This is Jim, the van driver who took us to Vanderbilt and in the red shirt is Chris, the restaurant manager.

Vanderbilt Day!

We ate breakfast in the hotel lobby then I was unable to eat or drink anything for 3 hours before my appointment. The hotel shuttle took us to the medical center which was only about 2 minutes away. What a nice and organized facility! They had signs up in the waiting area instructing the patients to notify the receptionist if they had been waiting longer than 10 minutes.

My first thing was to go through 4 different kinds of tests which were all done in the same room by the same medical technician, and of course Dan was there to help the tech :)

The first test I had been required to do three different times in Casper with the results submitted to Vanderbilt as a sort of pre-test to determine my priority status. So, I had done this test before and knew what to expect. It is called postural blood and heart rate.

The rest of the tests were performed hooked up to a heart monitor, blood pressure monitor and pulse monitor (it was a tight band wrapped around my wrist and felt like it was rolling back and forth over my wrist while it recorded my pulse-a truly creeping sensation).

Test number two involved deep breathing (no not heavy breathing!!) I was required to inhale deeply over 15 seconds hold it and exhale over 15 seconds. I had to keep repeating this without stopping for one minute and 30 seconds. This test is called a sinus arrhythmia test and it tests the vagal parasympathetic tone.

Test number three was actually kind of fun other than it made me turn beet red and I'm sure I looked like a tomato. It is called the valsalva maneuver. I had to exhale into a tube over a 15 second period while blowing against resistance.

Test number four. Hmmm. I'm not sure where to begin with test number four. When Dan asked the tech the purpose behind this test she replied (and I'm not making this up...) The alternative to this test is to beat the patient with a baseball bat to check their pain response. But this is easier on the patient. I was not at all prepared for this test. The cold pressor test measures your blood pressure and heart rate while holding one hand in ice water for one minute. Okay, I thought ice water no problem. I can handle cold hands...this had nothing to do with your hand being cold it was truly about pain and beyond. I have never experienced anything like it and I hope I never have to again.

After those tests I was exhausted. We had time to go eat lunch before my 2:30 doctor appt. They have a McDonald's in the hospital so that made it quick and easy.

We went back to the waiting room and they had already recognized us and checked us back in before Dan went to the desk. With 5 minutes we were called back to the room.

I was weighed first and then we had our own little exam room. Very, very shortly Dr. Biaggioni's Nurse was in the room reviewing my meds and asking questions. She already knew my full history when she walked in the room. Asked very pertinent questions related to my heart attack and the following years of my disability. From the questions that she asked I knew immediately that she knew about autonomic disorders. She was professional, helpful and made us feel comfortable.

She left the room and very soon Dr. B came in. He spent 40 unrushed minutes with us and we covered a wide variety of topics from the cause of my heart attack to the subsequent autonomic disorder. We discussed some management options and came up with this:

1. My tests showed that the area of my dysautonomia is the sympathetic nervous system (this we did not know). My sympathetic nervous system is hyperactive.

2. There is a drug that calms down the sympathetic nervous system and we will be trying that.

3. I am to manage this chronic syndrome using the following techniques: Avoid standing still, do not stand up to quickly, do not loose fluids.

4. New things for us to try: Muscle resistance training of my legs using weights and/or elastic bands. I am able to try gradual low impact aerobic exercise.

5. Try wearing an abdominal binder for walking.

6. Increase salt and water intake. Continue to monitor my blood pressure too make sure it is not increasing too much.

7. Drink 16oz of water quickly before performing any activities that might cause lightheadedness.

8. ****New thing*** My intense periods of flushing are extremely important to this diagnosing process and I have a special lab test to do if this happens again. So, this areas results are still pending.

So, the bottom line is that they confirmed my diagnosis and managed to further narrow down what part of the autonomic system was being aggravated and how it was being aggravated. With that we are able to try a new drug to calm the system down and with the other measures we are hoping that over time my quality of life will improve!

Thanks to all of you for your many prayers and support. The Lord has been so close to us this entire trip. We can feel His power and all of your love.

Well, we had a wonderful lunch at an award winning Italian Restraurant. Their specialty is Cedarwood roasted fish of the day. Today it was Sea Bass. They actually cook it on a plank of cedarwood along with smashed potatoes and vegetables. It was so cool because they brought it out on the actual plank of wood that they cooked it on. NO PLATE! It was so good and the bread was awesome. Dan and I split a goat cheese and walnut salad with awesome balsamic vinegar.

