NOW...I can go to Germany

Our friend Gary just visited Germany and he took this photo. Yes, there's actually a Dunkin' Donuts in Berlin. NOW I can finally go visit Germany. :)

If you have Bronchitis - How Do You Treat it?

I went back and re-read the Emergency Room's discharge papers, and learned that the diagnosis was acute upper respiratory infection, asthma and BRONCHITIS! I've never had Bronchitis before, so I looked it up. Apparently the coughing can last up to TWO WEEKS. I've had it 10 days and I'm worn out with it. **IF YOU HAVE BRONCHITIS, HOW DO YOU TREAT IT?**
Here's what I learned about Bronchitis:
Bronchitis is an acute inflammation of the air passages within the lungs. It occurs when the trachea (windpipe) and the large and small bronchi (airways) within the lungs become inflamed because of infection or other causes.
* The thin mucous lining of these airways can become irritated and swollen.
* The cells that make up this lining may leak fluids in response to the inflammation.
* Coughing is a reflex that works to clear secretions from the lungs. Often the discomfort of a severe cough leads you to seek medical treatment.
* Bronchitis occurs most often during the cold and flu season, usually coupled with an upper respiratory infection.
You may see symptoms such as fever with chills, muscle aches, nasal congestion, and sore throat.
SYMPTOMS: * Cough is a common symptom of bronchitis. The cough may be dry or may produce phlegm. Significant phlegm production suggests that the lower respiratory tract and the lung itself may be infected, and you may have pneumonia.
* The cough may last for more than two weeks.
* Wheezing may occur because of the inflammation of the airways. This may leave you short of breath. (Albuterol is recommended, and I NOW have it).
GETTING BETTER: Although most cases of bronchitis clear up on their own, some people may have complications that their doctor can ease.
WHAT TO TAKE:
# Acetaminophen (Feverall, Panadol, Tylenol), aspirin, or ibuprofen (Motrin, Nuprin, Advil) will help with fever and muscle aches.
# Drinking fluids is very important because fever causes the body to lose fluid faster. Lung secretions will be thinner and easier to clear when the patient is well hydrated.
# A cool mist vaporizer or humidifier can help decrease bronchial irritation.
# An over-the-counter cough suppressant may be helpful. Preparations with guaifenesin (Robitussin, Breonesin, Mucinex) will loosen secretions; dextromethorphan-the "DM" in most over the counter medications (Benylin, Pertussin, Trocal, Vicks 44) suppresses cough.
FULL ARTICLE:http://www.emedicinehealth.com/bronchitis/article_em.htm#Bronchitis%20Overview

Dolly Parton (my Fav) talks with CNN!

Dolly Parton is my all-time favorite singer, and has been an inspiration to me since I was a teenager on how to live my life- be ever the optimist, be outgoing, love everyone, and find the beauty in little things. That's what she taught me just by watching and listening to her. There was really no larger influence on my adult personality than Dolly. (I was a shy and quiet kid, believe it or not until I found Dolly on the radio and TV). Anyway, here's a new video interview: Dolly Parton talks with CNN.com's Reggie Aqui about the creation of her image, the secret to her long marriage and more. (Time: 11:47)

Most religious groups in U.S. lose ground

I found 2 articles in both USA Today and the Boston Globe interesting, that churches are losing people. I'm one of these people that left. After the way the Catholic Church (that I was devoted to for 44 years), and other religions from evangelical to Baptist to Mormon started pushing right-wing politics, and funding anti-gay marriage campaigns with HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of dollars, its no surprise people are leaving. That's why I left. Taking my money to fund hatred and exclusion is so hypocritical and hateful.
I CERTAINLY do believe in God. I see him everywhere. However, the man-made religions that teach us to worship him are corrupt. (Why? They're man-made!). If God is love, then we should simply love and help and be thankful and welcoming to all. No exceptions. Unfortunately, religions don't teach that and I think that's why they're losing members. Serves them right.
The percentage of people who call themselves in some way Christian has dropped more than 11% in a generation, detailed in the new American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS) to be released today. The faithful have scattered out of their traditional bases: The Bible Belt is less Baptist. The Rust Belt is less Catholic. And everywhere, more people are exploring spiritual frontiers — or falling off the faith map completely. FULL STORY IN USA TODAY: http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-03-09-american-religion-ARIS_N.htm?csp=DailyBriefing
The Boston Globe states "The American Religious Identification Survey, a national study being released today by Trinity College in Hartford, finds that the Catholic population of New England fell by more than 1 million in the past two decades, even while the overall population of the region was growing."http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/03/09/number_of_ne_catholics_tumbles/?p1=Well_MostPop_Emailed2

