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Pneumonia! Argh!


KathyLauren

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What thought was a bad cold turned out to be pneumonia.  I was going downhill rapidly this week.  Friday night we had a major snowstorm.  The power went out, so I went out to start the generator.  It darned near killed me.  I got it started, but I was gasping for air and couldn’t talk.  We decided that as soon as the driveway was passable, it would be an ambulance for me.

 

In the morning, the landlines were down, and the cell coverage here is bad.  My wife walked down the driveway to ask the neighbours for help.  She met them halfway, walking in to offer help.  #bestnabesever.  They got the generator restarted, then discussed the ambulance. They have a cell booster and could get a signal.  They couldn’t contact our snowblower operator, so they hauled out their snowblower and blew out all 800 feet of our driveway for the ambulance.  Then they called 911 for me.  Like I said, best nabes ever!

 

The ambulance took me to Emergency, and I was seen quickly.  After some imaging, the diagnosis was pneumonia, with admission to the ICU.  
 

So here I am.  I have my iPad, and the wifi is good.  I’ll be here for a few days.  Everyone is amazed by my negative COVID tests, because it presents just like COVID.  With all the implications of tubes and lung scarring if I go downhill.  I think the decline has stopped, knock on wood.  Too early to say if there is improvement.

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Kathy -- know that we're all thinking Healing and Supportive Thoughts for you.  

 

I had my own similar story 3 years ago, when I had to clear our driveway with a 104-degree fever so that I could be driven to the ER.  Turned out I had double pneumonia (both lungs).  It was scary experiencing such difficulty with something I had always assumed I'd be able to do:  breathe.   Fortunately, my fever broke and the prescriptions gradually cleared my lungs in 4 to 5 days.  What a relief!  

 

May you heal rapidly.  

 

Hugs (from one of many fans of your amazing astrophotography skills here on TP),

 

Astrid

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I'm glad you got to the hospital for help!  Great neighbors!  Get well soon

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize!

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@KathyLauren Thank goodness you were able to get to the hospital!  Yes you have good neighbors.  I'm happy to read the decline is over.  Please rest and get well.  You are important to us!

Hugs, Jani

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Thanks for all the good wishes, everyone.

 

I seem to have turned the corner.  I have slightly more lung capacity today. They reduced my oxygen and I was able to keep my level above 90%.  That is good.  I can speak in full sentences for a couple of minutes.

 

In spite of three negative Covid tests, they still have me listed as Covid suspect, because of my symptoms.  It affects the staff more than me.  They have to suit up in a hazmat gown to enter my room, and garbage it when they leave.

 

I am still as weak as a newborn kitten.  I need help to get to the commode, even when it is right beside my bed.  And getting back into bed leaves me oxygen-depleted and gasping for air.  Fortunately, I recover quickly.

 

Not much news here besides that.

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Today, I am sitting up in a chair, still in ICU.  Moving around is an adventure, lots of gasping for air, but I am breathing without supplemental oxygen.  
 

I have had five Covid tests, all negative.  So I get the misery of Covid without the glamour. 
 

They might let me out of ICU into a regular room in a day or two.  It will be quite a few days before I can go home.  The food is decent for hospital food, and the staff are nice.  Thank goodness for decent wifi!

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5 minutes ago, KathyLauren said:

Today, I am sitting up in a chair, still in ICU.  Moving around is an adventure, lots of gasping for air, but I am breathing without supplemental oxygen.  
 

I have had five Covid tests, all negative.  So I get the misery of Covid without the glamour. 
 

They might let me out of ICU into a regular room in a day or two.  It will be quite a few days before I can go home.  The food is decent for hospital food, and the staff are nice.  Thank goodness for decent wifi!

I'm sorry you are laid up in the hospital. Any time in ICU is frightening. I hope you heal soon.

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Kathy I'm happy to read you are moving more and have gone off oxygen.  Like you I have found food to be good and staff to be very nice.  I was in hospital this fall for elective sinus surgery.  Due to complications afterwards I ended up staying overnight.   

 

Hugs,

Jani 

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Get well soon Kathy, no fun being there !!

 

Hugs

 

Cyndi

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On 1/10/2022 at 1:53 PM, KathyLauren said:

So here I am.  I have my iPad, and the wifi is good.  I’ll be here for a few days.  Everyone is amazed by my negative COVID tests, because it presents just like COVID.  With all the implications of tubes and lung scarring if I go downhill.  I think the decline has stopped, knock on wood.  Too early to say if there is improvement.

Oh Kathy,

I used to be a firm believer in self medicating when it came to colds/flu, cuts, and sprains. The cold or flu was beat back with Hot Toddies, (Whiskey/Bourbon, Honey, and Lemon) Cuts, were cleaned and bandaged, (why I have some huge scars) Sprains got iced and wrapped. During my first round of pneumonia (2009), I truly thought I was going to die, and to this day have never been that sick again. Even my bought with COVID-19 wasn't as bad as my pneumonia. Today I don't mess around, I see the doctor if I'm not feeling better within a day or so. I now have a Podiatrist for my feet, cardiologist, back and spine specialists, hand and wrist specialists, a neurologist who works with them all. This doesn't count my therapists and transition team. All because I'm aging. I've had my flu shot, pneumonia and covid vaccines.

 

Please take care of yourself, rest, and recover before taking on to much. Pneumonia is not to be taken lightly, and we all want you to enjoy good wifi, and life.

 

Prayers, and positive energy,

 

Mindy🐛🏳️‍⚧️🦋 

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I probably tend to wait too long to see a doctor.  But the reality here is that there is no health care for acute, non-emergency conditions.  I called my doc complaining of a cough that wouldn’t go away and shortness of breath, and the best they could do for me was a telephone appointment in a week and a half.  I had to wait for it to get to emergency level before someone would see me.  First I went to walk-in emerg, and literally everyone who came in after me for four hours got triaged ahead of me.  I walked out without (acing seen a doctor.  Finally, four days later, it got to ambulance level, and I got taken seriously.

 

Chronic conditions on the other hand are no problem.  Sure, the doctor will see you in six weeks.

 

The care, once you get it is good, but the system is broken.

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Yay!  I was sprung from ICU for good behaviour.  Still in hospital, but a regular (private) room.  They are talking about sending me home on the weekend. :)

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54 minutes ago, KathyLauren said:

Yay!  I was sprung from ICU for good behaviour.  Still in hospital, but a regular (private) room.  They are talking about sending me home on the weekend. :)

Wow what a relief!

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Excellent news and reassuring that you're steadily improving!

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3 hours ago, KathyLauren said:

They are talking about sending me home on the weekend. :)

That’s good news Kathy, stay strong, don’t over exert yourself. 
 

Get well soon,

 

Mindy🐛🏳️‍⚧️🦋

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6 hours ago, Mmindy said:

They are talking about sending me home on the weekend.

That's great news. I send you prayers for good health. Get well soon, Kathy,

Hugs,

Davie

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Keep healing dear and stay well once they let you go.  

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

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Great news.  Keep getting well and maybe you can get early probation!  

 

Hugs, Jani

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Well crap!  Lung collapsed.  They have a drain in my chest to re-inflate it.  Not going home soon. :(

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Oh no! I hope they put you out for this procedure.

 

Gentle Hugs,

 

Mindy🐛🏳️‍⚧️🦋

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Get well soon @KathyLaurenwe need your healthy and wise self around here. Much love from your northerly neighbour. ❤️

Our provinces are so short of medical staffing of all qualifications and abilities, that it breaks whatever system would be in place. :(

 

Big Canadian Hugs

 

JoniSteph

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