The Joys Of Using A Nebulizer

I've kept in the back of my mind that I need to blog...  But as always  LIFE gets in the way.

Today I wanted to add a little humor .. Only lung patients will understand the basis of my blog.
When we say we are nauseous from our nebulizer, many think reguar run of the mill nauseau.
Not a chance ! This is one of those "read between the lines" sort of thing. You know, something we just cannot explain, and others would never think it actually happens.

So without further delay, I give you my meaning of :

Nebulizer Nauseau

That undeniably nasty feeling one gets when doing a nebulizer treatment (breathing) to open up airways. Medicines such as Albuterol or Xopenex.

The entire body inside and out jitters so ferociously the stomach is thrown into an upheaval and hence- minor nauseau begins.


But oh my friends, it does not stop there...  Oh ! if ony life were so kind..

The first nebulizer treatment is followed by a second treatment. Usually an antibiotic or saline solution to "break up" mucous . Not just any mucous either.. This is thick, stick to your airways mucous. The kind that refuses to move, no matter how many times you chokingly cough, eyes water, etc.

This triggers a cough where all one can do is hang your head over a can and pray it happens fast !
Usually not the case..  You cough, and you cough, and you cough. This stuff is moving but even a tortoise could go faster. You feel it at the back of your tongue and wish- "Just move !" As it ever so slowly moves it's way out- it leaves that wonderful taste all over your taste buds.. This triggers more heaves.. Yep I never said it was easy.

At this point the jitters combined with the cough & horrid taste have made your stomach do a complete flip. It is now following the mucous on the way up..

You now have full blown
Nebulizer Nauseau
No cure, No relief (becasue you'll only cough more)

Oh! And keep that toothbrush handy... You'll wear those out in record time ;)

Decisions

After receiving disheartening news in December, I posted the news on Facebook.
It seemed ironic that I normally go to my clinic visits feeling uncertain, only to hear how well I'm doing.  This time I was feeling great, and got a less than favorable prognosis.

Lung transplant dropped the chronic rejection bomb, while I discovered  my paperwork also showed stage 2 kidney disease from kidney transplant.

After posting my thoughts on FB,  I got many responses.  Most encouraging my determination to do this on my terms.
However, I think one read it incorrectly.  tge response was "I've been in stage 3 for years".  Replying about a lung transplant
It was stage 2 kidney disease,  scary in itself being a kidney recipient.

However a first time lung transplant has the possibility of being relisted.  Me,  having had 2 already my chance  is next to nil for another.
I'm not being nit picky,  merely to set the record straight.  I remember my years of chronic rejection, and the fast downward spiral.  I have no wish to go there again,  though I knew it would one day happen  I don't miss the nose wedgies and bloody noses from oxygen.  My wheelchair has been in solitary confinement gathering dust .I have no desire to grant it visitation rights to my derrière.

Mostly, I do not miss the shortness of breath when talking. Being forced to decide between eating and breathing.

Or the realization that my life is slipping away.  It is pure hell having an active mind in a daily weakening body.

Which is why I posted my life on my terms.
I am slowly rebuilding my endurance,  no small feat with a negative reserve of energy. Let alone the breath.

I'm walking more and have taken to my bicycle in the hope of keeping my wheelchair in solitary confinement.

Insulin - Day how many?

It seems to have gone by so fast and yet I'm still insulin free. Yes, I have exercised more (YAY) and yes I am watching what I eat. However, I no longer have that constant stress of  worrying about my blood sugar dropping unexpectedly. The churning feeling is gone and I actually was able to feel & hear hunger rumbling in my stomach! Yes I waited until I was actually hungry to make sure I could still feel it :)

This past week has had me watching my health in other areas as well. My INR test for coumadin last Thursday showed an astoundingly thin blood level for me.. #7-no wonder I have bruises everywhere! Scared the Dr's office so bad I was told "Don't get cut-don't get a scratch" I mean come on, I have 3 dogs.. Where do they think the bruises came from???  Today it read at 1.4 which is great-but to them too low. They want it between 2-3 and my lung transplant team want it 1-2.. Gonna let them hash it out.. Just another pull to deal with between physicians.

With the heavy tree pollen content around here I've also had a drop in my home spiromerty. I called and the decision was to take 40mg Prednisone (the bane of my existence) for 4 days ... There goes the blood sugar control.. It may put me back on insulin for the duration to keep it stable.

So far today I haven't needed it-but do have the Novolog sitting on ready just in case.

Will find out the blood sugar at dinnertime..If  you hear a loud screaming "NOooooooo" it's only me..