We came back to the room totally stuffed. I napped on the really nice couch in our room while Dan talked on the phone with Les Repas, who lives here in Nashville. His son Tom, use to live in Casper and was a doctor there. Anyway, he gave Dan some tips and if I start feeling better we sure would like to get together with them. Then Dan took a nap on the huge bed. It has a feather tic overlay on the mattress! It is so much better than last night we both had terrible back aches when we woke up. This place is double the price but at this point, I don't care. I am relieved to be here.

I'm doing okay. Sluggish more than anything and a little off balance. My heart rate runs up and down intermittantly but not constantly.

Our plans for the evening involve snacking, relaxing in the hot tub and going to bed early. This hotel has a huge continental breakfast in the morning and we are looking forward to that.
I will not be able to eat or drink anything after 9am in preparation for my autonomic studies.

I can't believe that tomorrow is the day!

The next time I write will be after my tests and doctor appointment.

Jody, Sherrica, and Dan at the Marriott

Wow, what an adventure this has been so far!!!

Okay, taking us back to Sunday. We left Casper without any problems. Katie took us to the airport. The gate agent let us go out first as it takes me a little longer. Our flight from Casper to Minneapolis was quiet and uneventful.

The Minneapolis airport was easy to get around and we easily found our next gate connection within 10 minutes. We were so very blessed to find an excellent restaurant in the airport, right by our gate, that made great salads and wonderful homemade soups. And, the best part was it was extremely affordable, We've never eaten that well for that price in any airport.
While waiting for time to board Dan visited with the gate agent and she moved our seats up closer to the front of the plane AND gave us a row of three seats and blocked one out so I could lay down. We were so impressed. On top of it she said it was a very long jet way and would have a wheel chair take me right up to the door of the plane. Northwest airlines definitly has our vote!

When we arrived in Nashville they had a wheelchair to take me from the plane. Then, they just turned the wheelchair over to Dan and said use it as long as you need and just leave it when you are done with it! So, Dan drove me right out to a waiting taxing and "literally"ran the wheelchair back as the taxi drove off with door open, me in it and no Dan who dove in with the taxi still moving!

We made it. The taxi whisked us away to The Days Inn Vanderbilt. The lobby was very nice and even had a leather couch, just like home. We checked in, excited to finally be here.

From there it went rapidly down hill. No business center for internet access, no hot tub, no pool, no restaurant, NOTHING. The place was a total DUMP. Dan asked for a close room and she gave us 0ne in another building down (all the rooms have outside entrances) a dark unlit path. Dan said NO. So, she gave us one in the other building but it was right across the parking lot. We walked into the room and it STUNK! and it was dirty. So, Dan said don't move and ran back across the parking lot. Then she gave us a room in the main building. We had to walk through a very smokey hallway to get to our non-smoking room, but we made it and it smelled much better. (Dan says, but so do baby diapers). It wasn't long before we noticed the green stuff dripping off of the ceiling and this morning we noticed the mold growing from the ceiling in the shower. The beds were very, very small for two people. We were still trying to convince ourselves that things were going to work out when a fight started outside our door, right next to the elevator, between a man and woman. After that, we tried to settle in to bed. I had finally managed to dose off when someone started knocking on our door. Dan looked out the peephole and started running to put his pants on. I asked him who it was and he just said two girls. By the time he got dressed they were walking on down the hall. He asked if he could help them and and they just waved their beers and cigarettes at him.

Now, our room smelled like a bar!

Not sure what the rest of the night would reveal, neither one of us slept very well.
With the light of morning we realized how dirty our room really was, along with the rest of the motel. Dan went around taking pictures of the filthy hallway floors, dirty elevators, some strange green stuff on our room carpet. Etc, etc.

At this point, we knew, we couldn't stay here for an entire week. So, we went for a walk. And walked right into a lovely Courtyard Marriott with a wonderful front desk clerk, Sherrica. They immediately made things right for us and even offered to send their shuttle across the street to help Dan bring our luggage over.

So, the moral of the story is, We do not recommend that you stay at the Days Inn Crackhouse in downtown Nashville!

More updates as things develop. Tomorrow is my testing and Doctor appointment. Now that I am in a safe environment, I can actually start to to get excited about tomorrow.

Well, this is it. The day before we leave. Most everything is ready to go. Tomorrow night at this time we'll be in Nashville.

