Update on breathing problem

Many thanks for all the helpful info yesterday on my breathing problem. I realize I was just so tired of complications that I wasn't moving fast enough on what was happening. My doctor did find that I was in a fair amount of respiratory distress, primarily asthma but possibly heading into pneumonia. So she has increased my dosage of asthma medication significantly and put me on a heavy duty antibiotic (only have to take it once a day for 3 days, thank goodness and this time I went for the pill cutter instead of some gross liquid). At about 4 am, I think the antibiotic kicked in and that very threatening, tightness and can't-draw-a-breath feeling eased off. I'm optimistic but the doctor wants me back in the office on Friday if I am not *entirely* okay by then. Thanks to you guys, I was able to bounce over the trade show and have a very important dinner with Disney last night. It is one of the opportunities of a lifetime and missing it would have been terrible. You're the best! Gano

Gano, I'm still a bit skeptical, I really think you need to have access to a home nebulizer. Inhalers just aren't capable of treating what a nebulizer can. Stay vigilant!! Don't let yours go as far as mine did!! Va

I think I'm out of the woods. The zithromax (antibiotic) seems to kick in more every day and take out more of the tightness and cough, even though I stopped taking it two days ago. I'll go in tomorrow for the doctor to listen closely, just to make sure that I don't need a second round. Inhalers seem to be doing the trick in support to that. With luck, I'll be off one of them soon and then just stick to the Advair until allergy season is over, at least. One of the inhalers has a passive engineering, so I don't have to work to get the dose. I hope this is the last hitch in my recovery. It's certainly been a ride. But I have no regrets, the weight is dropping and I feel more agile every day. I went out with a friend today and made plans for my garden. And, for once in my life, I think I'll be able to execute them without feeling like I'm totaled before, during, and after! Of course, I'll do it bit by bit because my weight isn't *that* far down yet and the famous postop fatigue has set in. But there's a sense of being able to move around that I haven't had for a long time. My arthritis drugs are terribly tiring and being off them is starting to show a benefit. Thanks for all your help. The precise description of your symptoms did help me make more of a stink and get treated. I hope you're also out of the woods and starting to feel more wellness. Gano