Andy started off yesterday feeling as if he were getting a little better, but as the day wore on, it became clear that he was instead getting much worse. The on-call doctor (why can't anyone in this family ever get sick during normal business hours?) said that it would be a good idea to head over to the ER for a chest x-ray and blood work, and possibly some fluids. Fortunately, Barbara and Jerry were available to come stay with the kids, so we headed over at about 6:30.
The chest x-ray did show some "fuzzy" spots that are likely to be signs of pneumonia, although the blood work came back normal. His oxygen saturation was low (I still think it's way cool that you can just stick your finger in that little thing and it tells how much oxygen is circulating through your body!) and he was quite feverish and dehydrated. So they gave him a liter of fluids via IV, along with a first dose of antibiotics. He also complained of nausea, so they added an anti-nausea drug. Not long after, he started puking anyhow—good timing for him to catch the kids' stomach bug, eh? But they determined he wasn't in any danger, so he didn't need to stay overnight. We agreed, because we knew he would be more comfortable in his own bed, so we went home about midnight.
They sent us home with some Percoset to help him sleep last night and instructions to stagger doses of acetaminophen and ibuprofen round the clock for the high fever. In addition, I have to go fill one prescription for the antibiotics, one for the anti-nausea drug, and another for some cough pills. I think the worst symptom for him, besides the feeling of being 100% wiped out, is the pain in his back when he coughs. He says it's like knives.
God that sucks! All through my pneumonia the pain in my back and chest was amazing. I still sort of think I might have cracked a rib during all that body-wracking coughing.
Posted by: scott | November 12, 2007 at 08:44 AM
I once broke a rib coughing during a bout of bronchitis, but when I had pneumonia I could only wheeze. :-(
Posted by: Karen | November 12, 2007 at 08:47 AM
Oh no!
There's got to be relief coming soon! Hang in there!
When I had pneumonia, I found that Breathe Easy tea helped me to, well, breathe easier. Not like magic, but slightly better than regular herbal tea. The flavor might not be for everyone. It's somewhat pungent, with the fennel and licorice.
Posted by: James | November 12, 2007 at 11:25 PM