I'm alive - just got a lung infection

Babette Who Can't Login · Post by **Babette Who Can't Login** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:01 pm

Hey, to those that PM'ed me thinking I'd suddenly died. Reports are wildly exaggerated. I'm alive. Just got a lung infection. It's been miserable here since 01/10/08.

I'm at work, but I'm sure the reek of urine and my hacking cough which causes me to wet my pants every single time I cough will make them think twice about demanding my presence here again tomorrow...

I haven't been able to sleep because of the coughing. I can't use the CPAP because of the blocked nostrils, and I can't sleep without the CPAP. After 4 nights of very nearly 100% lack of sleep, I saw ANOTHER doctor on Monday and got more meds. I've gotten some more sleep since then, but it's highly fragmented. I sleep for about 20 minutes, wake up choking, with the bed wet, stalk around fuming for awhile, lay down again, try some more...

I dragged out the ComfortFull2, but couldn't bear to try it on. The coughing is bad enough with just a nasal mask, I didn't want to know what a FF would feel like.

Xrays are clear, but I have all the symptoms of Pneumonia. Doc gave me a nice cocktail of Prednisone, Augmentin and Allegra-D, but no "diagnosis". Getting slowly better, but not there yet.

Okay, that's my story. Sorry to bore you, but I have a pile of emails from buddies and I still need to catch up with work.

Cheers,
Babs

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:06 pm

BTW - caught very nearly the entire Val Lewton Film Festival on TCM Sunday/Monday. did I mention I couldn't sleep?

Highly recommend. Had to go to Netflix to rent everything else he ever did. I love old 40's horror movies. So very classy and moody. Not like today's stupid slasher/gore flicks. Martin Scorsese did a great documentary on his work that preluded the festival.

calendarlive.com/tv/cl-et-lewton14jan14,0,1834642.story?coll=cl-tv-features

tcm.com/2008/vallewton/index.html

Simone Simon has got to be the most hauntingly beautiful woman ever. Wonder where she is now? ("Cat People," "Curse of the Cat People," "Mademoiselle Fifi")

Cheers,
Babs

sleepyred · Post by **sleepyred** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:17 pm

Oh my! I sure hope you feel better soon! Take it easy - STAY home and REST!

Hugs and healing thoughts to you!

betty303 · Post by **betty303** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:39 pm

Hi Barbara

Glad that you checked in and that you are in the land of the living - such as life with a lung infection and no sleep can allow....

Keep us posted when you can, stay warm and snuggly, and get well soon.

sending you healing thoughts....

Betty303

6PtStar · Post by **6PtStar** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:58 pm

Sorry for your problems. Glad you checked in I was getting concerned! Get well soon!! We missed you!

Jerry

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 6:42 pm

Get well soon Babs!!!

Have you tried some chicken soup, sniffing some steam with some Vicks in it (the liquid stuff you put in a humdifier -- not your cpap humdifier)?

If you need anything that we can help with let us know!!! I know we would have to do it over cyberland but we will do what we can!!!

JeffH · Post by **JeffH** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 6:42 pm

Glad you checked in...was starting to worry about you. Hang in there...this too shall pass.

JeffH

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 7:19 pm

Welcome back, Babette. Same thing is taking its time passing thru here. Hubby started it Thursday morning, shared it w/me by Friday morning - only like you I ended up on pred and levaquin. Thank goodness the two plus nebulizer and humidifier have the coughing fairly well under control now so I'm ahead of you there, thank goodness. Ribs sure hurt from the coughing and am finally past the "leaks". You have my empathy and sympathy!!!! At least I didn't even have to think of going to work!!!! Darn pred wont let me sleep but hasn't given me any ambition to compensate. *sigh* I sure hope you don't have to go to work tomorrow or for the next couple of days even. You're a tougher gal than me to make it thru today!!!! Just call me Pansy. Wusp. Whatever you like. Hang in there, Babette. This too shall pass - at least that's what they're telling me.

Beware, folks. This "ain't" no fun bug going around!

Treesap · Post by **Treesap** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 7:27 pm

I'm not sure if you are coughing because you need to expectorate (is that word?). If you are not, there is a prescription medicine called Tessalon which numbs the cough reflex. When I first got asthma 3 years ago, I coughed for 45 minutes straight. I know about peeing yourself from coughing so hard. It might be worth asking your doctor if this is something you could use. It saved me until I got the regular asthma medication working.

