OT: I have Pneumonia!! Please answer my question
I went to the ER on Saturday night with high fever (102/103) for 2 days, chest discomfort, tachycardia, etc. This hospital is so inept. I got into a room right away, because of the chest complaint and tachycardia. I NEVER saw a Dr. Only an LPN and a Nurse Practitioner. The NP didn't listen to my chest at all. The LPN did when I first came in and said, "I hear breath sounds coming in, but not going out from the bottom of your left lung." So, I hang around for 6 hours while they do apparently nothing, as I never see an actual Dr. I'm discharged with "fever of unknown origin". I tell the LPN who is giving me the discharge papers that I am concerned about pneumonia since she said I had reduced breath sounds, and a close friend had pneumonia diagnosed 2 weeks ago. She listens again and says my lung sounds "much better" than when I first came in. And I'm discharged.
Now, the whole time I'm there, I'm on a heart/O2 monitor. My O2 sats never go above 94, and are usually 90. (they should be 99/100). Also, my pulse never got below 100, and stayed steady at around 110...my normal, which I told them, is around 70-75. The NP tells me my heart rate is high because I'm uncomfortable.....honestly, this is what he told me.
Anyway, I go home and attempt to make a Dr. appointment, but I don't have a doc here, since we just moved. I got an appt. with a good doc for May 1st. Hmmm...not so good.
4 days go by, and my fever isn't breaking at all....stays around 102 degrees. And I develop a NASTY cough. So, I go to the urgent care center (didn't go there the first time, because they were closed). The DOCTOR there listens to my lungs, and says immediately that I have pneumonia in my lower left lung. (That LPN in the ER should have listened to her instincts, and told SOMEONE in the ER that she suspected pneumonia.) Anywho, I ask him if it could be Valley Fever (a nasty disease in the desert southwest), and he says a chest x-ray will tell for sure. I ask him if I need one to dx the pneumonia, and he said not really because it's pretty obvious by listening. So, I get the chest x-ray to rule out VF, which didn't show up. However, my lower lobe on the left lung is completely full of fluid. The Dr. gives me antibiotics and codeine syrup and I go back home to bed.
I'm still not feeling a whole lot better, but I do see some improvement. This cough is so painful, my whole body hurts. I'm so PO'd with the ER/hospital that they didn't even do a chest x-ray with the complaints I presented with. I would expect that to be the minimum standard of care. I could have started antibiotics 4 days sooner than I did, if they had just done that chest x-ray (they would have seen the pneumonia in my lung) I'm wondering how much longer my recovery will be due to those untreated 4 days where the pneumonia just got worse?
What do you all think I should do?
Thanks in advance.
Christine
Becky Hi Christine
I am your secret pal. I am so sorry you are going through this. I would definetly kick and scream and file complaints (when you are better) I have had this very same thing in the beginning of of I was sick for 2 months I felt as though my ribs were busted from the coughing it hurt soo bad. Also my chest felt like it was on fire. I did the Antibiotics, The hydrocodone Syrup and hot liquids and I eventually recovered. But seems like I was sick FOREVER. I pray you get well soon. Get lots of rest and hot fluids.
HUGS TO YOU MY SECRET PAL!
Thanks for the info Tooter. 
Thank you again for the well wishes, SP! 
Most Active
Recent Topics
