Posts by FletcherB
Last ←Newer Page 1 2 3 4 5 Older→ First
-
As I’ve already posted about the drugs I take and how long I’ve been on them (since mid/late 1970’s)…
I also have done a Buteyko breathing course here in NZ…. after being encouraged to investigate it locally after family members saw a 60-minutes (or similar?) 20-minute segment on it on Australian TV some-time in the 1990’s. And while I’m unsure if the “theory or reasons” they provide are accurate, or “psuedo-science”, I am convinced that the course provided plausible explanations about what I already knew about my condition, the actions they suggested seemed to help my condition, and while my drug use has not been eliminated, it has been reduced significantly, and I suspect it could have been reduced further had I been bothered to follow through and continue the breathing exercises (some of which are difficult) for longer…
I paid several hundred dollars for the course($300-$500? I forget?) about 18 or 20 years ago… While it seemed expensive at the time, I think I’ve reaped enough benefit that I don’t begrudge it… but I’m not sure I would “recommend” it… (I believe the price has gone up considerably since I partook?)… but if you can buy a book, or find some info with Google.. I’d definitely say asthmatics who are not aware of these teachings should investigate it… The “theory” may or may-not be correct, but the “practise” seems to work for many….
-
For me, two of the best indicators of someone who can step up from MP to PM are their ability to engage deeply across a wide range of issues, and their ability to cope with the demands of sustained periods in the spotlight.
Desirable traits, no doubt, but our current PM doesn't seem to have needed that first one?
-
I was diagnosed around age 7 or so in the mid ’70’s and had Ventolin blue Inhaler (releiver) and,"Intal” in the “Spinhaler” preventer, which is the one Russell described. (pierce the capsule, small propeller inside, no propellant).
I got moved off the aerosol propellant Ventolin and changed to the “Diskhaler” described by Pete Sime sometime in the mid 80’s, but then after a few years back to the standard inhaler.
Intal preventer got exchanged for Palmacourt in a “Turbuhaler” which is a metered dose dispenser, but human rather than aerosol powered. This was then given up for the Seretide about 5 or so years ago?
Both the Intal and the Palmacourt which are taken on a regular schedule, rather than “as required” (like Ventolin reliever), had the undesirable effect of actually CAUSING a mild shortness of breath…. not quite an asthma attack, but worrying none the less seeing as that is exactly what they are supposed to reduce….
I believe it is this effect that actually lead to the idea of putting some reliever in with the preventer to be taken simultaneously, as per the new(-ish) Seretide and competitors? These seem to work FAR better than the older preventers.
-
Access: The Blue Inhaler, in reply to Rosemary McDonald,
.I often wondered…..does fear of an attack sometimes exacerbate the condition?
I’m sure of it….
I could go whole days without needing a puff of Ventolin, but I’ve always (intended to) have an inhaler in my pocket or very close by on a continuous basis…. And on many occasions in the last 30+ years I’ve been dealing with this… Discovery that the inhaler had been forgotten was a near immediate trigger to a mild attack- usually within the next 5-10 minutes (when you’d gone half a day or more without the need to puff, but ignorant of it's lack of availability).
My asthma is now under much better control than it used to be, now that I’m on Seretide (purple inhaler, reliever and preventer combination), so I can go whole weeks without a puff on the ventolin… but I still have it by my side on a continuous basis…
-
Hard News: Incoming: Summer, in reply to FletcherB,
Sorry- edit window closed....
What is in my pics does not fully represent the spectacle we were treated to... There was a mother with calf, and three or four others in the pod- possibly even a few more? They were not in tight formation, and it was difficult to keep track of... We saw three together at one time, and a couple more too shortly thereafter, and too distant from the three, to expect it was duplicate sightings....
We saw one apparently spinning along it's axis... flashes of white and black, with pectoral and dorsal fins flipping up in the air as it cork-screwed along the surface... One jumped up, 3/4 out of the water and breached on it's back... and another swam along the surface, and lifted it's tail out of the water, and then slammed it down on the water, rhythmically, making a thwack, thwack, thwack, sound... I believe I may have seen this in a nature documentary suggesting they use it to disturb stingray (food) off the sea-floor?
All of this in just 20 min or so... and then we felt guilty for disturbing such beautiful creatures and left them to their business...
-
This was just at the northern end of Eastern Beach, near Musick Point.. Howick Golf Course on the top of those cliffs in the background…
-
I’m sorry the technical quality, and composition, are not as excellent as some of our frequent photographic contributors… but this was pretty special to see just off a suburban Auckland beach on Boxing Day…
-
Now, some of the following may have already been mentioned up-thread... but I just want to re-itterate it for those who were not paying close attention...
Our Glorious Leader, John almighty, wants to look after normal Kiwi Battlers to protect them from "rapists and murderers**" by ignoring what the Australian Government is up to, and ignoring the "so-called, human rights" of these people so they can be deported back to NZ and spend time amongst us,...
And, those evil Labour lackeys who hate us all, want to argue with our best mates the Australians, point out how "un-just" their actions are, and keep those "rapists and murderers**" back in Australia which obviously is far less safe for those voters here in NZ? right?
** note- at the time these comments were made, no statistics were on hand to know how many, if any were in fact "rapists and murderers"- subsequent investigations show it to be a very small percentage , but slightly above zero.And anyone pointing out the discrepancies in this are obviously politically motivated, cynical, and not to be trusted by fair-thinking good Kiwis.
-
Hard News: Victoria Crone and what…, in reply to Swan,
Do you think Trump calls himself a politician? I think the “I’m not a politician” line will actually resonate with a lot of people.
It's a great introduction, and catches a lot of attention... but you need to follow-up after that...
And theres only two possibilities...
1) you prove it's true, and wither by the sideline as actual politicians do their politician-stuff and beat you...
2) you compete on an equal footing, or even beat the politicians at their own game... and prove you are a liar and a politician to be reckoned with...
-
Hard News: Change for the Better, in reply to BenWilson,
So long as they see you, and don’t really know what to make of it, that seems safer than just letting them presume that you’re turning left because that would be more convenient for them.
Definitely..
I have once signaled – I just did the standard arm out for right turn. It doesn’t really matter that it’s technically not a right turn, but going straight. Point is, they know you’re going to get in their way, rather than slink to the kerb where you can be safely bullied around the corner.
There you go, with your sensible solutions and recognisable hand signals... I was all set to change the world with my lunatic creativity. :0
But I truly don’t get much aggro from motorists.
No, me neither... sure, it's happened on one or two occasions... but simply "crap driving" and "not paying attention" are far more common... and I had the same complaints when I was commuting in my car... but I wasn't quite so vulnerable to other's inattention... the stakes are higher (for me) now...
Just last night... going past the very intersection we were discussing above (Gt North Rd between Waterview and Avondale)... I was just across the BHB rd lights when a car passed me very closely... less than a meter to my right... I was sure they did it on purpose and were trying to be an ass.... but when I caught up to them at the next red light (Henry St/Victor St cross rd), the passengers window was open, so I politely( yes, really) suggested he leave more room next time.. I was expecting abuse, but was met with complete bewilderment... they simply were not aware or did not recall passing a cyclist half a km earlier, or recognise they may have done something scary for another road-user...
