# I'm old, obese, with lungs that are charted as "a mess." Now I have COVID. Why does it take an hour to page a nurse? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 27, 2022, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-obese-with-lungs-that-are-charted-as-a-mess-now-i-have-covid-why-does-it-take-an-hour-to-page-a-nurse/958461 "2022-01-27T04:04:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2022, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-obese-with-lungs-that-are-charted-as-a-mess-now-i-have-covid-why-does-it-take-an-hour-to-page-a-nurse/958461/21 "2022-01-29T18:05:44Z")
Hey, so, how’s the breathing and such today? ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2022, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-obese-with-lungs-that-are-charted-as-a-mess-now-i-have-covid-why-does-it-take-an-hour-to-page-a-nurse/958461/22 "2022-01-30T00:58:36Z")
I woke up with my hearing down by 50%. I tried to tell a nurse, but if the CNA and Respiration Tech I told didn’t successfully pass it along. Eventually I found that swallowing helped pop the clog. It’s still not clear, but that will pass. RT gives me a “suction” several times a day which sucks the thick phlegm out of my lungs It hurts with a band of pain across the top of my ribs. I can suck ot some of the phlegm that is putting pressure on my former tonsils, causing my sore throat. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2022, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-obese-with-lungs-that-are-charted-as-a-mess-now-i-have-covid-why-does-it-take-an-hour-to-page-a-nurse/958461/23 "2022-01-30T05:43:44Z")
There’s a lot of CRP in my lungs so I’m off to the hospital for a CT scan. While I could’ve told them about the CRAP in my lungs, I understand this is something different. [Case Report: C-Reactive Protein Apheresis in a Patient With COVID-19 and Fulminant CRP Increase - PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34408751/#:~:text=The%20increase%20of%20the%20CRP,inflammation%20often%20drives%20pulmonary%20fibrosis). ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2022, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-obese-with-lungs-that-are-charted-as-a-mess-now-i-have-covid-why-does-it-take-an-hour-to-page-a-nurse/958461/24 "2022-01-30T06:05:37Z")
According to that paper, it’s fairly treatable. Hopefully they’ll get you on the good stuff and get you healed up. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2022, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-obese-with-lungs-that-are-charted-as-a-mess-now-i-have-covid-why-does-it-take-an-hour-to-page-a-nurse/958461/25 "2022-01-30T07:10:04Z")
There’s that saying, “If it wasn’t documented, it didn’t happen.” ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2022, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-obese-with-lungs-that-are-charted-as-a-mess-now-i-have-covid-why-does-it-take-an-hour-to-page-a-nurse/958461/26 "2022-01-30T07:55:12Z")
The auditors at the agency I work for have that as an official policy. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2022, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-obese-with-lungs-that-are-charted-as-a-mess-now-i-have-covid-why-does-it-take-an-hour-to-page-a-nurse/958461/27 "2022-01-30T15:23:14Z")
I lIve ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2022, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-obese-with-lungs-that-are-charted-as-a-mess-now-i-have-covid-why-does-it-take-an-hour-to-page-a-nurse/958461/28 "2022-01-30T15:23:52Z")
Glad to hear it. Now keep doing it. We _like_ you around here. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2022, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-obese-with-lungs-that-are-charted-as-a-mess-now-i-have-covid-why-does-it-take-an-hour-to-page-a-nurse/958461/29 "2022-01-30T16:20:03Z")
Keep up the good work! ---
**Author:** ![Tfletch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tfletch1/32/5340_2.png) [@Tfletch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tfletch1)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2022, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-obese-with-lungs-that-are-charted-as-a-mess-now-i-have-covid-why-does-it-take-an-hour-to-page-a-nurse/958461/30 "2022-01-30T17:07:53Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > I lIve Excellent. Keep fighting. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2022, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-obese-with-lungs-that-are-charted-as-a-mess-now-i-have-covid-why-does-it-take-an-hour-to-page-a-nurse/958461/31 "2022-01-30T17:18:09Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > Crap. Want me to mail you a rescue inhaler? useful and kind suggestion! Dropzone, I am glad you still live and hope you feel better soon. