How do you feel today? v. 3.0

[Shaun das Schaf]

A certain someone once said I brightened up their day.
Well, right back at ya sister! This little emoticon-festival put a smile on my dial.

[SoulBiter]

A bit down.

I had my yearly physical late last week and found out Tuesday of this week that I have some level of COPD....even though I haven't smoked for 14 years and I run 3 miles a day and eat right. Guess I didn't get that free pass on 4 years in the cotton mills, 15 years of breathing copier and printer toner as a technician, and topping it off with smoking for 20 years.

I go today to see how my lung volume is and Im hopeful I wont get any bad news there. One thing I keep in mind is that my dad who had COPD for years before he went to the doctor and after that he continued to smoke, not exercise, and eat poorly as well as not being under a doctors care at all, and he lived to be 72 (ish).

I have to say its startling to get this kind of reminder of my own mortality. I'm still trying to get my head wrapped around that kind of news. Ive worked really hard the last 10 years to keep myself in shape so that I could maintain good health for years to come.

And for those of you that smoke, and you know who you are ..... you may not get a 'free pass' later in life so the sooner you quit, the better.

[aliantha]

SB: This whole mortality thing sucks.

DotD -- yay, the party's started!

Menolly -- I was still in the teenybopper phase when Bobby Sherman was a big deal, but he was the tail end of it for me.

Jenn -- you're right, I guess. Farrah had better hair...for a girl. I remember all the sorority girls, particularly the Tri Delts, rockin' the Farrah look when I was in college. I think one of their prerequisites for pledges was that hairstyle.

[danlo]

Hey I'm back, and I accomplished my goal!

...anyone miss me?

[aliantha]

Yay, danlo's back!

...uh, where were you?

[Savor Dam]

I think he was Occupied elsewhere...

[danlo]

Well, I was doing tons of organizing and networking for national Move to Amend, working to overturn the Supreme Court's disgusting Citizens United decision, getting Super PAC $ o/o politics and to restore some semblance of voting rights and power back to the people-which I'll continue to do until things change---and beyond that. I've set up various events with Occupy and (un)Occupy Albuquerque including representation of Move to Amend and Occupy in our New Years Revolution march, the MLK parade and ceremony, Occupy the Roundhouse (that brought Occupy groups from all over the state; Las Cruces, Santa Fe, Los Lunas, Taos, Farmington, Rio Rancho, Espanola, Soccoro and Espanola) to the state capitol to network and protest at the first day of our legislative session.

I won the support of over 30 local activist groups and labor unions to sponsor Occupy the Courts, part of a national Move to Amend day of action at the Federal Courthouse in Albq. on the 20th marking the 2nd anniversary of Citizens United. I was the event coordinator for that and it drew 200 people on a Friday (pretty dam big for little Albq-probably the biggest weekday protest since the '70) which included 5 State Senators, one State Rep, one County Commissioner, one City Councilman, 4 musicians and a number of community activists. So I've been all over local TV, radio and the community. So I guess I've come out of my Covenant-like shell, so to speak.

I'm also in the process of setting up a community outreach non-profit canvass business that will work to educate the public on Citizens United, Community issues and Occupy issues and put some of my recently unemployed friends back to work...so I've been a little busy over the past 3 months.

Here's a sample of some of our work,

[Menolly]

WTG, danlo!

I was in-hospital during Occupy the Courts, but our local group had Dr. Cornel West speak.

Dr. Cornel West Speaks @ Occupy the Courts in Gainesville, FL

Empowering words.

[aliantha]

Nice job, danlo!

[Menolly]

A bit down.

I had my yearly physical late last week and found out Tuesday of this week that I have some level of COPD....even though I haven't smoked for 14 years and I run 3 miles a day and eat right.

SB, with that kind of dedication to your lifestyle, I believe it is safe to say that you don't "have" COPD. You make no claim to it, you don't own it, and you will not acknowledge its stake to your health.

Just be aware it is lurking, attempting to get a grip; and keep on doing what you are doing, along with any other recommendations you are given. You are in control, not COPD.

I went in for the full body scan today, with the mind set that all will come back clear. I was called back for further scans before being discharged, as they said they saw traces of radioactive iodine in my hair, of all places. Will be fascinating to hear an explanation of that. Hoping for a report sooner rather than later.

[lorin]

A bit down.

I had my yearly physical late last week and found out Tuesday of this week that I have some level of COPD....even though I haven't smoked for 14 years and I run 3 miles a day and eat right. Guess I didn't get that free pass on 4 years in the cotton mills, 15 years of breathing copier and printer toner as a technician, and topping it off with smoking for 20 years.

