BS: My health problems (Kendall)

Subject: BS: My health problems
From: kendall
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 09:34 AM

Been feeling wheezy and sort of unnecessary for a while and today I was told by my Doctor that I have early stage emphysema.What next?

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems
From: SINSULL
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 10:01 AM

Your closest friend has emphysema. Ask him what's next. Meantime, keep taking care of yourself and using humor to get thru the day. Write a letter to the tobacco companies thanking them for their influence on your life.
SINS

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 10:35 AM

you're certainly supporting lotsa' doctors & other medical folks

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems
From: Rapparee
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 10:40 AM

Wasn't Emma Zima the redhead who worked in Sally's Place in Machiasport back in...never mind.

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems
From: SINSULL
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 11:12 AM

Rap! CELLAR!

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 11:20 AM

All the best mon Capitain, and keep me (and thus my cadre of prayer warriors) posted via PM.

La Emphysema-- pfui, eet ees nosseeng compared to your excellent self.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems
From: The Sandman
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 11:20 AM

have you tried either herbal remedies[it might alleviate symptoms] or alternative treatment such as acupuncture

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 11:47 AM

Oh dear. My late wife had emphysema and so did her stepfather.

Plan to avoid stairs, and get to know the nearest parking places for places you visit.

If you sing, re-arrange your songs to avoid phrases requiring long breath.

You need to have a psychic relationship with the various inhalers so you know which one you will need next. It is useful to have a nebuliser organised in advance so by the time it is essential you are fully familiar with it. Arrange backup power so that any power cuts do not deprive you of the nebuliser if you need it.

Do not let your doctor rule your life about steroids. If, contrary to medical advice, you stockpile some, you will be able to be more active than usual for a special weekend or festival by using them. But try not to use them too much as immunosuppression can be dangerous with emphysema (see next paragraph).

The accumulating fluid in the lung is prone to bacteriological infection. I recommend keeping 7 day courses of two different types of suitable antibiotic so you can rotate them as necessary and are never stranded without antibiotics over a weekend if needed late on a Friday night. Don't keep the antibiotics too long. Always finish BOTH courses. Your doctor will have a fit if he reads this. If you do get taken into hospital with a lung infection insist that they make a specialist culture of the infection immediately to get the right antibiotic as soon as possible.   

Try to breate as deeply as possible (yes, I know it is hard). Shallow breathing aggravates the risk of bacterial infection.

There will be times when you will find it irresistible to hyperventilate. Resist.

Carry a personal alarm so that if you need to yell for help but have no breath you can still attract attention.   

Have an emergency button on a cord round your neck so your phone system can dial for emergency help if you are stranded away from a phone in the house (or, worse, garden).

When you need to be on oxygen, remember that you will need a private room to "hiss" in peace and where your compressor will not be an annoyance to others. I knew one woman who was about to divorce her husband because of the noise of his oxygen apparatus when he saved her the trouble. Not nice, I know. But the two of them were like that.

If you have back pain as well, remember that lung infections can mimic so-called "trapped nerves" in the back in the location and type of pain. The mere fact that muscle relaxants alleviate the back pain does not necessarily mean that the pain is not pneumonia. If you have back pain, get checked in case it is a lung infection causing it.

Sorry this is a bit gloomy, but it is practical. And based on an experience twice lived.

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems
From: LilyFestre
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 12:15 PM

Unnecessary? Are you kidding me? Who would keep people in line around here?

((((((((((Hugs & Stuff))))))))))))))

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems
From: Ebbie
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 12:29 PM

Emphysema doesn't necessarily get worse quickly. Young people who develop emphysema have a poorer prognosis. Be glad for your age, Kendall. :)

But, yes, it sucks.

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems
From: maeve
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 12:43 PM

Plenty of pleasure in your future, Kendall. Plenty of friends and family with whom you can ride out another storm.

Love,

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems
From: Morticia
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 12:52 PM

Another opportunity to stiffen the upper lip, eh? I think you must have the market cornered by now though, so enough already, k?

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems
From: The Sandman
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 01:02 PM

I had a friend [he was an old fiddler in his seventies] who had farmers lung[ a variation of empyhsemia], he was able to go to the doctors and go on a machine which emptied a lot of the congestion from the chest,   he also found a herbal doctor who was able to prescribe herbs that alleviated his condition.

