October 2018
Special Presentation: Functional Movement Matters!
Hi All,
Anita Altemeyer, who has been my physical therapist since December of 2016, has agreed to join us and give insight to the proper way to organize our bodies in order to perform a certain function. Not only is she my physical therapist, I consider her my coach and mentor for physical activities.
After her talk, in future classes, we may pause and think about how we should properly become “pretzels” - ha ha. Seriously, her presentation will enhance how we do our yoga poses. After all, our class is all about HOW we do, not what we do, while taking good care of ourselves.
Her presentation will be on Monday, October 8th starting at 5:30 p.m. for 1 1/2 hours in the lower level of Gasconade Manor Nursing Home in Owensville. There will be time to ask her questions about any issues you may have.
I encourage everyone to attend. I don’t make any promises in our class as you know, but I promise it will be time well spent. Your significant other is also welcome.
Though Anita is not expecting, please contribute $5.00 for her time and effort.
Will see you in class,
Nobby
Anita Altemeyer, who has been my physical therapist since December of 2016, has agreed to join us and give insight to the proper way to organize our bodies in order to perform a certain function. Not only is she my physical therapist, I consider her my coach and mentor for physical activities.
After her talk, in future classes, we may pause and think about how we should properly become “pretzels” - ha ha. Seriously, her presentation will enhance how we do our yoga poses. After all, our class is all about HOW we do, not what we do, while taking good care of ourselves.
Her presentation will be on Monday, October 8th starting at 5:30 p.m. for 1 1/2 hours in the lower level of Gasconade Manor Nursing Home in Owensville. There will be time to ask her questions about any issues you may have.
I encourage everyone to attend. I don’t make any promises in our class as you know, but I promise it will be time well spent. Your significant other is also welcome.
Though Anita is not expecting, please contribute $5.00 for her time and effort.
Will see you in class,
Nobby
Monday, October 8th starting at 5:30 p.m.
| directions_to_gasconade_manor_nursing_home-owensville.pdf |
May Scheduling Update
Hi All,
Most of you know about Tuesday, May 1st, but I thought I would remind you not to show up for yoga or Tai Chi. We are staying over night in North Liberty which is just north of Iowa City. Tomorrow morning we will be Mayo Clinic for afternoon appointment for Jarrett. Because it has gone so well with Mayo Clinic so far, I anticipate the same tomorrow.
I hope to see you next week.
Nobby
Sent from my iPad
May 1st Scheduling Update
Hi All,
Last Tuesday I shared our son's surgery at Mayo Clinic. Surgery on Wednesday went well and Mary and Jarrett came home yesterday.
May 1st will be our next trip to Mayo Clinic to learn about future plan.
Have a good weekend - hope to see you on Tuesday.
Nobby
Sent from my iPad
April 13, 2018
Hi All,
Barring another surprising development, it is looking good that we are going to resume our class next week.
My appointment with cardiologist was moved up to today. He reviewed the most recent ECHO cardiogram and EKG results and told me that all looked good with an exception of Aortic stenosis which needs to keep eye on - aortic valve opens about 50%. I was told that the main objective is to remove excess fluid from my body and continue to monitor hemoglobin and red blood cell level which is continued to come up. Anemic condition is one reason for retaining fluid in the body which causes my body not to function quite right. Looking back, my new rock bottom condition noted a week before last Monday was partially due to medication change at the time of discharge from the hospital back in March 15th. Now that medications are adjusted and my body is slowly returning to normal, I am seeing slight improvement each day.
Choosing to spend this week to recharge my battery, I call it, has been beneficial more than just physically. This week gave me chance to realize how fortunate I am for all the support I received from everybody to again enjoy life as it unfolds - I am one lucky duck.
I say, “the system is ready for service”. I am looking forward to seeing all of you next week.
Nobby
Sent from my iPad
April 6, 2018
Hi All,
Instead of letting you wonder how I might be doing, I thought I would give you a quick update.
