Saturday, November 4, 2017

Morning Thoughts

The last of the Day of the Dead holidays are finally over, I think. I can never be sure about the holidays here because they last so long.

 I am very sick. I have pneumonia. I went to a different clinic than the expensive one I went to the first time. I had about three days of being well, just enough time to go to the Thriller Dance and then it hit me again. So off I went to the Ajijic Hospital, afraid of what he would say. And I was right. He wanted to immediately put me into the hospital there. I said no. For many reasons, money being one, my animals at home being another and the third is I hate being in a hospital. I can take better care of myself at home. 

So I bought a nebulizer at the Guadalajara pharmacy and a bunch of meds and walked home. It sure seems like a long ways when it is impossible to breathe. But I made it. Put the nebulizer together and no steam. I worked with it most of the day and realized that the instructions inside the box and the photos of the parts did not match the parts, and all instructions of course were in Spanish.   So no treatments that day. The next day I went back to the pharmacy with the useless nebulizer, feeling even weaker, and the manager spent a lot of time there trying to get it to work. He agreed that the directions didn't match the parts. But he finally knew enough about the part that wasn't listed that it was missing a very small and essential part in order to make stem. So he put that other part in and it worked. 

Today is my second day of being home and doing the nebulizer every few hours. Friends have brought me food and I stupidly spend too much time looking at the US news. Making myself depressed. I can't do much else. Just walking from one room to the next is exhausting. I really feel sorry for people with permanent lung problems. And I am hoping mine won't be permanent. It sounds like a bunch of bees are in my chest and also people are having conversations in there. I can't quite figure out their words, just all their noises. Maybe it is ghosts trying to figure out how to kill me off while I am here and sick. I know that some people die from pneumonia. Okay, I am ready. Take me away if that is what you want, you ghosts inside my chest, chattering away. How fitting, to die on the Day of the Dead Holiday. 

But, hopefully, I will get well  and be able to live again. I have had this same sickness twice this month and a cold before that.

The Day of the Dead celebrations were wild here. It was too noisy to sleep. My neighbor spent the day with his friend hammering something between our two roofs. All day long and it sounded like he was right in my house. I have never complained to people here before but I was sick and hurting and it was almost nine at night. They were still hammering. I yelled out the window, asking when they were going to finish. They said, another hour. Then I heard a strange noise in my kitchen. It was their dog. He somehow had climbed up their roof and over to mine and fallen down onto my patio after he tore down my sun shade. Then casually walked into my house, took a huge three piece dump in my bedroom and walked into my kitchen and started drinking Chico's water. This is a big, very strong looking pit bull.  Scary looking but very gentle. Chico and Olive were too stunned to do anything but watch him drink. 

At that point I went off the rails. I made him go out my front door and yelled at my hammering neighbors that their dog was in my house. I forgot that I hadn't combed my hair that day and was wearing my night clothes which means an old t shirt and old lady cotton under pants, nothing else below that.

As I was yelling at them, the dog just casually walked home and I realized that I looked like a total fool . Maybe one of the scary trick or treaters.    That was my Halloween night......

Other than that excitement, I have just been stuck in my house trying to keep on breathing......  and hoping those chattering ghosts in my chest don't win this battle.  Maybe I will spend some time sitting in the sunshine in my garden today. I hope your Day of the Dead holiday was more fun than mine. 

20 comments:

  1. Sitting in the sun is a great idea, get a good dose of vitimin D.

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  2. hi pat,

    I just wanted to chime in here on vitamin d .. take a supplement And dose yourself every day with sunshine!

    my little 16 yr old dog had bronchitis earlier this year and he seemed to be helped by antibiotics that were actually prescribed for a different condition .. so I suggest taking a course of antibiotics if you haven't already It may still be a long recovery but in case there is an underlying bacterial infection you will have some ammunition also, vit C plus other vitamins, probiotics all help immune system fight viral or bacterial invasions

    you might also think about who can help you in the hospital (spanish speakers, etc.) if it comes to that (hopefully it won't)

    I know you have written a lot on the subject so time to review the basics of self care when you don't speak the language and must keep costs down

    the rain started here in the sierras today and though depressing for me I know we need it ... I will sunbathe next week too

    best rgds,

    marilyn

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  3. Do you know that the noise in your lungs is "rales". I hope you are taking this seriously. It can be a bacterial infection or a fungus. You really do need a high dose of the proper antibiotic. I wish you had Medicare and were in the US for proper treatment. I am concerned about you and are sending my best wishes, that you improve. Keep us advised if you feel like it. Maybe just a "check in" daily, not a tiring post.👍

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  4. thank you for your concern and that information. I just woke myself up from a huge coughing fit. Now I will try to sleep sitting up in my chair. I see the doctor again on Monday but he wants me in his hospital. I know I can give myself better care at home. P

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    1. I know you can rest better at home, but you need to talk to him about strong antibiotics especially for your type pneumonia. It can be tricky and if you were here, they want to monitor you reaction to the drug, to see if it is right for you. Do you have a temperature? Explain that you can not afford the hospital and need to try and have the same treatment at home! I came close to death twice, having "rales" with pneumonia. One time, my lungs filled up quickly , my Husband called the ambulance, because I could not breathand the medic actually saved me in the ambulance. They are called "death rales". Guess why? Let us know what the Dr says and what you do.

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    2. WOW that is a scary story. I don't have a temperature. I feel a little better. Not having so many long coughing spells. My breathing is a little easier. Today is my last antibiotic so tomorrow I will see the doctor again. You definately scared me into seeing him again. Thank you for sharing that story with me. P

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  5. Just logged in to see how you are doing. I echo the concern the others have expressed!
    Take care,
    Karen in VA

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    1. you thank you Karen, I will see the doctor again in two days. O

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  6. So concerned about your situation and hope you will get antibiotics. Rest and liquids help a lot, but it seems you need more than that. Sending healing thoughts.

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  7. Pat, I am so sorry to read that you have pneumonia and especially concerned about the rales. If your doctor does put you on antibiotics then please be sure to take pro-biotics, too.

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    1. Thank you Sylva, I just took yoghurt with my morning meds. Will buy more at the local store today. P

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  8. Did you see the Doctor today and are you back at home with meds? What did he say?

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  9. I didn't see him today, I will go tomorrow morning. I used up the last of my antibiotics today. Still doing the nebulizer. And today I feel that I am going to make it through. But your story scared me enough not to take it lightly. So I will for sure see the doctor again tomorrow and find out what he says. He may want me to continue on another antibiotic. Thank you so much for your concern. P

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  10. Let us have an update on your medical condition???

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    1. Your e mail really scared me. I had no idea about how you can die so easily from pneumonia. I will write a comment today on my blog about it. But I want to thank you for putting the fear of GOD in me and forcing me to go back to the doctor. Your e mail also once again reminded of how much nicer it is to have a mate. If I had needed an ambulance my animals couldn't have called them. It is a real treasure not to be alone. P

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  11. I am just catching up on the blog. I am sorry you have been so sick. Please find something to read, or draw. Stop with the cleaning. I hear of too many people sick lately. Rest. We often drive ourselves too hard. Chill.

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    1. Hi Larry, I learned that lesson yesterday so today I rested. Good to hear from you. P

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