My oldest daughter...a fellow mylotter...is in the hospital
By spalladino
@spalladino (17891)
United States
March 24, 2009 9:16pm CST
Some of you may know swtjenlove, although she hasn't posted much lately. She's my oldest daughter..19 years old and the mother of 3 of my grandchildren. She also lives nextdoor to me.
A few weeks ago she caught the flu bug that's been going around...the head and chest congestion one. She's unfortunately prone to pneumonia and we both recognized the symptoms yesterday...shortness of breath, fever that came and went, weakness. So, last night we went to the Emergency Room after her fiance got home. Her oxygen saturation was 96%. Blood tests revealed a high white blood count and an xray showed pneumonia in her right lung. They gave her tylenol and three antibiotic pills, along with a perscription and sent us on our way. They also told her that she was dehydrated and that she needed to push fluids.
On the way home I had to pull over so she could vomit. It had only been about 15 or 20 minutes since she'd taken the antibiotics. After she got home she continued to vomit every time she tried to drink something. She got up this morning with the same problem...nothing stayed down...not even plain water...even with crackers.
She was so weak...so pale...so sick that I had my youngest daughter watch the kids and I took her back to the hospital. This time they weighed her. She's always been thin but her weight is down to 80 pounds! They took more blood and new xrays, which revealed that she now has pneumonia in both lungs. They gave her something to drink to see if she could keep it down but it made her so sick that I told her to stop drinking it. When the nurse came in Jen told her how sick she was feeling and I told her that I didn't feel it was necessary for them to force her to vomit just to prove that she couldn't keep anything in her stomach. At about this time the xray and blood results came back and they decided to admit her. She'll be in the hospital for 3 or 4 days depending on how she responds to treatment. They're giving her IV fluids, massive doses of IV antibiotics, have her on oxygen and, after I left, they connected her to a heart monitor but didn't explain why. After one bag of fluids she was feeling a little bit better and was able to keep some applesauce and a little bit of tea down.
So, between my youngest daughter (who's NEVER having kids now), Jen's fiance who is taking the day off tomorrow, my husband and me, we'll take care of the kids, the house and the pets and I'll be back at the hospital first thing in the morning. I'm worried sick but I know that she's in good hands. This is a small hospital...not one where you would want to have major surgery...but the nurse to patient ratio is small and they're very attentive.
I have a personal fear of pneumonia because my mother's mother died from it when my mother was just a baby. Even with all of the advances in medicine and the development of more effective antibiotics and monitoring systems, I always fear that I'll lose her when she's sick like this. She's had pneumonia four times in her life and each time scares me as badly as the first. So, for those of you who know her, please keep her in your thoughts and, for those of you who don't, please keep her in your thoughts, too. I would appreciate it and I know that Jen will, too.
4 people like this
22 responses
@kawalnarang (1095)
• Trinidad And Tobago
25 Mar 09
have faith ,, we pray for speedy recovery too,, never give up dear
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
25 Mar 09
Thank you my friend. I won't give up and will think good thougths.
2 people like this
@kawalnarang (1095)
• Trinidad And Tobago
25 Mar 09
If I could do magic,or miracles ,,, I would let her walk out of the hospital in 5 minutes time,,But I do believe in miracles,, it worked for me,,, Reminds me of my problem ,,prayers alone,, In 5 minutes,,,
1 person likes this
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
25 Mar 09
I pray she'll recover quick and regain her vitality and health. I know how hard it is to see a loved one getting ill.
I have heard of anti-pneumonia vaccines. I hope you would consider seeking a doctor's opinion about it. It has helped my friend's mom who keeps contracting pneumonia almost every month because of weak lungs. She used to suffer from Tuberculosis 20 years ago and it left her with very weak lungs.
Now she's really quite better after the shots. I think it was worth it.
1 person likes this
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
25 Mar 09
I'm so glad you posted Theresa. One of the nurses mentioned the pneumonia vaccine but we don't know anyone who's had it and weren't too sure about it's effectiveness. Since your friend's mom has been helped so much by it I'll be sure to push for Jen to get it, too.
2 people like this
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
25 Mar 09
It's always a case-to-case basis, so the safest way is to consult a doctor about it. Better yet, seek a specialist, a pulmonologist for example. I'm sure they have handled cases like your daughter's. They are the experts when it comes to lung problems.
And if I am not mistaken, they have their own stocks of the shots available in their clinics. Hope you'll find a very nice one nearby. You could collaborate with your health center to arrange referrals.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
25 Mar 09
I'm sorry Jen's so sick but it's good she's in the hospital where they can watch and take care of her. I hope she gets better soon, and I'll be praying for her.
