Today is the first day in a week that I have not had a constant stabbing pain in my chest. I'm sorry "Stabbing" isn't the word I would use to define my pain. It's more like a "sharp" pain and I would rate it as a 7 on a 1-10 scale. I understand the need to ask specific, measurable, definitive questions to what is a very personal, subjective response. Pain.
I like the idea of having someone describe pain, is it: burning, sharp, dull, radiating etc.. And that the intensity of the pain as well as location can tell you what organ or system of the body is affected. As a pediatric nurse I have asked these questions myself more times than I can count.
But as a patient all I wanted was medication, fast!!
Today, in the middle of winter, we went swimming! N came up with the idea. Of course. But M and I (both sharing a love for silliness and water) joined him. It started in the kitchen where we splashed each other and floated on our backs. Then we moved to the bedrooms and used all of our soft, wonderful pillows (M's words) as floatation devices. We also swam in the living room for awhile until all of the furniture started to sink! I don't think our home owners insurance covers repairs for pretend water damage.
We had a wonderful time, worked up quite an appetite as you often do when you spend all day at the pool. And the best part is no sun burns:-)
Then M realized that it was the middle of winter and the pool is closed! To be opened again sometime after Memorial day of sooner in N's imagation. Such is a day in the life with my two boys!
Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Health Lesson
Pleurisy
By definition it is an inflammation of the pleura (the membrane that surrounds the lungs). It is also called Pleuritic Chest Pain.
It can be caused by a virus or bacterial infection, pneumonia, TB or the cause could be idiopathic.
Treatment is typically antibiotics, steroids, pain meds., and rest. Other treatment can include hospitals and scary stuff like draining fluid off the lung (which sounds really interesting when you are a nurse and observing and not so interesting when it may become a reality!)
I spent yesterday afternoon in the ER having yet another doctor assure me that no I was not having a heart attack, just really bad chest pain!
So today I have been laying on the couch drinking plenty of fluids and taking pain meds. My husband yells at me every time I move! M has been patting my shoulder and giving me kisses and N has been giving me pretend chocolates from his pretend candy store which is just what the doctor ordered for my road to recovery.
I am trying really hard to think of nothing but rest and what my body needs to heal itself. And not the cleaning and organizing that I had planned for the new year.
By definition it is an inflammation of the pleura (the membrane that surrounds the lungs). It is also called Pleuritic Chest Pain.
It can be caused by a virus or bacterial infection, pneumonia, TB or the cause could be idiopathic.
Treatment is typically antibiotics, steroids, pain meds., and rest. Other treatment can include hospitals and scary stuff like draining fluid off the lung (which sounds really interesting when you are a nurse and observing and not so interesting when it may become a reality!)
I spent yesterday afternoon in the ER having yet another doctor assure me that no I was not having a heart attack, just really bad chest pain!
So today I have been laying on the couch drinking plenty of fluids and taking pain meds. My husband yells at me every time I move! M has been patting my shoulder and giving me kisses and N has been giving me pretend chocolates from his pretend candy store which is just what the doctor ordered for my road to recovery.
I am trying really hard to think of nothing but rest and what my body needs to heal itself. And not the cleaning and organizing that I had planned for the new year.
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