The Chit Chat Chit Chat Thread

[seahawk7]

Funny.. Fideo in Mexico is actually wetter spaghetti (usually with chicken soup or light tomato soup )
and usually diluted in spoon or two of cream.

Yea I don't know why she called it fideo then.

 

[seahawk7]

I blame my imagination (and hunger). Because that looked at first like a green turkey leg when I quick seen it.

It works. I've used it myself. Most people don't know about it unless they get admitted into the hospital. I have the doctors prescribe them in the ER and on the floors. So many are uninformed.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Symbicort is not a rescue inhaler meaning you have to use it routinely to get the benefit. Look online and you can get some info on their website better yet call your local pharmacy and they can tell you how to use it. In my opinion if they were going to give any inhaler in should have been albuterol unless they want you on it for months.

That's what I was thinking as well, although I wasn't 100% sure. Our family doctor gave my dad albuterol that one time he had bronchitis.

My bff's sister, who it 25, is an asthmatic. She had a really bad attack about a month ago and was in the hospital for almost a week. Before that, one night we got a call from her mom asking if we had symbicort lying around anywhere. Since I can't take it, we didn't. Apparently, she had been using it as a rescue inhaler and had run out. I was horrified. She said albuterol didn't work. Well, there are other rescue medications besides albuterol, especially for nebs, which I know she has a machine. They managed to find a pharmacy that was open. I told them that she needed to go to the allergist (the same one I see) and figure out how to get her asthma under control. She said she didn't want to because the allergist always just yells at her. The man has never yelled in his life (and I'd know; I've been seeing him for 10+ years); he was probably just being firm with her. Well, since she didn't listen, she ended up in the hospital for almost a week a few weeks later. I felt bad for her, but really, since she didn't go to the doctor when her asthma started getting worse, I have less sympathy.

I up the dose on my controllers when my asthma gets bad, but never use them as rescue inhalers. I usually take them in the morning, so if I start having trouble in the evening, I'll use my neb, take prednisone, and take an extra dose of my controllers, and then stay on them twice a day until my symptoms improve. But that's different because 1. That's what my doctor told me to do and 2. I'm not using it as a replacement for my nebulizer.

 

[seahawk7]

I can't NAP, I'm 20-ish pages behind.
Although, I might take a short NAP-ish break.

On a more realistic note...
I really hate feeling this sick. I just wanna' get up and kick some a$$!!!!!

Then do what I recommended. Really @donaldtoo and everyone else here, this is what I do for a living and I'm very good at it and I care. You don't get a lot of healthcare workers who don't get burned out. The advice I give here is the advice I give to doctors and patients but it will require work on your part.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

You reached 96% so soon because the neb was probably given with 100% oxygen. There are multiple variables that come into play when the neb is given: the laminar flow which can make a person cough thus clearing the airways, 100% oxygen so the patient instantly feels better, the aerosol that is produced hydrates the oropharyngeal airway, and then there is the medicine put into the nebulizer that works in a specific area of the lung where some of these diseases are not in. In pulmonary toilet (cue the laughter) there are many modalities that help people and nebs are not always the answer. I'm not saying this in your case @Goofyernmost or @StarWarsGirl95 but maybe in @donaldtoo 's case yes.

I get up to 99% with a pure oxygen neb. I'm NEVER at 99 otherwise. Usually at 97 or 98, 96 if I'm getting bad, then gradually decreasing. Here, they don't like to see it get at 95 or below. A doctor once tried to tell me I was fine at 94. Respiratory therapist came in and said, "Um, no."

When they called 911 a few weeks ago from school, the EMT took my pulsox, but I couldn't see the number. I don't think I want to know what it was since they immediately gave me oxygen after that. I think they didn't want me to get panicked and make it worse.

 

[JenniferS]

I just wanna' get up and kick some a$$!!!!!

And you will, once you get back on your feet.
That's your first priority.

Truth be told, other than SWG95's AAA fiasco yesterday, you haven't missed much. Just the usual kitty pics, food p-orn, and fried spaghetti.

 

[seahawk7]

That's what I was thinking as well, although I wasn't 100% sure. Our family doctor gave my dad albuterol that one time he had bronchitis.

