Guest guest Posted December 18, 2003 Report Share Posted December 18, 2003 Hello Everyone, Has anyone near my age (69 yrs. old) had the flu this year? I had the flu shot, but the prednisone that my pulmonary doctor gave me for the acute asthma last week gave me side effects of a fast, irregular heartbeat, stomach pain, indigestion so I was advised to stop. Due to the lack of sleep and inability to eat, I am and have been hurting all over my body, bad headache tight chest that breathing treatments do not help and low grade temperature. I have had pneumonia three times--last time was last January. I think I just worked to hard to compensate for my nervousness and with the lack of sleep and inability to eat got too run down. I have not been out of the house for over a week. Tonight I start my inhaled Tobramycin. I think the headache is from my chronic pseudomonas sinusitis. Does anyone have body aches most of the time with bronchiectasis? My primary care doctor checked me for rheumatoid arthritis as my father and three of his brothers had that. I only have osteoarthritis, however, I do not think that osteoarthritis causes one to ache all over. I have other health problems in addition to the bronchiectasis but none would cause me to feel this way. Time for a much needed nap, and hope I can stay out of the hospital. I think I have run out of days on Medicare anyway. They limit the number of days one can be in the hospital. We are not having any company for Christmas, so that is good. Take care all, and I hope everyone is well enough to enjoy the holidays. Norma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 18, 2003 Report Share Posted December 18, 2003 Hi Margaret, I just talked to my pulmonary doctor's nurse about my symptoms. She does not think that my body aches have anything to do with my bronchiectasis. She said that I need to discuss that with my primary care doctor. I have a new one, and he does not know me very well. I say my cardiologist that same afternoon last week, and he said that he would never have run that test on me since I have bronchiectasis. My pulmonary doctor's nurse said that inflammation does not have anything to do with bronchiectasis and that it must be from something else--perhaps arthritis or my chronic pseudomonas sinusitis. I awaken with a bad headache each morning. By the evening it is better. I told her that I was not going to take the prednisone orally again as the side effects caused me to not be able to eat or sleep. Anyone with bronchiectasis needs their rest and food. I could not eat or sleep for about six days which is not good. I am to call her tomorrow afternoon and let her know how my shortness of breath and the color of my mucus is. I start my inhaled Tobramycin tonight for two weeks ($375.95) so perhaps that will help with the color of the mucus at least. For about five years before I retired, I could not make it through the day at work if I did not go out to my car and take a nap at lunch. Then I came home from my full time job and had a part time job typing commercial appraisals on my computer. I think I pushed myself too hard. At that time they only told me that I had sinusitis, asthma and bronchitis when I actually had bronchiectasis. No wonder I feel like this now. I drink plenty of fluids as I have so many other prescription meds to take in addition to supplements for osteoporosis, asthma, a heart condition and anxiety. Thanks for your response, Margaret. It always helps to talk to others who have this disease as the doctors and nurses do not always know how this disease can debilitate some of us Prayers for you too, Margaret Norma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 20, 2003 Report Share Posted December 20, 2003 Dear Bunny, Thanks for your words of cheer. I have been having problems with my asthma and bronchitis. My pulmonary doctor put me on prednisone, and I had to stop it about three days before I was to have finished the 21-4mg pk. The side effects gave me insomnia, nervousness (not good for someone with an irregular and fast heartbeat), loss of appetite, nausea, stomach pain and indigestion. For about four days I only slept about four hours each night and only ate chicken noodle soup. My nose runs constantly and when I cough, the mucus almost flies out of my mouth like projectile vomiting. I talked to my pulmonary doctor's nurse Friday afternoon. She said that my doctor was at home sick. When he returns to the office, she will see what else he suggests for the constant running nose and too much mucus. I think you are right about the body aches and the headaches since I also have chronic pseudomonas sinusitis. My new primary care doctor ran a test to check for inflammation, and the results were high. My cardiologist, who treats the whole patient, said that he would not have run that test on me since I have bronchiectasis and that would show high inflammation. I have also seen a rheumatologist in the past. I am always asking them to check for rheumatoid arthritis as my father and two of his brothers had it. I have been resting today, and ate something a Sonic hamburger tonight. I think I was getting too weak just eating chicken noodle soup. I always drink that nutritional drink, Boost, which helps. I feel better already--just reading your email. Love, Norma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 20, 2003 Report Share Posted December 20, 2003 Hello Norma, How are you doing? Sorry you have been unwell . I had the flu a few months ago, and it was the worst flu I've had for a long time. I think I was saved somewhat, as I had not long been out of hospital and my chest was infection free at the time. I did have the flu shot, but this strain of flu was not covered by the vaccine. I wonder if it is the same flu that is wreaking havoc in the States now? In relation to the body aches, yes I have these most of the time! I also get bad headaches. I have been to a rheumatologist and had a lot of tests for rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, etc. which have been negative. He attributes the aches and pains to my bronchiectasis and believes it is connected to the inflammatory process in my lungs. The headaches could well be from the sinuses, as you suggested. I hope you start to feel better soon, Norma. I know it can get you down when you feel constantly unwell and unable to do anything (apart from breathing treatments, chest physio, etc. etc.) Take care, get as much rest as you need, and you will feel better again! I'm praying for a happy, healthy festive season for all of us. With love, Bunny -----Original Message-----From: nor236@... Sent: Friday, 19 December 2003 6:18 AMTo: bronchiectasis Subject: Sick --Body Aches, etc. Hello Everyone, Has anyone near my age (69 yrs. old) had the flu this year? I had the flu shot, but the prednisone that my pulmonary doctor gave me for the acute asthma last week gave me side effects of a fast, irregular heartbeat, stomach pain, indigestion so I was advised to stop. Due to the lack of sleep and inability to eat, I am and have been hurting all over my body, bad headache tight chest that breathing treatments do not help and low grade temperature. I have had pneumonia three times--last time was last January. I think I just worked to hard to compensate for my nervousness and with the lack of sleep and inability to eat got too run down. I have not been out of the house for over a week. Tonight I start my inhaled Tobramycin. I think the headache is from my chronic pseudomonas sinusitis. Does anyone have body aches most of the time with bronchiectasis? My primary care doctor checked me for rheumatoid arthritis as my father and three of his brothers had that. I only have osteoarthritis, however, I do not think that osteoarthritis causes one to ache all over. I have other health problems in addition to the bronchiectasis but none would cause me to feel this way. Time for a much needed nap, and hope I can stay out of the hospital. I think I have run out of days on Medicare anyway. They limit the number of days one can be in the hospital. We are not having any company for Christmas, so that is good. Take care all, and I hope everyone is well enough to enjoy the holidays. Norma \ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 22, 2003 Report Share Posted December 22, 2003 i cannot seem to get the postural drainage to go through. has it come up on your email? I sent it to the list at 10:49 PM CST the last time. Nona Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 22, 2003 Report Share Posted December 22, 2003 Norma, I'm only 28, but have a lot of your same symptoms. Fluids are important, though I do not always drink as much as I should (of the proper beverages, anyhow). Now I'm drinking lots of water. My mucus was bloody for months before I found someone to fix me. I am noticeably going through less kleenex, which I take as a good sign. The way I've gotten better is with two weeks of IV therapy (at home) of Gentamyacin once a day and Ceftazidine (I think that's a generic Fortaz), three times a day. After my current treatment my new doctor will have me on inhaled Tobramyacin preventatively one week per month. The medical bills have gotten very expensive, I must say, but I think it's worth it to finally be well. I tell my husband that he could have married a healthier woman who always demanded diamonds. He has me instead and I really don't know what I'd do without him. You seem to be having a real rough time lately and just know that I am praying for you. I'm going to have a mass said for you at my church. I'll let you know later when it will be. Merry Christmas, Maggie On Thursday, December 18, 2003, at 01:18 PM, nor236@... wrote: > Hello Everyone, > > Has anyone near my age (69 yrs. old) had the flu this year? I had the > flu shot, but the prednisone that my pulmonary doctor gave me for the > acute asthma last week gave me side effects of a fast, irregular > heartbeat, stomach pain, indigestion so I was advised to stop. Due to > the lack of sleep and inability to eat, I am and have been hurting all > over my body, bad headache tight chest that breathing treatments do > not help and low grade temperature. I have had pneumonia three > times--last time was last January. I think I just worked to hard to > compensate for my nervousness and with the lack of sleep and inability > to eat got too run down. I have not been out of the house for over a > week. Tonight I start my inhaled Tobramycin. I think the headache is > from my chronic pseudomonas sinusitis. Does anyone have body aches > most of the time with bronchiectasis? My primary care doctor checked > me for & nbs! p;rheumatoid arthritis as my father and three of his > brothers had that. I only have osteoarthritis, however, I do not > think that osteoarthritis causes one to ache all over. I have other > health problems in addition to the bronchiectasis but none would cause > me to feel this way. > > Time for a much needed nap, and hope I can stay out of the hospital. > I think I have run out of days on Medicare anyway. They limit the > number of days one can be in the hospital. > > We are not having any company for Christmas, so that is good. > > Take care all, and I hope everyone is well enough to enjoy the > holidays. > Norma > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 23, 2003 Report Share Posted December 23, 2003 Maggie, I drink lots of water since I take so many medications and supplements. I always carry water with me in the car. Since July I when I was discharged from the hospital I have been on inhaled Tobramycin the last two weeks of the month. It is very expensive, but if it keeps us out of the hospital or having an infection, it is worth the expense. I cannot have IV therapy at home since I am on Medicare. You make me feel very special having a mass said for me at your church. Have a Blessed Christmas, Love, Norma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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