hospitalization « Salty and Sweet

Still at the health club

March 30, 2008 at 9:26 pm | In Challenges, Cystic Fibrosis, Cystic Fibrosis Related Diabetes, Tune-up | 3 Comments
Tags: hospitalization

I’m still in the hospital tonight. Just thought I would make a quick post before heading off to bed.

It is quite a surprise to be back on IVs so soon. Usually I only do them once a year, but this is my second time in three months. I am a little disappointed as I have stepped up my care at home, yet I end up worse off than I started. Apparently it is common, I guess it is because I started stirring stuff up in my lungs, pissed it off, and now it is retaliating.

The food sucks, I miss the time I was admitted on the Research wing with the personal chef and unlimited kitchen. Ahhh the good ol’ days. I asked for a low/no dairy diet since it plugs me up in all directions, but the hospital nutritionist told me to drink some warm water and I will feel better. What a laugh! I wanted to kick her. I have been trying my best to choose items that are dairy free, which is hard given the few choices I am given.

My nurses have all been super awesome always checking in to make sure I am comfortable and am doing ok.

The entire reason I chose to come into the hospital was to get four respiratory therapy treatments a day, done by professionals. Well, I have yet to experience that. So far I received one treatment the first day and slowly have worked up to three treatments today. Apparently the respiratory staff here is too busy to help me. And YES, I have raised holy hell about it. Wish me luck in getting four treatments tomorrow.

Over all, I think I turned a corner today. I got a lot of crud out of my lungs with my afternoon treatment using an IPV (I’ll post about that soon). I am feeling a bit clearer, although I am still quite short of breath when I walk around my room, even on 2 liters of oxygen. My oxygen stats are up a little, from 88% (room air) when I first came in to 96% tonight (but on oxygen). My weight is stable, but I was hoping I could gain a few pounds.

The doc is changing up my antibiotics in hopes to really kick these lung bugs in the butt. Right now I am on three, tobramyacin, aztreonam, and cephtaz. Doc is going to look at which drug caused my penicillin allergy and may switch one of those for merrem.

My blood glucose levels were really high when I first came in. Doc increased my 24-hour insulin dose and it seemed to work well since this morning I had a fasting level of 104, which is in a normal range. I am really happy about that.

Guess that is all for tonight… hope everyone is doing well!

It’s that time again…

March 26, 2008 at 7:20 pm | In Challenges, Cystic Fibrosis, Tune-up | 2 Comments
Tags: Hickman-Dalton Gang, hospitalization, Jim Dalton, Johnny Hickman, Railbenders, Roger Clyne

Had a CF clinic visit today. I have been feeling a little cruddy and tired recently. My cough has become more of a nag and more productive, so I wasn’t surprised when the Doc suggested I do another round of IV antibiotics. Usually I only have to do this once a year, but I just did my last round in December. A bit frustrating, but this is life with CF.

For the past, oh say, 10 years I have done my once-a-year “tune-up” of IVs at home, doing my own treatments and having a nurse check on me every few days. This time I have decided to go in to the hospital for the first several days so I can take it easy, have food made for me and have someone beat me four times a day. I hope the rigorous treatment will knock the bugs in my lungs on their arse!

Wonder if the hospital has a wireless internet connection. If not, it is going to be a really boring weekend! Sad I am going to miss the Railbenders headline their first gig at the Bluebird in Denver…. can someone video record it for me?!! hehehe Oh well, good thing I saw Jim and Johnny play last weekend, so maybe I won’t go into withdrawal.

Here’s a video of the boys playing a cover of Sundown with Roger Clyne. It’s a little noisy, but the crowd is having so much fun!! (yep! One of those screaming was me!!) I just looove Jim’s voice! Hugs to ya Johnny! Can’t wait to see you again!