Tag: bronchiectasis

February 21st – Day 49, 50, & 51  of My 2026 Daily Activity Journal

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2026, Health and Fitness

The past few days have been particularly uneventful.

Our snow quit falling, our sun has returned, and our temperatures have tanked! With March fast approaching,  this will improve sooner than later.

Dan and Molly have been staying close to home.  Dan has gotten our sidewalks and garage access cleared.  Molly  is in and out – outside to bark at anything that moves and inside to pout and sigh because she has had to forgo her daily walk for a couple of days.

In the meantime,  I am staying indoors and catching up on a few of those deep housecleaning tasks that keep getting put off.

I am still waiting to hear back ftom my respirologist about my test results that showed a +4 pseudomonas aeruginosa result.

It has been eleven days since I saw him, ten days since I submitted the sample, seven days since the results have been available, of which only four were business days.   I did call his office the day I submitted the sample (as per his request) and I called back on Thursday to tell his receptionist that the results were up on the public health system.  She checked and told me they had received the results.  👍

Maybe it is unrealistic to expect any feedback from my doctor within four days, but this is getting old already. 

This infection is nothing to fool around with.  It will not go away without proper antibiotics and it has the ability to morph into any number of serious health concerns if left to its own devices.  And..chances are I got it from the hospital when I had my hernia surgery, so there’s that!

Last night, I decided to book an appointment with my nurse practitioner to get her thoughts on how long I should sit on these test results or if she can do anything for me.  March 24th is her next available  appointment.  🤦‍♀️

I will call Katie, my respiratory therapist on Monday and see what she thinks. 

If past history tells me anything, I might hear from my respirologist this coming week or I may not hear from his office until my next prescriptions are due.  Hopefully, Katie can advise me on how long I should fool around with this.

In the meantime, I will keep doing what I can do –  working out, keeping my enviornment clean and dust free, using my inhalers and taking my vitamins and supplements, clearing my lungs, eating well, drinking an abundance of fluids, and getting quality sleep each night – anything and everything that I can to keep my immune system healthy and strong.  💪

That’s it for today.  Take care and have a great day! 💞🤗

February 12th – Day 38, 39, 40, 41 & 42  of My 2026 Daily Activity Journal

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2026, Health and Fitness

It has been a few days, but I am back on track.. in real life if not on WordPress.

A bit of family news…

Last night, our granddaughter Prim went to her highschool openhouse.  In September, she will take another leap towards adulthood. 😳

And.. Today is daughter Jennifer’s birthday. She is working the evening shift today but she has some day time off to enjoy herself.   She has taken up building miniatures, so birthday shopping was relatively easy this year.

The top one is one she just finished.  Dan & I gave her the kit on the bottom left and her girls (Genie, Maddy, & Prim gave her the one on the bottom right.)

The detail in these miniature kits is crazy.  The total finished size is no more than 12″ x 12″ x 12″ for each and she assembles every piece of furniture and accessory.

My week has not been quite as much fun. 

On Tuesday, I went for an appointment with my respirologist.  All I went for was a prescription refill.  I left with the prescription AND a requisition for a sputum test.

I can deal with the test, though who knows why it would take six years to decide to do one.  But, these appointments are so freaking stressful.  I get all pumped up, go in feeling GREAT and come out wondering how I have lived this long.

It is rediculous! I know that nothing I have is fatal.  I know I am doing everything in my power to stay healthy – including taking my inhalers as prescribed.  But according to Downer Dave, I have one foot in my grave and the other on a banana peal. 🤦‍♀️  Unless, I actually am sick – then I am fine.

Anyway, I got the test done.  I got over it and I am back to my regular routine of meds, lung clearing, vitamins and supplements, fresh air, diet, sleep, and exercise – aerobics, light weights, and treadmill.

I am feeling great – at least until I have to go back to get the results from my test. 🙂

That’s it for today! Take care and have a great day! 💞🌞

January 27th – Day 24, 25th  & 26th  of My 2026 Daily Activity Journal

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2026, Health and Fitness

Our frigid weather has finally started to ease off a bit!  It is hard to believe we are already (finally) seeing the end of another January.  By the weekend we are supposed to be seeing temperatures near the thawing point! 👏

I haven’t been doing anything too exciting for the past few days – my aerobics and yesterday I went outside with Molly for half an hour.  The effort it takes to get dressed to go out is as bad as being outside in the weather we have been having.

I did find a little ray of sunshine!  It might be a few weeks until my plants start sprouting.