I must admit, earlier in the week, there were times that “going down the hill” feeling almost got the best of me. But I think I was able to bounce back - seeing things in different light.
Remember the Energizer Bunny commercial? Tuesday, before the weather turned cold, I thought I would do bit of garden work - wrong. Later when I thought about how I felt, I thought of Energizer commercial. https://youtu.be/v8bvkDvx340 I felt like I was operating with 10% charge left in reserve while Energizer Bunny is operating at full charge, full charge is the feeling I had not so long ago. Good news is, that was Tuesday and now it is Friday - things are looking up.
For one, I think fever issue is over with, so, I can move onto other issues. For last four days, my temperature remained in two digits (like 98.1 not 101.1). When I was discharged, my hemoglobin level was 8.9, by March 22 it went up to 9.6 and test from March 28 shows it is up to 10.5. The goal is to bring it up to 15 - it is getting closer and closer.
For a while, my joints were so stiff that I had difficult time peeling off my own undershirt. I avoided going down on the floor fearing it was going to take several minutes for me to get up off the floor. My fingers were cramping up so bad that during dinner, while cutting with knife in one hand and fork in the other, both hands cramped up at the same time. I started to retain fluid such that I gained over 3 lb. in a couple of days. Itchy skin around belly, top of feet and lower legs that kept me awake. Erratic heart rate sometimes registering a resting heart rate of over 100. Pretty grim picture I painted, huh? - wrong. The beauty of a poem is that you get to have your own interpretation. I might be stretching a little but my favorite poem on my website, nobbysyoga.com, called ‘Live the Question Now’ does not only apply to our yoga practice but it also applies here. In our class, we talk about questioning ‘ what could be even lighter, softer and freer’ or you hear me saying ‘simply observe in pose’. To me, observing and taking mental note is a form of living the question. Here, listing my observation is like listing questions - the poem ends like this "Live the Question Now. Perhaps then…………..live your way into the answer” - let’s chew on this, shall we?
Good news is, I went to Washington today to draw blood - both my cardiologist and primary doctor have different plans. They are working on my case. Instead of waiting for a month, I have an appointment set with my cardiologist on April 18 that will include ECG (echo) procedure. I have tentative appointment with my trusted primary doctor next week. I will get to take notes on how changing medication may affect my body behavior.
On our way back from Washington, Mary asked me, “so what is your plan for next week?”. She was pleased to hear that I am going to retry ‘lay low’ which I was not able to do this week. Today, I feel my battery is charged up to say, 45%. Maybe the weather will help me recharge to operating level next week. I realize as long as retention of fluid is not fully addressed, it will affect my energy level. But, flip side is also true, there are so many of us that continue with day to day activities with extra fluid in their body.
Let’s plan on getting together week after next (week of April 15) while we all wish for warm, sunny spring weather for all our sakes.
Have a good week,
Nobby
Sent from my iPad
March 30, 2019
Hi All,
Thursday my doctor called and told me that he was pretty sure I contracted viral infection and he told me that I need to let this virus run its course which should take 5 to 7 days.
I am a strong believer in maintaining high level of immune system for continued good health. I realize, when I was discharged from the hospital not long ago, my immune system must have been pretty weak. I figured that is how I ended up with this high fever. Thinking what might be the most caring thing to do for myself, I decided to lay low for a week - get some fresh air and mess around with our flower garden. I must watch myself not to over do it since I love to work on flower garden.
Here is my plan: I am cancelling all my classes from April 2nd through April 6th. I plan to resume my regular schedule starting April 9th.
Happy Easter and have a great week,
Nobby
Sent from my iPad
March 19, 2018
Hi All,
Thursday my doctor called and told me that he was pretty sure I contracted viral infection and he told me that I need to let this virus run its course which should take 5 to 7 days.
