Mastodawn

Sometimes now I dream of being out somewhere busy--such as a shopping mall, church, or other large gathering--yet somehow I have forgotten my respirator and don't even have a disposable one for backup. 😳

As the dream goes on, I change from making hopeful excuses to myself such as "I won't be here long, exposure is probably minimal" to being more and more worried that with being on sustained #oral #chemotherapy, the risks are just getting higher and far too unsafe. 😱

At that point, some sort of panic-type threshhold is met, and I awaken.

This dream seems a perfectly reasonable update to the whole 'arriving without pants for a high school exam' trope … but the REALLY weird bit, IMO, is that IRL, I am wearing a #CPAP mask throughout the night.

Every night.

There is no part of my 24 hours where at least eight of them include wearing a well-sealed, pressurised mask.

And, IRL, I never mix in public or uncertain spaces without my #ElastomericRespirator due to chemo, etc.

Utterly wild experience. 😂😂😂

Likely Jan Lukas Oct 1

Getting stared at whilst wearing my #ElastomericRespirator in public is nothing new, but today was, IMO, notable.

A youngish couple (maybe mid-30s) didn't do a #DoubleTake, or even a #TripleTake, but a #QuadrupleTake.

The *particularly* unusual part? They were clearly both #Hutterite owing to their clothing and hairstyles.

🤔😀

#abhealth
#Alberta
#CovidIsNotOver

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Likely Jan Lukas Jun 10, 2025

@davidaugust

Thank you.❤️

For many it isn't so bad -- on the surface. Wildfire smoke has a lot of nasty stuff in it in addition to the fine particulates that silt up the lungs, but people with healthy lungs may not be noticeably impacted for a long time.

For me, I had well-controlled #asthma until the 2021 wildfires and every summer since has been pure hell.

I wear an #ElastomericRespirator outdoors and do my best to kludge together powered filters for the windows.

1/3

Likely Jan Lukas Sep 24, 2024

#EPCOR is changing something on its water meters and has #NeptuneTechnologyGroup subcontracting to do the work. When I booked the appointment, I explained I am on #chemo and ANYONE inside my unit MUST wear an #N95 or #ElastomericRespirator the entire time.

So dude shows up barefaced. I remind him about the mask requirement. He goes to his vehicle and returns with a baggy blue. Says he doesn't have an N95 so "cancels appointment" and walks off.

😡

New sign added to door.

🙄

#yeg

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Likely Jan Lukas Sep 17, 2024

I'm really pleased I was able to gain cooperation for wearing an #ElastomericRespirator for each of these three #MedicalImaging #scans.

I hope these experiences also help #radiology technicians and #radiologists be aware that #patients may be able to be supported successfully in this way.

Hope the above was helpful for other folks. 🙂

27/fin

#ABhealth
#Alberta
#healthcare
#accessibility
#disability
#RiskManagement
#Negotiation
#Navigation

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Likely Jan Lukas Sep 17, 2024

Also, in each of these interactions I was able to:

- explain why I did not want to remove the #ElastomericRespirator if at all possible

- list the brand, materials, and general mechanics of my #respirator

- be willing to switch to some other N95 they might have on hand if mine won't work

- discuss the above politely and cooperatively, noting that I'm just a patient and no expert in #MedicalImaging, just a reasonable guess that it *should* be possible

26/x

#healthcare
#accessibility

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Likely Jan Lukas Sep 17, 2024

So, in summary: it is DEFINITELY POSSIBLE to get good-quality #MedicalImaging with the #pt wearing a #metal-free #ElastomericRespirator.

A metal-free elastomeric respirator can be worn with:

- #xrays
- #CTscans
- #MRIs

24/x

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Likely Jan Lukas Sep 17, 2024

No, the problem I ran into is that I was so relaxed in the #MRI that I had to fight hard to stay awake.

And because I have #SleepApnea, being that relaxed while on my back means my soft tissues in the back of my throat start to collapse.

And then I stop breathing.

But of course … that would've been a problem regardless of whether or not I was wearing an #ElastomericRespirator!

23/x

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Likely Jan Lukas Sep 17, 2024

This setup was quite snug against my face, perhaps like a close-fitting motorbike helmet (it's been decades since I wore one so my memory may be muddled!).

I only ran into one issue with using an #ElastomericRespirator inside an #MRI, and it had nothing to do with the test itself.

21/x

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Likely Jan Lukas Sep 17, 2024

The #MRI's brain receiver coil isn't super-tight to the head, but it also isn't overly-generous.

The concerns here were whether the #ElastomericRespirator would fit under the coil, in addition to concerns it might generally mess with the quality of the #MedicalImaging.

18/x