I have spent a lot of time in hospitals because I have had so much surgery over my life, but never a lot of  time all at once.  I have recently been diagnosed with COPD & I am trying to deal with this diagnosis.  This post was inspired by Bill Hamilton’s post where he describes a long stay in the hospital in HIS journey with COPD.  See it here: http://dealingwithcopd.wordpress.com/2014/01/25/postscript-to-how-i-feel-the-week-ending-012414-living-with-copd/#respond
I can relate to his situation when I got my pleural effusion, even though my situation was not nearly as severe as his was. I lived in the bush, 4 hours drive away from the closest hospital. I presented to the doctor in my little community with chest pains in my upper right back. I felt clammy, short of breath & unwell – I thought I was having a heart attack. The doctor was unsure what was wrong with me, so he sent me by air ambulance to the closest hospital (40 mins. flight). I am afraid of flying! As soon as they put my stretcher on the small plane, my heart rate skyrocketed & they had to give me a sedative. I arrived at the hospital, they did the bloodwork & other tests to determine I wasn’t having a heart attack & discharged me, even though I still felt crappy. I had to find my own way to a motel in the community & wait till the next day when my husband could drive down to pick me up.
I still felt crappy for a about 4 days, then I developed a fever & even more difficulty breathing. I presented to the doctor who now recognized I was in real trouble. Please don’t misunderstand – this was a very caring & knowledgeable doctor – but over the years I have recognized my body does not present with “the usual symptoms.” Â When I had gall bladder problems I presented with the symptoms of appendicitis, when I have stomach problems I present with pain under my left breast.
Another air ambulance was summoned, but because of my fear of flying I was heavily sedated this time. I don’t remember the flight, the x-rays or examinations. I woke up in a hospital bed on oxygen, the next day. I had severe pneumonia with a large pleural effusion. I spent a week in the hospital on heavy duty antibiotics & enforced rest before they discharged me back to my small town. When my hubby heard they were flying me out again, he thoughtfully went back home & got me a book so at least I could read because there was no TV in the room.
A week later hubby & I had to drive the 4 hours back to the hospital so I could be examined again. My breathing was still labored. After x-rays it was determined the effusion had not re-absorbed into my body. I was given the choice of going home for another week on antibiotics & being re-evaluated again or having the effusion drained off. While hubby & the doctor debated what to do I sat there, afraid & struggling with my breathing. Â When someone finally asked my opinion, I said I didn’t want to go back home with the breathing problems I was already experiencing, let’s treat this now.
The 2 hospitals in this community were merging into one at the time, so some supplies were missing. Â The doctor had to jerry-rig with a long needle inserted into my back, he would fill up the syringe then pour off the liquid into a little beaker before drawing off more fluid. Â I had to sit perfectly still the whole time this was happening & the whole thing took about 25 minutes to complete. Â Once the fluid was off my back my breathing improved right away.
I had been diagnosed with pneumonia before & even had “walking pneumonia.” Â When I woke up in the hospital the day after my admittance, the doctor told me I had “laying in the hospital, on oxygen & enforced rest for a whole lot of time” pneumonia. Â This was my first indication of what was to come.
By the way, this is my 300th post!
FlaHam
Jan 25, 2014 @ 14:42:15
Benze, You have had just as hard a road to haul as I have, My trip to the hospital takes 12 minutes during rush hour. And I have 5 hospitals with 30 minutes. As we have discussed, you can put up one heck of a good fight against COPD and have a full life doing it. Just keep on fighting, no giving up.
Take care, Bill — ps thanks for the shout out.
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benzeknees
Jan 25, 2014 @ 14:54:57
No problem Bill! I like when more people understand what we are going through. I now like in Edmonton, so I am much closer to a hospital & would not require an air ambulance. But I have to say, being in the hospital is soooooooo boring! Unless you’re mostly unconscious.
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El Guapo
Jan 25, 2014 @ 14:45:05
Egad! I’m glad to hear you at least have good doctors who listen, and take yourinput into your care.
If there’s anything I can do for you…
Off to read about copd so I at least know what you’re talking about.
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benzeknees
Jan 25, 2014 @ 14:55:59
You should read Bill Hamilton’s posts – he talks about COPD in a very understandable manner. He’s a little farther along in his journey than I am, but he’s a great cheerleader!
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Edward Hotspur
Jan 25, 2014 @ 15:32:11
Good to see you’re well-cared for. I need to read about COPD also.
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benzeknees
Jan 25, 2014 @ 15:43:46
COPD is a chronic, progressive lung disease. It usually presents with shortness of breath & coughing which continue to get worse as time goes on. It usually requires medications to help you with your breathing & eventually probably oxygen. Go see Bill’s blog for a lot more information, he has a lot of expertise to share!
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Ron
Jan 25, 2014 @ 16:19:40
Wow…I was glued to your every word while reading this, Benze! Especially the part about being afraid of flying because I am the same way. I do it, but I don’t like it. So I can imagine between what you were experiencing physically at the time, plus the anxiety of flying, magnified the whole awful experience.
Whew…glad to hear that everything worked out with the treatment and that you were able to get your breathing better.
I look forward to reading the continuation.
And hey, CONGRATULATIONS on your 300th post!
Cheers to you!
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benzeknees
Jan 26, 2014 @ 11:05:49
Thank you Ron! Unfortunately, I didn’t smarten up right away after this pneunomia experience because I continued to smoke up until another pneumonia helped me quit 2 years ago.
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photosfromtheloonybin
Jan 25, 2014 @ 16:24:08
Congrats on your 300th post, but I am so sorry that you have had to go through such suffering :(. I know it hasn’t been a good diagnosis, but at least you know what is wrong now and can deal with it.
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benzeknees
Jan 26, 2014 @ 11:07:16
Thanks Cindy! Yes, now I can seek the appropriate treatment to help with my journey, unfortunately COPD is chronic & progressive with no cure.
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writerwannabe763
Jan 25, 2014 @ 17:16:59
Sorry to hear of your diagnosis… COPD … I hope it doesn’t flare up too often.. My husband has it and also asbestosis… but unless he gets an infection he is not too bad… Congrats on your 300 th post… Diane
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benzeknees
Jan 26, 2014 @ 11:08:10
Thanks Diane! I’m sorry to hear your husband has this disease also. How is he doing?
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writerwannabe763
Jan 26, 2014 @ 11:46:55
He does okay for the most part… he’s just prone to any infection going to his lungs…. so he gets a prescription any time it starts to go there….. Diane
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benzeknees
Jan 26, 2014 @ 12:02:04
Unfortunately this is all part of lung disease – where every illness ends up in the lungs. This is why I shy away from public places.
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Beth Ann
Jan 25, 2014 @ 17:51:29
Wow—you have had quite a journey and it does not sound like a fun one. I am so sorry. I am glad that you now have a diagnosis and know what is going on. That has to help to at least know what is going on with your body. Congrats on your 300th post! That is a great accomplishment.
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benzeknees
Jan 26, 2014 @ 11:09:28
Thanks Beth Ann! 300 must seem like a drop in the bucket to you since you post so frequently (& all so interesting too). I’m struggling a bit with this diagnosis, but it is good to be able to access the proper treatment.
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Beth Ann
Jan 26, 2014 @ 11:12:58
I am so glad that you are getting good treatment. I can not imagine all that you have had to endure and yet you still keep on keeping on. Stay strong, my friend.
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Elyse
Jan 25, 2014 @ 19:17:00
Dear Benze, my heart and my lungs go out to you. Being sick sucks; hospitals suck. I hope that they can ease your symptoms, and let you be you. Because you need those deep breaths to laugh at life.
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benzeknees
Jan 26, 2014 @ 11:10:15
I love your philosophy Elyse – you’re right I do need breath to laugh! Thank you!
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rarasaur
Jan 25, 2014 @ 19:26:23
I really didn’t know anything about COPD and then I found out HuntMode had it… and she introduced me to Bill… and then your post came out. I’m sending you all positive thoughts.
Happy 300th!
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benzeknees
Jan 26, 2014 @ 11:13:32
Thank you Rara! You are actually the pivot point in all of this – because of your help with C4C, I met Bill & Huntie at Christmas this year! It was so soon after my diagnosis & I was really struggling, but Bill & Huntie have been such a good resource for me & hopefully I have been able to help them get word out about their sites.
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pouringmyartout
Jan 25, 2014 @ 19:28:40
awwwwwww… this tore me up…
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benzeknees
Jan 26, 2014 @ 11:14:34
Sorry Art, what was so stupid was I continued to smoke a couple more years after this until another bout of pneumonia helped me quit.
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pouringmyartout
Jan 26, 2014 @ 11:33:29
I need to stop
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benzeknees
Jan 26, 2014 @ 12:03:06
If you can manage it, I urge you to stop Art! Where would I get my laughs if you weren’t around?
