Medical Update

June 30, 2024, at home, medical update

PHOTO: breathing exercise

My podiatrist just made a house call this evening. The good news is that my blood infection is officially gone, as per two recent blood tests. However, I am still dealing with a bone infection in my right ankle due to a recent fracture, possibly from two not-so-recent fractures.

In April 2024, I had a surgical procedure in my right ankle: a bone biopsy, a deburring of the bone, and a draining of fluid, all by my podiatrist. I was on a six-week-long regimen of daily intravenous antibiotic infusions, but I ended that a few days early about two months ago due to breathing difficulty.

I still have a PICC line (midline?) Installed that enters a vein within the left side of my neck and goes through my veins, close to my heart. The other end exits the left side of my chest with two ports. The plan is for me to have my infectious-disease doctor remove the line, maybe tomorrow.

This evening, my podiatrist prescribed oral antibiotics. He also wants me to restart hyperbaric treatments to ultimately cure my infection. I have been dealing with bone infections (osteomyelitis) and skin infections (cellulitis) in both of my feet and my legs for many years due to diabetic ulcers within both of my feet. My ulcers have been healed for a while, but I do now have a wound in my right shin.

I have had four surgeries on my left foot in fairly recent years: one to remove part of a decayed bone; one to remove a joint and bone fragments; one to remove bone fragments and scar tissue a few days later; and one to remove a benign tumor that was growing within a diabetic ulcer.

I have fairly recently used the hyperbaric chambers for a few months. The treatments seem to help.

Overall, I am doing fairly well, other than the infection in my right ankle; severe edema in both of my legs and my feet; and breathing difficulty due to asthma and weak lungs. I need to reschedule a breathing test with my pulmonologist. Also, I have been doing breathing exercise to strengthen my lungs, and using prescriptions: a corticosteroid and a bronchodilator, as inhaled powder; as inhaled mist via a nebulizer; and as an aerosol device. I have also occasionally been taking an oral expectorant. I also use supplemental oxygen.

I endured six surgeries in about the last two years:

March 2022 - quadruple coronary artery bypass surgery, including removal of a vein in my left thigh
May 2022 - opened chest to remove sternal plates (that were holding my broken breastbone together) due to loose screws and also a staph infection
May 2022 - closed chest with seven sutures after about a week of my chest remaining open with a wound vacuum attached; wound vacuum then reattached
September 2023 - removal and cleaning out of an abscess/infection in a spinal disk
October 2023 - titanium metal rod attached to my spine due to a bone infection
April 2024 - a bone biopsy, a deburring, and a draining of fluid of right ankle due to a bone infection

(I also fairly recently had nasal/sinus surgery to remove eight polyps and to have my eight sinuses cleaned and expanded.)

Social Media Day

June 30, 2024, at home

Currently, I engage in two social media outlets: my Facebook account and my YouTube channel. I have been considering joining Donald J. Trump's social media platform: Truth Social.

Austrian Grand Prix

June 30, 2024, at home

I am watching live coverage of the eleventh race of the 2024 Formula 1 racing season. The Austrian Grand Prix is being broadcast on Sky Sports F1 (on a feed to ESPN). The race started at 3 p.m. local time (9 a.m., Eastern Time in the United States).

Below is a diagram of the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Styria, Austria. Each circuit (track) around the world has a different configuration, therefore a different dynamic, regarding turns and elevation fluctuations.

This season's 24-race schedule is as follows: Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Japan, China, Miami, Italy, Monaco, Canada, Spain, Austria, Great Britain, Hungary, Belgium, The Netherlands, Italy (different circuit), Azerbaijan, Singapore, Austin, Mexico, Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi.

The first two races this season (in Bahrain and in Saudi Arabia) were held on Saturdays due to the Islamic observance of Ramadan. All other races will be held on Sundays, as usual, except for the Las Vegas Grand Prix which will also be held on Saturday. 

Before each race, there are two days of practice/qualifying. The races run every week or every other week from March into December.

In Formula 1 racing, there are 20 (male) drivers, with one driver from the United States. There are 10 teams (with two drivers on each team), so not only do drivers compete against their rivals, but also compete against their teammates. There are two championships: one for the drivers and one for the constructor teams.

