From Mar 28 to April 3, 2015, I was admitted in hospital  for 7 days with pneumonia where I was given antibiotics by IV.  I was  in a private room as I was in isolation for 5 of the 7 days. On discharge, I was told I had to have oxygen full time at 1.5 L/M at rest and 3 L/M for forced exertion.
At home I have an oxygen making machine or concentrator and pumping station to fill up my own tanks. Each tank last 2.75 hours. I always carry two oxygen tanks in the basket of my walker when I go out to shopping centre, doctor appointments and etc.

My appointment with my respirologist on Jan 14/14

My lung function test revealed that my FEV1 increased from 19 (A year and a half ago) to 35. This was an awesome improvement. Last time My FEV1 was 35 was in 2009. I underwent a blind test where I walked for six minutes on Compressed Air and another six minute walk on 4 litres per minute flow of Oxygen. The comparison of results were not great enough to be used as evidence with my insurance company. However My respirologist will write my insurance company telling why I need oxygen on forced exertion. At rest I am fine. I told my respirologist that my Inguinal hernia was acting up and the results of an ultrasound test convinced my GP to refer me to a General Surgeon. My respirologist said there was no way he wanted me to have this surgery as it would be very painful and I would not be able to tolerate the effects of the strong pain medicine on my breathing. If the hernia was incarcerated and my life was at risk, then he would give his consent. I asked him if I could fly and he said I could with a portable Oxygen concentrator otherwise my oxygen blood saturation level would decrease to 80 which is not good. My next appointment would be in a year from now.

Was prescribed Oxygen for forced exertion (walking) on Nov 4/13 by my GP, Dated Nov 4/13

I have been very short of breath over the last year so my general practitioner prescribe oxygen for me, to be used only during forced exertion (walking). I am fine at rest as my oxygen saturation level is between 92 and 94 percent. On forced exertion, it has gone down to 85 percent. The proof that oxygen helped me was when I went to a shopping and walked without stopping for one half hour with my walker. This feat I have not been able to do for over a year. Unfortunately, I have to pay for it out of pocket as I do not qualify to have it subsidized by by the provincial assistive devices program (ADP). It cost me $ 398.00 per month or 4 4,728 per year.

MY HOSPITALIZATION AT QCH FOR FOUR DAYS: MAY 19-23/12 WITH COPD EXACERBATION AND PNEUMONIA BY PETER C ELLIS Dated June 5/12 SYMPTOMS Very short of breath, wheezing and difficulty walking. Oxygen level 88 % CHEST xray revealed pneumonia in upper right lung DROPLET for 3 days in a private room Isolation MEDICATIONS 50 mg Presidone daily through a syringe and Ceftriaxone 1000 mg every 24 hrs by IV PUFFERS: Spiriva once daily, four puffs of Ventolin every four hrs, four puffs of Atrovent every four hours, Advair 500 mgs twice daily FEED: I500 mg Isosource 1.5 three times daily Will see dietitican on June 8 at QCH as outpatient for Resource 2 feed (Higher calorie feed) HOME MEDICATIONS ON DISCHARGE: Antibiotic Cefuroxime 500 mg tablet twice daily for ten days. Continue 50mg Predisone daily for seven days and puffers as in hospital for seven days.

