Blog draft may 6 26

More About the Trip

I have related heart and breathing problems. They are well under control by meds and ongoing testing. We shift the treatment as needed on a monthly basis so we are all good. The trip, however, provided the challenge of high altitude/ Santa Fe and Taos are both at 7000 feet compared with Chicago’s 720 feet. I deal with this difference with pulseox measurements frequently. Looking for a medium pulse rate (65 to 75) and oxygen concentration of 88 to 95. My norm is 90 to 92.

The trip, however, produced oxygen concentration ratings of 72 to 86. That calls for oxygen from either a tank or a concentrator. I have a home-based large concentrator, and a smaller travel concentrator. It is the latter that failed on this trip without our knowing of it. When my oxygen rate consistently sat at 74 while totally immobile, the internet told me to get to the hospital quickly. We did and all is well.

This week I have to figure out how to replace the concentrator or figure out a different medical solution. That will be up to the doctors. It will all work out; I have complete faith in that.

At any rate the trip’s solution this time was to get out of town fast and get to a lower altitude. We did that immediately after hospital discharge. We returned my son=in-law’s rental car at the airport in Albuquerque which is at 5000 feet elevation. However, we travelled through more 6000 and 7000 elevations for nearly a day before consistently reaching 3000 or less feet. The pulseox reported the lower oxygen levels quickly and accurately.

This trip taught me how to travel better with oxygen knowledge. It still is a challenge that requires someone else accompany me to manage medical help if needed. I am well protected but still …

In coming days I will cover a host of other issues. Trees is the first one.

May 6, 2026

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