i keep reading, but then forgetting that i'm supposed to write here too

[katekat]

it's been years... literally years... since i've gone to a doctor regularly.  Student health care is really not the same thing.  And so I have no litmus test for what I'm currently doing, because either my lungs are in really serious condition or I've found the most over-proscribing doctor in the world.  I think reality is somewhere in the middle.

I'm currently on 5 different kinds of medication to take care of my bronchitis.  Two are inhalers, because my doctor says that I've developed asthma (could be because of the cold, could just be something that developed, she doesn't know).  I'm on an internal steroid too, to reduce the swelling in my broncial tubes and the rattle out of my lungs.  Then I'm on an antibiotic AND codeine laced cough syrup that I can take any time I feel like. 

That seems like a lot of medication to me.  My energy levels are back up to normal, but my cough, while decreasing in frequency, seems to be just about the same level of intensity.

Part of me worries that all of this cramming crap into my lungs is just going to make things worse, but really, that's just the part of me that doesn't like taking things.  That and I really don't like my doctor... I went to her specifically because I wanted someone in the neighborhood, and she's female and has been practicing for a while.  Unfortunately she uses metaphors like "your lungs sound like a barn door that's been left open" instead of telling me what's going on, and when I went and saw her for my check up last week and she added in the second inhaler and the steroid, she was defensive and almost close-lipped when I questioned her as to why in the heck I was going to have to take MORE medications.  I'm sure her style would be comforting for some, but I'm the kind of person who needs more information, not less, and I don't want to hear that my broncial tubes/lungs are like an upside down tree... but that they're 30% blocked/inflamed and that's why I need to do all this asthma stuff.

Of course it doesn't help that I'm not smoking so I'm annoyed and wish that I could simply go have a frigging smoke.  Cold turkey + medication is NOT my idea of fun, that's for sure.

Comments

[biodamped]

Darling! *hugs you tight* Thta's not good. I mean, the puffers i can understand. I get asthma in winter time, and the couple of times i've had bronchitits as well, i've had to use both puffers. Even the steroid is understandable if it's really BAD. But i don't ever recall having antibiotics as well as a bronchitis puffer (you don't have, oh, tonsilitis or something as well that you might need it for?). Although i did once have a cough syrup - it was something to do with depressing my lungs so that the coughing stopped. But i never had a steriod and those coughs were the sort of psychotic ones that kept going and going and i couldn't get breath in, so i kind of NEEDED something to stop the cough.

Although if you do smoke regularly, it's entirely possible that your bronchitis is worse than mine was, since it's meant to play havoc with even the healthiest lung in the world (and mine are not, having breathed dirty city air for close on 10 years).

Maybe get a second opinion if you can? I don't like doctors that don't tell you what's going on either. I hope you're feeling better soon lovely. ♥

[katekat]

well I'm glad to hear i'm not the only one who's had two puffers - it's weird but may be not that weird. and i think the antibiotics are the US way of kicking any virus out of the body? i definitely don't have tonsilitus, but i do for sure have bronchitis, so...

and i didn't really think it was that bad of a cough, but she says it's because she can hear a wheeze in my lungs, and that's the problem. But it also may be a smoking thing... *witters* i just don't quite know.

you're right though,darling, i should go find someone to give me a second opionion. I do feel better, it's just weird to be pouring this many things down myself.

Anyway, thanks for the encouragement darling!!!

[apothespisis.livejournal.com]

This is only my opinion, but to me it seems that you're being overmedicated. One inhaler and an antibiotic should be sufficient. Was the asthma diagnosed pre or post-infection? The steroid has me worried. Are you on prednisone? What's the dosage, how often are you take it, and for how long?

Kate, please go to a real doctor and not these overworked, overburdened student health practitioners who write prescriptions like hall passes. Were you diagnosed definitively with bronchitis? Because that can segue to pneumonia.

Like I said, this is only my opinion, and I'm not in any way trying to freak you out, but I am concerned. I'm not a medical professional, but I was pre-med, and worked for both doctors and health insurance companies, and the protocol you described sounds ineffective and potentially dangerous (again, in my opinion).

And believe me - I COMPLETELY understand about not being able to but wanting to smoke when you have respiratory illness. It's not fun. My only advice is to take out your frustrations on the people around you. Which CAN be fun. :)

Seriously, please see a doctor, because I love you and am concerned and absolutely will harass you until you do. *hugshugshugs*

[apothespisis.livejournal.com]

Oh, and I got DeWitt from the library! OMG, how did I never before hear of this book? The premise sounds exactly like something I would love! I'm only 40 pages in so far, but I'm enjoying it immensely! ^_^

[katekat]

YOU DID!!!!!!!! I CAN'T WAIT to hear what else you have to say about it!! That's just SO awesome.

And she is a very very little known authoress - only one other book, and almost like a best kept secret. Oh, and people find her writing pretentious, but I kind of find it charming.

[katekat]

That's what i was thinking too, but she's concerned about the wheeze in my chest (which, ok, i'm worried too, but...) The asthma was diagnosed post-infection... i saw her on tuesday and she gave me the antibiotics and the cough syrup and the first inhaler then... and i saw her on friday and she said my wheeze sounded worse on friday than it did when she'd seen me earlier in the week.

The frightening thing is that this isn't an overworked student med-center... since I'm finally getting health care I went to a *real* doctor instead of the student health center. The funny thing is our student health center is actually *less* likely to medicate than this woman is.

Oh, and yes, i'm on prednisone - 20 MG tablet 3 times a day (for 5 days), and then the second inhaler is Symbicort. And yeah, diagnosed definitely with bronchitis, with an x-ray to ensure that it's still in my broncial tubes and not turning into pneumonia.

how dangerous? just because of the mix, or from putting so many things in my lungs? i think i will be looking for someone else on tuesday (midterm, of course, Monday) ... any questions i should be asking?

I wish that I could take out my frustrations but instead it seems I have infected the whole house! So I guess that's payback for them continuing to smoke? GAH.

I'll go to someone else, promise!! Thanks for being concerned about me, sweetest. It's kind of awesome to not only know that I'm getting backup, but that I've got you in my corner. *SQUISH*

[entrenous88.livejournal.com]

Oh no -- I'm so sorry your doctor isn't a good match for you. Is there someone else in the same practice you can see? Or maybe another person covered by your insurance that's rec'd by a friend?

[katekat]

I'm heading to a new doctor tomorrow and taking all of my meds with me. Unfortunately I thought I could kind of go for a more folksy practice (with one dr), but I realize that I probably need a different kidn of health care. Even if they tell me that yes, I should be on everything she's got me on, I think I'm going to feel better just talking to someone else (and hopefully this new person at an entirely different practice will not treat me like a 5 year old... i think i realized tonight i'm getting slightly too old for that, you know? *grin*)

[cordykitten]

Don't give up; just ask again why you have to take all the medicine.
If you get more it sounds as if it got worse.
*hugs* and get well wishes for you.

[katekat]

Thanks for the encouragement sweetest - and yeah it kind of did seem like it got worse today, so I'm goin to another doctor to get a second opinion (and probably a new doctor). Thanks for the well wishes!! it can't last forever, right ;)

(ps - fantastic icon)