Tag Archives: solumedrol

Christmas in the Club: Day 3

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Hey all! I was educated on what parainfluenza is so I thought I would share. Parainfluenza is not actually like the regular flu. First of all the flu shot doesn’t cover parainfluenza so even though I got my flu shot it wouldn’t have protected me from parainfluenza. It can last up to 16 days, if not longer. No tamiflu is given for it, just Tylenol or ibuprofen for aches, pains and fevers. With that said, having parainfluenza along with a CF exacerbation (whether the parainfluenza brought on the exacerbation or not doesn’t really matter) it’s going to take me awhile to recover from this.

I spoke with my CF nurse this morning. I had sent her an email about the steroid debacle and just to fill her in in general. Apparently my CF doctor is in St. Lucia for vacation. Rough life I tell ya. Haha I told her I finally got the correct dose of solumedrol finally. She did tell me what my lung functions were when I did them yesterday since no one ever came to tell me. They are 21% FEV1. So yes I am much lower than my normal which is between 30-35% regularly.

So with my oxygen saturation being down when not on oxygen, low lung function and having parainfluenza it might be a long recovery ahead of me. I will need to get my lung functions up some, off IV steroids and on oral prednisone and hopefully off oxygen so I can go home. Going home on oxygen is not the end of the world but not ideal. It would be much easier to not need oxygen at home. I will be on IV antibiotics when I got home as usual. I usually do 14 days total of antibiotics but sometimes I need a total of 21 days. We will have to just wait and see how things pan out. I might be a little less tight but still getting short of breath when I go to the bathroom without oxygen. I don’t have anything planned today (that I know of) just the usual antibiotics and breathing treatments and resting. I think that’s all for the update for now. Thank you for all your support and prayers. I appreciate them so much.

Until next time…

Christmas in the Club: Day 2

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The steroid debacle of not getting what I wanted/needed has finally come to an end. I just received a 80mg dose of solumedrol (IV steroid). I received 2 doses of 40mg solumedrol before this. The attending pulmonary doctor that saw me this morning agreed to do the 80mg. Also I looked in my patient portal for my hospital and saw that I don’t have influenza A, I actually have a parainfluenza. It’s still the flu either way. I was also able to see the reports for my chest X-ray and chest CT. My X-ray showed no changes. My CT speed showed a spot of pneumonia. That only means I have an active infection so don’t freak out. It also mentioned bronchiectasis which is narrowing of the airways which I’ve had for awhile. It didn’t mention any progression.

I’m still feeling the same, no better. I’m hoping the solumedrol will kick in and help in the next day or so. It usually takes a few days to start working. Then it takes maybe 3 days or so of being on the solumedrol to be able to go to a lower dose. I’ve been continuing the IV cefapime antibiotic every 8 hours.

Today was pretty uneventful really. I did manage a nap with only 2 interruptions. I did get more sleep last night as well such was nice. I’m in the hospital so that means no sleep. It’s hard because you are supposed to be able to rest to get better but they are always in and out all day and night. I do ask that they don’t do vitals overnight so I can possibly get some sleep. But things start bright and early around 5:30am or so with drawing labs. I’m still hoping I can be out of here by Friday so I don’t have to spend New Year’s in the hospital. That would be no fun at all. I will be going home on IV antibiotics like usual so it will be at least 2 full weeks of cefapime. I will also be on a prednisone taper. I think that’s all for the update tonight. Thank you for all of your love, prayers and support. I appreciate it very much.

Until next time…