So many people have called and emailed that they are praying for safe travels and to be with the doctor who will be seeing me. It's very comforting to us.

Our flight is to leave at 9am and we should be in Nashville around 5 pm sometime.

I'm managing pretty well, I will just need to pace myself.

This is Ozzie with a toy he received for Christmas.

Well, as usual the first hour I am up is a little rough and then I started to feel better. I rested on the couch for a bit and then got up and started doing some things. I cratered around 1pm for three hours. If I do too much I get chest tightness and and chest pain. Not too mention that extreme fatigue feeling which just hurts.

But, I am doing better than I thought I would be. So, that is a good thing.
I didn't go out to lunch today. I just didn't think I could sit up for that long with my heart pounding in my chest the whole time while I try to eat. I'm short of breath when my heart rate goes up, so I wouldn't even be able to talk much. I'm disappointed, but I think it was a good decision.

Dan took me with him to Walmart last night to p/u some last minute things. Even, though I was in a wheelchair, I was so miserable just sitting up. I think it was worse because it was the end of the day. I feel kind of like that now actually.

I showered when we got home and was totally exhausted. I went right to bed and fell asleep wet hair and all. ( I hate going to bed with wet hair) No sleeping pills or anything required I slept all night.

Well, I'm about wore out now

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is a dysautonomia

Dysautonomia literally means dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system is the master regulator of organ function throughout the body. It is involved in the control of heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, respiration, digestion and other vital functions. Dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system can produce the apparent malfunction of the organs it regulates. For this reason, dysautonomia patients often present with numerous, seemingly unrelated maladies.

The defining symptom of POTS is an excessive heart rate increment upon standing. However, there are a multitude of other symptoms that often accompany this syndrome. A person with POTS will experience heart rates that increase 30 beats or more per minute upon standing and/or increase to 120 beats or more per minute upon standing.

POTS is a chronic illness that can be debilitating at times. POTS patients use about three times more energy to stand than a healthy person. It is as if these patients are running in place all the time. Research shows that POTS patients' quality of life is similar to those with congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Most patients will have to make some lifestyle adjustments to cope with this disorder. The quantity and severity of symptoms varies from day to day and hour to hour.

Symptoms: Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia is a syndrome. The symptoms are widespread because the autonomic nervous system plays an extensive role in regulating functions throughout the body. The symptoms tend to multiply and become exaggerated upon upright posture. Some patients do report symptoms occurring while sitting or lying down and will include some of the following:

Tachycardia (high heart rate)
Lightheadedness /Dizziness / Disequalibrium (off balance)
Chest pain/ Palpitations-painful heart beats/abnormal heart beats
Exercise intolerance
Blurred Vision/tunnel vision
Clamminess / Flushing / Intolerance to heat/ Excessive sweating
Fainting or near fainting
Anxiety/Feeling "wired"
Fatigue (which can be disabling)
Headache
Shortness of breath
Blood pooling in limbs(can make legs feel heavy and appear mottled and purple in color)
Low blood pressure upon standing
Cognitive impairment (may include difficulties with concentration, brain fog, memory and/or word recall)
Diarrhea (sometimes with alternating constipation)
Tremulousness
Sleep disorders (can cause unrefreshing sleep and an increased need for sleep)
Cold hands (and often feet & nose) /Chills
Numbness or tingling sensations/ Restless Leg Syndrome
Generalized weakness
Low back pain/Aching neck and shoulders/Muscle aches and/or joint pains
Nausea/Loss of appetite
Noise sensitivity /Light Sensitivity/Easily over-stimulated
Feeling detached from surroundings

Things to Avoid

Climbing stairs will make some patients feel worse.
Dehydration is one of the worst states a POTS patient can be in. It is very important to always stay well hydrated.
Exercise will make many people with dysautonomia feel worse. Some patients will experience an exacerbation of symptoms after exercise that may last for a day or more.
Fatigue-Those with POTS will do well to live life at their own pace. It is important that patients don't overdo it, as this will make them feel even worse.
Heat dilates blood vessels and will make POTS symptoms worse.
Holding the arms up in the air can cause problems for some individuals. Holding the arms up requires the heart to work harder to counteract the effects of gravity. The heart may not be able to effectively pump blood up into raised arms and tachycardia will result from its effort.
Lifting objects can aggravate the symptoms of POTS. This may be due to the increased work load on the heart.
Over-stimulating environments can make POTS symptoms worse. A number of POTS patients report being overly sensitive to bright lights, loud noises and busy environments.
Singing has been reported to temporarily worsen symptoms in some individuals.
Stress will often aggravate the symptoms of POTS. POTS patients sometimes lack the ability to correctly process stress due to malfunctioning or excessive functioning of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). POTS patients need to avoid stress (when possible) and live life at their own pace.

