Spirometer

After my " dummy run " last Tuesday I did the journey to The Bede Clinic in Old Fold for real this morning,  I got a bus to Gateshead and then another bus to the Clinic - the timings worked well. Unlike last week when the weather was dry today we had heavy rain.

My appointment was with the Spirometry Service.  The nurse was very thorough.  My height and weight were measured, blood pressure was taken and oxygen level checked.  I had lots of questions to answer.  Then it was time to use the spirometer  - it measures the amount of air you can breathe out in one second and the total volume of air you can exhale in one forced breath. These measurements are compared with a normal result for someone of your age, height and sex, which will help show if your lungs aren't working properly.  I had to repeat the test 4 times and then I did a peak flow meter test -- 4 times.  Then I had to use an inhaler - 4 times ... and then back to the spirometer another 4 times to see if there was any difference in the readings. I should get the results in around 10 days. The appointment took around 1½ hours. Blip shot is the spirometer.

Then I went to get the bus back to Gateshead.  The area outside the Clinic was full of road works and temporary traffic lights and the bus stop I wanted was out of action.  There was an arrow pointing in the direction to find the temporary bus stop so I set off walking that way.  I walked quite a way but never found a bus stop.  So I just stood somewhere I thought the bus could stop easily and waited for it to turn up.  Fortunately the driver stopped when I put my hand out. ( He did mention that I wasn't standing at a bus stop though)

I did a bit of shopping in Tesco and as I was rather soaked by this time I didn't linger in Gateshead but got a bus home.  Had to change out of my wet clothes as soon as I got indoors.

This evening I've watched the first semi final of the Euros - Spain v France.  It was a good match and Spain won 2 - 1.

Steps today - 9,937