An Unplanned Absence!

This will be the most Medical/Technical blog I have ever written. But this is a glimpse into my life of the last 13 years.


I have felt under the weather for a while-short of breath- all the time- spent most of February just going thru the motions, trying to get into my Primary Dr, and trying to convince my new Pulmonologist that something was *Not* right...My lung function was going down, but he basically said I was on *all the meds he knew to put me on*. So I kept going home. As the cough got worse, and I was waking up in the middle of the night more and more often in the night out of breath- gasping - but so exhausted from fighting for air...and the coughing started taking over. I finally gave in, and went in to the Emergency Room...knowing that my record was...2- 2 times out of 35+ in the past 10 years that I have gone in to an ER and have NOT been admitted. But I went in...and one Epinephrine Shot, One Bag of Magnesium, 3 breathing Treatments, 2 heart tests, and one LARGE bag of Potassium later...I was being sent upstairs...admitted...keeping my *record* intact. 
After several days of breathing treatments, pain meds, cough meds, (more meds than I could keep track of)...an Old battle resumed-- one that brings an anger out in me that I almost don't recognize- I am usually a very cooperative and pleasant patient...until this ONE diagnosis is suggested. A theory started getting floated about 12 years ago that many asthmatics had actually been Misdiagnosed- and instead of Asthma (a Breathing disorder)- they simply had *Vocal Chord Dysfunction*....I have been an asthmatic for almost 30 years. I have been checked several times by ENT's for Vocal Chord Dysfunction- and there was None. Yet a pair of Dr's at a particular Pulmonary practice here in town were trying to make a name for themselves by filling a study with names of *Misdiagnosed* asthmatics- and tried to add me to the list- needless to say- our relationship didn't last long- I got second and third opinions and for once in my life told them where they could stick it!! I then took my records, and never looked back. But because of that study (and the fact they were part of a prominent practice here in town)- Every now and then, when I have been coughing for weeks, and have those raw, swollen vocal chords you get that are so painful you can barely swallow on them, much less talk on or breathe easily thru~ Someone will listen to my throat and ask the question- have you ever been screened for VCD?? I say- Yes, I've been screened and confirmed I don't have it. 
So this past week-- I was Going to have a Bronchoscopy to look at my throat, then that was cancelled, then they scheduled it to look at my Lungs, then cancelled it....then put it back on the schedule. Dr Jennifer Copley and Dr Shannon Byrd, knew Something wasn't right- and cared enough to find out.
Good thing they did. The results of the Bronch (Nickname I will use for now) were: Excessive drainage from my sinuses into my lungs- on *2* antihistimines (her exact words were- "YUK"!) Then she actually got down INTO the lungs and I could hear *Well I Never....* (Not what you want your Dr to say!! lol!) and then She started Dictating...Yeast (Fungus) in both upper lobes of the lungs; Severe, acute bronchitis; and then she explained (as I felt my lower lungs fill up with fluid), that they were doing a *Wash* of my lower lobes. (They had already done a *Nasal Swab* which had showed NO active MRSA (I have had it in my lungs since 2007- with many flares and pneumonias), so none of us were worried at all about that. They took the *wash*, and the fluids- and sent them off to be cultured. Dr Shannon Byrd (Second Favorite Dr cause she DID the tests and followed up with me as results and answers came in) She came in the first night and explained everything I have said so far. Then the next afternoon- she stopped by (I was expecting to hear- well, we know what's going on- and can treat you at home- so lets get you out of here!) instead, she said, we are already seeing Staph growing in your lower lobes. I asked- could this be another MRSA flare? Apparently noone had shared that info with her- and she said- YES, that's exactly what we think it is- but were waiting to see what it responded to. I told her what my traditional antibiotic was for that- and she started it immediately. She came in the next day and said- its confirmed- Not only do you have MRSA, but we discovered extensive scarring on the vocal chords from all of your intubations. (I still don't know what that means for my future singing....) So for now- lots of meds- Lots of Breathing Treatments, Vocal Rest (yeah, I know- the hardest thing I could be asked to do) and MOST importantly...to protect myself from being exposed to anything. I am NOT contagious- she kept repeating that- it is so far down in my lungs- but not in my upper airway- so that I cannot share it...but that it is IMPERATIVE that I rest, and keep from being exposed to anything (especially respiratory bugs)...because my lungs and immune system are not strong enough to fight it off...
I just want to say Thank you- to Ashley, Holly, Danielle, Dr Mozingo, Dr Jennifer Copley and Dr Shannon Byrd-- For caring for me, about me, for being there for me and helping me survive another scary, painful and frustrating hospitalization.
So that is where I have been for the past 3+ weeks...and for the next 6 weeks...we are looking at the busiest, most crazy, wonderful, *People Packed* time of our life...as Brianna's Graduation Looms...and the train is FULL Speed Ahead!! I missed you all....<3 M