APOINTMENT WITH DRS D MCKIM AND DE BOUR AT THE REHABILITATION CENTRE ON MAY 15/12 BY PETER C ELLIS

APOINTMENT WITH DRS D MCKIM AND DE BOUR AT THE REHABILITATION CENTRE ON MAY 15/12 BY PETER C ELLIS SUMMARY : Main point of discussion was to find out what I would want done if I got very sick again like in 2009 and had to go to Emergency to be admitted to hospital. MY DECISION is to go on the ventilator for a week and if there was no hope of me recovering, My wish is for them to stop treatment, ending my days on earth. Dr Mckim conveyed my wishes to my wife too. POINTS I CONSIDERED IN MAKING ABOVE DECISION: -My lung condition has further deteriorated as compared to when I was admitted to the Queensway Carleton Hospital for six weeks from Aug 8 to Sept 17/2009. -My FEV! dropped 5 % from 35 % to 27 % of normal in 3 years. (FEV! - Now is 27 % of normal) (FEV1 - in Aug 2009 was 35 % of normal) -The possibility in having to be on a trac and on a ventilator for the rest of my life if I got very sick again, did not appeal to me at all. -My Shortness of Breath and Wheezing is much worse now than in 2009. -Walking and other physical exertion is more difficult now. -My present oxygen level in the blood is 91 % instead of my normal 94 %. DR”S IMMEDIATE RECOMMENDATIONS - - Increase Advair amount from 250 to 500 mcg - Will admit me to the pulmonary physio dept for exercise to increase my long volumes: Thread Mill, Bicycling, etc twice a week as an outpatient. - Next fall, Drs will put me on antibiotics to take on Mon. Wed. and Fri for the rest of my life to fight in infection in my lungs. - Drs. took a sample of my sputum which was green.

COPD EXACERBATION, MARCH 29, 2012

SYMPTOMS :

Coughing during the day and at night in bed, short of breath and lots of infamation in my chest.
Blood oxygen saturation level: 91 %

PRESCRIBED MEDICINES:

1. ANTIBIOTIC: Teva-Levofloxacin 750 mg. Take one daily after food for seven days

2. PREDNISONE 50mg: Take one daily after food for inflamation.

PEG TUBE SITE RELOCATION, MARCH 31,2012

MY PEG TUBE RELOCATION TO ANOTHER SITE
BY Peter C Ellis, Age 75, Dated March 31, 2012

REASON FOR NEW SITE:

My six year old PEG TUBE stoma was leaking off and on for four months, became infected and herniated for the second time within a year and popped out of its existing location on Jan 22/12. I went to Emergency immediately Sunday night, slept there overnite

SURGERY:

On Monday Jan 23/12 my gastroenterologist installed a new Peg Tube in a new site as old site was infected. My gastroenterologist used a children’s endoscopy scope because of my severe weakened post polio pharyngeal muscles. I then had x-rays done to verify there weren’t any perforations.

CARE OF EXISTING SIX YEAR OLD STOMA:

After being burned on my outer skin by my stomach acid coming through the old infected stoma for twelve days while feeding through the new site , I had a home care stoma specialized nurse come home to see me on Feb 3/12. She Installed a pouch over it to collect any further drainage. On Feb 10/12, the collecting pouch was removed.

Today my old stoma has completely healed and is closed.

LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM MY EXPERIENCE:

Make sure you have a pouch installed over existing stoma immediately after the surgery to collect the drainage to avoid the very painful stinging and burning of your outer skin like I had for twelve days.

MAINTENANCE OF MY NEW STOMA:

I change the gauze once every morning on rising, Cleanse the wound with saline solution, apply Calmoseptine pink cream with a cotton tip applicator, and cover it up with a new gauze.

CARE OF SKIN BURNS AROUND OLD STOMA: Apply Calmoseptine pink cream.

Signed: Peter C Ellis

Chart showing deteriation of My lung Function from 1998 to 2011 owing to COPD and late effects of polio

DATE FEV1 (L) % of Normal FVC (L) % of Normal Oygen

Jul-11 0.99 29% 3.00 64% 93-94 %
Jan-11 1.09 31% 2.97 61% 96%

Apr-10 1.01 29% 2.54 53% 92 % Ax
Jul-10 0.97 28% 2.88 61% 92% Ax

Nov-09 1.31 37% 2.85 59% 92 % Ax
Jan-09 1.26 35% 3.03 63% 92% Ax

May-08 1.28 36% 3.18 65% 91 % AX

Nov-07 1.49 42% 3.53 72% 92 % Ax
May-07 1.20 33% 3.04 62% 92% Ax

Nov-05 1.25 33% 3.42 72% 91 % AX

Jan-04 1.47 38% 4.09 85%
91 % AX
Oct-03 1.38 36% 3.21 68% 91 % AX

Jul-98 2.19 66% 3.4 71% 91 % AX


SUMMARY:

Amount of air expired in the first second (FEV1) has deteriorated from 66 % of
normal to 29 % of normal or in 13 years. Today I get short of breath if I do
physical exertion.
My total expired air volume has decreased from 71 % of normal to 64 % of normal
in 13 years.