Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Not sure what's happening

The pain I had in just one spot in my chest yesterday has been slowly expanding, and by late this afternoon I was having pain through my whole chest and around the back. It's a pain that I've often had when I've been diagnosed with pneumonia, although today my breathing doesn't seem to be affected all that much. I called Lauren, and she told me to do a nebulizer treatment and take some morphine, and that she would call back in a little while, and when she did she decided to come over to check me out. I don't have any fever, so she told me to just keep monitoring my temperature, and to call if anything changes.

For awhile I thought the pain was gone, but I guess it was just the effects of the morphine, because the pain started up again an hour or so ago. I took some more morphine and am waiting to see if it will work, so I can get to sleep (sleeping seems the best thing to do under the circumstances). I still don't have any fever, which is a good thing, but the pain is pretty bad. I guess I'll just have to see how things are in the morning.

I'm not sure what to do if I do have pneumonia...all I know is that I don't want to go to the hospital, and I'm not going to. Lauren said there's no reason to give me antibiotics unless I have a fever. I'm feeling anxious and scared.

3 comments:

  1. I am so sorry you are feeling pain. I am even more sorry you are feeling scared. My heart is with you, my prayers are for you. I know I am only a post from somewhere in cyberspace. I have been following you for awhile now, I truly care. I wish this hug could comfort you. Take care, Red

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  2. Pneumonia is one of the things that takes us out of this life. You may have to decide if you want to fight it again or not. I don't think there is a 'right' answer but there is the one that works for you. Only you can know that and make such decisions.

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  3. Judi,
    So sorry you are in pain and I totally understand about being scared. Is there any possibility it's related to that rib or cartilage thing you had recently, which would be unlikely to have healed completely, I would think. I know those things can be painful and then the not-knowing-what-it-is produces a lot of anxiety which makes all pain worse. (Just went to the emergency room Friday with a similar thing myself, very scary)
    I'm so bummed because you had been feeling better and were hopeful you might be able to do more interesting things. Hey, what about a reaction to the nebulizer? Could that be a possibility? Good luck and we're all rooting for you and wanting you to feel as well as possible. Much love from the Great Oven/aka the Great Plains

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