It is nearly lunchtime.  I will try to complete this blog post today. It is -11 C at the moment.  The forecast for the rest of the day calls for continued clouds with a 60 percent chance of light snow. The wind will be southwest at 20 km/h gusting to 40 becoming light this afternoon. High minus 8. The wind chill is minus 20 this morning and minus 13 this afternoon. UV index 2 or low.  Apparently, the forecast temperature for early next week is +9C. These fluctuating temperatures are not kind to my old bones.  

The last week has been free of blood work or doctor’s appointments.  I saw my cardiologist on February 28th for my routine 6-month check-up.  He assured me that my heart issues had not changed.  I am always so grateful when I hear that there is no change.  The CT scan of my lungs will take place on March 13th.  I am making an effort to not think about the scan and the result.

Insight, one of Australia’s favourite shows fearlessly delves into issues and host, Kumi Taguchi provides a safe space for ordinary people to talk to each other without judgment.  One subject discussed was the relationship between breast cancer and alcohol (wine) consumption. Alcohol consumption contributes to roughly 7,000 cancer cases each year in Canada. Most of those cases are breast or colon cancer, followed by cancers of the rectum, mouth and throat, liver, esophagus and larynx.  Before listening to the Insight documentary I did not know that there was a link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer.

I am hoping and praying that the CT scan scheduled for March 13th will finally give me some answers.  Living life with a breathing problem can quickly become a nightmare.  One issue that I have mentioned before is Pulmonary fibrosis. According to Google, this is a disease where there is scarring of the lungs called fibrosis which makes it difficult to breathe. This is because the scarring causes the tissues in the lungs to get thick and stiff. This makes it hard to absorb oxygen into the bloodstream.  According to the Mayo Clinic, the symptoms are as follows:

Symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis may include:

• Shortness of breath.
• Dry cough.
• Extreme tiredness.
• Weight loss that’s not intended.
• Aching muscles and joints.
• Widening and rounding of the tips of the fingers or toes, called clubbing.

Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis is another concern.  I have previously written about this as well.  My lung specialist ordered the upcoming CT Scan to confirm or deny a diagnosis of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis.  All I can do at this point is think positive thoughts and hope and pray for a good outcome.  According to the American Lung Association Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is typically divided into two types based on how long you have been affected and how severe your symptoms are.  An attack of acute hypersensitivity pneumonitis usually occurs four to six hours after a short period of intense exposure to the substance you are allergic to. You may feel as if you have caught the flu when an acute attack occurs. Common symptoms include fever, chills, muscle aches, headache and cough. These symptoms may last for as little as 12 hours to a few days and will resolve if further exposure is avoided.  Chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis develops after numerous or continuous exposures to small amounts of the allergen. Symptoms may include shortness of breath, tiredness, coughing that lasts weeks or months and weight loss that gets progressively worse. Over time, some people with chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis develop clubbing of fingers and toes and irreversible pulmonary fibrosis.

Painting of the Zachariasfeld, Estate located in South Russia.