I’ve been an RN in the VA system for the past six years. My first year here I worked in a stepdown unit. Most of our cases in the winter are pulmonary in nature. The first winter I worked here I came down with a BAD case of atypical pneumonia. I recall one night having a high fever and a terrible deep cough. Honestly thought I was dying. Inpatient units, long term units and nursing homes are terrible places for spreading illness.
I do some side work as a transitional care RN (home health). When nursing homes get a flu case it spreads like wildfire throughout the facility, affecting everybody.
Flu is really bad in my area this year. I went to the dentist this morning for my cleaning and for the first time ever there was a table containing a box of masks, a giant bottle of hand sanitizer, tissues, and a notice that said if you are coughing or sneezing to wear the mask. If the sick people would use protection people like me with asthma that are otherwise healthy wouldn’t need to. Nobody here is worried about Coronavirus, just flu. If I go into a confined area and people are sneezing and coughing my mask goes on. It’s not 100% but it’s better than nothing.
Ever since college, almost every cold I’ve gotten has been followed by bronchitis with a nagging, dry cough that lasts weeks. Over the years the bronchitis has gotten worse and lingered longer. I’ve never smoked and always watched my health. I’m now 68.
A couple years ago we bought a house in North Idaho and I spent last winter doing remodel projects there. Sure enough, I caught a cold in January 2019, got over it, and about ten days later the bronchitis set in.
It was the worst I’ve ever had and, after about nine weeks, progressed into what the docs thought was probably pneumonia, even though I’ve had the pneumonia vaccination. Near the end of the bout, breathing was getting difficult, I was gurgling on every inhalation and exhalation and I really began to think “this is it.” I had three different types of antibiotics and steroids, but nothing helped.
When I first got sick, the doc said the AVERAGE time to get over bronchitis was twelve weeks. At the end of the 12th week, it disappeared and I mean it went away quickly! Right on the dot of the average 12 weeks.
I really discovered a new appreciation for my lungs, developed a new fright of dying with failed and liquid-filled lungs, and a new respect for RNs and other medical professionals who risk getting these infections every day!
Thanks for doing what you do, especially for our veterans! You folks really are doing God’s work for all of us.