#217 A NEW STORY

#217 A NEW STORY

This post is about what has happened to us in the past month. There’s a little about travel, but not much about photos. First the travel. We had planned a 14-day trip to New Mexico for the end of September and beginning of October. Most of our time would be spent in non-handicapped rooms (hotel and timeshare). It was the best we could get. We decided we needed to take a short trip (two days) to the coast to see if we could make non-handicapped rooms work for me. We stayed at Newport in the Hallmark Resort. We discovered two things. First, with difficulty we could make the non-handicapped accommodations work. Second, we found out the rest of our long trip was badly planned. Among other things I noted that I had planned far more driving than we could reasonably do, that I had planned far too many activities, and that I didn’t leave enough rest time during the trip. When we got home from the beach we reluctantly cancelled our New Mexico trip. Back to the drawing boards.

One of the things I probably brought home with us from Newport was an uninvited guest, Covid-19. I’d had Covid before—a mild case helped by anti-viral meds. This case is different. We had planned to get a booster before NM, but didn’t plan for Newport. Also, my Parkinson’s is much more developed than before. The current Covid variant, Covid-19 KP 3.1.1, has the affect of worsening Parkinson’s Disease non-motor symptoms, such as sleep disturbances, cognitive function, mood and appetite disorders, and pain, especially pain. Besides not being able to take the anti-viral drug that is available in my area, I have the runny nose, low-grade fever, and hacking cough of Covid. I also have new sore muscles and joints (a Parkinson’s symptom I didn’t have before) called Rigidity. But Covid just keeps on giving.

A few days ago I was feeling particularly poorly and for the first time since testing positive I took my vitals. I discovered my heart rhythm, which had been under control since late 2018, was out of whack. I was again in atrial fibrillation (a form of heart failure) with a heart rate steady at more then twice my normal resting rate. After three hours in the ER, three lab tests, an EKG, a chest X-ray, and consultation with my cardiologist, it was decided to do a cardioversion (use of quick, low-energy shocks to restore regular heart rhythm). The procedure wasn’t very comfortable, but did succeed in getting my heart rate stable at the correct rate. Thank you, Covid!

I’m recovering now, though I still have to sleep sitting up in my recliner (laying in bed stimulates the cough). Now Anne has tested positive and is feeling quite rotten—she just started taking anti-viral meds. The lessons this experience leaves me with are stay up to date with Covid, flu, and other vaccines; take Covid seriously, and test plans before you commit. STAY SAFE, friends.   

PHOTOS

Thanks for reading this far into this post. I hope these few nostalgic views (from old files) of the past add some brightness to your day. 

From my 2010 File

Osprey nest near Mt Angel, OR

From my 2012 File

Scott's Mill, OR

Fall Creek Falls in the fall

Mt Hood Scottish Games

From my sled dog racing days 1970-1984. These are pictures of me and my team racing or training, They were taken by friends or professional photographers,

We trained mostly on gravel roads.

Sister's Race

Start of the Beaver Marsh Race.

Start of the 2nd day of the Oregon Mail Run--not a race, but a commemorative 72-mile run through the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. The trail was through dunes, beaches, creeks, and rivers.

Tired, muddy Attica.

A training run of 4 miles at Pistol River, Oregon.

NOTE: Thanks for being patient with my lack of creativity. It's been an exhausting time.