Thursday, November 18, 2010

My Thanksgiving Will Be Spent With Pneumonia As A Companion

Hi everyone.  I haven't posted a recent article because I have been sick the past 11 days.  I went to the doctor Wed., Nov. 10 because I had a temperature, a weight on my chest that made taking more than half a breath impossible, fluid behind both ear drums, sinus drainage, a low temperature, and a cough.  I woke up with all of this going on Sun., Nov. 7.

The doctor said I either had the flu or was having a heart attack.  We did blood tests, a chest xray and two heart tests.  All the tests were normal.  I got an antibiotic because I still had a slight kidney infection going on from my last doctor's visit several weeks ago.  I got a second antibiotic, a cortizone shot and a cough medicine plus an over the counter antihistimine to take.

I started to feel better except for the breathing and coughing.  I haven't had a temperature in almost 3 days.  My appetite which was almost non-existent is almost back to normal.  I lost 12 pounds from not eating.  I don't suggest anyone try to lose weight that way.  My energy levels have risen.

The coughing got a lot worse last night so I went back to the doctor today.  We did another blood test to check white blood cell levels.  They were normal.  We did another chest xray and this one showed that I have pneumonia in the lower part of my right lung.  I had a breathing treatment which made it easier to breath and made the coughing worse for a little while.  I did feel better for awhile and could even take an almost normal breath.  Tomorrow a saleman will deliver a breathing treatment machine and teach me how to give myself a breathing treatment three times a day for the next two weeks.  I also have another antibiotic plus got a steroid shot at the doctor's office today.

I had to cancel our family gathering for Thanksgiving because it was supposed to be at our house this year.  The doctor wants me doing a lot of resting the next two weeks.  She told me the pneumonia would have already been a lot worse if I hadn't been on the antibiotic for my minor kidney infection of the past several weeks.

I want to wish all of my American friends a glorious Thanksgiving.  Until I get to feeling better, I won't be spending much time on the computer.
Patricia

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Lots of rest Patricia. Sending you comforting thoughts <3

Patricia Singleton said...

L. T., thanks. Will be resting between breathing treatments and cough syrup that is supposed to knock me off my feet.

Just Be Real said...

(((((((Patricia)))))))

Barbara Swafford said...

Hi Patricia,

I'm sending love, ((hugs)) and prayers your way.

Although you won't have a family gathering for Thanksgiving, I hope your day is extra special.

Anonymous said...

Hope you feel better. Get lots of rest and please know that many people are thankful for YOU this holiday!

Patricia Singleton said...

JBR, thank you so much. I really need the hugs right now.

Patricia Singleton said...

Barbara, thank you so much for the love, hugs and prayers. I will still be spending the day with the love of my life, my darling husband who is taking care of me through all of this.

Patricia Singleton said...

Skins Fan, thank you so much for your kind words. I, too, am thankful for so many new friends that I have met through my blog.

Hold Fast said...

You just rest and take it easy until your body regains its strength. Thanks for all your help through your posts.

I'm trying to make all of the positives in your last post of "Who Am I" my reality.

Patricia Singleton said...

Hold Fast, thank you. Tomorrow will be day 14 of being sick with this. Today I coughed more because of the breathing treatments for the pneumonia so was tired all day.

Congratulations to you for working on making your life more positive. You are worth it all.

Just Be Real said...

Patricia came by to see how you are doing. ((((Patricia))))

Patricia Singleton said...

JBR, I am coughing more but that is what the breathing treatments are supposed to make me do to get the stuff out of my lungs. It is more tiring when I cough more. Ran a slight temperature last night. First temp. that I had in four days. So far no temp today. I want to go grocery shopping today but will see how I feel later. Need to buy some simple foods to fix for Thanksgiving dinner for my husband and I. I used to buy a small turkey roast when it was just the 2 of us before the kids were born and a fake turkey for me since I am a vegetarian. Both are easy to fix with little effort in case my husband is the one to do the cooking.

I appreciate your love and caring.

Clueless said...

(((((((Patricia))))))

I'm so sorry that you have pneumonia. Please be patient with yourself and take it easy. Last year, I missed all of the holidays due complications with my pneumonia, but I am glad that I just rested. (Mine was a bit worse as I was in the hospital for seven nights.) Get well soon!!!

Take care of yourself,
CC

Patricia Singleton said...

Clueless, thank you. I am having good days and tiring days. Woke up with a sore throat and ear ache this morning so am probably going back to the doctor either tomorrow or Wednesday for more antibiotics. The breathing treatments are helping but I don't think my body really likes the medicine. By the third breathing treatment at night I have a headache. This is a child's dose that I am taking because an adult dose makes me shake and then later break out in a rash. So far the child's dose just makes my hands shake for about an hour afterwords.

Here's hoping you have a glorious Thanksgiving.

Dr. Deb said...

Oh no!!!

Take care and heal soon.

Patricia Singleton said...

Dr. Deb, thank you. I do feel better today. Haven't coughed today. Have a glorious Thanksgiving.

Hold Fast said...

Patricia,
Hope you are new feeling much better and are able to enjoy Christmas. By far the worst time of the year for me as my young life was more tramatic than usual half the month of December and January.

May the truest gifts of the season warm the deepest parts of your heart.

Praying for a stonger 2011 for all.

hugs.

Patricia Singleton said...

Hold Fast, thank you. I am almost completely back to healthy. Still have an occasional cough and runny nose from allergies. The pneumonia is completely gone. Looking forward to spending Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with family.

I do understand how you feel about December and January. Family holidays were often sad and angry at my childhood home. Wishing all of us a glorious 2011.

Issaquah Chiropractor said...

I feel so bad to know that you are one of the many individual having such kind of disease. Take care of yourself and get well soon. I will include you in my prayer always.

Patricia Singleton said...

Issaquah Chiropractor, thank you for the prayers. They are much appreciated. It took awhile but I am back to normal now.

Unknown said...

There is no single faith or valid path. This knowledge would have saved humanity much suffering and tragedies. Each of us addresses the spiritual path from the point where he or she is, with his character, his specific skills, intellectual potential and different beliefs. We all have access to a channel that allows us to put our thinking into question and to release us as and our ego. One way in which we can see the true essence of our sensibility. This is valid for all those who wish to advance and evolve in a spiritual way, it is the motivation to want to change ourselves on the whole in order to help others break free of their suffering. In adopting this altruistic attitude we find ourselves face to face with our failure in regard to the suffering of others. "Thus was born the desire to move forward and address this weakness. And since we take a spiritual path that we design ourselves, this path can only be a unique one." (Alex Mero)

Patricia Singleton said...

Khalid, Sorry it took so long for me to post your reply and comment on it. My computer was in the shop for a week.

I so agree with everything that you said. I see good in all the religions that I have studied. I also usually see a few things that I don't agree with and that is okay too. As you said above, my spiritual path is a unique one. To me having compassion for myself and for others is always important to have. Thank you for your thoughtful comment.