What a morning. Last night, after taking the new asthma medication Doc Theo prescribed yesterday (see details below), I hadn’t slept more than a few hours, tossing around. Today will be a good day for a mid-afternoon nap.
When I walked outdoors in my pajamas after slipping on my shoes, I was thrilled to see him at our vacation/holiday home for the first time since we arrived 15 days ago. We’d seen him in Louise and Danie’s garden on Saturday, but it wasn’t the same. Now I know he’ll return frequently when he responds so animatedly to my voice and our iced cold apples and carrots.
His ears flipped back and forth, listening to me even when pellets were on the ground. Of course, once I cut up a plateful of carrots and apples, he knew he was in the right place.
So be it if carrots and apples are needed to entice him to visit. I can live with that reality. After all, he’s a wild animal, always searching for sustenance. Although there is plenty of green vegetation, the plants and trees the animals eat have been stripped bare after a dry season. Rain is badly needed.
While Norman was here, warthogs, kudus, impalas, mongooses, bushbucks, zebras, and wildebeests were present simultaneously—seven species in total! However, I was preoccupied with Norman and couldn’t take my eyes off him.
He stayed for over an hour and finally headed out. We didn’t see Nina and the kids, but we surely will one day soon. He often grazes with his family. We’ll keep you posted.
As for what transpired at Doc Theo’s office yesterday, I am hopeful his asthma/allergy treatment plan will be successful and that I can get off Prednisone within a week or two. He prescribed a drug called Mont-Air, which has many side effects but can eliminate asthma, hay fever, and itchy eyes caused by allergens in the environment.
I took the first dose last night, which is recommended since It can cause sleepiness but also can cause restlessness and anxiety in some patients. I ended up with restlessness, feeling like I had a motor running in my body. I hardly slept all night. However, as the morning wore on, I felt better.
Theo told me to take the new drug, use my regular inhaler and nasal spray, and continue the low-dose Prednisone for one week. After a week, I’ll cut the Prednisone in half and continue that for another week, all the while continuing with the new drug. Hopefully, when the Prednisone is out of my system, I’ll have the full effect of the new drug and be asthma-free.
Having severe asthma attacks is dangerous at any age, but even more so for heart patients and the elderly. I guess at 77, I am considered elderly. Good grief.
With this new plan, I am my usual cheerful self and continue enjoying the wildlife, surroundings, and wonderful people we know.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, March 18, 2015:
