DEC 16, 24 ( 1 / 2 ).. LAKE HAVASU MEDICAL CENTER.. SITTING IN THE E.R.

By Cap Chastain December 16, 2024 Emergency (E.R.) Room visit, RSV Pneumonia 35 Comments

A “Current Update” about Patti’s RSV pneumonia and now my own RSV infection.

– – – – – – – 

Friday evening, 8:05pm Arizona time, December the 21st.

Where to now.? Patti’s medications have run their course. This evening Patti will take the final dose of her prescribed E.R. medications.

Patti and I have differing opinions.

Patti has said that she is not going back to the E.R. right now for another “look see” at her RSV pneumonia. The E.R. told Patti to return to the E.R. if her condition gets worse. Patti’s condition has not gotten worse. We both agree her condition has gotten slightly better.

Based upon what I see and hear (this horrific, gasping for air and coughing) I feel another trip to the E.R. would be worthwhile.

Patti admits she is not cured.

What to do?

I have no answers. I feel I have the RSV and it is a significant challenge.

Cap

– – – – – – – –

Friday evening, 7:05pm Arizona time, December the 20th.

Patti is far more optimistic that I am. Patti feels she is getting some relief from the meds. It no longer hurts Patti to cough. She feels she is not coughing as much and she feels she is less congested. 

I add Patti slept basically the entire day until an hour or so ago. When she coughs it sounds very serious to me. 

Why NOT go to the hospital?

According to the CDC, more than 1.7 million people get infections while in the hospital each year. About one in 25 hospitalized patients has at least one healthcare-associated infection that they didn’t come in with.

I now join Patti as the second person in our household that is ill. I feel the RSV (a very BAD cold) has visited me. Two times in my life I have been hospitalized (one time for a full month in the Spring of 1959) and I don’t want to have my RSV “bad cold” turn into pneumonia. 

Cap and Patti

– – – – – – – –

Thursday evening, 6:28pm Arizona Time, December the 19th.

I wish, I wish, Oh How I wish I could say something positive here but the hard, cold fact of the matter is this: Patti is still struggling with her RSV pneumonia! We can not say she has made a significant and noticeable improvement.

It “tears at my heart” when Patti wakes up suddenly, in the middle of the night, or when taking a nap, gasping and struggling frantically “to breathe.”

Saturday is the last day Patti has a medical prescription: 40mg prednisone, Azithromycin 250MG tablet and 200mg Benzonatate capsules.

Then what do we do? Ask The Shadow? No! Sad to say all of this is no laughing matter.

Cap

– – – – – – – –

Wednesday, 11:30pm Arizona time, December the 18th.

I wish that just visiting our Doctor today at 4:30pm, and having him increase the dosage of Patti’s prescription would cure Patti’s RSV pneumonia and would render Patti free of her coughing and the distress associated with it. Unfortunately such is not the case. We watched, and yes we enjoyed, the final episode of Survivor 47. But, from time to time, Patti would erupt into a “coughing jag”. She is also extremely fatigued from the coughing. 

There has been no real change or significant improvement.

Cap

– – – – – – – –

Wednesday, 6:30pm Arizona time, December the 18th.

Patti and I “were early” to our 4:30pm Doctors appointment.

Bottom Line. He doubled her 5 day, 20mg prednisone dosage to 40mg. He stayed the course on her 5 day Azithromycin 250MG tablet and 5 day 200mg Benzonatate capsules.

I live with Patti 24/7. Her coughing is so severe I had the feeling Patti is at “Deaths door”. 

However..

In my opinion, he did not seem “All that concerned” saying “We can only do so much with viral infections.”

He did not react when I said the E.R. wanted to hospitalize Patti but didn’t have a bed available.

He agreed that the E.R. would be “the route to hospitalization.” and they definitely can do some very good things in the E.R.

Over And Out .. Cap

– – – – – – – –

Wednesday, 1pm Arizona time, December the 18th.

