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New and undiagnosed

Lung Health | Last Active: Dec 12, 2023 | Replies (131)

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@yvonne55

Hi Sue
Still seem to be improving. Ct dec 9, pulmonologist appt jan 3. You know, the 2nd time I collapsed, I've now been researching sepsis since my nurse in the hospital I was sent to said it sounded like it to her. All the symptoms match. Shivering, freezing cold, undetectable pulse, low low blood pressure, restless legs, breathless. Kidney function dropped to 18%. (Its now back up). Does sepsis happen in Interstitial lung disease? The doctors still dont know anything but that critical care nurse said septic shock. Now I'm reading about the after effects of sepsis and that fits too! Fear of going out incase it happens again ( 1/3 of sepsis survivors end up back in hospital within the first year). And feeling an odd sensation and thinking is this me? Or is it time to go to the hospital again? Physical after affects that match mine. Stories of survivors that are parallel to mine. Do doctors not check for this? Or is sepsis just a given? My own doctor has diagnosed me with PTSD and recommended therapy. In this town there are waiting lists for therapists for months. I'm having to wait 4 months to see a pulmonologist! So when people say go see this doctor or that specialist? You cant just go. I wonder if the initial hospital stay in Aug was actual pneumonia. And it wasnt killed. I told them I didnt feel well enough to be discharged but no one listened. So home 2 weeks, it came back with a vengeance and brought sepsis with it. And almost cost me my life. Do you know much about septic shock? I do know once I got into the ICU they were giving me norepinephrine constantly. Thanks Sue!

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Replies to "Hi Sue Still seem to be improving. Ct dec 9, pulmonologist appt jan 3. You know,..."

Hi Yvonne, what I know about septic shock would fill a thimble...but the fear of "having it happen again" is familiar to me. I have had both scary heart symptoms that landed me in the hospital and a severe lung infection that has a 50-50 chance of coming back again. For a while after each event, every pitter-patter of my heart, or every coughing spell led me to "Oh, NO, not again!" The feelings eventually settled down, and here I am, still going 19 years after the heart scare & 5 years after the infection.

What helped me was some anti-anxiety exercises suggested to me by my primary. This was on paper (before widely available self-help on the Internet). Here are a couple of Mayo posts that might be helpful to you:
https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/tips-to-help-ease-anxiety
https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/11-tips-for-coping-with-an-anxiety-disorder
I find the breathing exercises and the meditation exercises work for me (follow the links - the blue highlighted words.)
Maybe these will help while you wait for the other appointments.
In the meantime, I see you are making progress - you didn't mention your pulse oximeter even once in this message - hang in there!
Sue
Sue

i used dessicated grassfed beefliver capsules (among many other supplements) to buil up my strength. 2 suppliers for New Zealand products. Really helped me feel better and stronger, which reduced m anxiety about the future.