An "ER" End to the Flu

It was another night of coughing every 20 minutes, and virtually no sleep. The upper respiratory infection that seemed to ease yesterday returned with a vengeance last night, and left me gasping and ridding myself of unwanted congestion, but it never stopped. So, after breakfast this morning, I called my health plan, and notified them I'm getting treatment. I insisted that Tom stay home with the 3 dogs, so he could get work done in the backyard. Glad I did, as I was in the Emergency Room for over 2 hours.
I went to Bowie's local "ER" off Route 197. I had never been before, but it's an odd-ER not joined with a hospital (if you can imagine). They took me in immediately. I described what's been happening, and they asked me about Asthma. I DO have it, but it's been diagnosed as "mild." Apparently, it has NOT been "mild" with this flu or Upper respiratory infection.
They took chest x-rays to confirm no pneumonia, thankfully. Then put me on an Albuterol-laced nebuilizer in the ER for 25 minutes, which opened my lungs. They confirmed that by listening before and after the treatment. Before, the doc said "there's a lot of wheezing in your lungs," and after she said, "sounds like new lungs." They gave me a super-antibiotic, robitussin with codeine, and an albuterol inhaler, in addition to the sudafed PE, mucinex, and ibuprofen I'm taking. Wow. In 5 days more (making 12 total), this should be over.

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME STARTS TODAY!

AS OF TODAY MARCH 8, 2009 AT 2AM EST, WE'RE ON DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME.
Move your clocks forward one hour (or you should have at 2 a.m.)! The federal law that established "daylight time" in the United States does not require any area to observe daylight saving time (DST). But if a state chooses to observe DST, it must follow the starting and ending dates set by the law. Starting in 2007, it is observed from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November, adding about a month to daylight saving time.
WHO DOESN'T DO DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME?
Arizona (with the exception of the Navajo Nation) and Hawaii and the territories of Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa. They stick with Standard Time.
WE'RE NOT THE ONLY COUNTRY THAT USES IT:
More than one billion people in about 70 countries around the world observe DST in some form. Here are interesting facts about some of these countries: Most of Canada uses Daylight Saving Time. Some exceptions include the majority of Saskatchewan and parts of northeastern British Columbia. Mexico and the European Union also use daylight savings time.
SOME THAT DON'T - China. Some parts of Australia. In Japan, DST was implemented after World War II by the U.S. occupation. In 1952 it was abandoned because of strong opposition by Japanese farmers.

A 75 Degree Gift / Closer to Normal!

After a week of battling the flu and an upper respiratory infection today was a breakthrough day. Last night, I awoke 4 times and had to change my tee-shirt, which I sweated through (all 4 of them). That was my indication that my body was healing - and it was. By late morning, I had finally stopped coughing all the time, and had more energy than yesterday (I worked 7 hours from home yesterday). I'm still chock-full of penicillin, robitussin, sudafed PE and mucinex, but it's a vast improvement!
Today's Gift of 75 Degrees Fahrenheit helped a great deal, too. Even though I finally went out for the first time in a week (to Home Depot and CVS with Tom), I did need a nap. However, Tom took advantage of the weather, as he's been working on his outside "TO DO LIST" since November (when it turned cold). My contribution was laundry, making lunch and walking the dogs. Tom put edging on two garden beds, transplanted several plants, put down fertilizer and grass seed. I swear he loves mud. Here are some pictures from today.