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2022, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-obese-with-lungs-that-are-charted-as-a-mess-now-i-have-covid-why-does-it-take-an-hour-to-page-a-nurse/958461/32 "2022-01-30T17:29:14Z")
> [@SpacemanSpiff\_II](#): > > that they don’t like the food and the like - essentially treating the nurses like a sort of room service You know, normally, if you don’t like your food, it find it hard to chew, or… you can get something else. If you are confined to a hospital bed, you can’t. Hospitals have aides and stuff who can respond to non-medical needs. Patients shouldn’t be shunned by the nurses just because they want to be given palatable food, and have other non-medical needs. Patients are human beings who can’t care for themselves, and should be talented and cared for. (But it’s because of crap like that that i tried to stay with my mom in the hospital when she was stuck there. Because hospitals are horrible miserable places where people who need stuff get ignored.) ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2022, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-obese-with-lungs-that-are-charted-as-a-mess-now-i-have-covid-why-does-it-take-an-hour-to-page-a-nurse/958461/33 "2022-01-30T17:30:15Z")
Best wishes, dropzone. I take it they never gave you that covid booster shot you asked for. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2022, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-obese-with-lungs-that-are-charted-as-a-mess-now-i-have-covid-why-does-it-take-an-hour-to-page-a-nurse/958461/34 "2022-01-30T17:33:52Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Patients are human beings who can’t care for themselves, and should be **talented** and cared for. Indeed, especially their snazzy flair for rhetoric, hand games, tv remote management. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2022, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-obese-with-lungs-that-are-charted-as-a-mess-now-i-have-covid-why-does-it-take-an-hour-to-page-a-nurse/958461/35 "2022-01-30T17:34:47Z")
Hmm, i probably meant “respected”. Swype for the not-win. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2022, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-obese-with-lungs-that-are-charted-as-a-mess-now-i-have-covid-why-does-it-take-an-hour-to-page-a-nurse/958461/36 "2022-01-30T17:54:24Z")
Not yet ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2022, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-obese-with-lungs-that-are-charted-as-a-mess-now-i-have-covid-why-does-it-take-an-hour-to-page-a-nurse/958461/37 "2022-01-30T18:05:28Z")
Any news beyond providing proof of life? Did they confirm the diagnosis? Provide treatment? Did you get a lollipop? Details, man, details! ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2022, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-obese-with-lungs-that-are-charted-as-a-mess-now-i-have-covid-why-does-it-take-an-hour-to-page-a-nurse/958461/38 "2022-01-30T21:13:35Z")
- They didn’t find any lung damage, which is good. - They added a steroid to open my bronchial passages. - No lollipop, but I did get a Cepacol, which Oldest described as, “an old lady lunch.” That was my brunch. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2022, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-obese-with-lungs-that-are-charted-as-a-mess-now-i-have-covid-why-does-it-take-an-hour-to-page-a-nurse/958461/39 "2022-01-30T22:23:47Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > They added a steroid to open my bronchial passages. I had asthma most of my life and only recently grew out of it. Steroids to open the bronchials have probably saved my life more than once. I hope that helps, it’s like being able to breathe after drowning. (Something I’m sure you’re far too familiar with.) ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2022, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-obese-with-lungs-that-are-charted-as-a-mess-now-i-have-covid-why-does-it-take-an-hour-to-page-a-nurse/958461/40 "2022-01-31T03:09:18Z")
Oh, and I have to wait 90 days for the booster because my system already has a full complement of the little suckers clogging my bloodstream. Or something like that; she is awful pretty. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-obese-with-lungs-that-are-charted-as-a-mess-now-i-have-covid-why-does-it-take-an-hour-to-page-a-nurse/958461.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-obese-with-lungs-that-are-charted-as-a-mess-now-i-have-covid-why-does-it-take-an-hour-to-page-a-nurse/958461.md?page=3)