before they can go before a judge and then head home. Hopefully that won't take much longer and we'll soon welcome our newest grandchildren into the fold. We indeed have much to be thankful for, family, friends and even those who read this rambling post. Happy Thanksgiving to all and may God continue to bless you and yours, this nation and all our troops so far from home.

December 17, 2005: A quick look at the calendar has put me in "frenzy mode" for Christmas is just one week away.  That very simply means that I only have six days left before I start my Christmas shopping. Okay, that's a little bit of an exaggeration because I have already done some of it, but in reality I usually do wait until just about the last day to finish up.  That stems in part from the somewhat curious nature of our kids when they were little and I didn't want them to find anything before the big day.  Worked too.

As on of the millions of Americans who live with some sort of chronic disease I continue to be amazed by those who go on and those who simply give up.  I'm not a give up person by nature, and I'm not trying to put myself on a higher plane, and I don't understand those who do just kind of lay down when the gauntlet appears.  An in-law of mine has lung problems similar to mine and basically just stays home nowadays. I just don't understand sitting down and waiting to die. I'm anxiously awaiting our new grandsons arrival in Texas, working a lot in my so called part-time job and enjoying the Christmas season and the chance to be with family and friends. I think that is called life and I intend to live it as fully as I possibly can. It bothers me not in the least when kids stare at me because of the oxygen cannula in my nose, it just offers an opportunity to tell them not to smoke. Of course I do that with older people who try to pretend they don't notice, everyone gets my little mini-lecture.

Wow I got off on a tangent there my friends.  Maybe I need to turn this into a blog where I can rant and rave all the time. I'll have to give that some thought as a new project for next year.  Wow, two weeks to think!

So with that little update, let me wish you all the merriest of Christmas's and a wonderful and prosperous New Years. You'll also notice that I am not politically correct in my terminology, but there simply is no way to change 70 years of greetings into happy holidays. I hope no one is offended because there is no intent to do so.  I respect everyone's religion, whether I subscribe to it or not, and would greet you accordingly should the situation arise.  It all come downs to this - I love you all and pray that the message of Christmas would be engraved in all your hearts.

See you next year, and don't let the SOB get you down!

January 17, 2006:  Well that was just about the fastest month of my life. Between all the holiday festivities, working and enjoying the warmest winter I can ever recall, we were blessed with twin grandsons on November 19th.  Our son David and his wife adopted twin boys who were born on November 19th.  They went to Michigan the next day to get them and managed to return to Cleburne on Christmas eve about 11:00 p.m.  The wheels of the adoption process run slowly, but they are home now, thriving and bring our grandchild count to nine in one fell swoop. Needless to say this hectic time has worn me out but not put me down.  I've been really lax about my exercising and am beginning to feel some of the effects of not walking regularly so that will probably be enough incentive to get me back on the treadmill. Between family, holidays, my "part-time" job and a very hectic primary election season I haven't had time to update here, but just in case you were wondering, yes I'm still alive and kicking.

Of course the major topic for many of us "old folk" has been Medicare Part D.  I took the easy way and had my insurance agent do the hard work and selected a policy which I believe will work best for me since it include the so called Tier 3 drugs at an affordable price. The plan is a little pricier but looks like it will save me about fifty dollars every three months, so that's nothing to sneeze at. I can understand all the confusion because I consider myself to be pretty well educated, but the machinations of figuring this thing out are pretty stupendous. That's why I let the experts handle it.  Of course the main thing a person must do in selecting a plan is to get your drug list down so you'll know if they pay for what you use.  With drugs like Spiriva and Advair (both considered Tier 2 drugs) the lesser plans simply aren't going to do you any good. I chose an even more expensive plan because I figure anything new that comes along  will probably fall into that Tier 3 range, at least at first. I don't want to miss out on anything that might help.

Enough of that drivel. Here in Texas we've only had a couple of really cold days, most have been nearly spring like. In fact I was talking to a nursery owner last night and he said he's beginning to see bud growth on his plants. That's not good because our coldest weather here in Texas has always come about the end of January, first of February period. Coupled with our prolonged drought that spells trouble. These dry conditions help my lungs in some ways, but all the dust and stuff in the air really causes a lot of drainage and subsequent coughing. There seem to be upsides and downsides to everything. Well I count it as a blessing when I wake up breathing every morning so guess I'll just accept what the good Lord has to offer on the weather front.

Enough for now. Best wishes for the New Year and don't let the SOB get you down!

April 23, 2006:  Yes I'm still kicking, but we have been burdened down by some unfortunate events in our family which have caused much disruption and concern. I'm not going to go into our trials and tribulations in this forum but just wanted you all to know that I continue to thrive and stay busy just about all the time. My part time job sometimes seems more like full time when everything comes together in one week, but it's a blast getting out and being involved in something besides myself and computer games all the time. My breathing continues to be good and Dr. Gates thinks I am pretty stable.  I need to get back to exercising again but it's so easy to put off when I can't get into a consistent routine because fo the part time job thing. That at least sounds like a good excuse, to me anyway.  The worst part of not exercising is the absolute fact that I know I feel better and breathe better when I do something besides sit on my rear end.  Perhaps putting this in writing for all the world to see will give me a little encouragement to get started... in fact I'll get on the treadmill when I finish writing and posting this little blurb.

Our part of the hemisphere has had some strange weather this spring. It broke the 100 degree barrier for the first time this year on Easter Sunday. I think that broke some records too. Air quality seems to be fairly good however and I didn't notice any ill effects on my breathing. Had a wonderful time with all the kids and grandkids around, so that made it somewhat wonderful. We had a strange Easter dinner since Judy and I had bought a new outdoor gas grill the day before. I don't think too many people have hamburgers, hot dogs and potato salad for their Easter fare, but we did and everyone seemed to enjoy it. Perhaps make a change from the standards once in a while is good.

