I've spent the last 2 years getting out of an active and functional addiction. I've been clean for that long. I started running and working out 1.5 years ago when we purchased our first home. 3 months ago I started not being able to breathe when I laid down and wheezing.
I went to the doctor for something else and mentioned it in passing during the check up. I told him it had been a few days and I didn't know if it was caused by smoking, so I cut down the amount of cigarettes a lot and switched from Reds to Ultra lights. He gave me an antibiotic for something else and I finished it.
Two weeks later I went back because the breathing and wheezing issue got worse and now I had a productive cough. I was told it was likely bronchitis and given the same antibiotic again and steroids. It helped a lot until I ran out of steroids. Then a couple of days later it came back.
I went back to the doctor again and she said it's probably COPD, but they have no xray so she's going to give me Ventolin for once a day and Albuterol for emergencies like overnight or walking in general when I would become out of breath.
I looked up COPD and was scared out of my mind. I'm 32 years old and basically healthy at this point. I have no health history, and never worked in a factory or coal mine, and now I've been given a death sentence. A long one yes, but not long for someone who's 32.
So 4 days later the chest pain started and I paid attention to my heart rate on my Fitbit. As soon as I would walk up the stairs or go for a walk my heart rate would jump to 110-130. Not even close to normal. I started having chest pain in my sternum that eventually radiated to the right side. I went to the ER. The nurse and doctor put me at ease and said they've seen people with COPD in the hospital, and those aren't my symptoms. They gave me blood tests, covid, flu, and other viral tests. Tested my blood for clots and more, gave me a chest xray and CT scan. They said it was pneumonia and gave me the same antibiotics and steroids.
This time, I got well enough during steroids I was back on the treadmill running. After I finished the steroids I made it 4 days before I was back not breathing well, coughing, and with chest pain. I went to the urgent care and they gave me the same antibiotics and steroids.
I didn't get much better, but it was liveable until I was off steroids again.
I came back to the hospital yesterday morning around 7 am. They did a CT scan and said the "shattered glass" of something unspecified was worse. Not a lot worse, but there was more. They said I needed to see a pulmonologist for more specified tests and that would likely takes weeks to get in. So, they could give me antibiotics and steroids to hold me over (it's only a 5 day pack of steroids) and I could wait, or I could be admitted and see the pulmonologist within 24 hours. I seen him at 2:30 pm yesterday. He said he will get me in outpatient in 2 weeks.
So, when the nurses came I was like can I go home then? They said not until I'm stable. That's great. Hopefully today will be the day.
They've treated me with a Z Pack and steroids twice through an IV. They have taken bloodwork once fine, and tried two hours ago, but my veins are very scarred, so it doesn't always work. She said they'd try again later. Yay!
I hate this. The not smoking is annoying, but I'm already down to 4 cigarettes before this and relying on Nicorette step 1 patches and gum, so as much as I have cravings due to boredom or stress I'm just holding on to the fact that I will have one when I leave and then quit for good.
So, my planned not one more cigarette day is the 3rd, a day before our vacation. I'm nervous, but I've built good quitting habits I think.
I hate being here and not taking care of my just fixed pups, and my eight year old son. My husband and partner of 10 years has been amazing and he's promised to bring our son to his Mom's tomorrow evening if I'm still here and sleep with me because sleeping alone is not helping with the stress.
The breathing treatments, steroids, and Z pack has me feeling a lot better than when I came in but I'm still out of breath with intermittent dull chest pain. My blood pressure has been Elevated since this started when I've never had an issue before. That's worrisome too. It was high today for the first time, but it went back down to Elevated after a few hours and the nurse said it's likely the steroids, so that made me feel slightly better.
I think maybe I made things worse by taking dayquil and mucinex as much or more than the box recommended to stop my coughing and allowed it to build. At least, that's what I'm hoping.
Well, I can't sleep and I'm scared. So, I guess this is partially me trying to distress and maybe ask if anyone else has dealt with this odd health situation and what the outcome was?
I have midterms due for college in two days for two classes, so that's stressful. I graduate with my first degree in December for sure, and I've been on The Dean's List and community College honor roll the entire time. I'm pretty proud of myself, so I hope I'm not dying.
Beth
