I've got a cold.
I think I got a cold last summer, too. I had 3 in 4 months last fall/winter.
Right now it's mostly still a head cold, with clogged sinuses and a scratchy/sore throat. Actually, after taking a nap earlier my throat doesn't really hurt anymore, except for the occasional irritation/cough. But since it hurt so bad earlier I haven't been eating as much, so I'm fucking starving. I still don't really feel like eating anything, though. I should still have some soup-at-hand...
If I keep my head propped up, eventually my nose/sinuses clear up some. Right now I can almost literally feel it moving from my sinuses down into my chest. I've been coughing a little, but not too much yet. That'll probably start just in time for my 2 days off. I hope I can make it until Monday before I have to call in sick, because if I call in Saturday or Sunday night, I'll have to go in & make up the time. DO NOT WANT.
I have zero money for a doctor's visit right now. Although...my mom's gonna reimburse me some money I let her borrow until her student loan kicks in on the 6th. & my last clinic visit only cost about $30, instead of the $75/80 I was expecting (for a fucking DOCTOR'S OFFICE VISIT). Hopefully he/she will give me another prescription of Advair. Damn, that stuff was nice.
COPD (Chronis Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) / Chronic Bronchitis
(from this site)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common lung diseases. It makes it difficult to breathe. There are two main forms of COPD:
Chronic bronchitis, defined by a long-term cough with mucus
Emphysema, defined by destruction of the lungs over time
Most people with COPD have a combination of both conditions.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Smoking is the leading cause of COPD. The more a person smokes, the more likely that person will develop COPD although some people smoke for years and never get COPD.
In rare cases, nonsmokers who lack a protein called alpha-1 antitrypsin can develop emphysema.
Other risk factors for COPD are:
Exposure to certain gases or fumes in the workplace
Exposure to heavy amounts of secondhand smoke and pollution (grew up around smokers, although neither of my parents ever smoked)
Frequent use of cooking gas without proper ventilation
Symptoms
Cough with mucus
Shortness of breath (dyspnea) that gets worse with mild activity
Fatigue
Frequent respiratory infections
Wheezing
Since the symptoms of COPD develop slowly, some people may be unaware that they are sick. (Unless they're a hypochondriac, like me. <3)
Signs and tests
The best test for COPD is a simple lung function test called spirometry. This involves blowing out as hard as one can into a small machine that tests lung capacity. The test can be interpreted immediately and does not involve exercising, drawing blood, or exposure to radiation. (I've never had the opportunity to do this, but lots of residents have them in their rooms at work.)
Using a stethoscope to listen to the lungs can also be helpful, although sometimes the lungs sound normal even when COPD is present.
Pictures of the lungs (such as X-rays and CT scans) can be helpful but sometimes look normal even when a person has COPD.
Sometimes it is necessary to do a blood test (call a “blood gas”) to measure the amounts of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood.
Treatment
There is no cure for COPD. However, there are many things you can do to relieve symptoms and keep the disease from getting worse.
Persons with COPD must stop smoking. This is the best way to slow down the lung damage.
Medications used to treat COPD include:
Inhalers (bronchodilators) to open the airways, such as ipratropium (Atrovent), tiotropium (Spiriva), salmeterol (Serevent), or formoterol (Foradil)
Inhaled steroids to reduce lung inflammation
In severe cases or during flare-ups, you may need to receive steroids by mouth or through a vein (intravenously).
Antibiotics are prescribed during symptom flare-ups, because infections can make COPD worse.
Oxygen therapy at home may be needed if a person has a low level of oxygen in their blood. Pulmonary rehabilitation does not cure the lung disease, but it can teach you to breathe in a different way so you can stay active. Exercise programs such as pulmonary rehabilitation are also important to help maintain muscle strength in the legs so less demand is placed on the lungs when walking. These programs also teach people how to use their medicines most effectively.
Things you can do to make it easier for yourself around the home include:
Avoiding very cold air
Making sure no one smokes in your home
Reducing air pollution by eliminating fireplace smoke and other irritants (like the damp from our leaky basement? Yeah, can't afford it.)
Eat a healthy diet with fish, poultry, or lean meat, as well as fruits and vegetables. If it is hard to keep your weight up, talk to a doctor or dietitian about getting foods with more calories.
Don't mind me over here, whenever I get sick I tend to feel like I should annoy other people with posts & what-not. I'm trying to keep it down to a minimum. I'm always just in this weird mood of wanting to at least be mentally active, while still feeling really tired & fatigued.
I have like, week-old (& newer) comments I need to reply to... but I think I'm gonna make some tea/get something to eat, then try to sleep some more. Probably propped up this time.
