status quo quotidian

 Wow, several months since I have updated. My condition seems appropriate to my age--maybe.

Several parameters: First, hearing

The tortuous basilar artery found in my cranial MRI may be the reason for some of my hearing changes. Nothing can be done about it. It apparently can mess with the blood supply (therefore the O2 levels) of the inner auditory canals. I have a definite difference in hearing levels in each ear. It now tricks me into looking the wrong way to locate a sound. If a sound comes from the right side I may not hear it until it gets to my left ear causing me to look that way. I will probably schedule an appointment with the USU Audiology Clinic to be fitted for hearing aids, if they think I can be helped by them. (I think I recall that not all sensorineural hearing losses are helped by amplification.) Until then, the wifey and I will still not better understand one another....and even then, who knows?

Second, heart.

Not a great deal to report which is good. My vitals are as stable as I could want them. PulseO2 in the low 90%s; resting heart rate in the low 50s; sinus rhythm all the time without any sign of A-fib, blood pressure a tad below 120/80. 

At my most recent cardio checkup a couple weeks ago I asked about getting rid of heart failure. Unfortunately, once diagnosed it is chronic. However, that doesn't appear to preclude improving one's physiology. Hence with the covid vaccination at work in my body, it is possible to return to the gym which has occurred. The little place we go only allows in 6 folks at a time (reservations only), plus masks, plus distancing, and they clean the apparatus after each use. About 6 weeks in now and one can feel new tone in the musculature. My goal is to improve my heart function sufficiently to once again approach the normal range for the ejection fraction (>50%). When last measured last year at the beginning of spring I was at 35%--but in the middle of an event. Before that I got it back to 50%+.

However, I am still easily fatigued, so perhaps not progressing as much as I think. I had to start back at 10 min on the recumbent bike and 5 min on the arm bike, and at about 50% of the weight I was lifting before last spring. I am now at 21 min on the recumbent (on the way to 30 min), and 11 min on the arm bike (on the way to 15 min), and about 2/3 of the weight of last year. I am content with my progress.

Third, apnea.

I am sleeping well, Usually get through the night (7-8 hrs) without rising or awakening for long periods. Still need a post lunch siesta of about an hour. Don't seem to be awakening with O2 starvation. unless I fall asleep in a recliner without my mask and O2. This suggests that the mask and O2 are doing their jobs. But I am not falling asleep when I don't want to.

So, on balance, nothing to complain about...