Back again. Just finished the pulmonary consult. It appears I will need some more tests.

The pulmonary function test was normal or only slightly less than normal in all but one area: the part where you exhale deeply and forcefully. That came out at only 60 percent capacity. Two possible causes in a patient with Sjogren's are asthma or obstruction from heavy mucus plugs.

I got to see the slides from my CAT scan on a computer screen. That was AWESOME, looking at slides like slices of bread in succession like an animation of my innards. Everything there looks good.

So the main question is whether I have asthma or just chronic chest congestion. I will be doing a spirometry with Methacholine in an hour. This I believe measures how you react to air irritants?

Tomorrow, I do another breathing test: I believe it's exhaled Nitric Oxide? Then in the afternoon, I go back to the pulmonologist and we determine if I will need to go on some sort of inhaled medication. If the cause of the breathing problem is heavy mucus plugs, I don't know what might be done for that.

My final wrap-up with the rheumatologist will be late tomorrow afternoon. That will mean I can be home by Friday afternoon, which is way cool. My in-laws are watching our dog this time, and they don't know a thing about pups.

About the sesame oil: you can use any brand. I was warned to spray GENTLY with a mist sprayer, not to use a pump sprayer or inhale it sharply as I want to avoid the chance of aspiration. This is not something I would recommend to a healthy person, but my sinuses are so dry that right now I'm catching any little bug that comes my way, so I am willing to give it a shot.

Gonna go see if I can finish my book. The view of Rochester from the pulmonary department is pretty cool as it's on the 18th floor. Now if it weren't so doggone cold....

fanfaire