(Above information courtesy of www.potsplace.com)

For todays picture I thought I would include a picture of how my fur kids are handling my decreased activity during the day. They never usually all sleep on the bed together! Ozzie is sleeping on my pillow. Shi is at the foot of the bed sleeping on the sheepskin (it's really Ozzie's) and Max is curled in a black ball just off of the sheepskin.

Well the WIND is back! I'm really tired, but I'm surviving. The chest pain and discomfort started this morning. Usually the beta blockers prevent this. It is from the mitral valve prolapse and from the POTS. I can't totally explain it. As far as we know it is not life threatening, it just makes me feel really bad.

A friend called me to take me out to lunch tomorrow. I don't know if I can set up that long, let alone get ready AND go somewhere... I'm pretty whimpy huh!

Vanderbilt called today to confirm my appointment. It was very exciting!

I think today's picture is self explanatory :)

Today my heart rate while standing still was 103, but my blood pressure was only 89/50. I don't feel so well, but was able to make us breakfast and make Dan's lunch. We are having crockpot chicken tonight, so I don't need to worry about standing and preparing anything.

I really wanted to run two errands today, but I just don't feel that well. It is extremely irritating. And I feel dumb asking someone for a ride for these particular errands.

It is now 1100 am and I'm going to try and start getting some projects done that are on my "To Do" list for pre-trip packing. I still need to email some documents for Interim to our Quality Improvement Organization person who needs an update. I already gave her the report last month but she wanted some dates changed and other things cleaned up. I wanted to tell her that's what white out is for, but that wouldn't be appropriate.

I have some loose ends with competition paperwork, but thanks to Dan he is going to deliver the paper work to me and then the student will pick it back up at his store. One must be creative when one is grounded...

Well, it is time for Ozzie to go out so I will close for now!

Today's picture is in honor of my last day of skating. This is what Jody looks like off drugs. Well, actually I look like this on drugs as well...

I went to bed early last night. It was a good thing because my system went into hyperdrive at 11 pm. My heart was just racing and my feet itched and felt dry. So, I got up and headed for the couch with my lotion. I covered my feet with foot cream and propped myself up to wait out the little surge of adrenaline. I was so tired, my body just wouldn't let me sleep. I did finally fall asleep on the couch and woke up at about 4 am and went back to bed.

Today my heart rate is about the same with my blood pressure dropping a little. It was 95/50. Today is the last day I can take my florinef which is what keeps my blood pressure up. So, the real challenge (as if the last few days have not been challenging enough!) will begin tomorrow!

Dan is home today so he will be driving me to the ice skating rink. This will be my last day there. Then I just need to get my stuff layed out to pack and get all the other trip details organized.

I thought this picture could pretty much sum up this coming week! And it's cute.

My heart rate is up to 133 today while standing. I am pacing myself with activity mixed with laying flat and periods of sitting. Even sitting is getting a little difficult, but I am still able to do it.

I will be going into town today so I am being very careful with my activities this morning.

Well, I made it to choir practice and we sang a choir special during the AM service. My first one! When we finished I was out of air. Katie and Dan helped me off of the stage. Wow, it is tough without my atenolol. My heart rate is running anywhere from 100-120 with just standing.

I did not make it back to church this afternoon for choir practice or church. I'm just now starting to feel like I can sit up without that chest heaviness and chest pain that started today. I probably shouldn't have sang this morning, but it was worth it.

Now, I'm conserving energy for some things that I've got to do tomorrow. Like my awards ceremony at the City of Casper for my 10 years of service. I also have some things to finish up at Interim before I totally become horizontal :)

I survived today. I did pretty well this morning. I became a little short of breath at skating today when I used my arms. But overall I did pretty well. I ran a quick errand on the way home walked in the door and boy oh boy was I just exhausted. I can really tell my heart rate was running high. Anyway I sat down to do some book work and couldn't keep my eyes open. I really crashed hard, like from 2pm to 6pm!!! Sound asleep.

Well, I better call it a day. Tomorrow is a very busy day and I'll need every once of energy that I can muster to get through it.