My bff's sister, who it 25, is an asthmatic. She had a really bad attack about a month ago and was in the hospital for almost a week. Before that, one night we got a call from her mom asking if we had symbicort lying around anywhere. Since I can't take it, we didn't. Apparently, she had been using it as a rescue inhaler and had run out. I was horrified. She said albuterol didn't work. Well, there are other rescue medications besides albuterol, especially for nebs, which I know she has a machine. They managed to find a pharmacy that was open. I told them that she needed to go to the allergist (the same one I see) and figure out how to get her asthma under control. She said she didn't want to because the allergist always just yells at her. The man has never yelled in his life (and I'd know; I've been seeing him for 10+ years); he was probably just being firm with her. Well, since she didn't listen, she ended up in the hospital for almost a week a few weeks later. I felt bad for her, but really, since she didn't go to the doctor when her asthma started getting worse, I have less sympathy.

I up the dose on my controllers when my asthma gets bad, but never use them as rescue inhalers. I usually take them in the morning, so if I start having trouble in the evening, I'll use my neb, take prednisone, and take an extra dose of my controllers, and then stay on them twice a day until my symptoms improve. But that's different because 1. That's what my doctor told me to do and 2. I'm not using it as a replacement for my nebulizer.

You manage your asthma very well. Do me a favor, everyone you know who has an MD I which is a metered dose inhaler, make sure to tell them to use a spacer. Otherwise they are swallowing the medicine.

 

[seahawk7]

I get up to 99% with a pure oxygen neb. I'm NEVER at 99 otherwise. Usually at 97 or 98, 96 if I'm getting bad, then gradually decreasing. Here, they don't like to see it get at 95 or below. A doctor once tried to tell me I was fine at 94. Respiratory therapist came in and said, "Um, no."

When they called 911 a few weeks ago from school, the EMT took my pulsox, but I couldn't see the number. I don't think I want to know what it was since they immediately gave me oxygen after that. I think they didn't want me to get panicked and make it worse.

I know you are at sea level but I'm thinking 94 was ok. But check on that because I'm not going to contradict my fellow RT!

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Truth be told, other than SWG95's AAA fiasco yesterday, you haven't missed much. Just the usual kitty pics, food p-orn, and fried spaghetti.

And for @donaldtoo , the AAA fiasco, so that you may go nap.

I came out to my car yesterday and found that it wouldn't start. No radio, no lights, I figured the battery was dead. I called AAA for a jump start. This was 4:15. At 6:15, the roadside worker finally arrived. The guy got my car started, but then for some reason took the key out of the ignition. When he did, he broke the ignititon. He tried to restart it and the key would not turn. So we thought about just leaving the car there for the night and getting it after the impending snow storm. Well, he left pretty quickly, without calling a tow truck, even though I didn't want one, and found that the driver side window was down. In the rain, so the interior was getting soaked. Then, I call AAA to get a tow. It's now after 9 and still no tow truck. By then, my mother had gotten there. Then we call a towing service, but suddenly AAA shows up. Problem is that it's the wrong tow truck. So we call the other towing service. And then...their truck breaks down. So we ended up getting some trash bags from a custodian to cover the window and call it a night. It was 12:30 when we finally got home. Car is still at school, under the watchful eye of school security. We filed a complaint with AAA and got the name of the independent company that they used, the one that's repair guy damaged my ignition, so they'll be getting a letter from my lawyer father.

So that was the drama from yesterday posted on the thread. Now you may go nap in peace.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

I know you are at sea level but I'm thinking 94 was ok. But check on that because I'm not going to contradict my fellow RT!

She said that at 18 (which is what I was at the time) I should never have a pulsox that low. Especially after nebs at home. My peak flow was also 100 (my normal is 400), so I'm guessing she was right.

I can be really bad and my pulsox will still be at 97 or 98. 94 is practically unheard of for me. But I don't want to know what it was when I got in the ambulance three weeks ago and they gave me oxygen, though it was up to 99% after they gave me the neb at the hospital. Then they gave me the heliox to get my peak flow up more.

Although, why on Earth do they keep those horrible flat peak flow meters at the ER? I have a good, round tipped peak flow meter here at home. If I go to the ER straight from home, I always take my own meter, because yeesh. RT came in with a meter when I was in the ER. He asked what my normal peak flow was, and I said 400. He said, "Well, let's see if we can get it up there." I told him I could probably stick my tongue in there and get it up to 400. It was really about 230 ish.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Yea, COPD (which my MIL suffers from) is definitely not the issue. Just me letting things go on too long (which I don't ever do with my other known medical conditions). I'll definitely be more preemptive from now on.
We had a neb machine at home for super premie DS and he was always so relived and relaxed after a treatment.
Those things are awesome.
Sorry about the COPD, but, glad you are taking care of it.