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 01:45 PM

You have all our love and more, Kendall. From related heart *things* I was on O2 for eight years and twice since heart surgery due to pneumonia. Had to use nebulisers and inhalers. Do please use them if and when necessary. Trying to tough it out and not is counter-productive and serves no purpose, I know, from experience. It can be a pain in the arse, but it beats the alternative.

May it be w-a-y down the road, but I do know of a woman, a massage therapist, very good one, too, who had a lung transplant. She has done very well for years and years and was no spring chicken when she had the procedure.

Remember, you are a "child" of the Great Spirit and nothing is impossible, darlin'.

luvyabuncheskat

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems
From: GUEST,kendall
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 01:52 PM

In addition to a nebulizer, I now have two new meds, steroids and Advair.

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems
From: gnu
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 01:59 PM

I just got off the phone with Uncle Chic. Same deal as you, K, at about the same age. He's 89 now. He wants me to go to his place soon and catch some sea trout in the brook and pond on his property... first thing in the morning or after his afternoon nap.

I told him I would get there soon... as soon as I bought a barrel of fly dope. He's got salt water marsh skeeters down there. Nastiest skeeters I ever seen.

On the other hand, I visited Dad's (born 5 years before Chic) grave this morn. Lung cancer... 67 years old. Tomorrow will be two years since bro died from lung cancer at 64.

Ya got hope for good health for a while yet bud. And, ya done good so far. Keep the faith eh.

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems
From: Rapparee
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 02:43 PM

Hey, Kendall. I got me albuterol and Advair 50/250 and some prednisone and some antibiotics. Wanna partner up and do dope deals?

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems
From: catspaw49
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 02:58 PM

Well, okay........What's next you ask? Hmmmmm..........Lessee here.........

How about COPD? Probably already have that in some stage or another.....its very popular among former smokers. Since you have a weakened and compromised system there are just so many to choose from............You're at some risk for stroke and considering your previous heart surgeries, A-Fib has some likelihood of popping up and as your heart gets weaker, the odds of a Ventricular Tachycardia event get better and better. Let's not forget aneurysms either...or even multiple ones.   Want to talk about Aortic Dissections where your aorta rips the livin' shit out of itself? Killed John Ritter real nicely............

Then there are the other systems where things like your Diverticular problems can compound into other things or maybe a few ulcers might pop up. And all this is just stuff based on what you have so far.......All kinds of other possibilities!!!

If you want you can sit and worry and fret over it and feel pretty sorry for yourself for being such a dumbass as to knowingly shorten your life with an unhealthy lifestyle. Or you can suck it up, figure you're going to do the best you can for as long as you can and get busier than hell living as best you can. You're never going to be what you once were or do the things you did so go have a good cry over that, throw the tissues away, turn your back on the watebasket, walk away from all that teary crap and go give Jacko a hundred reasons for her to send you to the cellar.

Do you have anymore sillyass questions I can answer for you?


Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems
From: SINSULL
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 03:20 PM

Constipated, Spaw? You sound a bit testy.

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems
From: gnu
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 03:33 PM

Constipated? DON'T give him any more ideas!

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems
From: olddude
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 03:40 PM

Captain
my 86 year old mom was just diagnosed. The new modern drugs and the resp therapy really set her off in a positive manner after being in the hospital 3 times ... geeze she is all over the place cleaning and going up and down steps ...

at time she has problems but it will be ok especially if it is in an early stage. Mom is doing great

love and prayers
Dan

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems
From: Amergin
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 03:43 PM

One of my great uncles had emphysema. It took many years for him to develop to the stage of constantly carrying an oxygen box with him. He was a great guy....a bit like you, a bit larger than life...and full of stories...

You are very necessary.....who would Jacqui have to beat up without you around?

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems
From: catspaw49
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 03:51 PM

Yeah.....three broken teeth dug out and my jawbone scraped. Outside of that.........LOL..........

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems
From: catspaw49
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 03:53 PM

And oh yeah.....I wouldn't have suggested all that to Kendall if it didn't apply to me as well!

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems
From: gnu
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 04:09 PM

We are one sick bunch a m

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems
From: Leadfingers
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 07:52 PM

I still maintain that Survival is infinately better than the alternative ! See you at Getaway Cap'n !