Make no mistake, Patti is very seriously ill.

The E.R. discharge papers Monday evening said Patti needed to contact her primary care Doctor asap within 2 days. I went into our primary care doctors office yesterday (Tuesday the 17th). I was told .. “Sir the earliest we can see Patti is December the 30th!” 

Translation: Patti will run out of medication this Saturday and be without medication for ten (10) days!

This Wednesday morning, at 10am I, Patti’s Captain..

RE VISITED our primary care doctors office.

Now Patti has an in person appointment with her doctor this afternoon, Wednesday the 18th at 4:30p.

No! I did not leave any dead bodies behind me but the doctor’s staff  GOT IT.

Over and Out for now. 

Cap

Post Script : This morning I got a RSV inoculation!

– – – – – – – –

Tuesday evening, 8:14pm Arizona time, December 17th.

It has now been less than 24 hours since Patti was discharged from the E.R.

This morning, Patti began a regime of three medications for her pneumonia.

As I write, Patti is still in distress. The coughing continues with some improvement but Patti had a very challenging night last night.

I don’t know what else to say at this point in time other than it will take some time for Patti to reach recovery.

Cap

– – – – – – – –

12 midnight.. December 16 / 17.

Bottom Line. Our hospital did not have any vacant beds. If they had a bed, they would have admitted Patti. After quite a discussion with Patti, and a promise from Patti that if her symptoms worsened, she would immediately return to the E.R., they released her.

We will see Patti’s primary care Doctor here in Lake Havasu City tomorrow, Tuesday the 17th, and see if we can get an appointment. Because of Patti’s E.R. visit, she will be at the top of his list to be seen asap.

Patti is walking along a very dangerous path here.

Over and Out .. Cap

– – – – – – – –

7pm Arizona time.. December 16th..

Patti has been diagnosed with pneumonia caused by the Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) a common respiratory virus that infects the nose, throat, and lungs. The pneumonia is being treated aggressively with intravenous medicine. We are thrilled with the no nonsense care that Patti is receiving.

– – – – – – – –

The “Original Post”.

Monday, December the 16th 2024..

An hour or so ago (12:30pm Arizona Time) Patti said the words..

“Cap I am ready to go to the Emergency Room (E.R.)”

I asked Patti to go to the E.R. last Friday.

No one I know goes to the E.R. “Just for the heck of it.”

I feel Patti has covid. If so it would be her 4th infection.

Absolutely horrific, almost 24-hour coughing, with some headaches included and a sore throat. Just like back in January 2020 at the Mayo Clinic E.R. before we knew what covid was.

Over and Out for now.

I may do some updates.

Your Ally .. Cap

– – – – – – – –

In response to many text messages asking about Patti, I have decided to publish “updates” here. This will keep almost everything about Patti’s RSV pneumonia in one place. Right here.

Below is a link for you to have so you can easily return to this Post for further updates.

https://babakaps.net/?p=66611

If you wish, you can always “bookmark” the above link.

Over And Out.. At least “for now”.

Cap

35 thoughts on “DEC 16, 24 ( 1 / 2 ).. LAKE HAVASU MEDICAL CENTER.. SITTING IN THE E.R.”

        1. Cap Chastain Post author

          Ginny, you and Tom possibly contacted the RSV virus when the two of you were struck by the “bug” you both experienced several weeks ago. In general the RSV virus is not all that bad BUT for some people (especially children) it can be very dangerous. With gratitude for the gift of you in our lives Ginny.. Cap

          Reply ↓
    1. Cap Chastain Post author

      Thanks Danny for YOUR support along with Cynthia. We never know do we. Suddenly “This” pops up into our lives. Still Standing.. Still Smiling. Cap

      Reply ↓
  6. Andrej

    I’m glad Patti is receiving such good care and you’re by her side Cap. Speedy recovery for Patti and some rest for you. You’re both in my prayers.