This season, as with last season, there are three races in the United States. In fairly recent years, there were no drivers from the United States and no races in the United States. 

Formula 1 racing is the only sport that I actively follow. I have been a fan for decades. I watched my first F1 race decades ago on television at the home of one of my many Austrian cousins while on vacation in Austria.

Baffling

June 29, 2024, at home

I am baffled as to why young women have ridiculously high standards in regard to men. Women have always been like this, but not as radical. Their collective feminine ego has blinded them. They rate themselves as 10s and then expect the less than one percent of men (the "high-level" men) to look their way. These men may look their way, but these men also have the privilege to look toward many other women.

The problem is, these self-professed female 10s are 5s at best, and the male 10s are not interested in them. Still, these women want their men to be at least six feet tall (only 14.5 percent of the male population in the United States) and earn at least $100,000 per year. The average salary in the United States is $59,384. Only about six percent of Americans earn an annual salary of $100,000 or more. Combine those two factors, and the percentage of men in both of those categories declines precipitously.

Today Is ...

June 29, 2024, at home

Today Is ...

June 28, 2024, at home

My father owned and operated an insurance agency for decades, from the 1960s into the 1990s. He specialized in automobile insurance and "property and casualty" insurance.

I studied insurance between my two university degrees (between January and September 1985).

My dad employed a guy who just did life insurance. I went to a Paul McCartney concert with him at Madison Square Garden in New York City in December 1989.

My father also owned and operated a real estate agency and a travel agency. My mother operated the latter.

NOTE: In 1991, I was an editor for a national monthly magazine for corporate insurance buyers based in New York City.

JUNE 28, 2024, AT HOME

TODAY IS INTERNATIONAL CAPS LOCK DAY.

June 28, 2024, at home

I have dabbled a little regarding logistics for some of my business/financial journalism gigs.

Today Is ...

June 27, 2024, at home

Bromelain, an enzyme in pineapple concentrated in the core, not only helps to digest proteins but also is an anti-inflammatory and an analgesic, especially effective in the sinuses and other soft tissues like the lungs. I used to chew on bromelain tablets in an effort to reduce inflammation in my sinuses. I finally had to resort to sinus surgery several years ago to remove eight polyps after oral and topical prescription steroids did nothing to alleviate my medical issue. All eight of my sinuses were also cleaned and expanded. I still occasionally use a corticosteroid nasal spray to prevent polyp recurrence.

June 27, 2024, at home

I prefer yellow onions, sautéed. I do not like shallots.

Pizza (From Scratch)

June 26, 2024, at home

This evening, my wonderful wife made this delicious pizza from scratch.

Pancake For Breakfast

June 26, 2024, at home

For breakfast this morning, my wonderful wife made for us this baked blueberry pancake in a cast-iron skillet. (not shown: butter, pure maple syrup, sausage patties, coffee)

A Personal Cannoli Story

June 26, 2024, at home

Today marks the second anniversary of what I am calling "The Almost Tragic Cannoli Incident." The following is my account on Facebook of what happened on that day two years ago today. I added more information within brackets for clarification.

***

A Personal Cannoli Story

June 26, 2022 - When my wife and my mother visited me here at my physical rehabilitation facility this late morning into early afternoon, they brought me a cannolo to cheer me up, which it did. I will ration it using intermittent bites. I thank them both for visiting with me.

After they went home, when I adjusted my bed with the remote control, the box holding the cannolo fell to the floor behind my bed and beyond my reach. A woman who works here retrieved the box for me. The cannolo was unharmed.

Shortly after that, I sent a text message to my wife, telling her about the falling cannolo. She and my mom felt bad, so my wife purchased two more cannoli [from her and my mom] and left them at the front desk. A woman who works here delivered them to my room. I thank them so much. It was quite a nice surprise.

Why I Am In Rehab

Prior to arriving at my rehab facility on June 3, 2022, I was in the hospital since May 13, 2022, enduring and recovering from two (more) surgeries last month.

I had quadruple coronary artery bypass surgery on March 9, 2022, and two plastic reconstructive surgeries in and on my chest in May 2022. For my surgery on May 19, 2022, my plastic reconstructive surgeon removed metal sternal plates from within my chest due to [loose screws and] an infection. [My chest remained open for about one week with an electric wound vacuum attached.]

