Post-operative complication: PNEUMONIA.
GI stuff seems to be okay. I started a productive cough and had fever/chills second night in hospital following surgery. It followed at home but seemed to be getting better. It all came back and felt like early pneumonia. Urgent care this afternoon confirmed -- pneumonia. I'm on levofloxacin and steroids. I have chronic asthma that pretty darn awful so I was always at risk, I guess. I haven't had pneumonia in years so I'm pretty bummed. I'm glad I caught it early. Any one else had post-op pneumonia?
Re: Post-operative complication: PNEUMONIA.
I'm sorry to hear about your lung issues Hosh!
I guess pneumonia is a risk factor with all surgeries where you are intubated.
It sucks...
Get well soon!
Re: Post-operative complication: PNEUMONIA.
No, but I'm so sorry and glad you received quick medical help! Not fun to recover from surgery and that at the same time. Hope you can sleep a lot! Also hope the meds kick in and you feel better soon.
Re: Post-operative complication: PNEUMONIA.
I'd make sure I walked a little bit if I were you so that you don't get a blood. Cough up whatever you can. I never had that problem and never read that anyone else did but like Dutchie said, it is a risk factor after any surgery. I hope you feel better soon!
Re: Post-operative complication: PNEUMONIA.
It's not that common, but I've seen it happen in the hospital where I work. It usually happens in patients who have comprised breathing to begin with and then the anesthesia and process doesn't help. I would agree that you should walk as often as possible and did they give you an Incentive Spirometer to breathe into after surgery, that might help to open the lungs a bit. Lots of deep breathing helps and finding the balance between resting and walking is key.
Good luck and hope you're feeling better soon!
Re: Post-operative complication: PNEUMONIA.
I'm so sorry that you developed pneumonia. The asthma predisposes you to infection. It is not uncommon and is only a minor setback. The levofloxacin is a nice strong antibiotic and should knock it out. The steroids are necessary as well but my temporarily slow weight loss. Fluids, rest, deep breathing with your incentive spirometer are all important. Walking is good too but don't overdue it until your symptoms improve. Take tylenol (liquid) for fever as it increases risk of dehydration and sip, sip, sip. Hope you feel better soon!
Re: Post-operative complication: PNEUMONIA.
Hosh,
I’m so sorry you’re experiencing pneumonia. Sending All Good Thoughts and Prayers for a quick recovery.
Yes, I had pneumonia post-op. I also have chronic bronchial asthma, so it wasn’t a surprise. Thankfully I was still in hospital and it was taken care of immediately.
Interestingly I have only had one instance of lung/breathing problems since I was sleeved.
I hope you’re feeling well soon ;-)
Re: Post-operative complication: PNEUMONIA.
Nope, I've never had pneumonia. But I'm glad you jumped right on that, had it diagnosed correctly, and are taking the right meds. Good job!
Re: Post-operative complication: PNEUMONIA.
That's not fun at all! Really glad that you recognized the symptoms and sought medical help quickly.
I hope that you are feeling mush better soon.
I was given a funny plastic contraption as soon as I was in the recovery room. It had 4 balls in tubes in it (bit hard to explain). I had to exhale right out and then suck in until the balls reached to top of the tubes. This was supposed to help prevent pneumonia. It took some doing to get all those 4 balls to the top but I had to keep doing it regularly while I was in hospital and for a few days once discharged.
Did anyone else have anything like this?
Re: Post-operative complication: PNEUMONIA.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
KiwiGal
That's not fun at all! Really glad that you recognized the symptoms and sought medical help quickly.
I hope that you are feeling mush better soon.
I was given a funny plastic contraption as soon as I was in the recovery room. It had 4 balls in tubes in it (bit hard to explain). I had to exhale right out and then suck in until the balls reached to top of the tubes. This was supposed to help prevent pneumonia. It took some doing to get all those 4 balls to the top but I had to keep doing it regularly while I was in hospital and for a few days once discharged.
Did anyone else have anything like this?
I have had that annoying little contraption after every surgery I've had, EXCEPT this one! Lol
Re: Post-operative complication: PNEUMONIA.
Yes, that contraption has been around for decades. It's called an "Incentive Spirometer" and its purpose it to have you take very slow deep breaths post-op to fully expand all of the lung tissue. Helps to prevent pneumonia by clearing out stagnant mucous and residual anesthesia. Should be done 10x an hour for the first few days post-op or as directed by your surgeon.:cool:
Re: Post-operative complication: PNEUMONIA.
Thanks, All!
For what it's worth, I did *ALL THE THINGS* -- the incentive spirometer, the walking, the everything. In terms of the GI, I was off pain meds within 12 hours of surgery and doing all I was suppose to do! I think this is a larger warning to those who have severe chronic asthma -- I under-estimated my risk. And when I was starting to cough up gunk in the hospital, I should have clicked faster to pneumonia risk and advocated more. Still, I'm doing okay. The coughing and incisions mix hasn't been pleasant, but I'm getting better! :-)
Re: Post-operative complication: PNEUMONIA.
Glad to hear that.
Eating and drinking are good?
Re: Post-operative complication: PNEUMONIA.
They are okay -- drinking is more of a trial due to the metallic taste from the steroids and the fact that anything similar to dairy (including protein shakes) coats my throat. This feels like it makes the chest congestion and coughing fits worse. So, I'm having a lot of hot tea. I'm on pureed foods after the check-up on Thursday. Doing a lot of reading through recipes to see if I can find some things that I will really like to eat. I've feel like I have an appetite (I'm thinking a lot about food) but am definitely aware of my limitations and not having an issue with their boundaries right now. It didn't take long to figure out how little it took to be full! The better I feel, the more eager to eat a little every few hours, though I'm not on a schedule yet, so the drinking/eating pieces don't feel as segmented as I'd like them to be. I haven't quite integrated vitamins as well as I'd like. Two more days of meds and then I hope things stabilize a little more and I have more energy. I have to train myself to drink and eat, I think (like with an alarm or something) to really commit to a schedule -- a recommendation from nutritionists since I've shown that I'm not reliable to my own needs without a clear plan.
At my last MD appt before the liquid diet prep, I was 205. My weight high a few weeks before that was 207. I was 198 the day of surgery. This afternoon I was 185.6. So the weight is definitely coming off! That in itself feels really good.
Thanks for all the positive thoughts!!!
Re: Post-operative complication: PNEUMONIA.
Sounds good.
Make a plan, work that plan and change if needed. (do I sound like Tinman or what? :D)
Lots of people use timers in the early stages.
At first to time when you need to drink or eat, later on to make sure you don't eat too fast.
What helped me, when I was cleared for soft solids and solids, was to eat at uneven hours and drink at even hours.
That was an easy schedule for me.
I am sure (since you have asthma) that you know you should never, ever drink dairy products?
And especially now, with your pneumonia.
Dairy enhances the forming of mucous, something you don't want as a COPD patient.
Keep up the good work!