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CLICK HERE BARB'S PAGE - POTPOURRI
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Stained glass hanging in Barb's window done by daughter Jeanne September
6, 2004---I'm getting along just fine. Still have the breathing
problems but they will probably always be with me as long as it's
so humid out. I stay in where it's air-conditioned. Still have to
take 4 breathing treatments a day to keep the airways open. I'll
be glad when cold weather gets here. Winter air is usually pretty
dry. The moisture is frozen so we aren't breathing water, just cold
air. At our ages, I guess we all have problems. All we can do is
just grin and bear it. I'm not on the oxygen anymore. Haven't been
for quite sometime now. Breathing has improved to the point where
I didn't need it any more so I called the Dr. and he had the Oxygen
unit removed. It was costing me $54 a month to have it sitting here. August 14, 2004--All these medical conditions we all are contracting seems to be tickling my funny bone. The more I hear about us, the funnier it gets and the more I laugh. I guess that's our old age setting in too. My atrocious sense-of humor. My Pastor says that's the way I cope. I figure this way. There is no way we can stop any of this so we might as well accept it and turn it into a laughing joke instead of a crying tragedy. Right??????? Keep me posted. luv BARB August 13, 2004--Dr.s office called this afternoon with the results of the tests they did at the hospital the other day. Diagnosis: Ulcers.....................Gotta go to the office Monday to see about meds. Some more damn drug bills. I had no idea I had ulcers. I did have a gnawing in my stomach once in a while but I figured it was because I was hungry. Eating stopped it. Wasn't that bad anyways. When it rains it pours and I'm drowning. They also said I have to go get my esophagus reamed out again. I knew that was coming too, cause I've been having trouble swallowing again. Will keep you posted. Hope everyone else is OK. luv BARB August 10, 2004---Had to go to the hospital this morning for an UPPER GI and a breathing test. The GI showed some acid reflux disease so will be on meds for that. I didn't stick around for the results of the breathing tests so I'll get those when I return to the Dr.s office for an assessment. I have a couple more Dr.'s appt's for various reasons. I am feeling much better though, so something is working. I still can't stand it outside when it gets real humid but that will clear up as soon as it cools off and fall sets in. My breathing is definitely better so the treatments are working. luv BARB August 3, 4004------It is so hot and humid in this state of Ohio right now, I can't spend more than 2 or three minutes, at the most, outside. My Pastor, who lives next door, gets my mail and my newspaper for me and brings it to me. He doesn't want me out in these conditions. At last count, I have appointments with seven different Drs. in various places for various reasons. They start next week and end on December 29th, 2004. Isn't that just a crock? My trachea is filling with mucous and causing breathing problems again. They think the esophagus is plugging up again, making it hard to swallow. They also think I have some sort of gastric problem so it's " Drink the chalk time again." All this has upset me to point where I think I'm losing it. My memory comes and goes at it's own speed, which is caused by oxygen deprivation. I think part of it is because I can't get out and get any exercise. I'm on oxygen therapy. Don't need it all the time but use it at night so that when I sleep and the breathing decreases, I still have a good supply. The whole episode has sent me into a tizzy so now I'm on diazepam for anxiety. Other than that, I'm fine and dandy. lol luv ya BARB August 1, 2004--Hi Hope this finds you well and happy. I'm out of the hospital again and doing well. Hope it continues. Had a nice talk on the phone with Jerry Burdett yesterday. He's feeling better but is still a little on the sore side. I think he's a little like me, we are our own worst enemies. lol Have a complaint. It seems that a lot of the relatives are changing their e-mail addresses and not informing anyone. I have been trying to send out mail and find that the addresses are no longer correct. Reatha and Lois and Lord only knows who else. I can't write to hardly anyone without getting an "Unknown Address notification" The guilty parties need to get their butts on the stick and do it right. later luv BARB
I don't get out much because it is too hot and humid. The hot I can take but not the humidity. That's running around 70 to 80 percent and my lungs can't function right with breathing that much water. I'll be glad when October gets here and it cools down and the air dries out. I don't know if I'll make it to the reunion or not. I have trouble with the Florida weather too, if it's humid when I get there. Phil will have to keep me posted on the weather reports for that time so I'll know if I can go or not.