As we head into summer and all the joys that the additional pollen brings to our lives, just remember that the one thing we have to do is to not give up. Suck in those inhalers and attack the world with a vengeance. It's waiting for us to give up but we have a motto and won't let the SOB get us down. Take care all and happy Spring.

September 6, 2006: How did this happen? Just a few weeks ago it was spring and now it's fall. Perhaps having had a very busy spring, summer and now fall will help explain my lack of posting here for such a long time. I'm feeling well - Spiriva continues to do it's miraculous work - and doing something most of the time these days. A long and very hot summer did crimp my style a little this year. I noticed especially on high ozone days that a little shortness of breath came after mild exertion when outside in the heat. The secret was staying out of it and today's modern cars and building certainly help us escape the heat.

As I grow older, and more curmudgeonly of course, I find myself lecturing more and more people about the evils of smoking. It's amazing that they can stand there and see the cannula in my nostrils and the Helios hanging by my side and convince themselves that they will never get to that point. Have they ever got a surprise coming to them one of these days. The statistics are hard on the health threat from cigarette smoking, but so many continue to puff away with abandon. Well not exactly abandon because a single cigarette costs them somewhere around twenty-five cents each. Great use of money isn't it? I know it's a waste of time in most cases, but if just one person hears the message it makes my effort worthwhile. I try no to be too preachy but I think the message I have to give is pretty strong and I hope they do listen just a little.

I have no idea where that last paragraph came from in my subconscious or wherever. Perhaps its just trying to say something when there really isn't a great deal to talk about. I continue to read as much as I can about this COPD and the one thing I run into all the time is Spiriva. I get one doctor's type web page that sends me an email when there are new studies on various treatments for our little disease, and invariably no matter that they do Spiriva always comes through as the best choice and most effective treatment with few side effects and about the simplest to administer. At least that's true for me and I hope for many, many others. If it's this good then there must be something coming down the road in a few more years that will be another step in better breathing technology. That would of course result in another grand hooray from me.

It's getting late and I have to go to work tomorrow so I had best get this finished and uploaded. Take care of yourselves, and if you want to, leave me a message in the guestbook and let me know how you are doing. In the meantime don't let the SOB get you down.

November 26, 2006:    Yes, I'm still alive and kicking, though a little sluggishly after eating way to much on Thanksgiving day and the days that followed. I just went overboard this year and it really wasn't worth it. Oh the food was great but the overload sure makes life more difficult when you have trouble getting air into and out of you lungs. My lungs bitterly resented losing some of their space to food and I was left kinda breathless a few times. It's all smoothing out now though so perhaps I have learned my lesson, at least until Christmas day gets here and all that great food gets spread out on the table again.

Medically, I am doing great. My only gripe is that my good doctor has suddenly decided to shut down his practice and take a teaching job in Corpus Christi, TX. Whatever happened to the Hippocratic Oath? Surely there is something beside "do no harm", in fact this move may in fact be harmful to me. Despite my COPD and with Dr. Gates and Spiriva I've managed to stay out of the hospital for over three years now and really haven't even had a bad cold in that time. Perhaps the pneumonia shot and yearly flu shots help out on that score too. I do still have a problem with my lack of exercise. For some reason I just can't seem to get myself motivated in to walking or working out on the Bowflex. The absolutely dumb think about that attitude is that I know how much better I feel and perform when I push myself. I've just got to figure out some what to get my rear end up out of the chair and do what needs to be done. You would think that make a public confession of one's weakness would help them overcome it, but in my case I just seem to be too bullheaded or something. I promise I'll work on it though and maybe I can find the "ON" button soon.

With Christmas on the immediate horizon, it's time to think about gift shopping. That is a project I really dislike since I've had COPD. I really don't like being in crowds where everyone is sneezing and sniffling like mad. I actually follow advice on that score and wash my hands thoroughly after being out with groups like that. It's not that I don't like buying for others, it's just that I don't like the exposure it forces me to endure. I'm absolutely amazed at the number of people who we either never taught or never caught on the covering the faces when the cough or sneeze in public. I don't need their germs and don't expect them to share them with me. Wasn't that a Christmassy little rant? Perhaps it's just getting older and more curmudgeonly each day.

My friends, sorry I've been so lack in posting to this journal, but I didn't and that's that. Let's all celebrate the birth of our Savior, Redeemer and Healer with joy in this wonderful month of December. Best regards and a Very Merry Christmas to you all. Don't let the SOB get you down.

Sunday, February 5, 2007: It's Super Bowl Sunday and I guess much of the world will be following that extravaganza. Judy and I will probably watch a movie. Our preferred game is baseball and the one saving grace of having Super Bowl Sunday arrive is that only weeks remain until spring training begin. Hooray!

I'm hoping that most of you had a wonderful Christmas season and have come into this year of 2007 still plugging along. I'm doing pretty well myself. Still haven't gotten myself back into a good exercise pattern and I pay for that with some minor SOB events. I jut can't seem to find a way to get myself into the right groove. Perhaps when we get past our next hurdle this month, I can settle down and find the will power to do what I know I have to do - walk and exercise. I'd like to lay it all on suffering from a bit of depression from our family situation, but that's sort of a cop out I think. I've just got to do it or else I'll just lose more and more of the vitality that Spiriva gave me some six years ago now. Now that should be incentive enough on it's own. We'll see.