For my surgery on May 25, 2022, he [actually a different surgeon] cleaned out the remaining infection from within my chest, and he partially closed my chest by first clipping off the tips of my ribs and then by reattaching my chest muscle flaps to my body.

My surgeon used seven spaced-out sutures to close the eight-inch-long, vertical incision in my chest initiated by my open-heart surgery in March 2022 and made worse by my two subsequent surgeries in May 2022, leaving me with seven [actually eight] holes in my chest to heal. My sutures (and wound vacuum) were removed on June 20, 2022.

While my pain has been constant, I continue to heal quite well. However regaining my strength has been next to impossible.

Photo:
1. my cannolo and me
2. the cannolo box on the floor
3. two more cannoli [the other two cannoli]

[Since then, I had three more surgeries: two spinal surgeries in September 2023 and then in October 2023, and one right-ankle surgery in February 2024.]

Today Is ...

June 26, 2024, at home

One of my favorite snacks is Doritos nacho corn chips dipped in chocolate pudding. When I was in sixth grade (1972-73; age 11 or 12), I first ate it in the cafeteria of Bayview Elementary School (West Islip, Long Island, New York) in an attempt to make two girls disgusted. They didn't care all that much, and I discovered that I really like it. I have eaten it many times over the years.

June 26, 2024, at home

I like coconut.

Day After Roe Overturned

June 25, 2024, at home

CELEBRATORY MEMORY !!! Two-Year Anniversary of the Day after Roe v. Wade was Overturned !!! Here is my Facebook post from that wonderful day, although the day before was one of the best days of my life, as well as when Donald J. Trump was elected U.S. President. I love this selfie.

Today, I added information within the brackets for clarification to my original post from two years ago.

ORIGINAL POST

June 25, 2022 - Selfie: Since arriving at my physical rehabilitation facility on June 3, 2022, today was the first day I was offered a newspaper. I am not a fan of The New York Times due to its heavily liberal/politically leftist bias, but that is all she had to offer. Anyway, I accepted the newspaper, mainly because I am extremely happy that the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade yesterday, and because I wanted to see the large bold headline printed onto the front page. After all, it really is good news, as well as an important historical event.

Prior to arriving at my rehab facility, I was in Boca Raton Regional Hospital since May 13, 2022, arriving at the hospital's emergency room on that day with severe chest pain, and enduring and recovering from two surgeries later that month. I continue to recover here at the rehab facility.

I had quadruple coronary artery bypass surgery on March 9, 2022, and two plastic reconstructive surgeries in and on my chest in May 2022. For my surgery on May 19, 2022, my plastic reconstructive surgeon removed metal sternal plates from within my chest due to [loose screws and] an infection. For my surgery on May 25, 2022, he cleaned out the remaining infection from within my chest, and he partially closed my chest by clipping off the tips of my ribs and reattaching my chest muscle flaps to my body. My surgeon used seven spaced-out sutures to close the eight-inch-long, vertical incision [from my lower neck to my upper belly] initiated by my open-heart surgery in March and made worse by my two subsequent surgeries, leaving me with seven holes in my chest to heal. My sutures were removed on June 20, 2022. [I arrived home on July 21, 2022, one day before my wife's birthday.]

Today Is ...

June 25, 2024, at home

I officially became a Beatles fan during the summer of 1964 after my mom took me to a movie theater to see the Beatles first movie "A Hard Day's Night." I was three years old.

June 25, 2024, at home

It's six months until Christmas Day. (Leon is Noël spelled backwards.)

June 25, 2024, at home

My dad retired at the rank of full Commander after 22 years in the U.S. Navy. He spent some time on a ship in the North Atlantic Ocean. During the 1970s, when I was a teenager, I became a seafarer aboard dad's several boats with Dad and his friends as my teachers on the Great South Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.

June 25, 2024, at home

I have only eaten catfish once. It was frozen, breaded, packaged, and in the form of nuggets. I got so stomach sick that I never ate catfish again.

June 25, 2024, at home

That's not my style. I really dislike strawberries, both the taste and the texture.

