Walk A Mile in My Shoes

It's been a week hasn't it? A very good friend inquired today where was I? It's been a week since I wrote. Let's see, I've been overwhelmed, frustrated and busy with appointments. But, life moves on I have learned, once again.
With all the new expectations and changes in the approaching future, I'm still filling my gas tank and rolling my eyes at the pump, reading the electric meter daily to see how they can possibly get so many KWH's in a month and just taking care of business. I did see my PCP, Dr. Rogers, last Wednesday.
He's good, thorough, spent 30 minutes with me discussing the necessary bases I must cover with him and recommending over the next six months, we target a 30 pound weight loss. Now, this is to fulfill Aetna's requirements of a six month, doctor supervised weight loss program.
Half of me says, do it...it is the expectation. Half of me says, are they kidding? This is just a game to see if I have the stamina for the long run. And so, I'm doing it knowing I will still enjoy some favorite restaurants and favorite meals prior to the surgery date. Nope, not established yet, I see the surgeon on April 8.
I will be so glad when it's all said and done, and Dr. Sherman's initials are carved on my tummy beside his handy work! It will be tremendous to 'lose another person' and carry just me around on my two little feetsies.
One of the consequences I suffered from the undiagnosed sleep apnea is related to my lungs. It's called Secondary Pulmonary Hypertension, meaning, Houston, we've got a problem. The big confusing word I found in all the paperwork sent to me from Dr. Manion's office (my pulmonologist) was Dyspnea. Can you say Dyspnea? So, I asked Dr. Rogers on Wednesday, what does this word mean? His reply, "shortness of breath". Boy does he know his stuff.
Walking for me these days must be done on my terms. Steady pace, slowly and without haste at all. If I rush, lift a lot of weight or do other necessary things in life, I must pause and let 'me' catch up.
I do not share this to depress you, I share this to give understanding to one of the tremendous positives I will get out of my procedure. It will improve a lot and I will be able to do more then than I can do now.
I had fun today. Went to JCPenney's and bought stuff. I've been wanting two new sets of sheets, which I got...each set weighing approximately one thousand pounds as it is packaged. I picked up two sets of matching pillow cases, a pair of Levi's for Michael, two queen pillows, two standard pillows and ...... two big 'ol bath towels. Then the fun began!
I carried those huge bags for a few feet. Paused. I drug those bags a few feet. Paused. I carried them a third time and walked very fast hoping to cover lots of ground. Paused and sucked air! Now, there's a trick to getting short of breath in a department store.
Number 1, you don't want to look like a 'wuss'. So, when you pause, you pretend to be browsing at something. You learn to keep your back to the flow of people and look really busy, when all you're doing is trying to get air in there!
Finally, made it to the back door. Thank goodness, I was parked in the first parking space outside the door. Sound simple? NOT SO! The street between the back door of JCP and the parking space was about a half mile wide!! J/K But brotha's and sista's ... I hit that back door, all bags up in the air and hauled aaaaasssspecial load to the car! WHEW! I thought, finally here.
It's 93 degrees, I have no air and some idiot's waiting impatiently for ME to load my stuff and get out of there!! I would have told them it'd be a minute, but...I HAD NO AIR!!!
Finally, in the car, breathing, breathing, breathing and managed to start the engine and pull out, slowly!! Well, it didn't take all that long to recover, but, it's aggravating most days!
You see, had the sleep ap been diagnosed back when, all of this was totally preventable.
Not an excuse for slowing the thoughts down, just sharing the comical, the insane, the necessary and the carefree.
I still have a smile on my face and I still do and go when and where I wish. By the way, there are some activities that make me breathless....
yeppers, them thar thangs me likes!!! pant, pant, pant
Make your own summation folks, it's time for me to leave da house!!