Typette.com: lung issues...again

lung issues...again

May 13, 2009

Mother's Day came and went, all too fast.

It was a nice time. A lot of prep work, but good times had. It was really great hosting it at our house this time around. I enjoy being a host, to a degree, I think it's the comfort in knowing that I can do what I want within my own place and I don't have to worry about getting too tired or having to leave at a certain time.

I have been sick lately. Don't have a diagnosis just yet, but it has something to do with my lungs again.

I can't breathe all that well. It started out as just allergies, and my asthma is usually triggered by those.

After the allergies were gone, I still couldn't breathe. This is not the norm for me. I clutched my rescue inhaler 24x7...and used it at least 10x's a day. I knew it wasn't right...but I dealt.

This is all started about a month ago. So finally, a week ago, I went to the doc and told her what was going on. She thought I might have bronchitis, however I had no coughing or fever or other signs of infection. I just couldn't BREATHE. She did happen to find a double ear-infection going on though. Hmmm. Guess the breathing issues kept my focus away from that little doozy. Also my blood pressure was pretty high at abt 130/93... Usually I'm in the LOW 100's/70ish. High blood pressure could be due to using the inhaler so much though. Doc recommended that I "find a neighbor who might have a blood pressure cuff to check on me every-other-day". Uh. Hello? What?! ... anyway, it made me paranoid enough to go out and buy a blood pressure cuff that does everything automatically.

I was put on Prednisone (steroids) to open my lungs up. Z-Pak (antibiotic) to help with bronchitis (if I had it) and the dbl ear infection. Cymbicort (like Advair) for daily maintenance help for my asthma. The Cymbicort seems to help a bit. I the past few days I've only used my inhaler about 5x's a day or so. The steroids didn't seem to really do anything. I can breathe in A LOT but can't breathe out. I cough and I have to catch my breath...and doing so usually leaves me choking and reaching for my inhaler. The antibiotic didn't do crap, b/c my ears hurt so bad now.

So... now I'm on Augmentin (penicillin) and Cingulair. We'll see how that goes. Also, she called in a prescrip for some nebulizer meds, but I will have to go out and by the actual machine or rent it. So I'm not so sure I'll be doing that anytime soon at least. If i'm not better or if I'm worse by Friday, I go to see her physically, again.

She lives near the shore...it's kinda far from me. So she is gracious enough to call in prescrip changes for me if a visit isn't particularly necessary.

It's been a long time since I've updated on any lung-issues. Looking back, things were kinda crazy.

Since 2007 I've been going to the doc once a year in June (well I guess that would make that only 1 time then) for a full on check up at NY Presbyterian Hospital's - Pulmonary division.

Anywho -- I'm going to try and keep my medical stuff out of this blog, again and on to my CaringBridge.org page

Just crossing my fingers in the meantime, hoping that I just need to get my asthma in check and it's nothing else!!!

I'm pretty terrified right now, b/c I've never felt so helpless and out of control. I fear being home alone one day, not able to breathe. Choking and not being able to make a sound. Not being able to call 911 and let them know where I am and what's wrong with me and that I need help. I fear that one day my rescue inhaler just isn't going to cut it...

Labels: events, family, lungs

posted by Typette @ 2:20 AM

1 Comments:

At May 13, 2009 at 8:50 PM, Sue said…

Oh man. That is so scary. Now that you have a landline, keep that by you. You won't need to tell them where you are, the landline will give them your address automatically.

I'll be thinking of you - let me know if you need anything.