Wow, what a great and busy day I had. Very busy today with trying to get as much in as possible before I stop my meds. No nap today. ( I fixed breakfast this morning and made Dan's lunch, cut music x2, was at the rink from noon to 1, then to Interim, then back to the rink for two more lessons, then to tan, got the mail and home by 6:3oish. And I felt good the whole time. It's almost 9 now and I'm just now starting to get a little fatigued. It's nice to have such a good day!

Last night I spoke at the Ladies meeting at church. We had a really fun time. I spoke on organizing your prayer life.

No meds tomorrow... I hope I have a couple of days before I really start feeling bad. I need to get some things done Sat, Sun, Mon and Tuesday if I can pull it off.

Well, not much else to report for today.

Well, it is getting closer. Dan reminded me that I really needed to start getting things ready to go this week, before I stop my meds on Saturday. I kind of messed myself up. I had planned on doing skating right up until the day I left so that I would only miss two weeks worth of classes. But, I forgot that without my meds I am pretty incapacitated. I'm so frustrated. I'm not sure how many days I'll have after I stop taking my meds, so I don't want to cancel things and then feel fine. But, I also don't want to stand people up at the last minute.

I guess I just need to chill out and let this next week go. They just have to manage without me.

Today is going pretty well. My blood pressure is a little low, 94/60. Yesterday my blood pressure was 110/?. So much better.

Strange day today. The wind was howling and howling and blowing all 8 inches of snow everywhere but where we wanted it.

I slept in today as Dan was off. Then fixed breakfast and kept going and sorting through piles and putting things away. All the things I don't do when I have little energy or a brain to sort.
I did lay down this afternoon before I went into the ice rink and slept hard for about 45 minutes. Then off to the rink.

I went home fixed supper and worked on a grocery list for Dan to go shopping tomorrow. He is off tomorrow. Don't ask me why. Anyway, he is going to drop me off for my dentist appointment and then go to Sam's.

Well, I am very, very tired tonight. I spent most of the afternoon being extremely anxious and just generally cranky as all of my nerves seemed to be on overdrive. My fight or flight reflex was definately on overdrive and I was a jittery mess. Now, I'm just left with exhaustion.

Well, we had about 8 inches of snow and enjoyed a quiet and peaceful "windless" day today. I had to skate today. One of the other instructors had a funeral so I subbed for her classes.

I was really, really dragging by the time I left the ice rink. I could feel myself getting foggy. I met up with Dan and we had supper out and we spent enough time that my fog finally cleared and then we headed home.

I feel really good right now.

Pretty good day today. Made all the church services and both choir practices. And I got a two hour nap.

The wind stopped. Which means, yes it is snowing! Big huge pretty flakes.

Tomorrow a friend from church is coming over to help me clean up the house a bit and then I skate tomorrow afternoon. I am subbing for another teacher.

The wind is still horrible. I sure wish it would snow again so the wind would stop!

A little slow getting started this morning. I took a nap before going into skating. By the time I got into town I was feeling pretty good and continued to feel good all day. I left skating after 3:30, stopped to get the car washed (I had to wait in line) and went home and started working on supper. I didn't even lay down for a nap. Usually after skating I have to lay down before I can start fixing supper, but I didn't need to.

I am starting to get tired now. Supper is done but I still need to clean up the dishes and get supper in the crock pot for tomorrow night. We are doing a very full day tomorrow and not sure if I can do it or not, but we are going to try and see. (With the two extra choir practices in addition to the regular Sunday school and church services.)

Oh, and I still need to take a shower. Ever since Wednesday Dan really wants me to shower when he is at home. Hmmm, I just looked back at my blog and noticed that I didn't document my Wednesday shower experience. Well, I got in the shower and couldn't get out when I was done. Not a big deal, I was just too fatigued to stand up and get out of the shower. So, I just sat in there on my bath bench with the towel wrapped around me and rested up for about 20 minutes until I felt like I could stand up without passing out. As I was sitting in there I thought even one of those emergency buttons would not have helped because you can't wear those in the shower. Any how, it all turned out fine, but Dan is just a little paranoid now.

Oh the wind the wind!

I over did it today (Friday). I had to be at the ice rink at noon. My 45 minute lesson became an hour lesson and then I went to subway to get a sandwich and headed to Interim to see if I could get some charts audited. I wound up being there until 5. My brain just started going slower and slower and the fatigue kept getting worse. I really hate the brain fog!