I go today to see how my lung volume is and Im hopeful I wont get any bad news there. One thing I keep in mind is that my dad who had COPD for years before he went to the doctor and after that he continued to smoke, not exercise, and eat poorly as well as not being under a doctors care at all, and he lived to be 72 (ish).

I have to say its startling to get this kind of reminder of my own mortality. I'm still trying to get my head wrapped around that kind of news. Ive worked really hard the last 10 years to keep myself in shape so that I could maintain good health for years to come.

And for those of you that smoke, and you know who you are ..... you may not get a 'free pass' later in life so the sooner you quit, the better.

I wanted to suggest you get yourself tested for Alpha One Antitrypsin deficiency. Both my brothers and I have it and doctors overlook it frequently. It shows like Copd and can become Copd if untreated. If you were a smoker many doctors just assume the breathing issues are from the smoking. I have no symptoms but one of my brothers went undiagnosed and untreated and it progressed. It is a simple swab test.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_1-antitrypsin_deficiency

[SoulBiter]

Thanks Menolly and you are absolutely right! I cant let this define who I am.

Its funny, I physically feel no different than I did last week before my physical and yet having the information has caused me to lose sleep and to be self absorbed as I try to figure out what this means. I did get a reminder this morning that you aren't promised even one more day as I heard about a lady cop who had someone pulled over just this morning and a drunk driver ran her over.

What I really need to do is take this weekend to pray with my wife and maybe even cry a bit just to get that out of my system. I have always worn my feelings on my sleeve so to speak and Ive been on the verge of tears. Ive only had one very short (a few months) bout of depression in my life and I don't ever want to go back there.

Lorin, thats a great suggestion. I have a follow up blood test in 6 months(for my Cholestoral..which is borderline but not bad enough to need any meds). I will have them test for that. I read that they figure it out from a blood test.... if that isn't right then let me know. And you never know, that could be something. My Grandfather had Emphysema, My dad did too, (but they also both smoked), so maybe its something genetic.

[lorin]

Lorin, thats a great suggestion. I have a follow up blood test in 6 months(for my Cholestoral..which is borderline but not bad enough to need any meds). I will have them test for that. I read that they figure it out from a blood test.... if that isn't right then let me know. And you never know, that could be something. My Grandfather had Emphysema, My dad did too, (but they also both smoked), so maybe its something genetic.

I don't know if your insurance will cover the test. There is a home test that you mail in. Here is the link.

www.alpha1health.com/patients-and-famil ... t-kit.html

www.alpha-1foundation.org/
www.alpha1.org/

[SoulBiter]

Lorin, Thanks for the information. I have sent a message to my doctor asking if they checked for that when they did my blood work. Im thinking they didn't. Ive also requested that they do this test and regardless of insurance I will pay for it.

Its a long shot but..... if it ended up being that, my family (kids) would need to be aware of it since its genetic.

Found out my doctors office will pay for that one...so its free to me. So tomorrow I am going in to give some blood.

[Cameraman Jenn]

Just ordered a set of lockpicks online. I've decided it's past time for me to learn a new skill.

[balon!]

Good job doing what drives you on, Danlo! Keep it up!

[Rigel]

Just ordered a set of lockpicks online. I've decided it's past time for me to learn a new skill.

[deer of the dawn]

Danlo, well done! I just made a donation to your cause! A hundred dollars... WGDs, that is. Use them well and don't spend them all in one place.

Just ordered a set of lockpicks online. I've decided it's past time for me to learn a new skill.

You rock, Jenn.

SB, sorry. Trust me, I know what it's like to suffer for the sins of your youth!

[Linna Heartbooger]

SB- just wow. Glad you shared that here, though.

I went in for the full body scan today, with the mind set that all will come back clear. I was called back for further scans before being discharged, as they said they saw traces of radioactive iodine in my hair, of all places. Will be fascinating to hear an explanation of that. Hoping for a report sooner rather than later.

That would be a let-down... sounds like that's more about the diagnostic chemicals than the original condition though?
And wowww... in your hair; I second your reaction of "this is odd."
But I'm also like "look at you; here you are giving others wonderful encouragement!"


CJ- bwahaha! ...be sure to keep us updated.
It's so easy to just start on a simple, cheezy lock that's half-broken, and then get lazy and not do any more.
Don't know anyone who did that, though.
*looks around innocently*

[sgt.null]

julie still isn't feeling well.

and this cold has kicked my ass - i keep thinking at some point i will have coughed everything up - but no.

so i have been watching Batman, JLU< B&B all day while reading graphic novels from the library i picked up last night.