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems
From: Allan C.
Date: 01 Jul 10 - 06:01 AM

It could be worse - and sometimes is.

Mom, in some of her increasingly few non-Alzheimer moments, used to say, "Getting old is hell." In many ways she was a master of understatement.

Cap'n, find some way to get back on the water. Rent a sea-kayak if you must. But find a way. You know better than I that there is no better therapy than being on the water.

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 01 Jul 10 - 06:24 AM

My Dad had emphysema, kendall.....for near on TWENTY years, so never give up on hope.

And in that time he learnt to take life more quietly, more slowly, appreciate the smaller things in life even more than before and well...generally enjoy every moment of those many years which lay ahead.

He was frightened at first, who wouldn't be, but he learned to cope.

He was never hospitalised because of it either, and whilst its great to have all the text book knowledge of what *could* happen, just remember that my Dad coped pretty darn well through it all, so don't be too scared...

Kindest wishes
Lizzie

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems
From: Bobert
Date: 01 Jul 10 - 06:59 AM

Listen to the ol' hillbilly, Capt'n... When I was a social worker I had a client who had been diagnosed with empasema two years before I got her case... On my first home visit with her I was surprised to see her smoking... And not just any cigarette but PallMall non-filters... Yep, the ol' gal continued to suffer from emphsema for another 8 years and never did give up her pack a day habit...

That's 8 years while smoking PallMalls, Capt'n... So way it looks to me is that as long as you don't take up smokin' that you go a long way to go if you'll do what the docs tell ya...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems
From: Becca72
Date: 01 Jul 10 - 08:53 AM

Spaw,
Where do I send the lobsters, Dude? :-)

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems
From: Tinker
Date: 01 Jul 10 - 09:24 AM

Hey Kendall ..... ya ain't on nothin' my boys ain't been on for years... and it took you years to get there.....

See you at Getaway.....

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems
From: SINSULL
Date: 01 Jul 10 - 09:40 AM

Awwww. Poor Spaw.




Poor Karen.

Floss and brush. Floss and brush.





Sorry, guy. That can't have been fun. Peter Sousa just had similar work done on some abscessed teeth. Said it's like having a mouthful of pubic hair.

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 01 Jul 10 - 11:45 AM

Just adding to everyone else - Mother-in-law had emphysema. Diagnosed very late on in life and smoked right until she was told the news. She gave up strait away and it have her an extra 10 years or more - You have the advantage seeing as you gave up a good while back.

It is a debilitating illness and I can understand the worry but follow Richards advice and you can make sure you are nowhere near as badly affected as some. There will be times when you wonder if they got it wrong and you are perfectly healthy but don't let it fool you - Keep the meds going and make sure you don't take any unecessary risks.

Keep well and maybe we will not stay in a wet caravan drinking spiced rum again but we weil see you over here again:-)

Cheers

DeG

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Jul 10 - 12:22 PM

Kendall, you must be snakebit. But at least, this is something that has treatments and with good management, won't slow you down much. I imagine everything else has already taken care of that, so it may not change things much at all.

I'll chime in on the longevity aspects - my aunt was a heavy smoker and developed emphysema that she had for the last couple of decades of her life.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems
From: kendall
Date: 01 Jul 10 - 12:28 PM

My Father spent the last few years of his life on oxygen and was barely able to walk across a room. My Mother was asthmatic so it's in my genes.
Anyway, I have the best medical care so I'm not going to give in to this. I've been on the ropes before but never on my back. SPAW I know what your pea brain is thinking, so DON'T

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems
From: gnu
Date: 01 Jul 10 - 01:11 PM

Attaboy! You got a lot to enjoy, so, enjoy it.

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 01 Jul 10 - 01:40 PM

My colleague's husband has had it for over 15 years.... but he did not quit smoking until 5 years in. He is on oxygen and is about to be checked into hospital because the CO2 in his bloods is very high. However... he never gets any exercise. Is not interested in slowing the disease with proper life style changes.

So I would say do what the docs say. Get appoint with respiratory therapist if you can, to teach you proper breathing techniques and practice these rigidly, no matter how you feel good or bad.


My thoughts go with you, Kendall. You are made of some pretty stern stuff. You can face this down.

