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Clinic – Fall 2012

October 19, 2012 10 Comments

I just got back from clinic and had another great visit. Basically, my numbers are up, so if you’re a busy person and that is all you need to know, move along with your day. I wish I could, but the rest of you want details, right? Right?!

The big number: FEV1: 42% – yes, my favorite number. Those of you with better memories than me will know that’s also what I blew in March before we started doing foster care and after I’d started doing daily walks and runs. Then I blew a 38% in June after a full 7 weeks of fostering. I was wiped and had come off a cold. I’m still recovering from the life change of Grandpa’s funeral, the 2,000-mile drive, and lots of hours worked to afford to take that time off… and the cold Boy gave us again.

2012-10-19_PFTs

Other stats of note: my weight was a whopping 126.4lbs – up from 123 in June and several dips into the teens since then – and my gut was proudly rounding over my pants. My O2 was 96%, which is the minimum I’m satisfied with.

Three neat stats from my PFTs are:

  • My FEV1 volume is higher than in recorded history at 1.53L
  • My small airways (25%-75%) are higher than ever in percentage and volume: 0.69L, 17% (13% is my norm).
  • My PEFR (peak expiratory flow rate – or “how fast can you blow, like peak acceleration in a car”) is also higher than ever in both percentage and volume: 5.98L/s, 70%.

Before I got out of there, I got my requested flu shot, tetanus vaccine, and pneumonia vaccine. I expect to feel like crap any hour now, so I’m going to finish up a small project, get my pay “for the day,” and rest while Boy takes a nap.

  • Kristi Bowers

    Thank you for sharing! We have missed interacting with you via FB. Keep in touch!

    • http://www.cffatboy.com/ Jesse Petersen

      Join the superior Google+ – don’t say your friends are all on FB, bring them with you. ;-) Many of us are there, as is my Fatboy page.

      I’ll make my CF circle public.

      • Kristi Bowers

         I am being so stubborn with google. I tried it and it was boring and weird. If I go back, then its just another thing to have to check. Maybe I will come over again soon. I don’t know :)

        • http://www.cffatboy.com/ Jesse Petersen

          Read my recent post on it. More coming.

          Like FB, it is what you make it – if your friends suck, FB sucks. Same on G+.

  • Dad

    Great numbers, Jesse!!! Especially after what you’ve been going through.

  • http://twitter.com/RunSickboyRun Ronnie Sharpe

    Great job Jesse. Keep up the good work!

    • http://www.cffatboy.com/ Jesse Petersen

      Thanks, Coach.

  • Mark

    Fantastic!  So happy for the great results!  Wonderful news.   We need results like this at least every once in awhile to help motivate us! 

    Mark

    • http://www.cffatboy.com/ Jesse Petersen

      The thing about results from the doctor (w/ me, at least), is that they give me permission to feel how they say. If I’m run down and they say my numbers are down, I take it easy because I feel worse. If my numbers are high, then I’m invincible.

      The cool thing is when it’s like now. I feel like crap, but these are my best numbers ever, so I am feeling better now. I can do this. Foster parenting won’t be the end of me or appear to be taking years off my life like we were concerned about the last few weeks.

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