We just returned from a 1-week cruise on the mighty Mississippi on a new paddle wheeler. (Actually, the paddle wheel is just for show.) Met some truly interesting people and had great service and a fine time. Weather was a drawback as we spent several days on the tours attached to the cruise walking in the rain and getting wet, But it was warm, so no hypothermia.
In our well appointed cabin, the ac blew on my head all night, every night, and, of course, I didn't think to look and see whether I could put the fan on a slower speed. (I could and did.) Moreover, with the touring (on shank's mare mostly) my usual activity level was raised.
Upshot: my chronic upper respiratory syndrome flared on return home this past week. My internist has me on Prednisone and Symbi-cort. Both are steroids. He is trying to prod my probably messed up, post-chemo, immune system. But my lungs have filled and I am expectorating lots of green mucus. I have reached out to see what the next step will be. The problem is that I cannot sleep well because I am short of breath and the change in O2 level wakes me up. Before now my CPAP machine would handle this problem by stuffing my lungs full of air, but this past couple nights, that is no longer happening. So, I expect that I am now dealing with a full-fledged bronchitis.
Moreover, I think that I am probably responsible for infecting our newfound friends from the cruise as a number have reported upper respiratory symptoms. For them, however, it is apparently a 1-week deal, not chronicity. I'll update when I find out more...
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