*hugs tight* I've had that, with accompanying ongoing ick afterwards - rather embarrassingly, collapsed in my own emergency department and ended up on a trolley on oxygen with my boss taking my scrub top off to listen to my chest. It sucks and is horrible, but I promise it does get better. Two things that really helped me: 1) steroids (a 5 day course of 40mg Prednisolone), but obviously consult your own doctor before trying this, especially considering baby. 2) much nicer - a trip to the seaside! I know it sounds totally Victorian, but sea air really does fix my lungs - I've had this a few times now because my lungs are made of fail, and we've had two nights by the sea each time which made an enormous difference. Failing that, you can get salt inhalers that might help, but I've never tried them.
Um, Prednisone is no longer recommended for pregnant women. (If your doctor wants to put you on Prednisone, Ash, you and I need to have a private conversation. There are both positive and negative effects, which I know very well, being a Prednisone baby myself.)
As for the icky crud, yikes, that sounds awful. The closest I can relate was when I was living in Houston, and the pollution made my lungs contract so badly that a brisk walk caused me to gray out. The exercise I would recommend is called chi gong (sometimes spelled qi gong). It's related to tai chi and is specifically for boosting your energy level. There are even some chi gong exercises that can be done while sitting down.
I hope this nastiness clears up soon. *hugs and love*
Hmm, interesting - guidance varies by country, I imagine, but certainly in the British National Formulary it's not contraindicated for a short course. But I'm an emergency doctor, not an obstetrician, hence the 'talk to your doctor first' disclaimer above. Seconding the chi gong recommendation - I've never done it, but my neighbour did it a lot after his hip replacement and he said it really helped his recovery.
There was a time in the 1970s (at least in the US) when Prednisone was being prescribed for all sorts of things it doesn't actually work on. I did some research in my twenties, and by then there were studies done of that cohort of babies. A few years later, I could no longer find those studies, only a statement that Prednisone was schedule C (effects on pregnancy unknown, better not try it). But as those studies explained a lot of what both my mom and I experienced, it rather stuck in my memory.
I bet it did! Strange (and worrying!) that those studies disappeared. I used to teach at a medical school and had access to the library databases, but I don't have quite such good resources any more. But I'll have a look out - if I come across anything, I'll send you the references. I think every generation has its 'wonder drug' that people use for far too many things. Right now, at least in the UK, it's aspirin. 10 years ago it was statins. I guess Pred was the same in the 70s.
(Interestingly, Captcha text below is 'mumbo jumbo'. A comment on the efficacy of wonder drugs, perhaps!)
I came to medicine after another career (psychology) so I tend to be a little more jaded about The Wonders Of Medicine than people who went into it straight from school. It does some awesome stuff, but also some less awesome.
Today's Captcha: Lumpy Gravy. Not so sure where it's going with that.... perhaps a criticism of my culinary abilities ;-)
Oh gaaaaaah, that sounds dramatic and hideous! Though if you're going to collapse that's certainly the place to do it. (the only time I've ever fainted was in a first aid class. The irony!)
Steroids are on the cards if necessary, though not Prenisolone--sorry, too many people have warned me off that one! Hopefully I'm getting by without them, though. I would LOVE a trip to the seaside. I bet it would do me good. Sigh! If only! I was considering getting a salt inhaler to try; we'll see how that goes!
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As for the icky crud, yikes, that sounds awful. The closest I can relate was when I was living in Houston, and the pollution made my lungs contract so badly that a brisk walk caused me to gray out. The exercise I would recommend is called chi gong (sometimes spelled qi gong). It's related to tai chi and is specifically for boosting your energy level. There are even some chi gong exercises that can be done while sitting down.
I hope this nastiness clears up soon. *hugs and love*
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Seconding the chi gong recommendation - I've never done it, but my neighbour did it a lot after his hip replacement and he said it really helped his recovery.
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I think every generation has its 'wonder drug' that people use for far too many things. Right now, at least in the UK, it's aspirin. 10 years ago it was statins. I guess Pred was the same in the 70s.
(Interestingly, Captcha text below is 'mumbo jumbo'. A comment on the efficacy of wonder drugs, perhaps!)
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(Love the 'mumbo jumbo' comment! It's always refreshing to hear skepticism on pharmaceuticals, and from a doctor, no less!)
(Sorry, Ash, I'll stop journaling on your journal now...)
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Also: interesting person, meet other interesting person. =)
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I came to medicine after another career (psychology) so I tend to be a little more jaded about The Wonders Of Medicine than people who went into it straight from school. It does some awesome stuff, but also some less awesome.
Today's Captcha: Lumpy Gravy. Not so sure where it's going with that.... perhaps a criticism of my culinary abilities ;-)
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Steroids are on the cards if necessary, though not Prenisolone--sorry, too many people have warned me off that one! Hopefully I'm getting by without them, though. I would LOVE a trip to the seaside. I bet it would do me good. Sigh! If only! I was considering getting a salt inhaler to try; we'll see how that goes!
(P.S. ONLY A FEW WEEKS NOW WHEEE!)
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