Just checked my Oxygen level with my finger thingy. It’s 98% — Yay!!! I started the new year with a bang. My compromised immune system finally caught up with me. I Woke up in the middle of the night sick as a dog. I ended up in the ER and when the Doc asked me what brought me in I told him that I felt like shit warmed over. Couldn’t put that on the chart.
My five year old granddaughter colored a get well for me. I love it.
Turns out I had pneumonia. Please note the past tense here. After multiple bags of antibiotics plus strong oral antibiotics I felt better, much better. I arrived in the ER around lunch time on New Year’s day. They kept me until Saturday afternoon.
If I ever go to the hospital again (hope not) I’m not letting them stick me in my arms and hands for IV. Send someone down who is certified to access my port. Why? Both arms and both hands are beat up from the IV.
I joked about only being admitted to the hospital on holidays. The first time was Memorial Day 2012 and this time New Year’s 2014. I don’t want another next time.
Anyway, I’m home sleeping in my own bed and playing with my computer. By the end of the week I’ll be done with 5 days of oral antibiotics, a visit to my primary doc and a follow up chest x-ray.
I’m staying away from people and crowded places until the flu season is over. I might get some masks to wear when I do go out. Staying home gets real boring real fast. I’ll get out one way or another.
Got some neat photos from Christmas. Look for them over the next few days (and weeks). Can’t wait to get out with my new FujiFilm X10. That will have to wait.
The weather here is nuts. It was record breaking cold Friday and Saturday, freezing rain on Sunday morning, woke up this morning to pouring rain and most of the snow melted, temps dropped nearly 30 degrees since this morning and the sun is out. Low tonight 8 degrees and windy so the wind chill will be below zero. Going out John? No thank you, I can wait.
Glad to hear you’re on the mend. Happy New Year. 🙂
Thanks. Mending sounds good to me.
😀
Ah shit, hospitals suck. Was in one last year for surgery and don’t want to repeat that experience either. Worst is probably the 6am start and forcing me to eat at 8am. Urgh. Glad you feel better now!
Would you believe that someone came in at 1:00 AM to draw my blood? I would have woken anyway because I had two bags of antibiotics just before I went to sleep and I had to pee.
The eating thing amazes me. The portions are too large and the meals are too close together.
The hospital beds suck big time. Climbing under the covers of my own bed was like heaven.
Hospitals may suck but I probably wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for the hospital.
Ah well, doctors are very good at saving lives, but don’t know shit about health or quality of life. I’d know, two chronic conditions and I basically had to solve all of that myself, because they have no financial interest in healing any of those. All they had to offer was meds that don’t work and surgery. Vowed not to have surgery again and now 90% better through diet and one off label med I had to talk my doctor into. 80% better just through diet, it’s amazing. Doctors don’t learn about nutrition here and if they do, then all the wrong things. And that surgery? Well, it actually made me a lot worse for a while and so far I can’t see any positive results. Not doing that again, for sure.
The crazy thing about hospitals is: They don’t let you sleep and they give you horrific food. Without proper nutrition or sleep it’s impossible to get better!
Yeah Lilly, our so called health care system is just the opposite. It’s a sick care system. I’m lucky because the doctors on my medical team really do care. My pulmonologist is one of the nicest, compassionate men I’ve ever met and he’s a terrific doctor. My oncologist is my guardian angel. She saved my life. She worries, cares and more. But…
I’m not supposed to take supplements during chemo. Yeah right says John as he downs his supplements every day.
Hey, you’ve got to avoid the world for awhile. If you must go out, carry a little bottle of germ killer in your pocket along with some GOOD face masks. That old bottle of no-sweat pills from RVN doesn’t work anymore.
Thanks Raoul — I need to find some good face masks is true. Hey, I’ll check Amazon Prime to see what I can find.
Sorry you’re sick, John. Seems like you’ve had more than your share, but I’m glad you have a good attitude. Stay in, stay warm, and get well soon!
Thanks Dimple — no way will I go out tomorrow. The wind chill will be between -15 and -20. I just ordered a box of face masks from Amazon.
Oh boy… I spent my 50th birthday in ICU with pneumonia. Now I too stay away from people…. I am glad you are recovering…. Warning… A bout of pneumonia is really tiring…. Rest….. Michelle
Hi Michelle — Thanks
I am tired and the powerful antibiotics I have to take until Thursday make chemo-brain even more fun. Juggling meds and food is a crazy game. Can’t take this with that. Don’t lie down for 30 minutes after taking the med. Wait until the full moon to take that one and on and on.
Yes, the anti-biotics have a lot of side-effects….but please be patient and rest…it will get better….
Thanks again Michelle. I had acute prostatitis about 12 years back and they had me on Cipro for 10 days or so. I couldn’t take it because it messed up my brain. They switched me to Levaquin for over a month. I found out all about the side effects. Most of them are because the meds bind to magnesium in your body. The biggest reason Levaquin was easier to take was because it’s once a day and I can take my magnesium supplements at the other end of the day. Cipro is twice a day.
Anyway. I’ll just take my time and rest. I was busy all day today arranging new prescriptions, scheduling follow up appointments with my docs and other good things. And yes, patience helps — a lot.
So happy to hear you’re recovering, John.
Luckily, I’ve only had one hospital stay which was for abdominal surgery. The worst part of my visit was the nurse who came in at 2AM and wanted me to blow hard into this device to keep the little ball in the air. The point of it was to make me cough to keep my lungs clear. With sutures in my belly, there was no I way I was going to cough. I told her, “No.” LOL
Good luck with your juggling lessons and stay warm! 🙂
Thanks Steve
When I was in the hospital the first time I had a colon resection. Man did it hurt to laugh. They gave me a pillow to clutch. Still have that pillow.
I am not going out the door tomorrow. My next doc appt is late Wed afternoon and it should be warmer by then.
I know about that laughing thing, too. While in the hospital, I pulled a little prank on my wife that made me laugh. I was laughing and crying in agony at the same time. Mary didn’t give me much sympathy. LOLLLL
So happy you are mending at home. With you on the IV sticks, I have the veins of a small child and I dread them. Love the get well card!
Thanks Val
Livvy made the drawing. She is a real sweetie.
Hi John, It’s good to hear you are feeling better, but I think your assessment is spot-on – stay away from germ-laden strangers for a while. Your get-well card is priceless.
Thanks Wayne. I got my box of 50 surgical masks from Amazon today. Just in time for my doctor appointment this afternoon. No way will I sit in a crowded waiting room at the doctor without protection.