I have oxygen tanks and an oxygen machine here in my house. I don't
have to use them all the time, but when it gets hot and muggy they
get used, especially if I've had to go outside in the elements.
I also have a nebulizer. I put ampules of Albuterol and Iprotropium
together in the little nebulizer and breath the mist through a pipe
thing. I use it 4 times a day, and if it wasn't for that thing I'd
probably be dead. You've probably seen those apparatuses. Kids with
Asthma use them every day. I think that's the only thing that keeps
me going. Lois has to use one too. When I come to Florida, I'll
pack it all up in my suitcase and leave my clothes at home. Medical Update 4-16-2004 I
was in the hospital 5 days. I went in ICU Saturday and was in there
2 days. Then they transferred me to a regular bed. I had all sorts
of treatments; breathing and exercise to keep my muscles from deteriorating.
They did a pretty good job. They have me on all sorts of meds. I'm
feeling pretty well. Today I was able to walk around the yard. I
didn't have to have the oxygen. I didn't have to have it all night,
and so far haven't had to have it today. I'm taking it easy, not
exerting myself. I lost weight, about 30 pounds. My legs look like
sticks and I'm black & blue from all those IV's and all that
stuff. My hand above my wrist is coal black. They went down and
got all that scar tissue out of esophagus. It was all full of scar
tissue and webbing from years of acid reflux. That cleared up the
swallowing problem. Then it turned into the breathing prob. I can
eat good now. They say I don't have emphysema. I have exacerbated
COPD (chronic oppressive pulmonary disease). My lungs are damaged
and will have to be cleared out from now on on a daily basis. I
take four breathing treatments a day. I have all this medicine.
I got a prescription filled today . It cost $337 for a one month's
supply of 7 prescriptions. My daughter & granddaughter are in
the process of checking out possible help for me with the prescription
costs. You just tell everybody I'm not ready to kick the bucket
yet. 4-2-2004--Ended
up in the hospital again yesterday morning. Breathing apparatus
shut down again and couldn't breathe. I went in there day before
yesterday and was in there all day yesterday and most of today.
Massive breathing treatments and a lot of steroid and antibiotic
injections. I was well enough today to come home but 3 oxygen machines
came with me. One big one for in the house and two portables if
need to go out or drive somewhere. 3-7-2004---I
was back to the hospital in Toledo last Thursday. The Dr. said I
was much better and said I didn't have to go back for 6 months.
The breathing is much improved. I get winded pretty quick, but I
shouldn't be doing things that cause that to happen anyways. I still
have to take the breathing treatments twice a day and probably will
forever, because of the emphysema. 2-4-2004 Well, got thru all those tests today (2-3-04). They went up my nose into the back of my throat then on into my stomach with some kind of bendable metal probe. Looked like a miniature roto-rooter. Then I had to start swallowing. They'd give me a sip of water then say swallow. They were 60 centimeters down in there. They would pull it up 1meter, give me a sip of water and say swallow. This procedure was followed one centimeter at a time until they got the thing pulled clear out. When they got done they applauded me because I hadn't gagged. I laughed and told them "I was tough". lol Had another upper GI for another stomach check. Had to drink two big milk shake cups full of Strawberry Barium. I'll probably be a week getting rid of that. I won't know any of the results until I go back. I have another appointment Mar. 4 with a gastroenterologist. Will keep you posted. luv BARB Medical Report 2-2-2004 Will be going back to the Toledo Hospital in the morning for more tests. I still have problems swallowing and food doesn't go down right. My breathing is fine, unless I try to do something strenuous or I get a whiff of below 0 temperatures. I still have to take the breathing treatments twice a day but that's no problem. The problem is whatever is in my throat that I can't get out. I'm living on milk, ice cream and puddings. Can't eat any meat or veggies. I've dropped 20 pounds and look like death warmed over. They are going down inside tomorrow with some kind of instrument and take a good look at my stomach and anything in between. They seem to think that the stomach may be the culprit. I sure hope they find the problem. This is driving me crazy. Luv later BARB Barb
