I am writing to whine. After 46 years of having never been in the hospital for anything other than my birth, I have had a hell of a start to 2010.
I am one week out of the hospital from 12 day stay for double pneumonia. I got what I thought was a cold the day after Christmas. By my birthday on the 28th, I had completely lost my voice, but other than a little cough and a runny nose, I didn’t feel that bad. It kept getting worse though, and by New Year’s Eve it was down to a scary choice between my husband driving me 40 miles to the ER through a snowstorm or calling an ambulance.
It really seemed like one minute I had a bad cold and the next I COULD NOT BREATHE.
I was in the small hospital (town of 8,000) for 3 days before they transferred me by ambulance the 70 miles to Spokane. (I vaguely remember being disappointed that I didn’t get to ride in the helicopter because of weather/visibility).
I was in ICU a total of 5 days and when I came home I had to give myself IV antibiotics for another week.
I have quit smoking surprisingly easily. I formerly smoked 2packs a day for 20 years. They put patches on me in the hospital and we got some on the way home. The doctor also suggested I use the lozenges to nip the worst cravings in the bud which has worked pretty well.
Anyway…I just needed to whine a little. Thanks for reading.
I’m so glad you’re doing better. Be gentle with yourself for a while, and try not to push too much too soon.
And big congratulations for quitting smoking! That’s truly exciting. I am really sorry for how it happened, but it’s so good that you’ve done it. I hope this is the very worst thing that happens to you all year and things just keep going up from here.
Wow! I’m glad you’re feeling better now, and VERY glad you’ve decided to give up smoking. It sounds like this was a stressful beginning to 2010, but hopefully for the rest of your life you can look at it as a good thing if this is the thing that caused you to put the ciggies away.
Hang in there, and be good to yourself.
I have been wanting to quit for awhile now, but this wasn’t quite how I planned to do it.
That’s okay though…I am 3 weeks in and not having a hard time, so whatever works. I suppose I got through the hardest part while I was out of my head in ICU so the rest should be downhill…I hope.
Sorry it’s been so rough for you, but stopping smoking is no small feet. Hang in there, I hear time makes it get even better. Good luck!
I’m so glad you were able to get better and quit! Last May, as I whined on this board, I got what we think was the H1N1 and was sick for weeks. I was too sick to go out to smoke, and too sick to care. I recovered (finally) and have now been smoke-free for over 8 months! I, too, had been a heavy smoker for over 20 years. It really is like those commercials on tv–you are a slave to it. Everything I did was based on when and where I could next get a cig! It’s so much better.
I’m glad to hear you’re feeling better, and congrats on the no smoking thing! I’m 21 days clean myself and haven’t felt this good in years (15 to be exact). Stay off 'em - it’ll be the best decision you ever made.
Bummer about the heli ride, but at least you’re ok.
Also, happy birthday! Only the coolest folks get to be born on 12/28 - like yours truly, and yourself…and Denzel Washington, Woodrow Wilson, pianist Earl Hines, rock god Edgar Winter, comic book hero Stan Lee, Rod Serling, and the coolest royal out there, the King of Nepal.
You are right Picker…only the coolest on 12/28, but it sure did suck when I was a kid. The combo gifts, none of my friends were ever at home, so no birthday parties on the actual birthday, etc.
In college, I decided to just take the entire week between Christmas and New Year’s as “My week to be drunk.” I did a damn good job of it, if I say so myself.
I’m still bummed about the helicopter, but I’m sure my insurance co. is pleased. I just have to remember, I had never ridden in an ambulance either. So I can mark that off my list, and maybe take one of those helicopter tours of the Grand Canyon or Manhattan or something as a reward for not smoking a year from now!
I hear ya on the birthday thing sucking as a kid. I did get remarkably skillful at talking my folks into ‘combined b-day and x-mas gifts’ that were much bigger than the average present. 
I spent that birthday week pretty sloshed myself, historically speaking. I’m just too old and wore out to get a good binge going these days. but I’m heading to Puerto Rico for a week tomorrow and I’ll damn sure try
Anyway, congrats again on the quitting smoking, that’s the most important of all!!!