These last few days have not been great.  I have been super congested and coughing ALL of the time.   I have been drinking a lot of water, tea, and broth to help clear it up.    Yesterday,  Dan went to our health food store to pick up some Mullein tea and tincture.  I have only had a couple of doses so far, but it seems to be helping A LOT! 🤞

Last night, I made roast beef for supper.  I forgot to make yorkshire pudding, but everything we had was amazing.  The horseradish we have is The Keg brand.  It is awesome! We are having leftover beef  for tomorrow night, so I get another shot at  making the yorkshire puddings. 

That is about it for today.  Take care and have a great day!💞🌞

I came across this picture this morning.  Molly was so little!  I would be on the floor if she jumped up on me like that now. 😁

Daily Food Diary – Day 362 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 362 of my Daily Food Diary! FOUR days to go, before I level up to my 2026 Daily Activity Journal! 💃

This morning I have been thinking about  my life in general, so today my Daily WINS are wins that I get to appreciate every day!

1) Retirement…There is no downside.  The best days are amazing.  The rough days – still amazing.  Sick – I don’t have to go to work or miss time.  Snow, ice, pitch dark at 7:30 am when everyone (else) is driving to work – I don’t have to! Bored or lonely – never! Lower income –  not really a problem (apparently we wasted a lot of money working 🙃). 

2) Being Canadian – I love Canada and cannot imagine living anywhere else.   Canada is an oasis of natural beauty,  strength, and true values.  We who live here are fortunate indeed. 

Wascana Trails – Minutes from life in the city…

3) Life – this opportunity to live and learn and love – to grow and evolve physically, mentally, and emotionally.   I have no idea what form my life takes after this – but I do know that ‘this’ is a small incredibly important step in my journey. 

My Daily Food Diary win for the day has been the  opportunity to discover and experience new flavors and foods.   Often this come about by Dan, Jennifer, or Genie sourcing out products or recipes to try – but many have become my newest favorite. 

Brazilian Cheese Buns

Daily Food Diary – Day 362

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(2) potato patties (240)

(2) slices bacon (130)

(2) eggs (160)

(4) sl tomato (11)

Snacks:

(1) c tea (5)

(8) Hint of Lime tortilla chips (200)

(4) Chocolates (200)

(5) licorice babies (78)

Supper:

(1) cabbage rolls (120)

(1) chocolate caramel squares (70)

Total consumed calories: 1346

Total used calories: 0

Total net calories: 1346

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1346 = 138 over

Thats it for today.  Take care and have a great day! 😁🩵

Daily Food Diary – Day 314 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 314 of my Daily Food Diary. 🥰

Today is November 11th, 2025  – Remembrance Day in Canada and Veterans Day in the USA – a day for us to show respect and appreciation for those who have served our countries,  so that we may live in peace.   That is no doubt the greatest gift that anyone could give, and one that should be honored every day in my mind.  🌺

I am finally getting back on track with my Health and Fitness.  Between my  collagen supplements, Quercetin, and local raw honey – and our morning walks, my aerobics, light weights – and especially my treadmill time, my lungs (and my  body in general)  are getting stronger all of the time.

I know that I have always had, and will always have asthma.  I know that it will be triggered by humidity, allergies, and stress.  I will be on inhalers for the rest of my life.  But, I have always had doubts about my diagnosis for COPD and bronchiectasis, so we will see about that as time goes on…

It has all been rather frustrating to get to the point where I am at, but it brings to mind my favourite quote from Rumi:

“It’s your road, and yours alone.
others may walk it with you,
but no one can walk it for you.”

Before (and after) I retired five years ago, I read several retirement planning articles. They all stressed the importance of wealth – being financially secure was the be all and end all of successful retirement.   

Those articles were wrong.  I know people who have money – a lot of money.  They (for the most part) spend their time stressing about losing their money.

People who prioritize their health, prioritize  living their best life – regardless of any challenges or setbacks (financial or otherwise) that arise.  That’s the best  retirement plan in my mind – and the road that I choose to follow.

Daily Food Diary – Day 314

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) ham & cheese omelet (300)

(1) c pan fried potatoes (350)

Snacks:

(1) tbsp honey (40)

(14) Lightly salted potato chips (130)

(1) Snickerdoodles (90)

(48) oz water

Supper:

(2) bowls beef, barley, vegetable soup (360)

(3) cheese biscuits (310)

(12) oz carbonated water

Total consumed calories: 1583

Total used calories: 384

(30) min walking (137)

(30) min aerobics (174)

(30) min treadmill (73)

Total net calories: 1199

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1199 = 9 under 👍

That’s it for today.  Take care and have a great day! ❤️😌

Daily Food Diary – Day 313 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 313 of my Daily Food Diary. 🤗

Yesterday was a nice quiet Sunday.  Dan, Molly, and I went for our morning walk around the neighborhood.  The highlight of my afternoon was making a batch of Snickerdoodles – my first ever.