1 person likes this
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
25 Mar 09
Thanks dragon. At first the ER staff seemed to be poo pooing her symptoms, until they looked at the records from last night and compared them to the condition she was in today. Then they became very concerned and everyone was very nice. I know she's in good hands. It's just hard knowing that she's so sick and not nextdoor.
2 people like this
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
25 Mar 09
Thanks ktosea. I know in my mind that she will be okay but it's my heart that's scared.
2 people like this
@Emperor1 (36)
• China
25 Mar 09
Oh terrible virus, avian flu, a horrible disease are all over the world, and now we only try to stay away from those of poultry, to reduce the spread of the disease!~~~dear friends , I am very sympathetic to your Child's experience, bless you fun, happiness.!!~~
@AmbiePam (94097)
• United States
28 Mar 09
We'll definitely be praying. Her being young is a positive factor since she has pneumonia. I know it is worrying, heck I'd be so scared, but it helps that she is young. How annoying for them to give her liquids, just so they could see if she threw them up. I mean, were the last 24 hours not proof enough? I know medical staff have so much more knowledge than I, but it is the little things that made me scratch my head. You take care of yourself too, okay? This was posted 4 days ago, so maybe there is an update I'll see once I press submit.
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
30 Mar 09
Hon, I'm so sorry I hadn't come across this discussion before I saw your update a few minutes ago. I didn't know you had a daughter who as a member here. I'll have to look her up when she's feeling better and gets online.
I wanted to comment on what you said about our hospital. I feel the same way about our small town hospital; it may not be the best place to be for some kind of traumatic injury or illness, in fact they always transfer those patients to a larger hospital about 20 miles away, but when my daughter is there when her Crohn's flares up I feel sure she's in the best hands. Her doctor has treated her for years and every single nurse knows her personally, knows our whole family by now in fact. I like the fact that you're a person not just a "Patient ID #" in a smaller community hospital.
Annie
@Barbietre (1438)
• United States
25 Mar 09
I will keep the both of you in my prayers. Mother's do have a tendancy to worry about their children, but I am sure she will be fine.
1 person likes this
@lumenmom (1986)
• United States
25 Mar 09
I don't know your daughter but being a mother myself I can empathize with what you are going through. Pneumonia can be very scary and I do people who have gotten very sick from it. I pray that your daughter will make a speedy recovery. I know some people who have compromised immune systems take flu and pneumonia vaccines so that if they do get the illness, hopefully it will not be so bad. This may be an option for her in the future.
@AngryKittyMSV (4317)
• United States
25 Mar 09
I will keep your entire family in my thoughts and prayers. I hope your daughter is well again soon. I can only imagine how hard it must be for you to see her so sick. No matter how old they get, mom always wishes she could make it better.
I'm so sorry that she had to get so very sick before the doctors and nurses would take it seriously. But she's getting good treatment now so I'm sure she'll be alright. Once she's healthy again, you may want to suggest that she gets screened for asthma and other respiratory problems that could explain why she is prone to getting pneumonia. If they find the cause they may be able to prevent her form getting so very sick in the future.
Big hugs to you and your family. She's lucky to have such a wonderful family to help her with everything while she recovers. I know you are worried, and I don't blame you, but remember that she is exactly where she needs to be right now.
@playapal (894)
• United States
25 Mar 09
I will be praying for you and your family. It is so very scary when one of our children are sick. I feel like I know you through your many discussions and postings and wish you the very best. Know that the hospital is the very best place for her and things have changed and improved so much since your grandmothers time. Please keep us posted.
@carolscash (9492)
• United States
25 Mar 09
Our thoughts and prayers are with her right now. I pray that she will recover quickly and that she will be home soon. I know how worried a mother gets when her children are sick. My oldest daughter has been diagnosed with chronic neurological Lyme Disease and I have worried so much about her health. I will keep you in my prayers too.
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
25 Mar 09
I am so sorry to hear your beautiful daughter is so sick. The poor thing, she probably felt so terrible and was still taking care of things as mothers do! I sincerely hope and pray that she will recover real soon. Antibiotics usually work quickly so hopefully she should feel better soon. Thank Goodness she has a nice mum like you to take care of things for her! All the best, I'll say some prayers for her.
@TLChimes (4822)
• United States
25 Mar 09
WOW.... I will keep you all in my thoughts though you seem to have done the right thing. And you seem to have worked out the kinks of getting through it.
I know it's scary. My oldest boy had it several times when he was young.
When she gets through this round of it, tell her to take extra care when she gets sick for the next few years because it has a nasty habit of being easier to get a second time.
@TRWilliams02 (349)
• United States
25 Mar 09
Our thoughts and prayers will be with your daughter and your family! If she is as strong as her mommy sounds then I have a feeling she will make a full recovery! =]