Every once in a while I go back through my guestbook and read your stories too. I get to say lots of prayers for all of you, and sometimes I think that does me as much good as anything else. We aren't alone in this struggle for as normal a life as we can have, and having that contact means a great deal to me. I just found out that an acquaintance of mine has been diagnosed with our disease. He's been in a pulmonary rehab facility for a couple of weeks. To the best of my knowledge there was no such thing 27 years ago when I was diagnosed as having bronchial atshma and a little bit of emphysema. I don't know when the term COPD was first used, but none of my doctors used it for years. I often wonder if it would have made any difference for me in particular, the rehab thing I mean. I gradually learned most of the tricks like pursed lip breathing, etc. from individual doctors, nurses and other COPD patients and lots of reading on the internet.

Now I've got a question which puzzles me. I know two men who were diagnosed with COPD and put on oxygen. Neither one of them wants to go out in public wearing oxygen. The first on live in the country so he can get outside and get some exercise instead of staying cooped up in the house all the time. The other simply sat down in a chair in the living room and within six months was dead. Am I just too aloof to worry about what others think about the cannula stuck in my nose?  Actually I use it all the time to preach the dangers of smoking cigarettes. When I catch little kids looking at my face intently I gently tell them that cigarettes hurt my lungs and I have to wear oxygen now. The older folks, I simply tell them they will have the same contraption as part of the outfits if they don't put those cigarettes away for good. Very few listen, but once in a while I'll get feedback from someone that they quit because of me. That's a good feeling.

My goodness, I'm blathering this afternoon. Perhaps I'd better save something for another day. Hopefully not waiting three months between entries. My love and prayers go out to all of you fellow COPDers. Spring is coming and don't let the SOB get your down.

Saturday, April 14, 2007: It seems as if I am always apologizing for lack of writing here, but my life has been so full of stuff the last two months that I simply couldn't get to this website. Everything is beginning to return to some semblance of sanity now though, so perhaps I can continue to regale you with my life and times with COPD.

Let's complain about doctors first. You will remember that my favorite Doc in all the world gave up his private practice and went back into teaching in Corpus Christi. The lady doctor he sold his practice to has another office in a town north of here, couldn't see me for about ten days when I had a little problem going which worried me, so I took the quick way out and started going to my wife's doctor, whose office is about ten feet from our house. I signed a permission slip to Dr. Ekadi for my records to be transferred to Dr. Herr. Simple task really since I had never seem the new doc for anything. Next thing I know I get a letter saying that they were going to charge me $50.00 to transfer a copy of the records, which they claim is their right under Texas law. They even provided printouts of the pertinent laws. So I went by the office, explained that I was not her patient and never had been her patient - and lo and behold the nice receptionist said no problem they would send my file to Dr. Herr. Silly me, I believe her. A week or so later I get a letter from Dr. Ekadi's business manager, her husband by the way, who says I will have to pay. So I wrote him a letter and haven't heard back.  I have a feeling that I am out the $50.00, but am still going to file a claim with the medical board and he'll have to spend time to resond to that. Sometimes I wonder if someone who designs words really picked "patient" as out appellation when dealing with doctors because he/she knew what the future held.

The weather is playing havoc with my breathing. Just as soon as my body starts to acclimate to a little warmer spring weather, here comes another cold front and snow on April 7th. I don't know whether its age, or a new turn for the COPD, but too cool days really make my breathing a lot more difficult. I found the same thing with the super hot days last summer. I guess it is just the additional strain of the body trying to regulate its own temperature. Anyway I don't like the cold at all and stay in as much as possible when it gets in the 40's and below. I have found that my albuterol emergency inhaler helps some what on these days, but often am standing there out of breath when I remember it's in my pocket.

My oxygen supplier has started getting the new Marathon Helios systems and I got one right away. The five to six hours I get on the regular unit just won't let Judy and I make the trip to Abilene and back so I was very excited about the new unit. It's bigger and heavier of course, about twice the size of the normal Helios unit, but should give about 12 hours at 2.5l demand. We had tickets to the Texas Rangers exhibition game on the Friday when I got the new unit. I filled it up and off we went to the game. Everything seemed fine. We got some food and found out seats and sat down. As we were fairly early to the game it was reasonably quiet in the ballpark and I could hear the familiar ticking sound of the unit working. After a short time, approximately 1-1/2 hours after leaving home with a full unit, I noticed there was no sound. I checked the settings and everything was okay. The problem. Very simple it was empty after the1-1/2 hours since I filled it. Turns out it simply wouldn't hold oxygen. Had to take it back and they are ordering another unit for me. Hope I get it back soon as we will have to make the Abilene trip on a regular basis and trying to make the little one last the trip is a major pain and leaves me without oxygen part of the time.

Well that brings you up to date on me. Now how are all of you doing?  No one has visited the guestbook in a long time so I don't know if anyone is reading what I have to say or not. Guess it's not too important because I intend to write anyway. Have a great spring friends and don;t let the SOB get you down!

Sunday, August 25, 2007: I'm still alive, though you might be wondering why I haven't written in over four months. I can explain it away easily, I'm just lazy and didn't think about it. That is not an excuse, simply the truth. I'm well and making it through this Texas summer with relative ease. We only had about three days of 100 plus temperatures with the accompanying high ozone levels. I just kind of lay low when it gets really bad like that and seem to weather those periods well. Basically I just keep any outside time to a minimum, house to car, house to mailbox, etc.  But this has been a wonderful wet spring and summer and while it gets up to the low nineties with relative ease it doesn't beat you down.

Spiriva is still keeping me on the go. I've always kind of wondered it my body would finally adjust to it and require something else, but that doesn't seem to be a factor. I took my first hits in 2001 during the drug study then had to wait until 2002 to actually get it, which makes it five full years without a waning of its effect on my breathing. Considering all the other inhalers the doctors tried, most in multiples, and including nebulizer treatments three or four times a day, the one little blue capsule is simply a miracle. Now if I could just my lazy rear out of the chair and on the treadmill and Bowflex I would really be feeling better.

