June 22, 2018

June 9, 2018

 As I mentioned in another post I had an appointment with Dr. Brewer, my Osteopathic Doctor who recommended I do a home sleep study and a complete Pulmonary Function test.

 Dr. Brewer said that he did not see anything serious from the Pulmonary study but that I do have some COPD in the form of emphysema, probably caused by my years of cigarette smoking.  For that he prescribed an inhaler that I will be using daily.

 The results of the sleep study showed that I have severe Sleep Apnea and Dr. Brewer recommended that I start using a continuous positive airway pressure therapy (CPAP) machine.  Because I travel full-time he ordered one from Lincare, a nationwide company. The office here in Bend will be my “home office” where I will order any supplies I will need..  On Thursday I went to their office to pick up my new ResMed AirSense 10 Autoset machine.

 I used the machine for the first time last Saturday night.  I have been told that it will take some time adjusting to using the machine and they were right but, when I did get to sleep I slept soundly.  Since I sleep on my side I may have to get a different pillow that doesn’t interfere with the full-face mask.  I have an app on my phone that downloads my sleep information from the CPAP.

 On the 5th one of my best friends Donald Johnson past to his reward in Fairfield, CA.  Don, a retired Air Force Master Sergeant and the father of my ex-wife Susanna, was one of the finest men I have ever met.  He was a kind gentle soul who loved his family and lived his life to the fullest.  Rest in peace Don.  I will miss you for the rest of my life.

Don and Michelle

 On the 6th I celebrated my 70th birthday.  I can hardly believe that I am that I have made that many trips around the sun but I do hope I have many more in my future.

  Yesterday we did some shopping for tires for our Honda CRV here in Bend.  Costco has Michelin’s on sale for $70 off of four and plus $60 off if you use the Anywhere card.  A good deal.

June 11, 2018

 Here is our itinerary for our travels to Texas in the fall:
   
    September:
    1-3: Memaloose State Park, OR (Columbia Gorge)
    3-5: Hermiston, OR (visit friends)
    5-10:  Rick & Patty Stills RV Park, Rathdrum, ID
    10-11: Missoula, MT
    11-15: Columbia Falls, MT (Glacier National Park)
    15-16: Lolo, MT
    16-20: Challis, ID (Sawtooth Mountains)
    20-21: Idaho Falls, ID
    21-24: Hill AFB, UT
    24-27: Spanish Fork, UT (visit friends in Payson, UT)
    27-28: Fort Bridger, WY
    28-29: Rawlins, WY
    29-2 Oct: Casper, WY (visit Joyce’s sister & family)
    October:
    2-4: F.E. Warren AFB, Cheyenne, WY
    4-7:  Not sure yet.
    7-9: Amarillo, TX. (visit friends)
    9-13: Altus AFB, OK
    13-14: Haskell, TX
    14-17: Dyess AFB, Abilene, TX
    17-21: Waco, TX
    21-23: College Station, TX. (visit George H. W. Bush’s Library)
    23-24: La Grange, TX
    24-28: Goliad, TX (visit friends)
    28-1 Nov: Aransas Pass, TX
    Nov 1 thru Feb 2019, Hidden Valley RV Park, Von Ormy, TX., just outside San Antonio.

 If anyone reading this is close to where we are going to be please set us know.  We’d love to see you.

June 16, 2018

 I’ve been using my CPAP machine for over a week now and have not found getting use to it as had as some folks led me to believe it would.  The really hard part was finding a position for my pillow that worked with the full-face mask.  Well, that didn’t work out so good so Joyce ordered me a pillow made specifically for use with CPAP machines.  I am not finding the CPAP Pillow as comfortable as I did the My Pillow I have had for a couple of years but I hope it works out.

 We’re starting to get very busy here at Tumalo.  The park is full almost every night now and we think this will continue throughout the summer with most of the arrivals having made a reservation.  The times of just showing up and expecting to snag a campsite in most Oregon State Park’s, especially in the summer are gone.

 I finally got the results of my new VA claim the other day.  I filed asking the VA to rate me for four things; a broken nose, sinus problems and sleeping and breathing issues.  The VA combined the sinus and breathing issues and awarded me a 30% disability rating for sinusitis.  So, I am now 60% disabled overall but will only get paid for 50%, the magic number for retired military folks.  The reason that I will not be paid for the whole 60% is due to the way the VA combines percentages.  Read more about that here:  https://www.benefits.va.gov/compensation/rates-index.asp#howcalc

Nice pic of Abigail and Skyler

Until next time.

Barry & Joyce