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    1. Kay Packard

      Cap – I feel so bad that Patti is not feeling well and has pneumonia. What a relief that Patti is aggressively being treated in the ER. Hasn’t Patti dealt with serious coughing in the past. Praying for speedy healing for dear Patti. Cap, please rest and take care of yourself. Love, Kay and Roger

      Reply ↓
      1. Cap Chastain Post author

        Yes indeed Kay Patti has indeed had previous serious coughing issues. In early January 2020, when I carried the covid virus to Patti, Patti was coughing practically non-stop for 24-hours a day. This recent coughing took me immediately back to the January 2020 episode that, standing on their heads because they did not know about covid, the Mayo Clinic did handstands to help Patti. To this day she takes medicine they prescribed back then with annual follow up investigations. Kay, with what you and Roger are experiencing, we are touched at your concern. Thank you Kay for your support. Cap

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    2. Cap Chastain Post author

      Thanks so very much Andrej. One last time. Thank You So Very Much For All Of Your Work At ‘1709’ regarding my old photos and other memorabilia. Your Ally.. Cap

      Reply ↓
  8. Patti

    I have not had pneumonia every year, although I did have it after a return flight to Alaska early last May. I do have bouts of bronchitis, but not every year. My Dear and Precious mother was a smoker for over 60 years. My doctors feel second hand smoke could be a factor. Glad I finally listened to Cap’s 4 days of pleading and went to the ER!! Hugs, Patti

    Reply ↓
    1. Gullible

      Patti, as I recall yoI have either a resperatory infection, bronchitis, or pneumonia every winter and it drags on for months. Get well soon.

      Reply ↓
  10. Eva

    Cap take care of Patti this is serious RSV pneumonia. This is a SHOCK, I thought no one gets RSV that I know of. My friend you have good care, I had regular pneumonia two times I thought I was gonna die. It’s that terrible. I’m sorry you have it, I will pray for you.

    Reply ↓
    1. Cap Chastain Post author

      Yes Eva it is no laughing matter. It truly is very serious. I have been hospitalized two times for pneumonia. One time for 30 days. Thanks for checking in Eva. Cap and Patti

      Reply ↓
  11. Michael d

    Cap and Patti, you both know how much I love you and care about your welfare! Considering how big is Patti’s health challenge (and yours, too, Cap) I want to stress that I can help with picking up any new Rx’s and anything in the way of groceries. Additionally, if Patti is scheduled for an appt along conflicting times of yours, then just give me a text/heads up and I will provide transportation and pick her up, also. You DO NOT need to be wearing yourself so thin and ragged that you too suffer some kind of weakened immunity. Please, please, please just reach out and let me (and others in the fellowship) and we will provide all the relief that you both need.

    And, I have Survivor scheduled to be recorded tonight just in case you can’t get it!

    Reply ↓
    1. Cap Chastain Post author

      Thank.. You.. So.. Very.. Much.. Michael. I have already asked you for help and you delivered instantly in Spades Michael. Your Allies.. Cap and Patti

      Reply ↓
    1. Cap Chastain Post author

      I do too Gullible. I do to. The problem is how Patti feels and we all know that there are some very serious, life threatening “hospital germs”. According to the CDC, more than 1.7 million people get infections while in the hospital each year. About one in 25 hospitalized patients has at least one healthcare-associated infection that they didn’t come in with. Cap and Patti

      Reply ↓
  13. Gordon McMullen

    Cap, Happy Patti feels some relief. I’m on 200mg Benzonatate for past 4 days and know about the coughing 24/7, but fortunately for me that’s it. Hope Patti’s meds continue to help. Gord

    Reply ↓
  14. Teri S

    Cap & Patti, you were both missed Friday night and we all sent Prayers your way. Glad Patti is feeling some better. Sleep can be so healing. Praying for your health too Cap. Only one of you is allowed to be sick at a time…
    much Love & Prayers Teri

    Reply ↓

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