Snickerdoodles

The snickerdoodles didn’t  live up to the hype in my mind, but a little cream cheese icing would probably take them up a notch.

Today we had a plan to go to Prairie Mobile to trade up our cell phones and then head down the strip mall to Chappy’s for lunch.  The day hasn’t gone according to plan – my bad. 🙄

I forgot the plan and made a big breakfast of fried leftover potatoes and ham & cheese omelets.   Half way through our walk this morning, I realized neither of us would be up for a restaurant lunch.

Granddaughter Maddy would be so disappointed.  She was born with a plan – and a plan is a done deal!

It started innocently enough when she showed up with a plan to go to McDonald’s for lunch, which morphed into a plan to make a list and go shopping for: a new coloring book & crayons, new panties, a new purse, and a balloon on a stick.

Nowadays, she is working on a life plan… education, career, lifestyle – it’s there,  written in black and white but set in stone. 

And, meanwhile Grandma can’t stick with the plan to go pick out a new phone and have lunch.  As much as I need a new phone, I seriously need a new phone case!  Both are about eight years old and my case is hanging by a thread (a dirty thread to boot 🤦).

Daily Food Diary – Day 313

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c brown sugar cheerios (210)

(1/4) c milk (28)

Snacks:

(2) black licorice Twizzlers (45)

(1) tbsp honey (40)

(2) Snickerdoodles (180)

(1) Belgium Chocolate cookie (53)

Dinner:

(1) baked chicken leg & thigh (150

(1) c boiled potatoes (160)

(1/2) c gravy (80)

(1) c corn (125)

(1) tsp butter (34)

(1) glass Red Wine (165)

Total consumed calories: 1272

Total used calories: 137

(30) min walking (137)

Total net calories:  1135

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1135 = 73 under 👍

That’s it for today.  Take care and have a great day! 💖😁

Daily Food Diary – Day 279 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 279 of my Daily Food Diary! 😍

This morning Dan and I started the day with a walk for Molly.  It was the roughest one I have had for a while – and sadly the result of my own doing.

Last night, while the stew was cooking I decided that Happy Hour was in order.  For some reason, a Rye (whiskey) and Pepsi sounded good.  Finishing off the can of Pepsi after that seemed even better. 🤦

While the yeast used  in fermenting any alcohol is a problem for me, the sugar in any soda mix is a much bigger one.  Pepsi contains 41 grams of sugar in one 355ml can.  That is huge.  Too much for anyone and way too much for anyone with bronchiectasis.

So this morning while I was trying to keep up to Dan and Molly (while they deliberately took it slow for my sake), I struggled.  Trying to do anything when one is fighting to breathe through an abundance of  thick sticky mucus is never easy. 

I don’t remember when I last had a Rye and Pepsi, but I won’t be having another one any time soon.

Fortunately, having had a hot lemon water since I got back home, I am now feeling much better. 

Today is an aerobics and treadmill day. By the time I complete those, I will be back on track.  This afternoon I plan to get some housework done in preparation for our Thanksgiving  supper on Thursday. 

While Molly prepares in her own way.

Daily Food Diary – Day 279

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c Honey Nut Cheerios (147)

(1/4) c milk (28)

Lunch:

(1) Chicken burger (no bun) (120)

(1) sl provalone (70)

(1) tomato (22)

(25) barbecue chips (130)

Snacks:

(36) oz water

(1) Rye & Pepsi (125)

(6) oz Pepsi (75)

Supper:

(4) c Beef, gnocchi, & vegetable stew (736)

Total consumed calories: 1455

Total used calories: 360

(40) min aerobics (234)

(30) min light weights (73)

(30) min walk (53)

Total net calories: 1095

Net calories goal: 1229 – 1095 = 135 under 👎

That’s it for today.  Take care and have a great day! 💗🌞

Husband Dan got up before me this morning to catch this amazing sunrise. 💞🤗

Daily Food Diary – Day 244 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 244 of my Daily Food Diary.  We are officially 2/3rds of our way through 2025! 🥳

I know that my Daily Food Diary has been beneficial.  It has kept my unhealthy snacking in check.  It has helped me to pin down foods that cause me issues.  It has helped me to tweak some of my cooking habits.  It has encouraged me to add collagen supplements to my daily round of vitamins.  And while it is an ongoing battle – it has helped me to eat more fruits and vegetables and to drink more water.

That being said – I am struggling with my health and wellness lately.

As much as I love spring and summer, they have not been kind to me this year.  I am almost excited to see September arrive and with it the end of wildfire smoke, a drop in humidity, and hopefully an eradication of all the mould and mildew this year!  The last being the worst lately.  🥺

At least for today, I am just avoiding the not so great outdoors.