The Kind of Flu That Knocks You Down

Several of you have been asking what my flu symptoms are, so you can see if you have the same flu. Like Tom's experience it starts with a tickle in the back of your throat, then headaches and body aches. Then your strength is sapped. I mean REALLY sapped. For the last 4 days while home sick, I had no interest in TV, Radio, or reading novels or comic books. That's serious.
Fortunately, Tom didn't develop an upper respiratory infection, which is why he went back to work on day #4. Unfortunately, I did. I've been trying to rid myself of "kryptonite" colored stuff from my chest for the last 4 days.
I'm working from home today, day #6, and chock full of penicillin, Robitussin, sudafed PE, Ibuprofen, and vitamins. I've likely brought the regional reservoir down by a foot with all the water I've drank.
I've not experienced anything like this in decades. I'm so grateful that Tom and I have each other during sickness and health and we have three doggies around us to hug when we're not feeling well. Oh, and ALL WEEK, all three dogs followed me everywhere and Dolly and Franklin cuddled with me on the bed. I didn't want to teach our foster-dog, Cooper any "bad habits" so he stayed on his bed beside ours.

High Pitch Feedback in Hearing Aid Causes Dog to get Defensive

My friend Chris is a hearing aid specialist in Orlando, Fla. He was interviewed about high pitches from the devices, because an 86 year old woman was attacked by the family's dachshund-(lab?) mix after the hearing aid fell to the ground and let out a sharp high-pitched tone earlier this week.
WHY WOULD THE DOG ATTACK THE SOURCE OF THE SOUND (i.e. the woman)? It's a natural reaction. People would do the same thing. What's worse for the canine is that a dog's hearing is MUCH more acute than in humans. So, if a high pitch irritates a human, it's magnified to a dog. Dogs are irritated by them, and some howl to cover it up, others try to stop it. I think this is the case with what happened with this little dog. The dog lunged at the source of the sound to get it to stop. Dogs only react to their environment. The dog is not responsible for naturally behaving in a manner to cease the piercing and painful noise. This is a good lesson for people with hearing aids to be aware of.
Here's the video: http://www.wftv.com/video/18847074/index.html

On Hold Due to the Flu

It's Wednesday, and day #3 of the flu for me, and it's a tough one. First the aches and pains and massive headaches. Then the tickle behind the throat that won't quit. Then the dry coughing. Then the congestion. Now an upper respiratory infection. It's not pleasant. Tom is still getting over it (day 6 for him now) and he's back at work. I need another day or two, but I wound up doing 2 hours of work on the home computer, so I thought I'd make a quick blog. Now it's time for more water, and back to bed.

Snow Pictures

While we stayed inside, both with the flu, we managed to get some pictures (with some assistance) of the snow and the dogs enjoying it.
RIGHT: From Left to Right, Cooper, Franklin and Dolly checking out the unplowed street in front of our house this morning.












RIGHT: Franklin, clad in a tee-shirt to keep him somewhat dry, decided to run up and down along the neighbor's fence, playing with their dog on the other side. He was soaking wet when he came inside anyway.















RIGHT: "Let Us In!!" - Cooper (Left) and Dolly (Right) didn't much care to be out in the snow. In fact, Cooper preferred to "hold it in" instead.








Here's what our house looks like covered with the snow from last night's and this morning's snow storm (thanks to a neighbor). We received about 5-6" of snow, with another 1-2" expected later. The winds will also be gusting to 35mph, so visibility will be poor (but "Fortunately?" we're both miserably sick with the flu. Timing is everything.)

Snow and the Flu

Overnight we received our first BIG snowstorm here in Maryland and it's still snowing at 9:30am. We have between 5-8" of snow on the ground.
Forecast Today: Occasional snow, mainly before 11am. High near 26. Blustery, with a north wind between 20 and 23 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Total daytime snow accumulation of around an inch possible. LIVE RADAR: http://radar.weather.gov/radar.php?rid=LWX&product=NCR&overlay=11101111&loop=yes The federal government is on a 2 hour delay, and my office doesn't open until noon... which is a GOOD THING. Here's why: I GOT TOM'S FLU LAST NIGHT. Yes, I had a rough night with little sleep, severe chest congestion and pain when coughing, headache and more. Tom's been sick for 4 days and is still getting over it. Now I've got it. Thaaaat's great. Not.