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Posted 2/21/2008 1:20 AM (GMT 0)
aaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I am so mad I feel like punching a wall.  But - we all know THAT won't happen...not enough strength and I would pay for it for MONTHS.

I've got this STUPID upper respiratory crap.  I'm on a z-pack...have been since Monday.  I feel worse today than I have the last two days. I'm coughing my head off.  Can I take cough medicine?  NO!  No, I can't because narcotics give me rebound headaches...and it only took me four months to get rid of those once they started.  Hopefully I'm coughing because it is breaking up.

I just had a coughing spell like nothing I've ever experienced before.

I coughed so hard it felt like I pulled every muscle in my chest and arms...like a bolt of lightening went through me.  It doubled me over...hurt every joint in my arms and I thought I was going to look in the mirror and every blood vessel in my eyes would be broken.  Now my shoulders are throbbing like they were when I got this wonderful diagnosis.

I am so tired...didn't sleep for anything last night because I was all wound up about a problem my daughter had a school.  Plus, when I was driving home from work yesterday (40 minute drive), I felt like I was going to fall asleep at the wheel - so I stopped and got a cappachino.  I was still awake at 12:30 this morning and then proceeded to wake up several times after that. 

And, I know that, in addition to the lupus, it is because my weakened immune system is trying to fight off this crap.  I told my husband tonight that I feel like I did seven months ago as far as the fatigue.

I feel like stomping through the house and screaming at the top of my lungs...you know one of those "terrible two" temper tantrums.

Anyway...thanks (as usual) for listening...

~Kim

 

Posted 2/21/2008 1:25 AM (GMT 0)
My father once told me the best thing to do when stomping and screaming would upset others is to go out on the freeway and scream as loud as you can in the car (with the windows rolled up). No one can hear you over the sound of the car going 50 mph or so! It's worked for me ! When I was a kid I coughed so hard every winter that I'd actually stop breathing...Finally my mother quit taking me to the ER when the doctor explained that if I did pass out the coughing muscles that go into spasm and cause the repeated coughing would relax and then I would stop coughing and be able to breath! I hope you get some relief and some sleep soon,
Posted 2/21/2008 1:48 AM (GMT 0)
I am sorry you are in so much pain. I have been trying to figure out how to best treat my pain as well. Lupus and AI diseases are so tricky, we never know when they will hit--you said narcotics give you rebound headdaches? I am just now trying Oxy Cr (extended release) in hopes that I can have some extended pain relief for once. It is fine to be angry--this disease is very unpredictable.

Posted 2/21/2008 2:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Kim. I'm so sorry you caught respiratory crud.  I sure hope you stay home from work for a while.  You may not be able to take cough medicine, but if the crud has settled in your chest, have you considered an expectorant to help loosen things up?  Mucinex works well.  I saw a film of a 7 y/o boy with pertussis (whooping cough).  The whoop sound is caused by an effort to inhale some air between the coughs.  Anyway, I feel for you Sweetie.  Try not to worry about your daughter right now and take care of yourself.  Love, Butterflake

Posted 2/21/2008 2:43 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Kim,
I'm so sorry about your coughing fits (I'm so brain-fogged at first I typed coffee fits!). Have you checked with your doctor about an inhaler? Call the office and explain how bad your coughing fits are and see if they have any additional recommendations. I used to work for a GP's office and in the past few years they started adding inhalers to help speed things up. They help the bronchial inflammation to shrink during bouts of bronchitis. I don't know if it would be appropriate for you, but it might be worth asking. Also, speaking of "coffee fits" (blush), caffeine will actually help too, you just might want to stick to morning cappachinos! Sorry about the fitful sleep.

I'm going to go have a second cup of coffee now, since the first one doesn't seem to have done it! Hang in there and scream if you need to. I think we all need that now and then.
Posted 2/21/2008 2:57 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the posts guys...
Feeling a little calmer today. Sorry about ranting like that... I get so mad when things are out of control.

Lynnwood...had to chuckle at yours. I pictured myself in the car, in my jammies driving down the expressway screaming like an idiot.

Ishy...yes - darvocet that I was taking for joint pain was causing the rebound headaches...so, I just have to say "no" to narcotics (right now anyway). Actually, the headaches have subsided (even the migraines) for now... (she says with her fingers crossed).

Butterflake...I'm using mucinex-D...but maybe I need to switch to the DM. I actually thought about that yesterday - but was too lazy to go to the store. Sad, but true.

Harmony...thanks for the info. Didn't know that about inhalers...or the caffeine. Perhaps I need to make a cappachino run. (Then I can pickup the mucinex-DM while I'm out...)

I do have a question...
When I got up this morning, I sort of felt like I had a fever. I took my temp under my arm (cuz I was drinking coffee) and it registered 98.3. So - you have to add a degree, which makes it 99.3.

I'm not sure if I should call the doc or not. On one hand, I think I should because I have a low-grade temp and my immune system is compromised - and I've been on an antibiotic since Monday. On the other hand, I think... It's ONLY 99.3 - don't panic.

Any thoughts / advice?

~Kim
Posted 2/21/2008 4:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Kim,

   I'm sorry your going through this crud...((Hugs)). I have an advair inhaler to use as needed for asthma but, my doc told me to use it everyday with this bronchitis and it has helped.

   I have done the yelling, stomping and screaming in my house before too...lol. Sometimes it just feels good to get it out! I usually make sure none of the close neighbors are home before I do it... :-) .

   As far as the fever...keep a close eye on it and don't let the weekend get here before calling the doc if it goes up. It wouldn't hurt to call anyway and let him know whats going on. Maybe he can give you something better to fight the bronchitis.

   Please keep us udpated and take care. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

                                                                                 Babs

Posted 2/21/2008 6:54 PM (GMT 0)
Generally the docs don't care about a fever unless it's over 100 -- no matter what your normal temp is, even if it's low. But do keep it in mind & report to dr if it gets over 100 -- meanwhile take aspirin, ibuprofen, or whatever your favorite is to keep it down. Cheers,
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