BTW...
If Dr. prescribed it wouldn't insurance, medicare cover the neb machine?
Please pardon my ignorance, I haven't delved into it.

I don't really know. I really only needed it once in my life so I don't see it as a major need, so, I never asked. I have Medicare and am medically cared for by the VA. I just know how much difference it made on that particular day.

 

[MinnieM123]

I work for tips.

Oh goody. I'll break out my change jar!

 

[TomP]

Also gang, sorry if I seem to be fading in and out here from time to time. Not trying too, but, again, a little out of it. Please forgive me.

Get some rest....I'm sure this thread will understand. Your health is more important than entertaining us.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

I don't really know. I really only needed it once in my life so I don't see it as a major need, so, I never asked. I have Medicare and am medically cared for by the VA. I just know how much difference it made on that particular day.

A good thing to do then would be to do as @seahawk7 suggested and follow up with a specialist. If you haven't already done so, that is.

 

[Goofyernmost]

If you think it would help, they're pretty easy to get if you have COPD or asthma. I've never had to pay for a nebulizer, including the portable one that I travel with and keep in the car. Then you just keep the medication for it on hand. You can also get a pulsox to keep at home, if you don't already have one. They run about $20 off of Amazon. Anything to let you know how you're doing helps.

FYI, in the future, do not drive to the emergency room if you are having COPD symptoms. Always have someone drive you or call an ambulance. Not a good idea to be driving on low oxygen!

Yea, I kinda heard about that quite strongly from my Daughters. They were some upset. It didn't even cross my mind. I felt good enough to drive there and after the initial problem, I didn't look at is as a concern. But, yes indeed, I was properly put in my place. My argument was... "I made it there and back... I don't see the problem! My opinion is that even on low oxygen, I am superior to most.

 

[Goofyernmost]

With COPD you do not, I say this again, you DO NOT want your spo2 or sat level to be to high. You will shut off your hypoxic drive. You need to be followed by a pulmonologist. Have them do a Pulmonary function test ( PFT) to see if you truly have COPD. Many times doctors label a person with it without having the test done. It is very necessary.

Care to say any of that in english? I have no idea what you have just said, but, now I'm scared!

 

[MinnieM123]

My DD just marched into the kitchen and said WHY? Why would Disney choose Anna and Elsa for the Flower and Garden Magic band. Like Anna and Elsa represent Flowers and Garden theming?

And then she went on to say Elsa looks like a cross between TinkerBell and a Barbie Doll on the MagicBand.

Ugh. Can't they at least leave the Flower and Garden Festival alone? It's done so well all by itself for many years, and I have enjoyed it multiple times. The topiaries, flowers and plants arrangements, educational presentations from authorities in the field, and the Flower Power Concerts (I think they've renamed the concerts this year, though) were fun, too.

 

[TomP]

My favorite is Love it or List It. The thing I hate about Property Brothers and a lot of house renovation shows is when they gut houses from the 70's. I'm really living in the wrong decade cause I love the 70's. The music, the fashion, and even the interior design. I feel like crying when I watch these shows where they rip out the old paneling and spindles. It's like when they gutted victorian houses in the 60's because they were considered out of style.

I'm with you. I've renovated 7 houses from 50 tract house to 1895 Queen Anne to even a double wide mfg house. When I did, I tried to stay true to period. In the Queen Anne, I tore out "modern" bath tub and replaced with a claw foot from a salvage yard. I'm in my 8th house now that was built in 1979. I've modernized it, but it was completely featureless when I moved in so I feel like I can do just about anything to it.

 

[MinnieM123]

yikes...I found a frog in the bathroom this morning. Cannot figure out how it got in there. I think it may have been a Cuban Tree Frog (invasive species in FL). I caught and released; it was 3 inches long. Here's a pic from web:
View attachment 85598

I would have screamed! Ha!

 

[TomP]

Yea I don't know why she called it fideo then.

In Italian cooking, fideo is toasted pasta with some sauce...dunno about mexican.