These past few weeks of crazy heat got to everyone. I didn't want to be outside, it was too sticky, thanks to the humidity. I used my a/c more these past weeks than I have in all my time living in my house.
I gave up trying to have a green lawn. Grass is turning brown like many lawns, but those damn elm trees keep growing and are GREEN! I didn't buy flowers for pots this year or plant any tomatoes or peppers.
The heat has definitely caused problems, the drought is taking it's toll on everyone. To the west and northwest of us, there have been many, many wildfires. We had lots of that smoke for quite some time. Along with the forecast we would get updates on air quality, with warnings for those who are elderly, have breathing issues like asthma and those with compromised immune systems.
Just from going from car to work and back, car to radio station and back or trips to the store, I got a lot of smoke. My voice was cracking bad. Trying to do radio or answer phones at my other job was hard. I had coughing attacks and sounded terrible, plus I am more tired than usual.
This week it has gotten worse. I wake up multiple times at night with a coughing fit that brings tears to my eyes and my throat hurts bad. So I reached out to my oncologist and my primary care provider.
Thursday my doctor had me come in. However, because I have a cough, I had to wait outside and go in an employee entrance to avoid others in the waiting room. A masked patient tech took my vitals, my blood pressure was high, but not as high as it has been. She said she would have a nurse recheck it in about 5 minutes. Nurse, in a mask, comes in and rechecks, it is still high, but I tell her with me being on Avastin, it raises the blood pressure.
After waiting a bit, here comes my doctor, in what I call hazard wear. She had on a blue plastic gown, gloves, face mask and face shield. Because of my cough, it was unknown if I picked up Covid. As I listed my symptoms the doctor thought it could be strep. So I got tested for both. She told me I would have results by 5pm. I had to throw out the first pitch at the Bismarck Larks game, as it was COOL 98.7 Night. And if I had either I would need to find a replacement for that and for work the next day. Luckily both tests came back negative. I have cough syrup to take at night and a week of steroids to try to calm the throat inflammation.
It continues to amaze me, the amount of things that effect me now. Heat and humidity, when I used to to like to be out in the heat. I would be outside in a lawn chair with a book and a cold beverage in the heat of the day. Not anymore. Oh well.
I am so happy we currently have blue sky and can see the sun. I pray for rain, not just for us, but for all those dealing with fires.
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