Help with pneumonia

[tri-terror]

You can't diagnose a pneumonia without a chest x ray... sounds like you have bronchitis or just a viral illness. Surprised they gave you levaquin... as thats some serious shit.

If you feel fine but just have the cough I would wait it out for a while and make an appointment with your regular dr.

You may have some allergies that are giving you post nasal drip. That will cause a chronic cough too.

 

[101st Ranger]

It's basically congestive heart failure...the fluid is from your blood...blood doesn't leak thru the capillary membrane into your lungs/atmosphere, but plasma in the blood will...what forces the plasma out of the blood? lots of pressure and/or lots of volume

normally in older people the chf is from the kidneys retaining fluid...hopefully in sullys case it's just an acute bout of chf from too many rbc's from the eq...maybe donating blood will make ya feel better...

Done labs in a while? know your h&h, hematocrit and hemoglobin?

I'm donating blood today. So, I will get a read on my h&h levels. I've done full lab work twice last year and two EKGs. All was good expect one cholesterol reading which basically indicated levels were opposite of where they should be. I did however feel fine at the time.

Will update on my h&h levels and if I feel any better after donating.

 

[Akamai]

Grapefruit seed extract 15-20 drops 3 x day, Viral, Bacterial, even Cavities.

Give a whirl, I think you will be suprised.

AK

 

[101st Ranger]

So, I went back to the doc AGAIN today and was given yet another antibiotic. This is the 3rd one in 10 days. Levofloxacin. Was also prescribed a second and stronger inhaler and given a referral to a pulmanologist.

I also donated blood today. Hemocrit was within normal range at 16.8. But, my breathing problems remain.

Hopefully, this lung specialist can figure this shit out.

 

[Sully]

I went to the Doc today, too. He said my lungs are clear and it's not pneumonia. Apparently there's something viral that's been going around for the last few months. Usually lasts anywhere from a month to 2 months, and one pretty much has to suck it up and let it run it's course. He gave me a corticosteroid, an albuteral inhaler, and some more codeine cough syrup. Also told me to keep taking the Mucinex several times a day, and that I really needed to keep coughing so I can move anything out of my lungs that might still be breaking up.

Not exactly what I wanted to hear, but that's how it goes. After a month and a half of constant coughing, I just want to make the coughing stop. I coughed so hard yesterday that I think I pulled a muscle in my back. And almost lost consciousness a couple times I was coughing so hard.

I feel like such a bitch coming on here and whining about my coughing while other guys are fighting cancer and almost getting their leg cut off. I'm done with this. Time to suck it up move forward.

 

[101st Ranger]

I went to the Doc today, too. He said my lungs are clear and it's not pneumonia. Apparently there's something viral that's been going around for the last few months. Usually lasts anywhere from a month to 2 months, and one pretty much has to suck it up and let it run it's course. He gave me a corticosteroid, an albuteral inhaler, and some more codeine cough syrup. Also told me to keep taking the Mucinex several times a day, and that I really needed to keep coughing so I can move anything out of my lungs that might still be breaking up.

Not exactly what I wanted to hear, but that's how it goes. After a month and a half of constant coughing, I just want to make the coughing stop. I coughed so hard yesterday that I think I pulled a muscle in my back. And almost lost consciousness a couple times I was coughing so hard.

I feel like such a bitch coming on here and whining about my coughing while other guys are fighting cancer and almost getting their leg cut off. I'm done with this. Time to suck it up move forward.

my symptoms are identical to yours. I was also given prednisone. I took it for six days and it really didn't do much for me.

I almost like lost consciousness from coughing so much the other day too. I was driving and after a bout I got light headed and got tunnel vision. Fortunately, I didn't go black.

This shit sucks bro. You're not a pussy. It's not like a pain you just suck up and drive on. It breathing, a primary and necessary function of survival. You are well advised to be concerned.

I'll suck up a lot of shit. But when my breathing is jacked up, that's something I'll pay attention to! It's just foolish not to.

 

[Sully]

The one thing he did give me that really helps is an albuteral powder inhaler. That thing really opens stuff up and makes breathing so much better.

 

[101st Ranger]

The one thing he did give me that really helps is an albuteral powder inhaler. That thing really opens stuff up and makes breathing so much better.

Yeah, it does! I use one now too. Thing is I go thru them pretty quickly though. Also, he gave me an extra strength one this last visit. I haven't filled that script yet, but will this weekend for sure.

 

[humpthebobcat]

I'm donating blood today. So, I will get a read on my h&h levels. I've done full lab work twice last year and two EKGs. All was good expect one cholesterol reading which basically indicated levels were opposite of where they should be. I did however feel fine at the time.

Will update on my h&h levels and if I feel any better after donating.

What was your BNP?

 

[101st Ranger]

What was your BNP?

I donated blood...didn't do a blood panel.

I'm waiting to see a pulmonilogist.

 

[humpthebobcat]

I went to the Doc today, too. He said my lungs are clear and it's not pneumonia. Apparently there's something viral that's been going around for the last few months. Usually lasts anywhere from a month to 2 months, and one pretty much has to suck it up and let it run it's course. He gave me a corticosteroid, an albuteral inhaler, and some more codeine cough syrup. Also told me to keep taking the Mucinex several times a day, and that I really needed to keep coughing so I can move anything out of my lungs that might still be breaking up.