Right now it's mostly still a head cold, with clogged sinuses and a scratchy/sore throat. Actually, after taking a nap earlier my throat doesn't really hurt anymore, except for the occasional irritation/cough. But since it hurt so bad earlier I haven't been eating as much, so I'm fucking starving. I still don't really feel like eating anything, though. I should still have some soup-at-hand...
If I keep my head propped up, eventually my nose/sinuses clear up some. Right now I can almost literally feel it moving from my sinuses down into my chest. I've been coughing a little, but not too much yet. That'll probably start just in time for my 2 days off. I hope I can make it until Monday before I have to call in sick, because if I call in Saturday or Sunday night, I'll have to go in & make up the time. DO NOT WANT.
I have zero money for a doctor's visit right now. Although...my mom's gonna reimburse me some money I let her borrow until her student loan kicks in on the 6th. & my last clinic visit only cost about $30, instead of the $75/80 I was expecting (for a fucking DOCTOR'S OFFICE VISIT). Hopefully he/she will give me another prescription of Advair. Damn, that stuff was nice.
COPD (Chronis Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) / Chronic Bronchitis
(from this site)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common lung diseases. It makes it difficult to breathe. There are two main forms of COPD:
Chronic bronchitis, defined by a long-term cough with mucus
Emphysema, defined by destruction of the lungs over time
Most people with COPD have a combination of both conditions.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Smoking is the leading cause of COPD. The more a person smokes, the more likely that person will develop COPD although some people smoke for years and never get COPD.
In rare cases, nonsmokers who lack a protein called alpha-1 antitrypsin can develop emphysema.
Other risk factors for COPD are:
Exposure to certain gases or fumes in the workplace
Exposure to heavy amounts of secondhand smoke and pollution (grew up around smokers, although neither of my parents ever smoked)
Frequent use of cooking gas without proper ventilation
Symptoms
Cough with mucus
Shortness of breath (dyspnea) that gets worse with mild activity
Fatigue
Frequent respiratory infections
Wheezing
Since the symptoms of COPD develop slowly, some people may be unaware that they are sick. (Unless they're a hypochondriac, like me. <3)
Signs and tests
The best test for COPD is a simple lung function test called spirometry. This involves blowing out as hard as one can into a small machine that tests lung capacity. The test can be interpreted immediately and does not involve exercising, drawing blood, or exposure to radiation. (I've never had the opportunity to do this, but lots of residents have them in their rooms at work.)
Using a stethoscope to listen to the lungs can also be helpful, although sometimes the lungs sound normal even when COPD is present.
Pictures of the lungs (such as X-rays and CT scans) can be helpful but sometimes look normal even when a person has COPD.
Sometimes it is necessary to do a blood test (call a “blood gas”) to measure the amounts of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood.
Treatment
There is no cure for COPD. However, there are many things you can do to relieve symptoms and keep the disease from getting worse.
Persons with COPD must stop smoking. This is the best way to slow down the lung damage.
Medications used to treat COPD include:
Inhalers (bronchodilators) to open the airways, such as ipratropium (Atrovent), tiotropium (Spiriva), salmeterol (Serevent), or formoterol (Foradil)
Inhaled steroids to reduce lung inflammation
In severe cases or during flare-ups, you may need to receive steroids by mouth or through a vein (intravenously).
Antibiotics are prescribed during symptom flare-ups, because infections can make COPD worse.
Oxygen therapy at home may be needed if a person has a low level of oxygen in their blood. Pulmonary rehabilitation does not cure the lung disease, but it can teach you to breathe in a different way so you can stay active. Exercise programs such as pulmonary rehabilitation are also important to help maintain muscle strength in the legs so less demand is placed on the lungs when walking. These programs also teach people how to use their medicines most effectively.
Things you can do to make it easier for yourself around the home include:
Avoiding very cold air
Making sure no one smokes in your home
Reducing air pollution by eliminating fireplace smoke and other irritants (like the damp from our leaky basement? Yeah, can't afford it.)
Eat a healthy diet with fish, poultry, or lean meat, as well as fruits and vegetables. If it is hard to keep your weight up, talk to a doctor or dietitian about getting foods with more calories.
Don't mind me over here, whenever I get sick I tend to feel like I should annoy other people with posts & what-not. I'm trying to keep it down to a minimum. I'm always just in this weird mood of wanting to at least be mentally active, while still feeling really tired & fatigued.
I have like, week-old (& newer) comments I need to reply to... but I think I'm gonna make some tea/get something to eat, then try to sleep some more. Probably propped up this time.