I know, I know - I promised several entries ago to get to work on the physical fitness portion of my life. My main problem is that I am an expert on coming up with reasons and excuses to delay and put off doing something which I know will be good for me. I've put it on my Outlook calendar so I won't forget and simply delete it every time that reminder pops up. I'll probably keep on trying though and maybe one of these days there will be a breakthrough.

This really doesn't seem to be much information, but I am a complete standstill on anything to write about. Guess it's the thought that counts. So this will be all for today. Have a wonderful September and don't let the SOB get you down!

October 4, 2007: Someone, look out your window and see if it's October in your part of the world too. I simply have no idea how we got here this fast. I will have to say that this October got started with a bang with the birth of my 8th grandchild to my son and daughter-in-law who live and work in Georgia. There's a jump of nearly 22 years between the first of them and this latest addition. Makes me feel a little older than I would like in some ways.

This part of Texas is having some of the heaviest ragweed pollen pollution in recent memory and just about everyone is wheezing, sneezing and draining. Luckily it doesn't bother me too much, except perhaps early in the mornings when I wake up kind of congested. Usually works it way clear by mid-day. I wonder if that can be attributed to the Spiriva too?

It has been over six years now that I've been commenting on my life and times with COPD. Lot's of you have signed my guestbook and left messages about your conditions and what different treatments have done for you. That's been on of the really nice benefits of spending a little time on this thing. I guess it's sort of a BLOG when you get down to it, though most people who claim to be part of the part of the internet do a lot more regular posting than I do. The main thing is that together we can help each other through the trials and tribulations of this disease and hopefully give each other encouragement and hope. I think that's a wonderful payback for me. When we have to rely on drugs, a cannula in our nose and the knowledge that we really aren't going to get better, the knowing that others are there with us is a very sustaining and encouraging thought. So with that little bit of philosophy from an old man, I'll say again don't let the SOB get you down. See you again soon.

October 27, 2007: Just returned from a five day trip to San Antonio where I met with fellow USAF Radar Site Veterans in a little bit of a reunion. It had turned cooler here in Cleburne when we left in the rain on Monday morning and was cool in San Antonio for the whole stay. Who would ever think you would need a jacket in San Antonio, Texas this time of year. It was a wonderful trip, lots of memories, and a devastatingly clear picture of just how out of shape I have allowed myself to become. As we visited Lackland AFB, Fort Sam Houston and downtown San Antonio I was constantly reminded of what SOB was and how debilitating it can be. So on my return home one of my first priorities (after slogging through some 700 emails, over 650 of them spam) and doing all the little things that returning from five days away entails, I am going to get the treadmill back into action and put a damper on my appetite. So unless I misread my condition, I promise you that you will soon read of a revitalized Roy. Of course that might not make any difference to you, but I know it will to me. Stay tuned and don't let the SOB get you down.

January 31, 2008. No, the SOB hasn't gotten me down, but it sure puts a damper on things sometimes. We've ended a year and the first month of a new year is already under the belt and basically I haven't changed much since I last wrote in October. I'm still trying to get myself back on the treadmill and using every excuse in the book to no to it. We first cleaned a bunch of stuff off of it, I walked for a couple of days, and then got tied up with the holidays. I know, that's no excuse but it is a pitiful reason anyway. So after New Years I said okay lets go, and we decided to move my mother-in-law in with us so it's covered up with her stuff now. Could this be a message that I'm just supposed to sit on my rear and do nothing?

    I'm just kidding. I know I have to do it and i fully intend to within the next week. Maybe if I make that broad a statement now I'll keep to it. Especially after finding out that some of you are actually reading this long and meandering journal of mine. I got a nice email from Brenda Wyrick, my nurse during the Spiriva study six years ago and she gently reminded me of how much exercise and taking care of myself would mean to the future of my health. Don't you just hate it when, things come together like that to put you under the gun. So this afternoon, when I finish this update of course, I'll find a place for all the new junk and get on the treadmill and walk. I promise Brenda.

    I haven't shared one thing with all of you that has contributed to my general lack of interest and effort to keep myself healthy, so I guess it's time to do so now. Two years ago next week my middle son was accused of murdering his infant son, was tried a year later and is now serving a life without parole sentence in the Texas Department of Corrections. We believe him to be innocent, but the system felt otherwise, so for the past two years we have had to deal with the legal system, and let me assure you that if there is nothing else in the world to depress you, it's our legal system. For the most part the lawyers are all members of a big club which essentially keeps everyone outside. They don't listen to you, they don't respond to you, they don't do a good job and yet they rake in the money. So what I'm saying is that I simply have had to deal with a bit of depression through this ordeal (and it's not over yet) and that probably has been the biggest stumbling block in worrying about me. Luckily we are able to visit David, so my wife and I take a trip to Abilene once a month for out two hour in person visit with our son. and that both helps and hinders. He has a fantastic attitude about the whole thing and lifts our spirits in his letters and in the face to face visits. I'm not asking for sympathy my friends, but I think those of you fighting the battle of COPD need to have a little understanding of my lack of self preservation efforts. I think just purring this down on the journal is helping a little as I share some of the burden with others. So as my February 1st resolution, I promise that I will begin to work out and improve my breathing, that precious function that we can't life without, I'm only a month late in doing it.

So until next time, please take care of yourselves, and say a prayer for us once in a while. We appreciate them so very much. By for now and don't let the SOB get you down.

