Health Matters

[ercarta]

I felt we should have a thread where we can ask and give helpful advice regarding all the different health conditions we and all our family members are being or have been diagnosed with.

Somehow, a discussion with an everyday individual puts me more at ease than simply discussing a health concern w/ a doctor. I hope the thread works out for others that way also.

Which leads me to my first query...

A family member of mine was hospitalized recently because of a sudden attack in the house due to pneumonia.

Does anyone know what, if any, household materials or food ingredients may trigger a reaction from a pneumonia victim? The thought of doing nothing horrifies me, especially after reading that pneumonia kills 1/3 of it's victims. Thanks in advance for any feedback.

I think we can really do a lot with this thread, let's make it work! There is no health concern is too trivial for this thread. :)

[Sonia]

I collapsed from pneumonia last week, and had to be hospitalized. I must admit that I went to work, and moved around, for several days, thinking I had a very bad cold, before I fainted, and was rushed to the hospital. I surmise two things contributed to my condition. First, in prior years, I have always gotten a flu shot, which I was unable to get this year. And second, I probably should have stayed home at the first sign of a fever, but I had a deadline at work, and made the mistake of disregarding the initial symptoms. I have been trying to figure out where the bug came from, but there are many possibilities. :(

[ercarta]

Sonia,

I'm relieved to hear that you were admitted, pneumonia is not something one should deal with at home for obvious reasons. Many people like yourself and my mom (family member I mentioned previously) continue their daily routines as if nothing is going on. I think we all take our bodies for granted and do not give it the care it so direly needs.

I read there is a pneumonia vaccine called "Pneumovax" and it is recommended for people who have diabetes, steroid-dependent asthma, alcoholism, cigarette abuse and in those persons who have had their spleen removed.

This is actually my first encounter w/ pneumonia. What a frightening encounter is has been. My mom already has metastatic cancer and diabetes so this has really taken a toll on my family.

The reason I ask if anybody knows what may trigger the symptoms to reach their climax is because when I asked my mom what happened that one morning (2 a.m.) she explained that she woke up into an unbearable breathing attack. I believe it must have been something she ate or something in her immediate environment. The doctors are at a loss as to what may have triggered the reaction.

Thank heaven the worst has past however, I'd like to help mom take more proactive measures to reduce the probability of a recurring incident, over & above what the doctors are suggesting and/or prescribing. I'm hoping the first go-round is the last, I don't know if I'm built to go through that twice.

Does anyone know the contributing factors to these types of sudden lung attacks?



I collapsed from pneumonia last week, and had to be hospitalized. I must admit that I went to work, and moved around, for several days, thinking I had a very bad cold, before I fainted, and was rushed to the hospital. I surmise two things contributed to my condition. First, in prior years, I have always gotten a flu shot, which I was unable to get this year. And second, I probably should have stayed home at the first sign of a fever, but I had a deadline at work, and made the mistake of disregarding the initial symptoms. I have been trying to figure out where the bug came from, but there are many possibilities. :(

[NewportLady]

Eric,

Sorry to hear about your mother, I know how emotionally difficult it can be to care for an ailing parent. You have to be especially careful that the condition isn't complicated by another problem, such as pneumonia. I understand there are different strains of pneumonia that may occur under different circumstances. The important thing is to closely monitor your mother's health during her illness, and, at all times, keep a small oxygen tank near her bed.

Best of Luck to you,
NL

[ercarta]

An oxygen tank huh? I have to look into that. That sounds like something that would have to come from the doctor, no? I've heard of cases where pure oxygen can actually be bad for you. I'm just not sure how.

Thanks for the idea. I will look into that further. They've had her on oxygen at the ICU for a few days consistently now so I don't see why one can't continue that at home. :)



The important thing is to closely monitor your mother's health during her illness, and, at all times, keep a small oxygen tank near her bed.
NL

[ercarta]

Is anyone familiar with Sarcoidoses? Is there like a short two sentence explanation as to what this condition is?

[Lrn2dnc]

Sarcoidosis is a multi system disorder characterized in affected organs by a type of inflammation called granulomas.


Sarcoidosis is a disease that causes inflammation of the body's tissues. Inflammation is a basic response of the body to injury and usually causes reddened skin, warmth, swelling, and pain. Inflammation from sarcoidosis is different. In sarcoidosis, the inflammation produces small lumps (also called nodules or granulomas) in the tissues.