I am a strong believer in maintaining high level of immune system for continued good health. I realize, when I was discharged from the hospital not long ago, my immune system must have been pretty weak. I figured that is how I ended up with this high fever. Thinking what might be the most caring thing to do for myself, I decided to lay low for a week - get some fresh air and mess around with our flower garden. I must watch myself not to over do it since I love to work on flower garden.
Here is my plan: I am cancelling all my classes from April 2nd through April 6th. I plan to resume my regular schedule starting April 9th.
Happy Easter and have a great week,
Nobby
Sent from my iPad
March 17, 2018
Hi All,
Let's plan on getting together on March 20 - start of spring.
Now that I am home, I can reflect on what just happened to me - were there any learning moments?
I think there were two critical moments: 1) March 1 and 2 when it was determined that I came down with flu and pneumonia. 2) March 12 and 13 when I was in dying need for medical interventions. Now, I have a better understanding of how one feels to be short of breath, gasping for air and be so scared to go to sleep, having to stop before taking another step because you are so weak, index fingers go numb and begin to discolor and legs become swollen. Now I have empathy and appreciation of those who are forced to live with these conditions.
Eight years ago, I had triple by-pass and aortic arch replaced. My Mary had to endure the life and death situation while I slept through. This time, however, I was keenly aware of my body heading in a wrong direction.
Do you believe in cat's nine lives? "The truth is what you believe to be true" - let's chew on this for a moment for it can apply in our yoga practice as well. I lost my cat buddy, Sydnee, on March 9, Friday morning. On late Thursday night, Sydnee came out from her hiding place begging me to do something. Of course, I could not do anything until the next morning to take her to vet. I said good-bye to her on Friday - the day I was suppose to see my primary doctor but had to postpone until following Monday due to his scheduling conflicts. Guess what - I believe Sydnee sacrificed her 9th life for me. She gave me enough life to carry me through the weekend, to see my primary doctor on Monday and on to my cardiologist on Tuesday. On Monday, my cry to my primary doctor was the same as Sydnee's - 'do something'. My primary doctor had to make a very critical decision, whether to admit me to the hospital in Washington with cardiologist who does not know my history or to buy time until Tuesday for my cardiologist to take over. As it turned out, it was the absolutely the right move and my condition turned around in 48 hours. You know, we have a marvelous body. I was dangerously anemic and had built up a lot of fluid in the body. But by administering two units of blood and removing fluid from my body, crisis was aborted.
The learning moment after this incidents are: 1) take good care of yourself. Don't do it alone but seek out any help that is within your reach. 2) breath is a powerful, vital and precious thing - listen, really listen, to your breath more often. 3) marvel at this finely-designed body - it will carry you through more than you can ever imagine.
We have a unique group of people practicing yoga on a regular basis. Sharing my personal experience like this, I hope, will extend to our yoga classes where it will be even more freer to share and share alike. I am so blessed to have a group found nowhere else in yoga communities. My wish is, as I embark on sharing Tai Chi experience, I get to create a Tai Chi community like the yoga community that I enjoy. Thank you all for listening.
Sent from my iPhone
Nobby Ota
March 15, 2018
Hi All,
Thank you for your concern. I am live and well - I was discharged this afternoon. According to my cardiologist, I can resume my normal activities with reason.
Nobby
Sent from my iPhone
March 7, 2018
Hi All,
I will have to skip another week of classes - March 13th. After I see my cardiologist tomorrow, I should have a better handle on what is going on. I promise I will bring all of you up to date before week is over.
Nobby
March 5, 2018
Hi All,
I hate to break the routine but I have no choice. They figured I came down with flu with temperature of 104 and very weak. Then next day (last Friday) temperature actually wet up. EMS took me to emergency. After x Ray, they told me that I have pneumonia. By Sunday morning, after repeated change to dry cloth, countless times, I woke up with near normal temperature. I will see my primary Doctor later this week - he will let me know when I can return to my normal life.
This is my sad story.
I will let you know when I am ready to go.
Sent from my iPhone
Nobby Ota
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