She's coughing up blood

[Diablo]

As most of you know, I'm looking after a sick friend. She started coughing up blood a few days ago and it has me worried. Her disease can take someone in one of two ways. The first is all of the person's bones being destroyed over time and the second is that it takes their lungs. Levaquin and albuterol is the approach I'm taking and they reversed it the last time this happened, but she wasn't coughing up blood as bad the last time. I thought she had a couple of years left, but now I don't know. I don't care what anybody says; sometimes life just sucks.

[eightball61]

Has this been reported to her doctor? If so, then what did they say or treat it as?

[SALly]

Take care, I'll be thinking of you two. It must be so hard to be looking after someone so ill. You are a great person for doing such a good job!!!

[Diablo]

Thanks Sally. But you probably wouldn't say that if you knew about the thorough cursing I gave her last week (j/k). She said yesterday that she would call the doctor today. She doesn't feel much better today, but does feel a little better and isn't coughing up as much blood. I think the levaquin and albuterol will reverse this now. I am now teasing her that she screwed up her lungs by yelling at me too much.

[SALly]

I'm sure that made her be quiet then too, right??!!!! :rolleyes:

[eightball61]

Its always a positive thing when you both can add humor into this. I still advise that she still call the doctor just in case. When a person coughs up blood its typically not a normal thing and it should be treated properly. You have been doing a great thing by keeping to her side. You have a strong heart and she is lucky to have a good caring friend like you. ;)

[Diablo]

[QUOTE=SALly]I'm sure that made her be quiet then too, right??!!!! :rolleyes:[/QUOTE

Hell, I don't even remember what she said to that. She hasn't yelled at me in a while, so I checked her temperature; no fever. Anyway, we know what's causing it, but will call the doctor shortly.

[Rich]

Isn't albuterol a blood thinner?

Coughing up blood isn't a good thing. Something was hemorging. Plus with the blood thinner (i think), you need to be extra, extra careful.

Don't want to bleed out.

Rich

[Howard]

Diablo,Hope your friend feels better. :) ;)

[Diablo]

Isn't albuterol a blood thinner?

Coughing up blood isn't a good thing. Something was hemorging. Plus with the blood thinner (i think), you need to be extra, extra careful.

Don't want to bleed out.

Rich

It's a respiratory medication; not sure how it works. They tell you not to exceed a treatment every four hours, so I'm giving her one every four hours. Ach, she just needs a good cussin' (J/K).

[Howard]

It's a respiratory medication; not sure how it works. They tell you not to exceed a treatment every four hours, so I'm giving her one every four hours. Ach, she just needs a good cussin' (J/K).



Why do you cuss at her?

[eightball61]

Why do you cuss at her?


Howard, reread his quote again....he added "J/K" which means "Just Kidding".

[Diablo]

Diablo,Hope your friend feels better. :) ;)
Hopefully so. The blood she's coughing up now isn't as red, so apparently, the levaquin and albuterol are working. Her lung still hurts though, but I think she'll be okay for now.

[eightball61]

Did you end up calling the doctor?

[Diablo]

Couldn't get anyone live at the number. Left a request for levaquin to be called in on the answering machine.

[eightball61]

That sucks......hopefully things continue getting better for her. Diablo, you are doing great and keep up the good cause. You are a true friend ;)

[Diablo]

Howard, reread his quote again....he added "J/K" which means "Just Kidding".


Actually, we cuss each other regularly, but yelling would not be a good thing for her to do now, so we're not arguing for a while.

[eightball61]

but do you both play cuss or do you actualy mean what you say?

[Diablo]

We do a bit of both. At least she doesn't stay mad. When I get in a cuss fight with someone in my family, he or she will still be mad weeks later. She's not like that. Anyway, we're taking a break from real arguing because it wouldn't be good for her to yell.

[eightball61]

Anyway, we're taking a break from real arguing because it wouldn't be good for her to yell.


Good call....

[Howard]

How is she feeling these days?

[Diablo]

She's better today; except for muscle spasms in her legs. The albuterol and levaqun are working and she gets another breathing treatment in a while.

[Howard]

albutrol and levaquin? What are those? :confused:

[Diablo]

Albuterol is for respiratory problems and levaquin is an antibiotic.

[Howard]

Albuterol is for respiratory problems and levaquin is an antibiotic.


Is that medication pills or liquid?

[Diablo]

Levaquin is a pill. Albuterol is a liquid that you put into a nebulizer that vaporizes the albuterol. The patient inhales the vapor. She talked to the doctor and he said it probably was lung damage, but it doesn't mean that she'll die tomorrow, or next month or next year. He advised an extra albuterol treatment tonight. It looks like we caught it just in time.

[eightball61]

It looks like we caught it just in time.

Thats very good news to hear. Thanks for sharing Diablo:) Please keep us posted.

[Diablo]

She's resting now. We're both in bad shape tonight. I've got a wicked cyst on my left hip, right below the beltline and spilled hot gravy on my right hand tonight. The burn asn't as bad as I first thought, but I'm about ready to hand someone a pocketknife to take care of the cyst. But when they're that painful, the problem isn't going to last much longer. Anyway, her muscle spasms could be partially due to a lack of potassium, so I told her to drink a V8. V8's have a good bit of potassium in them.