Making chicken broth for homemade chicken noodle soup tonight.
While Molly guards the neighborhood from the comfort of our sofa.

Daily Food Diary – Day 244

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1/2) grapefruit (39)

(1/2) tsp sugar (8)

Lunch:

(3) oz chicken (140)

(10) Hint of Lime tortilla chips (250)

Snacks:

(1/2) c caramel corn (85)

(1) 355 mil can Root Beer (170)

(48) oz water

Supper:

(1) cheese tortilla wrap (85)

(1/8) c pizza sauce (17)

(1/4) c shredded marble cheese (120)

(9) slices Pepperoni (89)

(3) oz ham (86)

(1/4) c mushrooms (11)

(1/2) c onions (32)

(1/4) c green pepper (7)

Total calories: 1226

Calories burnt:

(30) minutes walking – 101

Total net calories: 1125

Net calories goal: 1229 – 1225 = 104 under 👍

That’s it for today.  Take care and have a great day! 💞☺️

Daily Food Diary – Day 234

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 234 of my Daily Food Diary. 💗🌞

It is three and a half years since I set off on the  Health and Fitness Journey that I am on now. 

Three and a half years ago, I was  living a sedentary life with a questionable diet.   I was  struggling with multiple chronic health issues, and  a lack of strength, stamina and energy. 

Now,  I am physically active (aerobics, light weights, cardio, walking Molly dog,  and using our treadmill)  an average of 630 minutes a week  – plus doing housework, yard work, and the like.  And.. I am keeping my Daily Food Diary, I have eliminated yeast from my diet, and I have cut back on sugar, salt, and snacking between meals and after supper.

Recently, I ran across something in a  post on Instagram Threads.  “Sobriety is not punishment.  It is freedom.”

I have always lived a fairly sober life, but this rang true for me.

Living a life dedicated to health and fitness, isn’t always easy.   It takes effort and perseverance and sacrifice.  Some days, a lot of days, it feels like punishment.

But it really isn’t. It is the key to living my life on my terms.  It is the key to my  freedom – freedom to be happy and healthy and strong and fit.  💪

Daily Food Diary – Day 234

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c Cheerios (147)

(1/4) c milk (28)

Lunch:

(2) Potatoes patties (240)

(3) stops bacon (130)

(1) small red tomato

(48) oz water

Supper:

(5) Gyoza (167)

(2) vegetable spring rolls (200)

(1) oz riblets (49)

(1) a chicken strip (120)

(5) tempura shrimp (175)

(1) tbsp Gyoza dipping sauce (15)

(1) tbsp shrimp sauce (20)

(1) tbsp Dilly Dip  (50)

(1) tbsp plum sauce (35)

Total net calories: 1071

Net calories goal: 1229 – 1071 = 159 under

That’s it for today.  Take care and have a great day! ❤️😊

Daily Food Diary – Day 217 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 217 Days since I started my Daily Food Diary!  That is 217 days without a single miss! 💖

This month, I am focussed on adding more color to our diet.  This will mean adding some new foods – or at least foods that we don’t make on a regular basis.

Last night, I decided on Stuffed Green Peppers.  If I have ever made them before, it was long enough ago that I don’t remember.   Dan has made them, so he was amenable to the plan and offered to help.

Stuffed GREEN Pepper

We didn’t follow a recipe.  It was just a team effort of this and that and whatever we had in the fridge.

At any rate, they turned out pretty well and gave us ideas for a few more colorful meals.  You might be seeing Enchiladas and Spanish Rice.   I am NOT a squash fan but we might try some Spaghetti Squash.  I used to enjoy cooking  it for our dogs Casey and Kat.  They seemed to like it.  

Casey & Kat

Our weather is warm, sunny, and clear today.  We all took a walk this morning.  I made the full circuit but the humidity didn’t help for sure!

I am just clearing my lungs out with my Aerobika and then I am going to do my Wednesday workout – half an hour of aerobics and half an hour of weights and cardio. 💪

Hopefully, the humidity will drop so I can spend some time outside this afternoon.  Our garden is suddenly entering its jungle phase. 😳

Daily Food Diary – Day 217

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c Honey Nut Cheerios (147)

(1/4) c 2% milk (28)

Lunch:

(1) Apple – Red (95)

(1/3) c mixed nuts (216)

Snacks:

(48) oz water

(1 1/4) c Caramel Corn (233)

Supper:

(1) Stuffed pepper – green pepper, white onion & garlic, seasoned ground beef, rice cooked in beef broth,  red pepper,  brown mushrooms, green celery, shredded habanero cheese, dried fried onions.  (465)

Total net calories: 1012

Net calorie goal: 1222 – 1012 = 210 under

That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 😊❤️