July 29, 2008: Well friends, if the old saying is true that "time flies when you're having fun" then I must be having lots of fun. You know what? That's really true. My health is stable, I'm actually walking a mile on the treadmill just about every morning ( I do get lazy once in a while though), working more than I really want to and generally just enjoying life.

    Looking back I see that I haven't even mentioned that we now have a practicing pulmonologist here in Cleburne now, and I really like him a lot. I've seen him twice and he has decided once every six months is enough. He was born in Nigeria and everyone calls him Dr. Andrew since they can't pronounce his last name - Anyadiegwu. He's very good, very thorough and obviously very up to date in his chosen field. He added Advair to my Spiriva and I think it might have helped a little bit. The walking helps more though.

    In May, my wife, daughter and grand-daughter and I took off for Philadelphia to attend my grandsons graduation from Coast Guard basic training at Cape May NJ. We had a wonderful trip made all the easier by Rotech's new travel office which made all the arrangements, sent me a battery powered concentrator for use on the airlines and generally just took care of all the arrangements. All I had to do was get a certificate from the Dr. about using the concentrator on the plane. No problems anywhere along the line and a remarkably newfound freedom to travel again. I have some pictures of the trip on Flickr and you can see them here http://flickr.com/photos/royg65/ Now my 13 year old grandson and I are traveling to California in two weeks for Brendan's graduation from food service school in Petaluma, California. I'm really looking forward to just us guys having four days together. It's going to be a blast I'm sure and probably not too many more chances for something like this to take place. It isn't often that life's schedules all come together at one place to allow something like this to happen. Especailly as busy as most youngsters are these days. I'm just bless that the graduation conincides with a time that school is out.

    I hope I don't depress anyone out there with my exciting adventures. If you've read this long running story you know that I never give up on life and will keep on trucking till the bitter end. There have been lots of hurdles, and many remain, but the only thing we can do it just keep on trucking. If you lay down you'll die and I'm not quite ready for that to happen. So my friends, stretch it out a little. Exercise common sense of course, but don't always take the easiest way just because the hard way leaves you a little out of breath. Every extra step we take makes us a little stronger, or at the very minimum doesn't let us get weaker. Like I always say at the end - have a great day and don't let the SOB get you down. I promise I won't wait so long to write again.

September 2, 2008:  See there! It has only been a little over a month and I'm back again just like I threatened. August was a busy month for me highlighted by my trip to California with my 13 year old grandson Tanner. I had decided back in early spring that I would go to California when my grandson Brendan graduated from Food Service School in the Coast Guard in August. My dear wife didn't want to go so I asked my grandson Tanner if he would go with me. (I could probably travel alone, but it's pretty reassuring to have someone along to help, just in case.)

As with my previous trip to Philadelphia in May, Rotech and their travel office made all the necessary arrangements for oxygen for the trip. I was going to fly Frontier Airlines this time and they had the necessary information on their web site, including the form necessary to board the aircraft. So everything was set in place for our departure on September 12th. This was going to be Tanner's airplane flight and he was very excited about the whole deal. He also idolizes his older cousin and was up about the prospect of seeing him too.

So off to DFW Airport we go early that morning. The trip through security was pretty uneventful, even though they still aren't used to handling the portable concentrator. They had me come through without the unit (a few minutes without O2 is okay for me) and then I went through the detector and they physically examined the concentrator on the other side.  Everything checked out okay and we proceeded to the boarding gate. The waiting room was packed and we found some seats just around the corner which also had AC outlets so I could plug in the AC charger and keep the batteries charged. Well that seating location turned out to be a bad choice. Tanner said we ought to be going around to get on the plane and we were afforded a view of an empty waiting room. I took our boarding info to the desk and lady said they had been paging us for the last twenty minutes and the flight had already departed for Denver. We had picked the only place in DFW that you don't hear the speakers as our seating choice. The Frontier agent was very helpful though and managed to get us booked on an afternoon flight for a minimal fee. This time we stayed close to the gate and didn't miss our flight. There was a little hassle as far as seating goes. We were assigned the bulkhead row at the front of the plane and that isn't satisfactory because the concentrator has to go under the seat in front of you. Needless to say there wasn't a seat in front. So after everyone was seated then did some exchanges with the people being us and we were finally on our way. Nice flight to Denver and not problem catching the connecting flight. Again a little problem with seating because this stewardess also insisted that I have a window seat, so that took a little changing. My only warning is that you should be prepared to walk long distances at these modern airports. If that's a problem ask for a wheelchair. The flight crews on several flights this time had a wheel chair ready for me when we arrived because they knew there was a big climb up the ramp and long walk to the next gate. Very thoughtful. I very graciously accepted their hospitality. I'm pretty tough but not stupid.

No problems after we got there. Got to see lots of Northern California around Petaluma. Took a day trip up into wine country around Sonoma, which is very beautiful. Spent most of one day driving around San Francisco. A side note here: Tanner never got to see the Golden Gate Bridge.

It was enshrouded in fog the whole day Friday and into our departure day on Saturday. He did get to stick his foot in the very cold Pacific ocean though. For those of you who haven't experienced the portable concentrator's, they are a neat device. A little on the heavy side, but with a car charging cord you are practically unlimited in range. My Helios and liquid oxygen are much more convenient, but banned on the airlines.

