MY PROFILE TELLING WHO I AM

I just joined Second Life on May 31/07 at www.secondlife.com for those of you in SL who are interested and my name is PCE GRAVES. I like exploring new things, socializing and learning l

I am having lots of fun taking pictures in the SL and in RL. I have been posting photos to flickr for almost 9 years now at http://www.flickr.com/photos/pcellis/sets.

Welcome to my photostream! I have been retired now for 13 yrs and am interested in computers, digital photography and going out on daily car side trips in the spring, summer and fall. I worked in the pulp and paper industry for 31 years as a senior mechanical project engineer.
Regarding the viewing of my photos,Presently, I am using a brand new Sony digital camera DSC-H9 , 8 MP, 15 optical zoom. Before I usesd a Sony Cybershot DSC-HI, 5.1 MP and 12x optical zoom and a Sony Cybershot DSC-P8 having 3.2 MP and 3 Opitcal Zoom. I am really thrilled and very happy with my new camera!

I was born in Montreal in 1936 and spent first nine years of my life in Three Rivers at 852 Notre Dame Street. In 1945 my parents moved to Montreal where I spent my teenage years and early twenties. My father had a second summer and winter home at Christieville dans les Laurentides pres de St Sauveur des Monts. There I learned to ski and then raced in the Laurentian ski zone as a class "C" skier.

In 1958 I went to UNB in Fredericton, NB and studied mechanical engineering. I graduated in 1963 and had my first engineering job in Sorel with Beloit. Was married in 1965 and moved to Watertown, NY in 1968 to work for Black Clawson. My son was born in the USA. Moved back to Canada in 1971 to Ottawa to work for E.B. Eddys until 1989 when I was then transferred to Papier Scott Ltee in Hull. In 1994, I was given an early retirement package at age 58.

During my university years, I had summer jobs in Quebec city, Ste. Hyacinthe, Newfoundland and Banff, Alberta.

Owing to my severe dysphagia (resulting form my acute bulbar polio in 1951 before the polio vacine was discovered) I had a new Peg feeding tube installed into my stomach (on June 8, 2006) in order to prevent further damage to my lungs from aspiration when eating orally which has caused me to have bronchiectasis. I also have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) because I smoked 30 cigarettes a day between ages 18 and 31. My respirologist. was very much afraid if I get aspiration pneumonia I won't have much reserve lung capacity to fight it. as my lung fundtion is only 34% of normal The risks could be quite severe if I continue to eat orally This is the reason why I have a Peg tube now!. The Peg tube will be a permanent installation so I won't be eating orally again, so wish me luck in adapting to the next episode of my post polio syndrome journey! I still have a chocolate bar and a pint of beer orally every day.

It has now been almost a year and a half that I have been feeding myself through my PEG Tube. I find it rather restricts and limits my daily activities. I can't eat out, can't travel, can't eat orally, etc! The smell of food cooking in the kitchen drives me crazy when my wife is preparing food. I am confined to home during feedings using a 500 ml gravity feed bag on an IV pole. The actual feeding procedure is no big deal now as I have mastered all the tricks and shortcuts that are known. I do all my feedings while I am on my computer so I spend more time at my computer now. I am slowly getting use to this new lifestyle.

I have just come to realize now that my tube is my only lifeline to nourishment and survival and so I must look after it as best as I know how.!

My stoma (the hole in adominal wall that accommodates my peg tube) constantly drains and has to be covered up all the time with sterile gauze so it won't get infected. I cleanse it every second day after I shower with a saline solution, dry it thoroughly, apply Polysporin antibacterial ointment around the open wound and then cover it up with sterile gause.

I had a bone density scan done in late Nov, 2006 on my lower back, left hip and left wrist and found out that I have corticosteroid (Flovent) induced osteopenia (bone thinning). Am now taking Didrocal medicine. I am a moderate risk to bone breakage!

I have had a chronic lower back problem since age 28 and have been seeing a chiropractor for last 28 years for monthly adjustments which have kept me upright on my feet. Now I am going twice a month as I find that my back muscles bothers me more now! I guess I am spending too much time sitting at my computer!

In the late fall of 2007, my physiatrist has now recommended that I wear a soft neck.collar at my computer and a stiff neck collar when I go out of the house for walks and etc.

My stories about my journey with the late effects of polio can be read at pcellis.blogspot.com and also on my MSN space spaces.msn.com/members/pcellis.
My experiences with Progressive Oropharygneal Dysphagia
www.post-polio.org/ipn/pnn14-2d.html#mye
What works for me: Item PE 402, posted 1-26-04
www.post-polio.org/whatwks_e.html
The present late effects of my acute bulbar polio attack in 1951: www.flickr.com/photos/pcellis/sets/72157594160004887/

My Webshots site: community.webshots.com/user/pcellis101

My del.icio.us links: del.icio.us/pcellis

MySpace web site: www.myspace.com/pcellis101

I'm Male and Taken.

My post polio jouney
Ottawa, Canada