Pneumonia

Pneumonia fills the lung's alveoli with fluid, keeping oxygen from reaching the bloodstream. The alveolus on the left is normal, while the alveolus on the right is full of fluid from pneumonia.

People with infectious pneumonia often have a cough that produces greenish or yellow sputum and a high fever that may be accompanied by shaking chills. Shortness of breath is also common, as is pleuritic chest pain, a sharp or stabbing pain, either felt or worse during deep breaths or coughs. People with pneumonia may cough up blood, experience headaches, or develop sweaty and clammy skin. Other symptoms may include loss of appetite, fatigue, blueness of the skin, nausea, vomiting, and joint pains or muscle aches. Less common forms of pneumonia can cause a variety of other symptoms.

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Diagnosis

To diagnose pneumonia, health care providers rely on a patient's symptoms and findings from physical examination. Information from a chest X-ray, blood tests, and sputum cultures may also be helpful. The chest X-ray is typically used for diagnosis in hospitals and some clinics with X-ray facilities. However, in a community setting (general practice), pneumonia is usually diagnosed based on symptoms and physical examination alone. Diagnosing pneumonia can be difficult in some people, especially those who have other illnesses. Occasionally a chest CT scan or other tests may be needed to distinguish pneumonia from other illnesses.

WOW... so now I have time to look up what Pneumonia is, does and how it works. The above picture and description is so TRUE! Man I was a sick sick sick girl. I would like to thank CRMC and the nurses... I know I bothered them so much. I never saw the same nurse twice... does that say something.. ? lol and to Dr. Green... your the best!

Things that crossed my mind during my stay...

Why does the channel changer only go up! C'mon w/technology now days surely there are beds that can change the channel up & down; w/out having to go through ALL channels.

Childress needs a TACO BELL!!! craved it so much, watched so many commercials. What can I do to get one here?

Favorite commercial-- 'Oh, did I do that?' I got not cell phone, I'm just a pothole." lol.... made me giggle everytime.

Request not to put IV in the elbow area... everytime you bend your arm it would beep.

Request a lesson on how to work the monitor for the IV. So you don't have to call them every 5 minutes (bag empty, air bubble, etc)

FOOD- I know those cafeteria people hated me. I didn't have much of an appetite anyways but the minute they would bring in the food, I would cover my mouth and point to take it back out the door.... lol. Not kidding. Just the smell of it.... did not settle w/me. That happened everyday, 3 times a day. Finally, Apply jacks was the only thing I could eat.

Until next time... Mamabotos