Today (Saturday)I went to shul. Missed last week as I was feeling unwell, but just had to go today. Feeling great. Walked slowly because I know from experience that if I hurry, I geat breathless and dizzy, so I took 20 minutes for what's usually no more than 10 minutes.
Big bat mitzvah today. The girl did a bang-up job of her speech, and actually talked loud enough to be heard in the whole building.
I'm getting there. Be patient.
Anyway, after the service there was food galore! It was a perfect day to have lunch (Kiddush) out in the back yard under the trees. It was in the 60s, and the weather page in the local rag is promising 70s in the next few days. Anyway, I was eating, enjoying company, and soooooo glad to be out! Out somewhere besides the doctor's office.
After awhile I decided it was time to come back home. OK, here it comes. What I did to myself. As I stood up, I got dizzy, couldn't get my breath. See? I should have nebulized. Fortunately I had my rescue inhaler with me, and that helped a little. But every time I tried to stand up, my knees buckled.
A couple of friends saw that I was in distress and sat and talked while I regained some composure. One of them went and got me a cup of hot tea. That's always welcome! I began feeling a little better and decided to try again. Whoops. There go the knees.
One of the women brought her car around to the front of the building, preparing to drive me home, but it wasn't going to be that easy. With one woman hanging onto me on one side, and the other one hanging onto me on the other side, and dragging chair along.... I was getting hysterical. Every few steps I begin to buckle, and C would shove the chair under my posterior. I'd sit awhile, get up and walk a few steps, with S on one side and C dragging the chair along. And plunk I'd go down. Never missed the chair; C was right there with it where it needed to be.
I'm feeling awful, feeling embarrassed, but still laughing at the ridiculousness of the situation. Walk a few steps, sit; walk a few steps, sit.... Finally get to the gate and get in S's car. By the time she got to the parking lot I was beginning to feel a little steadier, and with some support from her was able to walk to my apartment. She came in and settled me in my recliner, brought me my nebulizer equipment, and stayed and talked while the machine was running.
Well, the albuterol makes me jittery, but believe me, that's better than buckling knees.
So, that's what I did to myself. Wouldn't you think a retired nurse would have better sense?????
Shalom
PS: I'm breathing OK now, and can walk fairly steadily. Sheesh! I need a keeper.