Our departure on Saturday was uneventful and we arrived in Denver on time for our connecting flight. I had gotten the cannula hose all caught up under my seat somehow and had a terrible time getting out of my seat. I was pretty SOB by the time I got it done and the flight attendant seeing me laboring for breath called for a wheelchair. I gladly accepted because the ramp was a long, long uphill climb anyway and that isn't my best performance area. Anyway, the nice guy who brought the wheelchair asked to see my ticket (needed to know what gate to go to) and said "Oh, that flights been cancelled". He took us to end of a very long line of people at the customer service counter. After about a half hour and moving about five feet forward they brought a people mover cart by and took me to the front of the terminal to the main check in area. There we were happy to find out that we could get a flight early Sunday morning but would have to stay in Denver overnight. Frontier has an agreement with many of the hotels in Denver for reduced rate rooms and we chose a Renaissance Hotel which was the cheapest one offered. It turned out to be a brand new five star hotel and we had a good night's rest, considering we got there at 9:30 p.m. and had to catch the shuttle bus at 3:30 a.m. to get to our flight on time. We did it though and arrived home safely with no further problems.

As my grandson says, next time we fly we stand by the departure counter if there aren't any seats available. Thirteen year olds are so smart these days. It was good to be home, but the trip was a blast even with all the little trials and tribulations. It gives me a real boost to know that I can still do things like this despite COPD. It's just a simple case of don't let the SOB get you down.

Sunday, November 30, 2008: I don't believe it, November is over and we are going into December at midnight. Since I last regaled you with my trip to California, I celebrated my 74th birthday, Halloween and Thanksgiving. I'm suffering with a cold for the first time in years and it's been a doozy. But it's nearly past now and life goes on. Luckily it doesn't seem to have settled into the lungs and that's a relief.

Other than that my health has been good. I hit that point in Medicare D coverage where I've had to pay for the Spiriva and Advair, and that's a fairly big shock on the checkbook, even when ordering from  mail order pharmacy. I don't know how someone without insurance can afford them.

As we go into this Christmas season (I don't call it the Holiday thingy) I am so reminded of our need for that help and guidance from our Lord. What a wonderful gift we were given, more precious that all the is or ever will be. He's my rock and my salvation and he will get us through all that lays ahead. Take care my friends, enjoy your families and don't let the SOB get you down!

Sunday, May 16, 2009: Surprise, I'm sill alive and kicking. There have been so many things going on in my life that I just haven't taken the time to update this page. I can also use the excuse of getting a new computer and I just got FrontPage installed on it so I could update. That's as good an excuse as I can think of right now. I think it's good that I stay busy because it keeps me out of trouble most of the time.

I finally broke down this month and saw and ophthalmologist about my cataracts which have been bothering me a little for months and have made it difficult to get a prescription which works well near and far. I had the left eye done two weeks ago and am anxiously awaiting next Tuesday when he does the right eye. According to the good doctor I will be able to go without glass, will need some for reading, for the first time in over 60 years. There are only a few people alive now who ever knew me without glasses and they are family.

Speaking of family, that was one of the low points of the month when my older brother passed away in Harlingen.. He was 87 and had been in failing health for a few years. Unfortunately he died alone since all our family lives elsewhere and we didn't even know he was in the hospital. That really puts a damper on life and probably extended my recovery from an ear infection and they the inevitable movement of congestion into the lungs. A does and prednisone and sulfa seemed to take care of though and I'm breathing well gain now.

I still work three days a week for the County Treasurer and love doing that. It's probably a good thing health wise too since it gets me up off my rear and do something. I don't know why it's so hard to motivate myself to exercise when I know how much good it does me. Stupid human beings I guess.

I've had the thrill of two granddaughters graduating from College since I last wrote. Faith completed her degree at Texas Wesleyan University in December and Kasey just graduated from Texas A&M. I'm so proud of them both. Luckily I was able to attend both graduations and it really gave a three to see them walk across the stage.

I've got to go now for we have company (in-laws) that I shouldn't shun. I'll make an effort to update once in a while. I guess it's good that nothing momentous is happening and the combination of Spiriva and Advair seem to really be doing the job. They sure aren't the least expensive drugs on the market though. Having to take both of them will put my in the dreaded Medicare D donut hole in the 4th quarter. Oh well, life's too precious to worry about dollars for medicine. In the meantime my friends, don't let the SOB get you down.

Monday, January 11, 2010: Well here it is a New Year and this old codger is still codgering along despite the fact you all probably thought the worst. Surely an update every 8 months is sufficient. 2009 was a good year for me, my health is still pretty good considering the COPD and nothing else has really bothered me. I did finally do something about my failing eyesight. My glasses had gotten nearly a quarter inch thick and the eye doctor said he really couldn't make them better with glasses. So it was time to see the expert and in June I had cataract surgery on both eyes over a two week period. Best thing I ever did. The improvement was dramatic and the process virtually painless. If you need to do this, go ahead, it is well worth the result for 99% of the people who do it.

Later in the spring, June 8th to be exact, we added another grandson to the stable making it an equal number of girls and boys. Noah was born to Lynda and Mark far away in Georgia and I've never seen my grandson in person. The web and video cameras and digital cameras help make up though and we get plenty of those.

Then of course in November, I celebrated my 75th birthday. Somehow I never even dreamed of being that old, but time has a way of tricking us. Guess I'll just stay around now and see if we can make 80, 85 and 90. Who knows? Judith and I also celebrated 50 years of marriage in August, another notch in the belt in my opinion. Life has really been pretty good to me.

Still take the Spiriva and Advair. Actually I don't take Spiriva any longer, but switched to an import from India, thru a Canadian pharmacy, that makes it cost close to 1/6th as much as the local version, and it seems to work fine. That will keep me out of the donut hole this year, and did last year since I bought the last quarters thru the new guys. My pulmonologist was surprised, but seems satisfied that it works correctly.

I've never gotten back into a routine on the treadmill and I can really tell it these days. My boss had a mild stroke last July and I've been working full time ever since. That means ever more sitting on my rear end and not exercising. I'm gonna figure out some way to energize and mobilize this lazy body. I know how much better I feel and how much stronger my breathing is when I've been walking regularly, so you would think that would be enough motivation, but so far it hasn't been.