Burdett S 1-23-04 Friday
I'm much much better. They got me all put back together. I tried to eat, and the food wouldn't go down. All that scar tissue in my esophagus prevented it from going down into my stomach. When they ballooned the esophagus it fixed the whole thing. I still have emphysema, and I'll probably always have that. I have 70 % of my lung capacity that's OK. I have no trouble breathing now. All they had to do is get the windpipe cleared. I'm taking two breathing treatments per day. I have a nebulizer here at the house, and I put the medicine in that. I was at the doctor's yesterday, and he was really happy with the results. I'm slowly but surely getting my strength back. I'm here at the house doing stuff. It's too cold for me to go out. My lungs can't stand that ten below zero weather (Ohio). Now it has warmed up, and it's ten above. Last night they were predicting ten or twelve below. I don't go out more than I have to. I have to put a scarf around my face as I can't handle that freezing air in my lungs. When you live in this state you get used to that. My car got wrecked and is in the shop getting fixed. I'm driving a little rental. I was parked in a Wal-Mart parking lot just before Christmas. It was a busy day, and the parking lot was a mess, all ice. I pulled in and straight through to the next one so I wouldn't have to back out. While I was inside somebody didn't make it and smacked me on the left front fender. When I came out there it was, $1800 worth of damage. This was all going on while I was in the process of losing memory because of oxygen deprivation, and consequently I lost the insurance check. The insurance company stopped payment, and in about three or four days I had another check. My memory is getting better every day. The doctor said that when your body is oxygen deprived brain cells die. I was pale as a ghost; you could tell I wasn't getting oxygen. The doctor said probably the stuff I'll never recall isn't important anyway. I'm remembering more all the time. I don't get lost when I go to town anymore. I have to go 14 miles away to get bird seed, just a straight shot from where I live. When you get to the road where the place is you can see it. When I went to get feed just before I fell apart I got to the other side of the road from it, and I panicked. I was looking off to the right and I couldn't find it. I kept on going - I had brains enough to keep on going- meanwhile I was having a panic attack because I didn't know where I was. I finally found it. I did not like that. It was horrendous. It came on so gradual, it wasn't like one day I was OK, and then I wasn't. Now I realize that for months stupid things like that were happening. I would put my coat up, and I wouldn't know what I had done with my coat. When I was evaluated a pulmonary specialist was there from Toledo, and he had me transferred to Toledo Hospital, and they put an oxygen pipe on me, stuck the thing down my throat and did a bronchoscope. That was when they discovered I still had 70% of my breathing capacity. There's nothing wrong with my lungs. The esophagus goes all the way to your stomach. On each end it has a ring. Because of the scar tissue it was pressing on my windpipe. I couldn't eat or swallow, so I lost 17 pounds in two weeks. They put that balloon in my esophagus and opened up those rings. Now I don't have any problem eating at all. For awhile I was afraid to swallow thinking I was going to choke. I haven't gained any weight back which is good. I needed to do that. As far as they know…all that scar tissue in the esophagus was from years of acid reflux. I had heartburn all the time. I was eating Rolaids. Sometimes it would bubble up in my throat. Now they've got me on Prevacid which stops that acid reflux. I'll be on that maybe forever. I just take one per day. I finished the antibiotics yesterday. Jerry
(Burdett) called me yesterday and said he was doing really well.
I had read the riot act to him and didn't spare anything. When he
put that piece on Bryburcon.com and said he was doing all this shit
and complaining that he was hurting I told him he was his worst
enemy. Yesterday he called me, and I asked him if he was mad at
me for chewing him out, and he said no, I was right. He said he
is doing much better, that "when I got things to do I have
to do them." Friday
January 16, 2004--Too late this evening for a thorough breakdown
of events, but will give you a short synopsis. Zillions of tests
are done and over with. Feel like I've been run over by a bulldozer.
