We’re talking about my lung, so I stretched and reached for that Tombstone quote, even though my lung issues have nothing to do with tuberculosis. (Definitely a stretch, but Tombstone is my all-time favorite and most re-watched movie. Let me have it!)
Today marks a bizarre anniversary. It was one year ago today that I accidentally inhaled a large vitamin caplet. That’s right. It’s been a year. On May 10, 2023, I aspirated a vitamin. The next day, I consequently developed aspiration pneumonia.
For those of you accompanying me on my path back from this absurd and inexplicable event, I’m here to share the latest. My recent CT scan – taken a month ago – revealed that I’m continuing to make progress. Some scarring remains, and there are some ongoing shenanigans taking place down there in my lung, but I’ve improved considerably.
Impressions copied/pasted from my CT scan report:
1). A stable 6 mm solid nodule versus nodular scarring in the right lower lobe.
2). Mild bilateral lower lobe bronchiectasis and multifocal mucous plugging in the right lower lobe.
3). Stable regions of chronic linear scarring and subsegmental atelectasis in the right lower lobe.
The reason why all of this damage is in my right lower lung lobe is that that is where shit goes when you inhale it. If you didn’t know, now you know.
My doctor encouraged me to give it time, because the situation at the beginning was “very, very bad,” and the COVID I had back in November likely impacted my recovery process. I should be patient as my lung continues to heal, she advised.
I’m not worried. We compared this CT scan with the one that was done a year ago, and the whole picture’s looking MUCH better. In the initial scan last year, my right lung lobe was so riddled with opacity that it lit up like a wayward Christmas tree.
Symptoms-wise, I still wheeze somewhat, though nowhere near as dramatically as before. I still sometimes struggle to take a deep breath, especially at night when I’m lying on my back, and also toward the end of my hour-long Body Combat workouts. To help with this, my doctor increased my Wixela inhaler medication dosage and instructed me to use it twice a day, morning and night, rather than just once. She also has me doing my Albuterol inhaler right before working out, so I can breathe comfortably throughout the hour. It’s been capital! I’m breathing easier during Combat, and thanks to my nighttime Wixela dose, I’m also getting to sleep a little bit faster.
It’s been quite the road. Along the way, I couldn’t have imagined what this one-year anniversary post would contain, and now here we are: I still have symptoms. I have damage. But the symptoms and the damage aren’t keeping me from doing anything, and that, my friends, is all that matters. As far as I’m concerned, this is my new normal, and I’m okay with it. Working out religiously 6x/week, I’ve managed to re-build my muscle mass while also getting back down to my normal weight of 110 lbs. (Fortunately, I’d only gained 12-ish lbs during the seven or so months I couldn’t exercise.)
In honor of this one-year, um, vitamin anniversary, I took some pics yesterday before and during my Combat workout.
First, earlier yesterday afternoon:
Okay, I took a bunch of selfies while sitting on the couch, and they all came out with red dots of light in my eyes. You know that I’m still too lazy to figure out how to edit photos. It’s whatever. Just know that I’m not possessed.
This brings us to these slightly awkward, cheesy, potentially cringey pics! Enjoy.
Arms, post-Body Combat:
Shoulders, post-Body Combat:
Forearms:
And the real stars of the show: Inhalers!
I’m supposed to be taking my prescribed Mucinex, as well, but I’ve been awful at that. Meaning, I haven’t taken it at all, and I don’t know that I will. I don’t feel that I need it, but you know what? It wouldn’t hurt to try it!
Okay, I’ll take the Mucinex. See, you guys help me out just by being here, by being a part of this experience. Your reading holds me accountable, and for that, I thank you.
Until next week, then, right?
[::holds up water flask for a water toast::]
Go forth in good health, my friends.