Life just seem to go on my friends. I prize my relatively good health and though I am a little slower than when I was 60, I'm still determined not to give in to this disease until it just decides to take me down. Life is too much fun, family is too wonderful and it all makes for a truly blessed life for me. Take care my friends and don't let the SOB get you down.

Wednesday, May 20, 2010:  Well this has been an eventful week for me. I started feeling kind of drug out a couple of weeks ago and started getting an upper respiratory infection. Went the a walk in type clinic since my Doctor could squeeze me in. They listened, agree and prescribed the usual Prednisone and and antibiotic. Improved a little but seriously struggling from breath most of the time after any activity at all.

Finally, a week ago yesterday I had to go to the eye doctor to have my prescription checked and while there asked my pulmonologist next door if they could squeeze me in that morning. Fine and when I finished with the eyes I walked over, waiting a few minutes and went in. Dr. Anyadiegwu came in the examining room in a few minutes, listened to the lungs, got a serious look on his face and said "I think we need to admit you." Okay, so, into a wheelchair for a ride to over to the hospital and into a room. All the usual hookups, *three tries to get the iv going", Xrays confirmed pneumonia, but they also did a CT scan which really showed the involvement, right lung only luckily. Anyway it finally came under control and I came home yesterday. Dr. says I can't go back to work for a little while. To just rest and try to build up a little stamina. So that I will do.

Take care of yourselves and don't let the SOB get you down.

Saturday, June 26, 2010: Well obviously from the results, I went back to work too soon and for too many hours following the pneumonia episode. So a week ago Tuesday, Dr. Anyadiegwu admitted me to the hospital again with a severe COPD exacerbation. Spent another week week with the solumedrol. levaquin, breathing treatments, Bi-Pap at night, etc. discharged this past Tuesday with explicit orders to rest for two weeks. That's been pretty easy for the first three days home, but I got up this morning feeling much, much better and can see that I am going to get really bored by the time a week from Tuesday rolls around. But I have also realized that all my talk about exercise didn't do a bit of good for me and it's  time to get down to work and develop some stamina and breathing good patterns. I've been reviewing a lot of the info on the web sites and have picked up a few pointers that I never knew about. Little things which just help make it a little easier for COPD patients. I've never had a pulmonary rehab session in the thirty years since I was first diagnosed, but the Dr. finally decided that it wasn't worth the time and effort (and expense) that would take. So I'm pretty much on my own here. I know I'll have to get going on the treadmill, that's just a given and it starts today. I also have a Volodyne 5000 to increase peak flow (I think). It actually seems to be working a little bit. Right after a albuterol nebulizer treatment I can usually get it up to about 1000 ml and then it drops off. That's a lot better than the 500 ml I was getting when I got home Tuesday. So I guess that I'm saying here is that the SOB did get me down, but it's time to take control again. So until next time. Have a great day and don't let the SOB get you down!

Tuesday, June 28, 2011: That was an amazingly fast year my friends. Yes, I'm still going strong. I recovered from the two hospital stays and Dr. Andrew says I can't go back for at least ten years. I lost a little ground in the stamina category and as usual am having a devil of a time getting back to some exercise. I'm bound and determined to do it, but so far the results are pretty dismal. I get on the treadmill once a twice a week, but it is kind of meaningless, because I don't go long enough to get any real benefit. I'll get there though. I have managed to lost nearly ten pounds and am back to my 1959 weight when I first got married. That helps some and I expect to drop another ten if I can.

I go to work on a regular basis still with some modifications to my schedule to keep from wearing down so much. It's working out great and our new Country Treasurer is very understanding and supportive.  I guess a lot of people look forward to laying down the work gloves and relaxing once they get to be my age, but I simply couldn't stand being without any challenges and anything to do all the time. It helps keep my mind sharp (maybe just not quite a dull) and even gets me a little exercise getting to and from the car. My office is on the third floor of our beautiful courthouse and if the elevator isn't working I really get a workout. It takes me approximately nine (9) minutes from the basement to the third floor and needless to say I make several stops along the way. The only problem with stopping people asking if I'm alright and I can't easily reply when I trying to get my breathing back to normal. I just wave them on with a whisper usually.

So, all in all, life is still good and I hope it continues that way for a long time to come. My boss is going to have to run for office for a full term next year and she has made it clear she wants me to stay on as long as she is in office. I told her I would try, but wouldn't guarantee that far into the future. So dear friends, sorry for the long absence and I will try to better in the future. Take care all and don't let the SOB get you down!

Thursday, September 15, 2011: It's in the 70's here in Texas this morning so perhaps our summer long stretch of 100 degree plus days is over finally. I'll have to admit that as a COPD patient I did suffer a little with the heat. Made it a point to limit my exposure outside though and have come through with no problems. This is my weekly day off and i finally decided it was time to update this page. I wanted to several weeks ago, but was shot down on that when my computer died and I had to replace it. It takes a long time to get all the program reinstalled. luckily all my data (except for some photographs) were backed up on an offsite server service to they could be restored. It's a real pain though, and I daily find something else that I've forgotten.

I've even started trying to exercise - walking on the treadmill and rowing on my Bowflex. That's partially because my boss and coworker are trying to lose weight and are exercising, so they encourage me too. Working so far. Back up to 20 minutes on the treadmill (just 1.2 miles per hour but that will improve) and 7.5 minutes the last time rowing. That along with my decision to stop using sugar and eating foods with sugar added like cookies, cakes, candy and all the other good things in life has helped me lose about ten pounds in a couple of months. The strange thing is that I don't crave the sweet stuff anymore. It's hard to believe that I can pass up a cookie or piece of cake but I've been doing it over and over without having a nervous breakdown. There's really a lot to be said in favor of taking care of ourselves.