[eightball61]

Allow that cust to heal. If you cut it then you stand the the chance it will get infected. If you have a personal doctor then give them a call because they will guide you to an over the counter cream that you can apply to it.

[Howard]

Hope you feel better Diablo. :)

[Diablo]

Allow that cust to heal. If you cut it then you stand the the chance it will get infected. If you have a personal doctor then give them a call because they will guide you to an over the counter cream that you can apply to it.


I put aloe vera on it last night and it drained during the night. That was a relief and a half.

[eightball61]

I put aloe vera on it last night and it drained during the night. That was a relief and a half.


Thats great news and I am glad you are feeling better :)

[Diablo]

I even shot some pool last night; something that would have been a mite painful to do before. I did try it one night and the guy I was playing said that he had never seen me play that badly. Last night was fairly good, but my game still hasn't recovered from the March purchase of a Fender Stratocaster (electric guitar, good one). Made in the U.S., tobacco burst finish, fixed bridge (which is something new for Stratocasters, but I prefer a fixed bridge) I bought a Marshall Valvestate amplifier for it and was rocking out when I was supposed to be doing other things. My friend lives in the apartment below mine and within three days I woke her up with it. Everybody said, "I saw that one coming." :D Anyway, I gotta focus more on pool. I'm not going to make any money with that guitar, I would with my pool cue.
As for my friend, her condition took a turn for the worse this morning, but I think she'll be okay.

[eightball61]

What is the series of the Fender you bought? Is is the American, Deluxe Players, or a Stander? The guitar can make you money but it will take time because you have to get a band together and start playing small till you all grow. Pool is a great way to get extra cash on the side. I am a dart player and I love going out and placing bets on games. I haven't done that in a while though but it was fun while I did it.

[Howard]

Do you think she's at the state of dying? :(
I hope she's ok. :(

[Diablo]

I'm fairly sure that it's a standard, but not absolutely sure, since I pawned a while back ago and can't check. I should get it out of the pawn shop next month. I throw darts also, but people don't bet on it here like they do with pool.
As for my friend, the doctor thinks that she'll live for another two years. Of course, they told her in '82 that she had six months left, so I'm not putting much stock in doctor's estimates.

[Howard]

I'll pray for you,man. ;)

[eightball61]

Of course, they told her in '82 that she had six months left, so I'm not putting much stock in doctor's estimates.


She carries alot of will power...I would honored to ever meet this women. I am sure she will make herself hold up until she no longer can.


Guitars are always a nice thing to have around. I don't play but I do have 3 I have boughten for show. I guess you can say I may be throwing my money away but I just love the looks of guitars. It can really spicen up a room. :D

[SALly]

A lot has changed in the medical world since '82. I can see how you would be rather disgusted and distrusting though.
Hope things are better today!

[Diablo]

That's funny Eightball. You have three guitars and don't play, I play and my damn guitar is in the pawn shop.

Anyway, if they get stem cell research going, they could find a cure for her. Yeah, medicine has changed a lot. Despite her condition, she can only see a doctor sparingly because her insurance limits her doctor visits. She seems better today. We had some maintenance done to her oxygen machine and got new nebulizer kits and that could help some. The oxygen machine has an inside filter that we didn't know about and it was changed today. Scheisse, that filter was probably dirty for a couple of years.

[Howard]

When do you think she'll be all better? :confused:

[eightball61]

Its just a hobby I have...I love the look of them. :D I will walk into a guitar store and can spend thier for hours :p

[Howard]

Its just a hobby I have...I love the look of them. :D I will walk into a guitar store and can spend thier for hours :p



What kind of guitar do you play?

[eightball61]

What kind of guitar do you play?


I don't play I just own 3 for looks.

I have 1 electric which is an Gibson Faded SG.

2 Accoustics one is a Martin Back Packer and the other is a Humminbird.

[Howard]

I don't play I just own 3 for looks.

I have 1 electric which is an Gibson Faded SG.

2 Accoustics one is a Martin Back Packer and the other is a Humminbird.



oh cool.Were you ever in a rock band? :confused:

[eightball61]

just a collector

[Diablo]

When do you think she'll be all better? :confused:


She might not. I don't know at this point.

[vaiolust]

that is horrible.. i am very sorry for your friend, and you to watch it happen.. and i have to agree with what you said, sometimes life just sucks.. you know i am quite the positive person, i am usually always the one that smiles when others are sad.. that sees the good in the bad.. but i must say, in situations like yours, and many situations.. there is nothing you can make good.. no happy light to shine.. i am truly sorry, and i hope things go as well as they can..

[Howard]

She might not. I don't know at this point.


just take care of her Diablo. :)

[Diablo]

She's getting better. The bleeding in her lungs has about quit. Come football season, I'll say, "You lived too long, it's football season."