I called Dan at work and he asked me if I was okay to drive home because I sounded so tired on the phone. I said yes. He said just go home and lay down, I'll bring supper home. What a sweet heart he is. So, we had a wonderful roasted turkey breast and broccoli salad from the deli.
I'm going to bed early. I am so very exhausted.

My morning started off a little rough. My fault, I forgot to take my beta blocker last night and my heart rate was 120 when I got up this morning. So, after Dan left for work I layed down and let my medicine kick in. Then I started feeling much better.

The wind stopped!!!!! Granted we received quite a bit of snow over night, but I will always take snow over the wind any day!

All and all, after I got my heart rate down this morning, I had a pretty good day. No naps this afternoon. I had an appointment for a haircut at Noon then I made it to Sam's and Walmart (I bought one thing at each store). And then headed home.

We are trying to tie up all of our loose ends before we go. Wow, there seems to be more and more everytime I turn around.

I'm very nervous about being off of my atenolol for 11 days. I loose so much ground without it. But, it must be done. Dan is already planning on using wheel chairs at the airports. (He just likes to run people over). I know that the Lord will take care of me, but I wonder how many things I'm going to have to cancel here at home before I leave. I know, I just need to wait and see what happens.

Dan made it to work yesterday. He was pretty wore out when he got home and went to bed early.

I don't feel so well today. Not exactly sure why. Not a good standing up day.

The wind is really, really blowing today. We have already had 62 mph gusts, they are saying it could get up to 70mph.

I did get the Christmas tree taken down yesterday and put away. Then I went to skating, I was just dragging. Dan and I are quite a pair!

Long day today, but we both did pretty well. Dan is so wiped out tonight. This is his first day of being up and dressed all day. He finally made it to church today.

We went to Sunday School, Church, home to rest and then back to church early for, get this, Choir practice for me! Then evening church and a meeting after chuch for the workers.

Yes, today during the AM service I sat in with the choir, I was so nervous. They have a special stool for me to sit on (it's even padded) while I am singing and practicing. When I sang in college my voice teacher made me sing soprano (the very high notes) and I hated it! So, I get to sing alto in the choir. I'm very happy about that and I'm still a little nervous. I haven't sang since college. Everyone has been very nice and I haven't hit such a bad note that they have knocked me off of my stool! But, it is a lot a lot of hard work. I'm not sure if I can physically do it, but I will give it my best try. They practice Sunday mornings at 9 am before Sunday school starts and then again at 4:15pm before the evening church service. We will see. With my disorder, I am not supposed to be able to sing. (high heart rates cause shortness of breath) But, I'm pretty stubborn.

So, wow, what a long day.

Tomorrow I have my doctor appointment with my cardiologist before I go to Nashville.

Dan is doing better. He will proabably return to work next week. Ozzie is feeling much better today (he had the pukes yesterday).

I'm doing pretty good. I think we have everything arranged for our trip to Nashville.

The wind is still blowing and blowing...

Dan doesn't have pneumonia, just some fluid in his lungs from the bronchitis. He is doing better with the codeine cough syrup. He was able to do a little more today.

I'm not having a very good day. I'm just wiped out and feel very orthostatic. No skating today, but I do have AWANA's tonight at 6:30, sure hope I snap out of this.

I'm going to take another nap right now before I have to get ready to go to town.

Dan is still not doing well. He went and had a chest x-ray today. They don't think it is full blown pneumonia but will have the radiologist read the x-rays tomorrow and we will know more. Dan's own doctor, a PA actually, says the antibiotic he is on is top of the line. He did prescribe some cough medicine with codeine!! Praise the Lord for that!!!!!

My blood pressure was low again this morning, 88/56. So, I cancelled my noon appointment. I filled up on fluids so that I could go to town for my 4:00 lesson and 5pm class. I did pretty well. My blood pressure is still in the low 90's this evening.

Dan keeps saying what a pair we are!

I got Dan to a doctor today. Really, really nice guy. Walked into the room and said, "You sound like crap". I agreed of course. His lungs sound junky and he definately has bronchitis and a sinus infection. He is very close to pneumonia if he doesn't start to improve in the next 24 to 48 hours or starts to get worse he is to get a chest x-ray pronto! So, He was started on antibiotics, a cough supressant and some meds to thin his secretions so that he can cough them up easier.

I'm hanging in there. Feeling better today than I have felt in the last couple of days. I was able to go to Sunday school and both church services.

Some chest pain later this evening, but maybe I just over did it.