Tests and trees.... in These titles mean nothing.

Minnesota tree

Today was test day.

1. Bones density in a van beside the clinic. Assuming it comes from LaCrosse. You take stuff out of your pockets and lie on table and unbutton and unzip your pants. You lie on your back first with your legs bent at the knees over a box. The xray-ish machine whirrs and moved over you. Then I think she does it again with your legs flat. Then she turns one of your legs (in or out - I’m can’t quite remember) to do one of your non-dominant hip - my left. It’s always the left one even if you are left handed. OK. She advised 1200 mg of calcium and weight bearing exercise. She also said your body is like an old (aging) car – you have to keep it up.

2. Mammogram was upstairs. By the way the clinic has a lovely wide open stairway from main floor to second flood. I assume there are elevators but the stairs are part of the lobby and waiting room decor. That is a nice idea in a world that needs more exercise. They had yellow foot prints stuck to the carpet to lead you to x-ray. A mammogram is a mammogram is a mammogram.

3. The breathing test was back downstairs. I was somewhat familiar with the procedure because my husband had had them. You take a deep breath and exhale through a plastic tube as much air as you can and then inhale as much as you can. It’s all hooked up to a computer of course and as you exhale you blow out birthday candles. I think the nurse said that I did as well as a person of my age and weight would be expected to, maybe better. Then she gave me four puffs from an inhaler - I don’t remember what I was inhaling but I think it was standard inhaling stuff. She named it but I don’t remember. There was one minute between the four puffs and then we waited fifteen minutes for it to work. Then we repeated the exhale and inhales.

I don’t know how much better I did after the inhaler, but I do know I bought a pedometer on my way home and put on 11480 steps - all after 4 pm. I even went all the way up Joana’s big hill. So I’m thinking the inhaler has some magic that might help me be more active.

Iowa tree