Answers. A chest x-ray is definitive for pneumonia. The definitiveness of the diagnosis is the good. The bad is that it is, indeed, pneumonia. We'll figure out the ugly in a moment.
So, Levaquin is prescribed, a 10-day course--already begun. Also some cough medicine with codeine for maybe a good night's sleep tonight. And a wee blast of O2 directed through the CPAP machine will be the icing on the cake. Three or 4 days should bring evidence of progress.
They are culturing blood to determine the bugs though this seems after the fact of the anti-biotic. I suppose they are most broad of spectrum anyway.
I was given the choice of hospitalization or home treatment. My doc and I both agree the bugs at home will be much less virulent than those in the hospital. But I still have to see him everyday for a few days--as though I were in the hospital--to ensure that progress is being made.
Monday, June 9, 2014
the struggle continues
We just returned from a 1-week cruise on the mighty Mississippi on a new paddle wheeler. (Actually, the paddle wheel is just for show.) Met some truly interesting people and had great service and a fine time. Weather was a drawback as we spent several days on the tours attached to the cruise walking in the rain and getting wet, But it was warm, so no hypothermia.
In our well appointed cabin, the ac blew on my head all night, every night, and, of course, I didn't think to look and see whether I could put the fan on a slower speed. (I could and did.) Moreover, with the touring (on shank's mare mostly) my usual activity level was raised.
Upshot: my chronic upper respiratory syndrome flared on return home this past week. My internist has me on Prednisone and Symbi-cort. Both are steroids. He is trying to prod my probably messed up, post-chemo, immune system. But my lungs have filled and I am expectorating lots of green mucus. I have reached out to see what the next step will be. The problem is that I cannot sleep well because I am short of breath and the change in O2 level wakes me up. Before now my CPAP machine would handle this problem by stuffing my lungs full of air, but this past couple nights, that is no longer happening. So, I expect that I am now dealing with a full-fledged bronchitis.
Moreover, I think that I am probably responsible for infecting our newfound friends from the cruise as a number have reported upper respiratory symptoms. For them, however, it is apparently a 1-week deal, not chronicity. I'll update when I find out more...
In our well appointed cabin, the ac blew on my head all night, every night, and, of course, I didn't think to look and see whether I could put the fan on a slower speed. (I could and did.) Moreover, with the touring (on shank's mare mostly) my usual activity level was raised.
Upshot: my chronic upper respiratory syndrome flared on return home this past week. My internist has me on Prednisone and Symbi-cort. Both are steroids. He is trying to prod my probably messed up, post-chemo, immune system. But my lungs have filled and I am expectorating lots of green mucus. I have reached out to see what the next step will be. The problem is that I cannot sleep well because I am short of breath and the change in O2 level wakes me up. Before now my CPAP machine would handle this problem by stuffing my lungs full of air, but this past couple nights, that is no longer happening. So, I expect that I am now dealing with a full-fledged bronchitis.
Moreover, I think that I am probably responsible for infecting our newfound friends from the cruise as a number have reported upper respiratory symptoms. For them, however, it is apparently a 1-week deal, not chronicity. I'll update when I find out more...
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