Bookbear · Post by **Bookbear** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 8:08 pm

Sorry to hear about your illness, Babette. Hope you are on the mend and back in the land of the living soon!

RosemaryB · Post by **RosemaryB** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 9:02 pm

Wow, that sounds really horrible! Sending you virtual vitamin C and get well vibes!!!!!!!!!!!

lking · Post by **lking** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 9:10 pm

I was down with the exact symptoms from the 1st part of November until Christmas. Besides Keflex, and Prednisone, neither of which did Jack squat for me, the only thing that allowed me to be anywhere close to being comfortable was Mucinex DM at night and regular Mucinex during the day. The DM stops the coughing so you can sleep at night and the regular makes you cough during the day so you can expel the mucus.

As for your leaking problem, nothing will help that so just get some pull up Depends. Unfortunately, as humiliating as it is to have to wear them it's far better than being uncomfortable and self-conscience. Hang in there, eventually you will get better...it's a bad bug and very difficult to get rid of.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 9:12 pm

sleepycarol wrote: Have you tried some chicken soup, sniffing some steam with some Vicks in it (the liquid stuff you put in a humdifier -- not your cpap humdifier?

Yup, been eating the chicken soup, sucking Zinc lozenges, popping Echinacea & Golden Seal, nothing helps.

I bought a humidifier at Walgreens on Sunday. Cold Mist Humidifier. Was feeling woozy. It was $16, seemed like the thing to do. Put some of that camphor vapor mist liquid in it. Couldn't smell it. Didn't notice a difference in symptoms.

Monday, I bought a WARM STEAM VAPORIZER at Rite Aid. Added the camphor liquid. Set it RIGHT SMACK NEXT TO ME ON THE FUTON. Didn't notice any change.

Oh well. I know a charity that can use them.

I've also been dolloping hefty amounts of Eucalyptus EO onto my PurSleep pad, for the few times I'm able to wear the cpap mask. Did anyone else get Brett's email about the new Eucalyptus Pur Sleep? Yee Haw! Can't wait! Aura Cacia doesn't need all my money!

Survived darned near 8 hours of work today. Of course, I'm just answering emails. I haven't the mental fortitude to deal with my voicemail yet.

THANKS ALL FOR THE WARM FUZZIES! YOU DO LOVE ME!

GO OUT AND TAKE ALL THE AIRBORNE YOU CAN! EVERYONE IS GETTING THIS, I'VE GOT COWORKERS REPORTING THEIR FOLKS HAVE IT, THEY HAVE IT, ETC. ETC.

Huggers,
B.

mindy · Post by **mindy** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 9:14 pm

Babette Who Can't Login wrote: Xrays are clear, but I have all the symptoms of Pneumonia. Doc gave me a nice cocktail of Prednisone, Augmentin and Allegra-D, but no "diagnosis". Getting slowly better, but not there yet.

Hi Babette,

Sorry to hear you're under the weather! It *is* possible to have pneumonia and not have it show up on x-ray and even have no other symptoms except fever. If so, it would show up on a CT scan (been there, done that and I know how miserable that feels!)

Get better very soon!

Mindy

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 9:15 pm

Treesap wrote:I'm not sure if you are coughing because you need to expectorate (is that word?). If you are not, there is a prescription medicine called Tessalon which numbs the cough reflex. When I first got asthma 3 years ago, I coughed for 45 minutes straight. I know about peeing yourself from coughing so hard. It might be worth asking your doctor if this is something you could use. It saved me until I got the regular asthma medication working.

I... I... I think I'm going to break out in a Patridge Family Song.....

I THINK I LOVE YOU!!!!!

I'm calling the doc tomorrow. I've had this choking/coughing thing for years - it comes and goes. I feel like I'm trying to hawk up a tonsil. Yes, I still have them.

My poor duplex-mate. We share a bedroom wall. Her life isn't anymore fun than mine this week. I've spent alot of time out on the couch, but every now and then I go to the bedroom, thinking "Now I will Sleep!" and the coughing starts again.

MANY THANKS FOR THIS!
B.

Mask

Additional Comments: Aussie Heated hose for rain out/PapCap Headgear and chin strap

Mask

Additional Comments: Equipment isn't correct, S9 ASV w/H5i

Machine	Mask

Additional Comments: Avg. AHI .4

I'm alive - just got a lung infection

I'm alive - just got a lung infection

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