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08-01-2009, 10:43 PM
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#1
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Los Angeles area
Posts: 1,708
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First Hospitalization
After my recent Alaska trip I was recovering from a cold when I got hit with what I figured was the flu. I lost my appetite (a first) and all energy while maintaining a fairly impressive cough. I was finally sleeping about 23 hours a day and barely had the energy to stand. I could not tolerate the taste of any food, and only averaged about 200/cal per day for 9 days. I did not go to the doctor because I figured that would be whining, and waiting it out had always worked in the past
My roommate finally dragged me to the doctor, who after a couple tests sent me over the ER to get faster test results. After a few hours they determined I had pneumonia, which earned me a 3 night hospital stay, my first ever. My appetite returned shortly after the first IV antibiotics, and I seem to be recovering fine.
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08-01-2009, 10:55 PM
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#2
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 47,467
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Glad you are feeling better! Pneumonia is a miserable illness. Take care.
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Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harbourless immensities. - - H. Melville, 1851.
Happily retired since 2009, at age 61. Best years of my life by far!
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08-01-2009, 10:57 PM
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#3
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Hooverville
Posts: 22,983
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Glad you are better. That pneumonia can be dangerous.
Ha
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08-02-2009, 06:41 AM
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#4
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Central MS/Orange Beach, AL
Posts: 9,067
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Glad your better. But 9 days is a long time. Jump on it quicker next time.
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Retired 3/31/2007@52
Investing style: Full time wuss.
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08-02-2009, 08:53 AM
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#5
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 8,827
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In the "old" days, pneumonia had a mortality of 15% or more. Almost all was caused by one or two well-known bacteria. Patients would get sick as dogs, then have a "crisis" where the symptoms would briefly get awful, then would rapidly resolve with a clean recovery.
Nowadays, the germs have changed, as have the antibiotics. But it is still a major killer even with antibiotics. Glad you bounced back. Might not have been that way if you delayed much longer, were older, or otherwise in a weakened state.
Some tips for when to get thee to a doctor: shaking chills with a cough, persistent or copious sputum with blood or thick consistency or yellow, tan, green with fever, chest pain, inability to retain lots of fluid, pregnancy, other chronic diseases including diabetes, asthma, COPD, etc among many others; new shortness of breath.
DD, Meadbh and others can probably come up with a few more.
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Rich
San Francisco Area
ESR'd March 2010. FIRE'd January 2011.
As if you didn't know..If the above message contains medical content, it's NOT intended as advice, and may not be accurate, applicable or sufficient. Don't rely on it for any purpose. Consult your own doctor for all medical advice.
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08-02-2009, 09:45 AM
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#6
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Collin County, TX
Posts: 9,293
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CI, you should give your roommate a cookie. I'm glad you're doing ok now.
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There's no need to complicate, our time is short..
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08-02-2009, 12:27 PM
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#7
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 1,116
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Cycling: Even I would have gone to see a doctor sooner than you. Ahem...a couple of days sooner, I´m sure . And not because I thought I was a whiner. It´s because anything to do with hospitalisation terrifies me!
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08-02-2009, 12:57 PM
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#8
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 310
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Cycle, did your doc ever offer you a pneumonia shot? Mine gives them but many of my friends have never been offered one. Just curious. Thanks and glad you are feeling better!
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08-02-2009, 01:21 PM
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#9
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: minnesota
Posts: 13,228
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The shot doesn't help the bacterial pneumonia. Only the viral.
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No more lawyer stuff, no more political stuff, so no more CYA
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08-02-2009, 01:21 PM
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#10
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,224
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shoe
Cycle, did your doc ever offer you a pneumonia shot? Mine gives them but many of my friends have never been offered one. Just curious. Thanks and glad you are feeling better!
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Not everyone is supposed to receive pneumovax. In general they are offered to those over age 65, and those under 65 who are immunocompromised or suffer from chronic disease(s) that increase morbidity or mortality if they get pneumonia.
DD
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At 54% of FIRE target
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08-02-2009, 02:25 PM
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#11
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 8,827
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Martha
The shot doesn't help the bacterial pneumonia. Only the viral.
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Oops - if you're referring to the pneumovax ("the pneumonia vaccine") it's the other way around.
The shot helps prevent pneumococcal pneumonia, a specific group of bacteria. It does not prevent other types of pneumonia which, unfortunately, are increasingly common. In fact, despite recommendations to the contrary, the actual benefit of pneumovax for most groups is pretty minimal but its safety has been excellent so even a small benefit may be worth it.
__________________
Rich
San Francisco Area
ESR'd March 2010. FIRE'd January 2011.
As if you didn't know..If the above message contains medical content, it's NOT intended as advice, and may not be accurate, applicable or sufficient. Don't rely on it for any purpose. Consult your own doctor for all medical advice.
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08-02-2009, 03:19 PM
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#12
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Pittsburgh, PA suburbs
Posts: 1,796
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Glad you are in the pink again, CI! As soon as I hit 60 I am getting the shingles vaccine and at 65, the pneumonia. I have seen some people with some pretty painful cases of the shingles.
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08-02-2009, 06:57 PM
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#13
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 11,401
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Martha
The shot doesn't help the bacterial pneumonia. Only the viral.
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Martha, if you are referring to Pneumovax, it prevents pneumococcal pneumonia. Pneumococcus is a bacterium.
H1N1 vaccine (in production) will protect against the H1N1 influenza virus. I will be getting that for sure, as a healthcare worker. Pregnant women are 4 times more likely to develop severe illness or die with this virus and they, not FIREes, will be a priority when the vaccine becomes available.
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08-02-2009, 07:41 PM
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#14
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oahu
Posts: 26,855
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CyclingInvestor
After a few hours they determined I had pneumonia...
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I've been that route three times, and I'm glad you're feeling better.
I guess the "good" news is that you're intimately familiar with the warning signs, but hopefully it never happens again.
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08-03-2009, 10:38 AM
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#15
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: At The Cafe
Posts: 6,873
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CyclingInvestor, you mention sleeping 23 hours a day. I’d add fatigue to the list of reasons to visit a doctor. I’ve never had pneumonia or been hospitalized with an infection but recently I had a bacterial infection and was treated as an out-patient. I was so tired my daily plans were reduced to things like, “I’ll write a check today” or “I’ll pay one bill online.”
So glad to hear you took care of it and are doing well.
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08-04-2009, 11:35 AM
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#16
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: minnesota
Posts: 13,228
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich_in_Tampa
Oops - if you're referring to the pneumovax ("the pneumonia vaccine") it's the other way around.
The shot helps prevent pneumococcal pneumonia, a specific group of bacteria. It does not prevent other types of pneumonia which, unfortunately, are increasingly common. In fact, despite recommendations to the contrary, the actual benefit of pneumovax for most groups is pretty minimal but its safety has been excellent so even a small benefit may be worth it.
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Oops! Thanks for catching my mistake.
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