Have several problems to conquer, but with God's help and you guyses
prayers I think I'll make it. Have 70% of lung power left due to
emphysema. Not too bad. Some exercise when it warms up may help
that. The breathing problems have been diagnosed and improved. Esophagus
was eroded internally with scarring from acid reflux. It reduced
the capacity of food and liquid that it could carry. The rings at
the top and bottom were constricted which would not let the food
thru. Thus the problem with the swallowing. This caused the esophagus
to balloon out, push against the windpipe and shut off my breathing. Am being admitted to the Toledo Hospital around 11 a.m. tomorrow. Will be undergoing a lot of tests. Dr. expects me to be discharged on Friday. Only time and circumstances will tell for sure. Please pray for me and I'll get back here as soon as I can. luv you all BARB Jan 12-2004 Barb 1-11-04 I was in the Emergency Room again today having breathing problems. They gave me different medicines. I have an appointment Tuesday with the pulmonary specialist at Toledo Hospital. They're going to do a bronchoscope. I'll be in there about four days. They're going to see if they can find out what the problem is. My air tubes just close up. They have me on a lot of medicines, tranquilizers, you name it. My girlfriend Jean is staying here with me. The doctors say I have COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It closes up my windpipe. I don't breathe right. I get too much oxygen, not enough carbon dioxide or too much carbon dioxide and not enough oxygen. Asthma is something different although it is like it. I do not have asthma. I have a machine I put medicine in, and I have to breathe through a tube. I have bad lungs from working in a factory where I was grinding exotic metals: titanium, chrome, stainless steel, and nickel. They came out and give us a bunch of money, so we had no recourse with later problems since they already paid us off. I'm
out of the hospital, but I am suffering some problems caused by
oxygen deprivation. My memory is giving me fits. It comes and goes,
but I think it will be alright after some recuperation time. It's
simple things that I'm having trouble with. It has taken me over
a half hour to remember how to send you this picture. I am learning
that frustration is an enemy. If I get upset over it, it gets worse,
so I guess slowly is the secret. When I can't recall something I
put it out of my head as best I can, then go do something else.
Which isn't much, because I have to move like a snail to keep the
oxygen flowing. It eventually comes, but it is sure slow. The Dr
assures me that it will be OK after a while. I sure hope he's right.
Some of the medicine was causing problems, so that had to be done
away with. One was helping me, and the next was killing me. Doesn't
that make sense?????????????? Jan4,2004--Another 911 call last evening. Was in the emergency room for about 2 hours until they could get the breathing straightened out. Took 3 treatments to calm it down. Blood pressure was out of range, but it calmed down too as soon as I had some normalcy in the breathing. This morning I'm being able to cough some stuff up. Haven't been able to do that, that's why such congestion. Got some e-mil to read so see ya later. luv BARB HEALTH UPDATE January 2, 2004--Hi I think I told you about being rushed by the ambulance service last Monday evening. The emergency staff got me breathing again, got my blood pressure down as it was 280 something over 120. A little life-threatening. They sent me back home. Tuesday I was home all day. A little worse for wear but surviving. Wednesday evening it struck again, so back to 911. "Barely made it." Couldn't breathe. Body went into panic mode something fierce. I managed to get to the phone and called 911 again, and they were here in a flash. Got the oxygen going and kept me alive until I got to the hospital. Was in the emergency room all night. Constant supervision and vital taking. Nurse never left my side. This time they admitted me, and I just got home today. They did a great job fixing me up. Took very good care of me, and got me on the road to recovery. Today I had a Cat Scan because they found some big dark areas in my right lung yesterday when they took chest X-rays. The DR. thought it might be cancer. I told her flat out it was not cancer; it was scarring that developed 40 years ago when I came down with Histoplasmosis, commonly known as Parrot Fever. She wouldn't take my word for it, so made me undergo the Cat Scan. The X-ray tech confirmed my diagnosis today. The Dr. was stunned. Didn't even want to talk about it. lol I
had 8 prescriptions to get filled when I came out of there. Now
I'm using a nebulizer 4 times a day that puts proper medication
directly into my lungs. The final diagnosis was COPD, chronic bronchitis,
and emphysema. Looks like I'll be on this stuff for a long time,
probably the rest of my life. I'm not complaining tho. I'm sitting
here in front of this computer, and I could very easily be being
planted. I've made a New Years resolution to start keeping a closer
watch on what is happening and take better care of myself. CONVERSATION WITH BARB BURDETT 8/18/03 VIRGINIA:
Did I get all of the submissions that you sent on the website?