Roe Overturned 2 Years Ago

June 24, 2024, at home

Happy 2nd Anniversary of the overturning of Roe v. Wade !!! 🥳🎉 ... I am celebrating.

Many thanks go to the five Supreme Court Justices who voted to overturn: from left, Brett Cavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, and Samuel Alito. Many thanks also go to President Donald J. Trump who nominated Gorsuch, Cavanaugh, and Coney Barrett, making this much-needed ruling possible.

6 Months From Today ...

June 24, 2024, at home

6 months from today is Christmas Eve!

Today Is ...

June 24, 2024, at home

I have a dark blue ski jacket that I wore in the 1980s, when I was in my 20s, with various patches from the various ski areas and resorts where I have skied, including many places in Austria, plus many places in Colorado and in many states in the northeastern United States (Vermont, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts). After I stopped collecting the patches, I skied in Canada.

June 24, 2024, at home

I do somewhat like pralines, although I am definitely NOT fond of caramel.

Tafelspitz

June 23, 2024, at home

For dinner and beyond, my wonderful wife made Austrian Tafelspitz (pot roast/boiled beef), potatoes, and carrots, with onion gravy; and corn on the cob.

Today Is ...

June 23, 2024, at home

I do like Pecan Sandies.

June 23, 2024, at home

Don't forget to stay hydrated.

Spanish Grand Prix

June 23, 2024, at home

I am watching live coverage of the tenth race of the 2024 Formula 1 racing season. The Spanish Grand Prix is being broadcast on Sky Sports F1 (on a feed to ESPN). The race started at 3 p.m. local time (9 a.m., Eastern Time in the United States).

Below is a diagram of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Montmeló, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Each circuit (track) around the world has a different configuration, therefore a different dynamic, regarding turns and elevation fluctuations.

This season's 24-race schedule is as follows: Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Japan, China, Miami, Italy, Monaco, Canada, Spain, Austria, Great Britain, Hungary, Belgium, The Netherlands, Italy (different circuit), Azerbaijan, Singapore, Austin, Mexico, Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi.

The first two races this season (in Bahrain and in Saudi Arabia) were held on Saturdays due to the Islamic observance of Ramadan. All other races will be held on Sundays, as usual, except for the Las Vegas Grand Prix which will also be held on Saturday.

Before each race, there are two days of practice/qualifying. The races run every week or every other week from March into December.

In Formula 1 racing, there are 20 (male) drivers, with one driver from the United States. There are 10 teams (with two drivers on each team), so not only do drivers compete against their rivals, but also compete against their teammates. There are two championships: one for the driver and one for the constructor team.

This season, as with last season, there are three races in the United States. In fairly recent years, there were no drivers from the United States and no races in the United States.

Formula 1 racing is the only sport that I actively follow. I have been a fan for decades. I watched my first F1 race decades ago on television at the home of one of my many Austrian cousins while on vacation in Austria.

Today Is ...

June 22, 2024, at home

I like éclairs, but never with whipped cream. I prefer them filled with chocolate pudding, but vanilla pudding is good, too.

June 22, 2024, at home

I prefer onion rings to french fries.

Oilers Win !!!

June 21, 2024, at home

YEAH !!! The Edmonton Oilers WIN 5-1 against the Florida Panthers !!! The Oilers tie the Stanley Cup Finals 3 games to 3 after being down 3 games to zero. The last game is June 24 in Florida. I hope the Oilers win it all. A Canadian team hasn't won the NHL championship since the Montréal Canadiens won The Cup in 1993.

National Selfie Day

June 21, 2024, at home

Today is National Selfie Day, so here is a selfie I took this early evening.

Today Is ...

June 21, 2024, at home

I prefer peach pie to peaches and cream.

I loved my paternal grandmother's peach pie when I was a kid in the 1960s and 1970s. She used to boil the pits in water, remove the pits, add unflavored gelatin and a drop of red food coloring to make it pink. She then poured this mixture over the peaches in a pie shell and baked it.

WARNING: Back then, we didn't know that peach pits (and other fruit pits) contain amygdalin that can create poisonous cyanide when digested. So, do NOT boil peach pits, and do NOT put the liquid in your pie.

June 21, 2024, at home

Smoothies were named after a brand of cigarette.

June 21, 2024, at home

I have never eaten wagyu beef.