The absolute worst thing about this time of year for me is the pending end of the baseball season. As a Texas Ranger's fan it has been a tremendous year and I really think we are going to the World Series again. That remains to be seen of course, but what an exciting season it has been. Judith and I are going to the last home game of the season a week from Sunday. This will be only our second game in person this year, but the extreme heat just dictated that I stay home.

Well, i guess that's enough for this update. Let's all just keep on keeping on and don't let the SOB get you down!

Wednesday, May 9, 2012:  That should be a long enough wait for my few faithful readers. No I didn't pass from this earth, I just got extremely and inordinately lazy and hadn't done much of anything for months. All my plans to exercise just lay dormant and the only positive thing going for me was losing weight after cutting out the sugar. I'm actually down to 155 pounds now and haven't weight that little since grade school. "Do you feel better?" you ask. Of course but the lack of exercise and another small exacerbation had left me pretty breathless much of the time.

Dr Andrew orders PFA's on me which showed pretty major deterioration in my lung capacity (here's a PDF of the test for those interested) but having a marvelous pulmonologist in Dr. Andrew he saw right through the problem and decided I needed to finally go through pulmonary rehab. What a rewarding experience this has been. I'm down to my last three classes this week and next and an stronger, breathing better and managing to exercise like I should with walking, weights and all that stuff. I plan to continue in their maintenance program because it is so much easier when you have someone telling you what to do. If you are offered a chance to take part in such a program I can heartily recommend it.

Other than that life just keeps rolling along. We are very exciting about an upcoming out of town trip next week. We'll visit my sister in Sterling City and then drive on to Lubbock on Saturday evening for the graduation ceremony for my granddaughter Kasey as she receives MBA and Juris Doctor degrees from Texas Tech Law School. Needless to say we are very proud of her.

So that's it friends. We just keep rolling along. Don't let the SOB get you down!

Saturday, September 15, 2012: That was a quick summer for this old man. Lots of great 100 degree plus days to make the old lungs really labor, but I managed to get through them all without incident. I finished rehab with no problems and it has made a measurable difference in my stamina and somewhat better breathing.  I work on the third floor of the Johnson County Courthouse and since rehab I use the stairs most of time to get to the office. It's a long trip and I usually have to pause a minute or two about halfway up, but the exercise is great. Gets the heart rate up for a little while and makes me focus on breathing properly at the same time. I haven't been doing my exercises like I should, but with cooler weather I've promised myself to get going again before I lose and the toning up that I gained during the program.

I've lost another five pounds since May and now am down to 150. That's about what I weighed in the 7th grade if I remember correctly. Amazing what cutting out sugar has done. I really think I feel better too and certainly get as high and low and I often did when enjoying all those snickers. Worth keeping on I think, but I don't want't to lose any more weight. I think the 150 at 5' 8" is just about right.

Well that's about it for today. You've been bored enough as it is. Take care friends and don't let the SOB get you down.

Saturday, November 16, 2013:  I guess that's long enough between updates and obviously I'm still kicking. Let's see what's happened over the last year. Everything was going along well until Christmas Eve of December 2012 when I suddenly had trouble breathing. Into the Emergency Room and spend the night and part of Christmas day in the hospital. Just an exacerbation because there was no pneumonia involved. Kind of set me back though and I had to increase my oxygen flow to 3 liters to feel comfortable. 2013 came in well and the year went well until late October when I got some kind of infection, not pneumonia, and had a five day stay in the hospital. But I survived again and really feel good now. Most of the time on 2 liters of oxygen and no changes in meds. Advair and Spiriva seem to be a good combination for me. Dr. Andrew had me do PFT's  in May for the first time in five years. Nothing astounding, but they do show continued degradation as would be expected. For those who might be interested here are the numbers: from 2002 compared to this year:

	FVC	%Pred	FEV1	%Pred	FEF25-75	%Pred	PEF	%Pred
Oct 23, 2002	2.70	65%	1.06	37%	0.23	8%	4.24	41%
May 23, 2013	1.29	33%	0.60	24%	0.18	8%	3.06	41

So that's where we are on this bright sunny day in Texas. I'm still working for the County Treasurer and life continues to treat me well. I wish the same for any you still reading this drivel. Don't let the SOB get you down.

Saturday, July 4, 2015:  Nope, I didn't die , just extremely unmotivated since a really bad experience last fall. I went to the ER on September12, 2014 and was finally relapsed from ICU 41 days later. The had done emergency intestinal surgery and my lungs didn't really take to it very well. In fact I guess most of the doctors said I wouldn't make it, but Dr.Anyadiegwo said not true. He did a tracheotomy and I spent weeks on a ventilator. Luckily for me I have no recollection at all of the ordeal until the last five or six days of my state. Between the good Dr, God's blessing, the marvelous staff of nurses in the ICU and my loving family and friends I am back on my feet and going to work again. I did gain some good from the experience however, I am down to 132 pounds and wearing size 32 pants for the first time since the 6th or 7th grade. That's a good thing. So there you have it in a nutshell. Still a live and kicking and asking you to join me in not letting the SOB get you down.

January 2017: Roy ended up in the hospital at the beginning of January. He was released a few days later and sent home on palliative care. He knew his fight against the SOB would soon be over. Roy's last breath was in the early morning of 1/27/2017.

Warning: the information contained on this page relates to my experience with COPD, its treatment and my life in general. I'm not a medical professional and my experience may not apply to anyone else in the whole world. - Roy