Not exactly what I wanted to hear, but that's how it goes. After a month and a half of constant coughing, I just want to make the coughing stop. I coughed so hard yesterday that I think I pulled a muscle in my back. And almost lost consciousness a couple times I was coughing so hard.

I feel like such a bitch coming on here and whining about my coughing while other guys are fighting cancer and almost getting their leg cut off. I'm done with this. Time to suck it up move forward.

What kind of cough? dry? productive? if productive what is the color and thickness like? worse in the morning or evening?

 

[humpthebobcat]

I donated blood...didn't do a blood panel.

I'm waiting to see a pulmonilogist.

good deal, he should check it then...then send you to a cardiologist if you don't smoke

Just as a side note I never really understood antibiotics after taking microbiology...I've worked in hospitals for 10 years with the sickest of the sick, the grossest of the gross...and never once taken a course of antibiotics....am I just a super human freak? or just correct in thinking that it is not exposure to pathogens that get us sick...it from having an immune system that cannot handle the exposure

 

[101st Ranger]

good deal, he should check it then...then send you to a cardiologist if you don't smoke

Just as a side note I never really understood antibiotics after taking microbiology...I've worked in hospitals for 10 years with the sickest of the sick, the grossest of the gross...and never once taken a course of antibiotics....am I just a super human freak? or just correct in thinking that it is not exposure to pathogens that get us sick...it from having an immune system that cannot handle the exposure

Well, it's likely a little bit of both. And in varying ratio with individuals. I know I used to have a rock star immune system...and then I had a child. I don't know how or why, but pretty much from that point on, my immune system has sucked.

I actually quite smoking over a year ago now. But, the awesome thing was is that I was always a cardio super freak. I was a tremendous runner, no joke. After quitting smoking, I caped for about 9 months. And then quit that. I still have 1 cig a day. Sometimes 2. But that's a far cry from what I used to. But that surely doesn't explain a delayed onset of something, say like bronchitis, COPD, etc. if anything, I should be markedly better.

 

[Sully]

good deal, he should check it then...then send you to a cardiologist if you don't smoke

Just as a side note I never really understood antibiotics after taking microbiology...I've worked in hospitals for 10 years with the sickest of the sick, the grossest of the gross...and never once taken a course of antibiotics....am I just a super human freak? or just correct in thinking that it is not exposure to pathogens that get us sick...it from having an immune system that cannot handle the exposure

There's a new paradigm shift in medicine the last few years that says that it's actually better to be constantly exposed to new pathogens because it causes your body to have to fight it and adapt to it. It's that constant cycle of exposure and adaptation that makes the body stronger.

This is kinda disgusting , but there is a doctor in Australia that says that eating your boogers can actually make your immune system stronger and help keep you from getting sick. The basic idea is that pathogens are trapped in the mucus in the nose, and when they are eaten they are weakened by the digestive tract. This allows the body to develop antibodies and other adaptations to the weakened pathogens without ever having to be exposed to a healthy pathogen that might make you sick. It's a controversial idea, but it's getting traction within the medical community.

 

[Magnus82]

Several years back I worked for a professor of microbiology. He asked if I rarely get sick. I said how did you know. We'll he noticed me chewing my nails which I usually do at work so I don't rip them off. He said that's why. Much like the flu shot, I slowly build my immunity through gradual exposure.

good deal, he should check it then...then send you to a cardiologist if you don't smoke

Just as a side note I never really understood antibiotics after taking microbiology...I've worked in hospitals for 10 years with the sickest of the sick, the grossest of the gross...and never once taken a course of antibiotics....am I just a super human freak? or just correct in thinking that it is not exposure to pathogens that get us sick...it from having an immune system that cannot handle the exposure

 

[101st Ranger]

Several years back I worked for a professor of microbiology. He asked if I rarely get sick. I said how did you know. We'll he noticed me chewing my nails which I usually do at work so I don't rip them off. He said that's why. Much like the flu shot, I slowly build my immunity through gradual exposure.

Well, I've been chewing my nails since I was 12. I should be good then lol. It may be a variable, but certainly not the only one.

 

[Magnus82]

Definitely not the only one, I do get sick, about once to the rest of of my families 10. When I do get sick it's something freaking awful and almost always viral.

 

[Jonny]

Several years back I worked for a professor of microbiology. He asked if I rarely get sick. I said how did you know. We'll he noticed me chewing my nails which I usually do at work so I don't rip them off. He said that's why. Much like the flu shot, I slowly build my immunity through gradual exposure.

Well if chewing your nail helps a bit, just think what picking your nose would do! Haha.

 

[humpthebobcat]

I'm a nail biter too...also walk around the ER with a open cup of coffee which makes for a tasty little attenuated innoculation haha

 

[humpthebobcat]

Well, it's likely a little bit of both. And in varying ratio with individuals. I know I used to have a rock star immune system...and then I had a child. I don't know how or why, but pretty much from that point on, my immune system has sucked.

Stress bro! children will kill ya lol