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ON PNEUMONIA
Original Content | 3/6/2014 | By Laz A. Mataz

Posted on 03/06/2014 3:56:31 PM PST by Lazamataz

I had a bacterial pneumonia over this last week.

It manifested as flu-like symptoms, at first: Low-grade fever, dizziness, chills, then sweats, and a constant fatigue. I thought nothing of it for the first day, having been the self-administered victim of minor food-poisoning before. However, this illness didn't seem to want to pass. By the second day, Sunday, I became more anxious as to the true cause of the malady. It was less likely to be a true influenza, because I had received a flu vaccine shot this year. So what was it?

I almost thought to get to the doctors, but it was Sunday, he would not be open until Monday morning. I did contact a friend who is a health care professional (an anesthetist) and knowing he was not versed in general practice of medicine, figured he might have picked up a thing or two along the decades. He was quite alarmed at my symptom list and suggested that I might have a bacterial or viral pneumonia. Upon looking the symptom list up, on a one-for-one basis, each symptom listed corresponded to a symptom I was presenting. The various literature indicated that a viral pneumonia was (generally) less severe, although more dangerous because they tended to occur in infants and elderly. Mine was likely a bacterial pneumonia.

The treatment indicated was a good antibiotic, and the one most commonly mentioned was one I just so happened to have: Amoxycillin. It is part of my Grid Down supply kit. I decided -- based on all available input -- to start a 7 day course of 750MG a day.

The next day, before the antibiotics had a chance to work, was the worst. I was completely unable to get into a car to get to the doctor. I genuinely felt at deaths door. I seriously considered, several times, calling 911 to get help, but backed off. It was awful.

Things improved, and now, six days after it started, I am well enough to pen this article.

The thoughts I have had emerge from this event:

1) While it would have been best to go to a doctor, it was an interesting experiment (thankfully, a successful one) to be able to treat yourself with supplies on-hand, with the guidance and expertise of someone in the medical field. It may well be that under the new 'Health Care System' we will be living under, we'll be needing to be a lot more proactive with our health. We may need to be able to diagnose and treat ourselves to the best of our abilities.

2) I do recognize I got lucky, and that this is not my best option while the system still works. However, it was the best I could manage without calling an ambulance, and until Monday, I wasn't that bad. I seriously considered it four times on Monday.

3) SHTF supplies are useful. They were critically useful for me. SHTF does not NECESSARILY mean societal breakdown. The SHTF for me, personally, last week. I am glad I had the proper supplies ON HAND to treat the probable disease.

4) This has caused me to do a mortality check. I am not bulletproof and 10 feet tall. Death is an option for me. I need to have my spiritual house in order, and to try to maximize the order in my physical house.

5) It's important that there be instructions left on things to do after my death. Contacting relatives, friends, and perhaps this very forum, might be one instruction. Another may be an 'unofficial will' ... I have no great wealth, so the various items I have acquired should be allocated by my instruction. Important notes to loved ones might be something I also want to leave.


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: antibiotics; pneumonia
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Obviously, it was only a matter of time before I acquired Streptococcus pneumoniae alpha-hemolytic septicemia osteomyelitis necrotyzing meningococcal meningitis (Neisseria meningitidis) H7N9 staphylococcal coronavirus fasciitis Marburg hemorrhagic fever causing Endocarditis, rheumatic heart disease, diabetes, Chrones Disease, scalp spasms, and valvular revolvular.
1 posted on 03/06/2014 3:56:31 PM PST by Lazamataz
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To: All

Turns out I had Consumption and Congestive Chill, Bloody Flux which caused Apoplexy, the Grippe, and Flus of Humour, Scrofula, and Putrid Fever.

God I love how they used to refer to disease back in the 1800’s.


2 posted on 03/06/2014 3:57:22 PM PST by Lazamataz (Early 2009 to 7/21/2013 - RIP my little girl Cathy. You were the best cat ever. You will be missed.)
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To: Lazamataz

Laz, why are you describing my life?


3 posted on 03/06/2014 4:00:56 PM PST by no-to-illegals (Scrutinize our government and Secure the Blessing of Freedom and Justice)
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To: Lazamataz

Sounds like neurasthenia to me.


