Was the diagnosis Tuesday afternoon. We (Paul, Will and I) went in to see Dr. Ravi (Ravi’s his first name, he’s actually Dr. Vadlamudi) after I coughed up some frothy stuff with blood. I was worried that the froth meant air and air meant out of my lungs and out of my lungs meant something bad in my lungs. Dr. Ravi took a listen, turned to face me fully, clapped me on the shoulder and said, “I think you’re right.”
Pneumonia in the right lower lobe, confirmed by x-ray. I was curious to what pneumonia looks like in an x-ray, and as an untrained eye, I have to say I wouldn’t have noticed. But Dr. Ravi pointed out how parts of the branches of my right lung were showing thick white lines which shouldn’t be there. Also, I learned that pneumonia sounds like “crackles” compared to a normal lung sound. (I cooperated as “the pneumonia lesson” for the residents in the building and asked enough quesitons to learn a little bit myself.)
That was the high point of the week. It has been a very rough week of serious illness. High points:
– maxing out our thermometer (which only reads to 103 and reads “normal” as 97.3 or less)
– having a temperature of at least the maximum of our thermometer for several hours at a time in 5 hour cycles for 3 days
– huge rain storm that took out the clinic’s power and phones for most of a day
– chills so severe that no amount of blankets or warm weather was enough
– sweating until even the comforter was damp
– not having a master bedroom for first two days
– constantly working with Dr. Ravi (our “hero of the week”) who helped us make choices for meds that were nursing friendly and keep me out of a hospital
– daily trips to the clinic for more antibodic injections and IV fluids
– being admitted to a local hospital only to sign out Against Medical Advice later that night (lesson: “Touro” is “Touro-ible”)
Now, my Mom is here (getting her here was a huge fiasco in itself) and helping with the household (laundry, food, cleaning) and with Will. Paul is finally working again. He was truly stretched to the limit watching both Will and I before my Mom came. I am doing my best to heal and trying to be patient with myself.
Matt and Laura | 19-Apr-05 at 8:38 am | Permalink
Heard about this from Matt – what a mess…what a mess!