The
light is in the Parlor The
curtains frame the window There
are books upon the table If
I am not mistaken They
sit so close together The
clock upon the mantle The
light is burning dimly And
then I heard a whisper Subject: Just An 8th Grade Education Remember
when our grandparents, great-grandparents, and such stated that
they only had an 8th grade education? Well, check this out Could
any of us have passed the 8th grade in 1895?
******************************************** Geography (Time, one
hour) The
Poet I
know a poet May 10, 2001 Ladies & Gentlemen: I received my last copy of Better
Homes and Gardens today with all kinds of reminders attached, advising
me that this was my last copy and I needed to renew right away so
I didn't miss any exciting articles. This magazine contained 256 pages. Now, one last comment. With all
the advertisers who are paying you mega bucks to push their products,
you should be able to send your magazines out for free. Enough said. Sincerely,
This is the very first photo that hasn't been mine. lol This is one of 5 sample pictures that came in a photo program I have. I forgot I had it and today I was just browsing around inside my computer and ran across them. I thought that it just looked so delicious, I just had to send it on. You just have me wondering now if I could take one that would look so good. The next time I buy some berries I'll try it. That picture in reality is not that big. I blew it up some. You can see the hair on it. Lol Barb 7-2-02 THE WEDDING PLANNER Guess who Aunt Jesse was……lol It got me a big fat A. Barbara
Slaughterbeck A sense of humor can make a difficult situation easier to bear. The following story is a case in point. Several years ago, I was invited to a nephew's wedding. A small, rather informal affair, it was to take place in the church next door to his parent's home. The happy couple had applied for the license several days before, but had to wait 3 days to pick it up. To expedite matters, the bride was to have her mother, who lived in the county seat, to pick up the license and deliver it to them on the day of the wedding. The big day arrived and prior to the ceremony, the minister and close family members assembled at the house while other friends and relatives gathered at the church. Disaster struck when the mother arrived without the necessary papers. A funeral-like silence fell over the entire house until one by one, suggestions began to surface. "Go get it," "Can't, the courthouse is closed," "Call the Judge," "he's out of town," "Go ahead with the ceremony and sign the papers Monday," the minister would not agree to that. Somebody had to do something. The wedding was already a half-hour late, the guests in the church we getting restless, the bride was in tears, the groom was embarrassed to death, and the people at the house were beginning to pace. Suddenly laughter was heard coming from the kitchen. Aunt Jesse, who had been sitting there quietly assessing the situation, had decided that this was really not such a calamity but was instead, a very amusing situation. She stood up and apologized for her behavior, but announced that she thought this was the funniest thing she had ever experienced. Soon, this brilliant lady had turned the tears into laughter and even came up with the most sensible solution. The minister presented the couple in the church, who together, offered the explanation and apology. They invited everyone to the party in the basement, where the cake and gifts were enjoyed by all. The real wedding took place on Monday, but Aunt Jesse didn't attend. She said she didn't need to see the parade because she had already seen the circus. This lady's tremendous sense of humor had salvaged a wedding and turned it into a memorable occasion. THE END THE SCHOOL BUS We
raised our kids in the country. They all graduated from the Lakota
Consolidated School District. My kids went to Jackson Liberty grade
school. Every kid in the district had to ride a school bus. One
day I received a complaint from the bus driver about the behavior
of my two girls? Upon investigation I decided that the bus driver
was a little touched in the head and told him so. He told me how
unruly all the kids on the bus were. I told him that if he couldn't
handle them he should quit and give the job to someone who could.
To make a long story short, he quit and I took the job.
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