4 posted on 03/06/2014 4:01:25 PM PST by Salvey
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To: Lazamataz
Get well soon Laz, and you might consider ten days on the AugieDoggiementin.
5 posted on 03/06/2014 4:01:33 PM PST by Navy Patriot (Join the Democrats, it's not Fascism when WE do it, and the Constitution and law mean what WE say.)
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To: Lazamataz

My theory is once your symptoms include “anal seepage” its time for a trip to the Doctor...


6 posted on 03/06/2014 4:02:29 PM PST by Mad Dawgg (If you're going to deny my 1st Amendment rights then I must proceed to the 2nd one...)
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To: Mad Dawgg; Lazamataz

Gee... this one knows my doctor!!!


7 posted on 03/06/2014 4:03:42 PM PST by no-to-illegals (Scrutinize our government and Secure the Blessing of Freedom and Justice)
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To: Lazamataz

Another possibility is hysteria due to wandering womb.


8 posted on 03/06/2014 4:04:16 PM PST by Salvey
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To: Mad Dawgg

When you get past this, go get a Pneumonia Vaccine shot.


9 posted on 03/06/2014 4:04:17 PM PST by rstrahan
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To: Mad Dawgg

Never had the anal seepage.


10 posted on 03/06/2014 4:04:29 PM PST by Lazamataz (Early 2009 to 7/21/2013 - RIP my little girl Cathy. You were the best cat ever. You will be missed.)
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To: Lazamataz

If you have a nebulizer, a mix of hydrogen peroxide and saline is useful for treating pneumonia.


11 posted on 03/06/2014 4:04:41 PM PST by taxcontrol
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To: Lazamataz
Obviously, it was only a matter of time before I acquired Streptococcus pneumoniae alpha-hemolytic septicemia osteomyelitis necrotyzing meningococcal meningitis (Neisseria meningitidis) H7N9 staphylococcal coronavirus fasciitis Marburg hemorrhagic fever causing Endocarditis, rheumatic heart disease, diabetes, Chrones Disease, scalp spasms, and valvular revolvular.

Thank God you don't have anal leakage just yet....

12 posted on 03/06/2014 4:05:08 PM PST by TADSLOS (The Event Horizon has come and gone. Buckle up and hang on.)
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To: Lazamataz

Laz, you lucked out again.


13 posted on 03/06/2014 4:05:14 PM PST by no-to-illegals (Scrutinize our government and Secure the Blessing of Freedom and Justice)
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To: Lazamataz

THAT’s the immediate reaction I have if I sneeze more than twice!ha.

Great write-up..just excellant. I am selfishly glad that you survived so we could have this great post. Glad you are ok.


14 posted on 03/06/2014 4:05:32 PM PST by Recovering Ex-hippie
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To: Lazamataz

I might be naive, but how would you have prescription medication available?


15 posted on 03/06/2014 4:07:41 PM PST by NotSoFreeStater (If you choose not to decide you still have made a choice)
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To: Recovering Ex-hippie
I did also have joint aches to a smaller degree, which puzzled my medical contact, because he thought that lent more towards the viral pneumonia symptom list. Still, he said, you've got the Amoxy and you can start the treatment NOW, not in 36 hours. He reasoned (correctly, apparantly) that it was more likely a bacterial pneumonia -- if it was even that at all!

All of this was a bit of a crap shoot.

16 posted on 03/06/2014 4:09:11 PM PST by Lazamataz (Early 2009 to 7/21/2013 - RIP my little girl Cathy. You were the best cat ever. You will be missed.)
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Comment #17 Removed by Moderator

To: Lazamataz
'unofficial will'

Does this mean ... I could inherit ... I'll Hit It?

18 posted on 03/06/2014 4:10:57 PM PST by no-to-illegals (Scrutinize our government and Secure the Blessing of Freedom and Justice)
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To: Lazamataz

To your Zombie Apocalypse Regimen you might want to add a brisk walk around the block each day to counter the Fattiatrophy.


19 posted on 03/06/2014 4:11:45 PM PST by shibumi (Cover it with gas and set it on fire.)
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To: Lazamataz

I too have a dreaded fear of taking an ambulance ride. I’ve had friends charged $5-10k for the privilege. Most had insurance which probably negotiated it down to $2-3k. But if you’re uninsured you owe the whole shebang.

On the other hand, if you come in an ambulance you’re automatically admitted rather than spending god-knows-how many hours in a hard plastic chair next to somebody with infectious TB.


20 posted on 03/06/2014 4:12:06 PM PST by Gen.Blather
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