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pouringmyartout
Jan 26, 2014 @ 12:09:40
That is pretty compelling…
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behindthemaskofabuse
Jan 25, 2014 @ 20:04:02
Yikes not fun at all!! Hubby and I were just chatting about air ambulance tonight, and he said if he ever needed one, he wouldn’t care how sick he was he would be begging them to let him fly it…lol (He’s a rookie Heli pilot)
Congrats on 300 posts!!
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benzeknees
Jan 26, 2014 @ 11:15:54
That’s so funny Zoe! If he was half as sick as I was he wouldn’t have the strength to sit up to fly it! I guess he wouldn’t be afraid to fly, like I was – hahahahahaha!
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behindthemaskofabuse
Jan 26, 2014 @ 12:43:14
That’s what I told him, if he had to be flown…he would probably not even be aware! lol No weirdly he’s afraid of heights but not afraid of flying…
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huntmode
Jan 26, 2014 @ 00:01:13
Hi Benze, as someone else said above, I was glued to this writing of yours. Congratulations on the 300th post! With you in breath – soft smile. HuntMode
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benzeknees
Jan 26, 2014 @ 11:16:35
Thanks Huntie – you & Bill are my strength & I love you both!
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huntmode
Jan 26, 2014 @ 18:43:34
xxoo ~ HuntMode
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natural beauty
Jan 26, 2014 @ 19:21:12
Hmm it looks like your site ate my first comment (it was super long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I had written and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog. I too am an aspiring blog writer but I’m still new to everything. Do you have any recommendations for newbie blog writers? I’d genuinely appreciate it.
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cancer research
Jan 26, 2014 @ 20:54:21
Hurrah! Finally I got a weblog from where I be able to really take useful information concerning my study and knowledge.
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credit repair houston
Jan 27, 2014 @ 00:01:21
I’m not that much of a online reader to be honest but your blogs really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your website to come back later on. Cheers
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Chris Donner
Jan 27, 2014 @ 06:23:29
Thanks for stopping by 61musings.com. I don’t know anything of CPOD, but I do know what it’s been like living with life threatening chronic illness for fourteen years. My heart goes out to you.
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benzeknees
Jan 27, 2014 @ 12:26:06
Thanks Chris! I’m glad we found each other, I think we’re both going to enjoy finding out more about the other!
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TBM
Jan 27, 2014 @ 11:03:30
Yikes. I’m glad you know what it is now, but I also know this is something you have to live with every day. My thoughts are with you.
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benzeknees
Jan 27, 2014 @ 11:52:39
Thanks TB! My doctor was not very hopeful sounding when he announced my diagnosis, so to me it felt like a death sentence. I have been busy educating myself since & have found a wonderful support group right here with some bloggers I met at C4C. It’s helping me deal with this.
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rebecca2000
Jan 27, 2014 @ 14:06:17
Sorry you went through all of this. I’m so happy to hear that you listened to yourself and your doctors listened to you. I hope you’re feeling better.
x,
Becca
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benzeknees
Jan 27, 2014 @ 14:17:37
Thank you Becca & thanks for the follow! I’m looking forward to us having a laugh together!
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Madame Weebles
Jan 28, 2014 @ 11:24:49
I think I mentioned that my dad has very severe COPD at this point, I sympathize and understand how upsetting this diagnosis must be for you, Benze. But at least you were diagnosed properly, and now you can be aware of the things that trigger exacerbations, you know what to avoid, etc. And there are some pretty good medications that can help a lot, thank goodness.
And congrats on your 300th post!
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benzeknees
Jan 28, 2014 @ 14:24:51
Thank you Madame Weebles! I hope your dad is doing well.
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Carrie Rubin
Feb 05, 2014 @ 14:59:50
So sorry again to hear you’re going through this. Must be scary to be far from a major hospital. And thank you again for stopping by my blog. Can’t believe you were one of my unfollow ‘victims.’ Hopefully that’s all rectified now.
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benzeknees
Feb 05, 2014 @ 15:44:17
I live in Edmonton Carrie, so I’m close to hospitals now. Did live in the bush for many years, so maybe this is where the confusion came from?
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Carrie Rubin
Feb 05, 2014 @ 15:47:27
Oh, yes, I know you live in Edmonton now, but I was referring to when you were in a more rural location. I think that must be very difficult for people with health issues.
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benzeknees
Feb 05, 2014 @ 16:12:49
I lived in the bush when I had the pleural effusion & had to keep being medivacced out to Sioux Lookout.
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