Still compatible with life

[susandennis]

My doctor checked my oxygen and gave it some hmmm's and then said it was low "But, it is still compatible with life." He did grin with that info. He's so cute.

He took his stethoscope to my back and hit all four quadrants asking me to take a deep breath (not that easy without coughing so it took a while. When he got to the last one he said 'uh oh - that doesn't sound good.'

He says I have a little pneumonia, but he couldn't see much on the x-rays 'but I sure heard it'. So he packed me up with an antibiotic, cough syrup and an inhaler. The antibiotic is 6 pills. 2 today and then 1 each then next four days. That's so much easier than the way it used to be. I have never had an inhaler before. The pharmacists gave me a lesson. My first try was a fail. I'll try again in a bit.

He said if I was not Significantly improved in a week to call him. Fuck that. I intent to be Significantly improved tomorrow or Thursday at the latest. I'm already tired of this shit.

I will say again how much I love my doctor and the place he works. My appointment was for 4:45. I figured by that tine of day they'd be backed up. But, I didn't know about traffic or parking at that hour so I left home early. No traffic at all. None. The parking garage was nearly empty. There was no waiting at reception so I ended up in his office at 4:25. I apologized and his staff people said 'heck no! we appreciate your being here early!'

I saw the doctor twice, had x-rays taken and got drugs and was back at my car at 5:30. I love efficiency.

Comments

[mhaithaca.livejournal.com]

I got used to the inhaler pretty fast, and it's very effective, very quickly, when I have trouble breathing. Just close your mouth around the inhaler opening so you know the medicine's heading the right way, and inhale deeply (to the extent you can) while pushing it. Wait a moment before doing the second inhalation, so the first has a moment to help and the second will get deeper.

[susandennis]

Thank you. I am not good at it so far. I'm failing at the inhaling while pushing. I'm getting no relief so I'm pretty sure I'm doing it wrong.

I've tried twice now (an hour apart) and while I'm not sure I got any of the stuff in me, I'm a little hesitant to try again since the instructions say I should have waited 6 hours for the second try.

But your explanation makes it a little more clear so thanks!

[dizzdvl.livejournal.com]

Exhale before you push. It makes it easier to inhale the stuff.

[mhaithaca.livejournal.com]

Pretend it's a nice thick straw with the awesomest milkshake ever at the other end. Inhale as if you're sucking milkshake through it, and as you start to do so, push the thingy. Your breath needs to be longer than, and be on either side of, the puff from the inhaler.

Now I want a milkshake.

[kyrielle]

What they said, but also, make sure it's aimed at the back of your throat. If it's aimed at the top of your mouth or at your tongue, it will coat those surfaces and less will go into your airways. (Also, if it's aimed at your tongue, depending on the medicine, it's disgusting. I've HAD asthma medication on my tongue, and EW.)

I find it works to exhale as far as I can, stick the thing in my mouth, and inhale while I squeeze - if I can manage to aim the thing. :P (Also, you did prime it with several squeezes into air if the instructions said to do so, yes? And shake it, if they said to do that? Otherwise, it may not be dispensing much, either.)

If that doesn't work, call your doctor's office and explain you're having trouble. They can tell the pharmacy to sell you a spacer, which is most frequently used with kids but I believe also used when someone has trouble with it. The spacer sits between the inhaler and your mouth, and rather than one inhale as you squeeze, you take a couple breaths through it if I recall right.

[dizzdvl.livejournal.com]

Inhalers are fun. Make sure to take it apart before using it. Once I inhaled a piece of thin cardboard that was in the mouthpiece. Not fun. I check every one I get now.

Hope it makes you breathe better!