[Howard]

She's getting better. The bleeding in her lungs has about quit. Come football season, I'll say, "You lived too long, it's football season."



Where did the bleeding from the lungs come from?

[eightball61]

She's getting better. The bleeding in her lungs has about quit.

This is what I mean by saying she is a strong women. There is no stoping her until her body quits all together. It's great news though that she is getting better and I hope this progress continues.
:)

[Diablo]

Where did the bleeding from the lungs come from?

She ruptured a blood vessle yelling at me. J/K. It's from her ostioneucrosis et sequella. The disease takes people in one of two ways. It can either take you by destroying your bones or it can get you by taking your lungs. Anyway, she probably will hang on for another couple of years, but her disease is terminal and there is no cure.

[Howard]

She ruptured a blood vessle yelling at me. J/K. It's from her ostioneucrosis et sequella. The disease takes people in one of two ways. It can either take you by destroying your bones or it can get you by taking your lungs. Anyway, she probably will hang on for another couple of years, but her disease is terminal and there is no cure.


Wow,rupturing a blood vessle. :eek: Did she have high blood pressure at the time? :confused:

[Diablo]

That was a joke. She probably did rupture a small blood vessle, but I doubt it was from yelling at me.

[Howard]

That was a joke. She probably did rupture a small blood vessle, but I doubt it was from yelling at me.



Then it was probably not from the yelling.Hope she feels better Diablo. ;)

[eightball61]

Diablo,

How is your friend doing?

[eightball61]

Diablo,

How is your friend doing?

[eightball61]

Diablo,

How is your friend doing?

[Howard]

Is she still coughing up blood? :confused:

[Diablo]

She stopped coughing up blood for approximately three weeks and then started again. We've about got it knocked out, but I don't know for how long. Her illness is terminal, but she could still live for a few more years.

[eightball61]

Thanks for that update Diablo......

She is a strong women from what you described and she will fight it till the end. You are a great friend to her and even though you both may argue every once in a while I am sure she sees you as a positive influence for fighting her disease.

Please keep us posted from time-to-time. :)

[Howard]

Thanks for the update Diablo.I wish you well and always take care of her the very best that you can. :)

[eightball61]

Hey Diablo,

How is your neighbor feeling these days?

[Diablo]

She's sick today, but is more lively today than she was yesterday. Her bones are in worse shape, but they hurt her on some days more than others.

[eightball61]

Thank for that update Diablo. I am sorry to hear about her condition but I do hope everything turns out ok for her.

[Diablo]

Well, she's got about two years left, but I'm going to try to make those years fairly good.

[eightball61]

Well, she's got about two years left, but I'm going to try to make those years fairly good.


You have a good heart, Diablo. I am sure she appreciates your company even though you both argue sometimes:p

[Diablo]

You have a good heart, Diablo.

The people who know me in real life would tell you that it gets me in more trouble than anything else.

[eightball61]

The people who know me in real life would tell you that it gets me in more trouble than anything else.


There's nothing wrong with caring for someone else other than yourself.

[Diablo]

That's positively anti-republican Eightball. J/K.

[eightball61]

Go Mr. Bush......lol

[Howard]

There's nothing wrong with caring for someone else other than yourself.

Exactly.You've got to please yourself first before you please others. :)

[Diablo]

Go Mr. Bush......lol

I've been an independent most of my life, but I think next election I'm voting straight democrat. I doubt that Kerry would have been much better, but Busch (pun intended) is mucking things up at a record pace. The problem is that the democrats have a history of nominating terrible candidates who run terrible campaigns. If Kerry had done more talking about the issues and less boasting, he probably would have won the last election. I say we re-elect Hilliary Clinton. She did a good job her first two terms and Bill can just sleep on the couch. Did you read his book? He said he got so drunk one night that he climbed into bed with Hilliary. :D

[eightball61]

I say we re-elect Hilliary Clinton. She did a good job her first two terms and Bill can just sleep on the couch. Did you read his book? He said he got so drunk one night that he climbed into bed with Hilliary. :D


I haven't read the book but I do agree with your thoughts about re-electing Hilliary. If Hilliary ran for president I wouldn't have to listen to her speeches because in my mind she has already won my vote. I will admit though that I have never registered to vote because I never cared for the guys that have recently ran. I would register if Hilliary or Opra ran...lol

[Howard]

It's been a year Diablo,How has she been doing lately?:confused:

[Diablo]

She's still hanging in there; however, because she stumbled upon something horrible about the medical community here, they falsified her medical records to say that she is an adict scamming, so now she cannot get treatment for her bone disease. And of course, the records that prove that she has the bone disease have been sealed. To see how horrible the disease is, go to www.ostioneucrosis.org
That's the disease she has, but even though her bones are breaking apart on the inside, they deny her pain medicine and a regular doctor. I don't know what to do other than to keep her going as best I can. Diagnostics would show that she does have ostioneucrosis, but every pain clinic I try to get her in turns her away without giving her an exam of any kind.

[Howard]

I wish all the best in her speedy recovery Diablo.Please be with her as much as you can.:)