Thursday, October 18, 2012

Good news, Bad news

Before I start, I want to say welcome to all my new followers. Thank you so much for dropping by and staying a while. I hope you find something interesting here and something you enjoy.

Now, on to the doctor visit. As I said in my last post, I had an appointment with a lung doctor today. Let me just say, this man was a delight. He was kind, funny and put me at ease right away. After the dreaded weight taking and the medication listings, I had to answer some questions by the nurse. Dr. Mejia (I love that name) came in and started questioning me as to why I was there. Sometimes, I think doctors do this to make sure you are sane. Anyway, I explained about the abnormal lung function test and told him I was referred to him. He said that there was nothing terribly wrong with the lung function test so, GOOD NEWS.

However, he asked about smoking so we went through the drill of never having smoked but having been around it most of my life. Then he asked about my cough. I have been coughing for almost a month now and it hasn't gone away on the allergy an cough meds my primary gave me. He listened to my heart/chest. Oh, by the way, I have a heart murmur also and I always like to watch new doctors go back and forth listening.

Then he listened to my back and had me breathe deep....you know the drill.  He also asked about shortness of breath which I have been having for a while. He told me I have decreased lung function. He asked about a chest xray which I had not had so that was scheduled after his appointment. Here comes the BAD NEWS. I am now on an antibiotic, a round of prednisone, an inhaler twice a day and a rescue inhaler. According to the paperwork for the xray, the diagnosis is asthma, unspecified type. Hmmmm. I also got a steroid shot in my booty, big time OUCH and did a breathing treatment in the office.

I have been a little bit hyper this afternoon from the steroid shot. I've also been hot, dizzy and a jabber jaws. BUT, I'm feeling so much better. I'm already coughing very little and feel so, so much better. I don't feel as tired and draggy and I'm looking forward to tomorrow so I can get some things done around. I have to make hay while the sun shines, or rather, work while the shot lasts!

No pictures today. I was so busy running to the doctor, to the diagnostic center and then to the drug store (3 times), I didn't have time to even think about my camera.

All in all, I feel much better about this diagnosis than I did about the possibility of COPD. I think I can handle this but the COPD really scared me. I was very down in the dumps for the two days between doctor visits and tried very hard not to let myself go down very far.

Thank all of you for your wonderful comments. It made me feel so much better knowing I had a support group of wonderful people keeping track and sending me good and happy thoughts. I cannot tell you how much all of you mean to me.

I hope each of you have a great day wherever you might be and thank you for stopping by.

Hugs,
Sharon

13 comments:

  1. Oh Sharon, that is good news. Your inhalers will help a lot, and the antibiotics and oral steroids will be over soon. Hang in there, and take advantage of that prednisone burst! Energy galore (even if it's nervous energy). :)

    May you keep feeling better every day.

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  2. Well asthma is definitely better than the alternative. Is it just a seasonal thing? My husband has asthma which tends to be worse with the change of seasons and takes prednisone too. His preventative pretty much takes care of things for weeks on end....hope you feel better soon and can enjoy a nice relaxing weekend :-D

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  3. Sharon, I somehow missed your last post, but so enjoyed the beautiful photos of fall around you!
    And I am glad that you are starting to feel a bit better...that different meds are helping!
    xx from Gracie

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  4. Dear Sharon, Do take care and hope the meds do you good as much as the rest and love of family!

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  5. Hopefully the inhalers will help you to manage the asthma, take care, Ada :)

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  6. Hello Sharon :) I missed your grotty news so I'm really glad to have come in on your better news. I have a son with asthma and those shots last a good while if he's anything to go by, so enjoy that hay making girl!

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  7. Sounds like you got a great doctor and hopefully the cough will be under control in no time. Blessings for a wonderful weekend. Heather

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  8. Dear Sharon,
    This is much better news! Keep on feeling better and do have a glorious weekend. Loads of love, Ellen.

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  9. I'm delighted that you got good news at the doc and that he was a nice one too. That doesn't always happen! Asthma is so easy to control now these days and you will probably feel better soon. Rest well over the weekend. Sending you happy thoughts and wishes of better health.
    Rosie xx

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  10. (((hugs))) don't overdo things with the steroid boost. xx

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  11. Now then that certainly sounds tops Sharon.....and doesn't it make the difference when you get a doctor who is people friendly and doesn't look and treat you like a sheep going through a sheep dip!!!

    The details of your post sounds much more positive....my sister has been on steroids for years and is now just being weaned off of them but thanks to that treatment she would not have pulled through after being diagnosed with rare auto-immune hepatitis. The steroids got her back on her feet.....
    Curious!!! I have a heart mummer too but it never bothers me. Anyhow this is great news and so all is well and a icky bit of asthma I am sure will not get the better of you!
    Take care now

    Amanda :-)

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  12. Hello Sharon, just catching up on all your news and am so glad to hear of the outcome. Wishing you a wonderful and carefree weekend now that your mind can be at ease and you are feeling better.
    xo

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  13. Hi Sharon, thanks for stopping by today. So sorry to hear about your health problems. We definitely have to take care of ourselves and make sure our environment is conducive to healthy ways, too. I was told when I was a teenager that I had a heart murmur but no one has mentioned it sense. My dad's family all had heart disease (he had bypass surgery when he was 45) so I try my best to keep my weight under control and eat healthy. COPD definitely is scary so I am glad to hear that has been crossed off. Take care! Tammy

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