Tam

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems (Kendall)
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Jul 10 - 02:06 PM

It's amazing the effect good docs can have on one's health. Last summer I was being bullied by my now former doctor AND, the cardio guy flippantly told me he wanted an echo (something they hadn't had done since heart surgery fours year ago, at the time!)because there "might be some loose stitches around the artificial valve." He said it so casually and I told him he was making me feel anxious to which he said he didn't mean to, even though when I asked if they could fix the stitches without going through the whole stop the heart thing again and he said no. Rog and I walked out of there in complete shock. THEN, good reason set in with lots of advice phone calls to friends including the so-experienced-in-all-things-medical-Spaw, realising if he really thought that were the case, we would have been headed to the hospital asap. The jerk! (Subsequent echo showed NO loose stitches!)

We now have a wonderful primary doctor who heard my sad story and reassured me that there is a lot we can do to keep me going into old age without those kinds of scare tactics/invasive threats. She knows from experience as her father is also a patient of the same cardio. I do still go to the cardio because other than that one time he has been excellent AND he KNOWS he was an idiot as I've basically told him. Still, until we had the new doc in place in Dec. it was a terrible time I hope to never repeat, full of much fear and unknowns.

I guess that's my long way of saying, keep the good care you have now and keep vigilant in advocating for yourself and not taking any shite off of any of them, including our Bad Boy, Spaw.**BG**

luvyakat

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems (Kendall)
From: gnu
Date: 01 Jul 10 - 02:13 PM

That's sommat Yanks with private health care have over us Canucks. YOU can get a second opinion. Here, if you want a second opinion from a specialist, it takes a year or more for most situations. (It varies across the provinces.) And, you piss off the first doc... who is good friends with the second doc. It makes you feel small, ungrateful and at their mercy.

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems (Kendall)
From: GUEST,kendall
Date: 01 Jul 10 - 02:53 PM

My rep. to the state legislature is a friend, and my rep. to the US Congress is also a friend and a fan. They know whose ass to kick.

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems (Kendall)
From: gnu
Date: 01 Jul 10 - 03:10 PM

The only one I know with pull is you. I'm screwed!

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems (Kendall)
From: Charmion
Date: 01 Jul 10 - 03:26 PM

I've been on Advair for years. Welcome to the wheezy club (koff, koff).

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems (Kendall)
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 01 Jul 10 - 03:40 PM

I wish I had some good advice too.
Just make do with my best wishes.
keith.

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems (Kendall)
From: GUEST,Marie Dufresne
Date: 01 Jul 10 - 05:37 PM

Hey Kendall,,

You know my dad had emphasema and that progressed to COPD -basically he just plain gave up on everything and didn't want to make changes and fight to continue to have a quality life.
Somehow I'm believing that you've got some more kick ass left in you --and if you need more then your lovely lady will provide-- 15 years since my dad passed so I know treatments have continued to improve --do what ya gotta and hang around many more years.

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems (Kendall)
From: My guru always said
Date: 01 Jul 10 - 06:11 PM

Keep on misbehaving Captain!!
Love & Hugs from here.
Hil xx

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems (Kendall)
From: Rapparee
Date: 01 Jul 10 - 06:28 PM

Kendall, you're missing the opportunity. You now NEED a bevy of floozies around in case you need mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. It's a medical necessity! It might even be tax-deductible! You're a lucky man!

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems (Kendall)
From: Midchuck
Date: 01 Jul 10 - 06:44 PM

"Bevy of floozies?" With Jacqui there? Get real, Rap. She's a former insurance adjuster (or whatever they call them in England). Those people are so mean, lawyers are scared of them!

Peter

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems (Kendall)
From: gnu
Date: 01 Jul 10 - 07:19 PM

Well, jac does lay down the law. >;-)

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems (Kendall)
From: kendall
Date: 01 Jul 10 - 07:41 PM

You have no idea.

Subject: RE: BS: My health problems (Kendall)
From: Bobert
Date: 01 Jul 10 - 07:57 PM

Capt'n got it made... Got Jacqui goin' to California just in time to bring in the bevy of floozies??? Man, I gotta pay more attention to just how he does it it??? I donno but it got this ol' hillbilly scratchin' his head???

Face it, folks... The man is good at what he does...

B;~)