RIBS!!! Ugh, I have a pain in my ribs.
Last time I wrote I was contemplating my treatment plan. The clinical trial medication I was taking did not seem to be working as I was still culturing MAC. I had been hacking so intensely that that tears would stream down my face and I would gag and nearly puke. Joy...pure joy! After getting tons of fabulous advice from you, along with a lot of contemplation I decided to stop the clinical trial drug. Since then my coughing spells have decreased, but not completely ceased.
A few days ago I developed really intense pain on the right side of my chest. This was like, "Holy Crap! Why did somebody just stab me with a hot knife!" kind of pain. Apparently, when you have CF and you report this to your Pulmonologist he promptly makes you haul your butt in for a CT scan complete with IV contrast. That happened yesterday. We had to rule out a bunch of scary sounding stuff like pulmonary embolisms, pleural effusion, pleurisy and such. I have had pleurisy (inflammation/infection of the lining that surrounds the lungs) and I was convinced that this is what I was dealing with. However, the CT was clear of any of these major complications, even though my left upper lobe is ugly. Hugh sigh of relief. However, this means I'm dealing with a rib injury. I very likely tore the cartilage between my ribs. I did this about 15 years ago in the same area, so I've probably re injured it. Ouchie!!!
Not much can be done. Pain is pain is pain is pain. I can deal with pain. The most concerning thing is that I can't cough, do my Vest, work out or do any kind of airway clearance until the intensity of the pain dies down. I want to cough. I really do. I need to cough. I just can't cough right now. My impulse to avoid the pain outweighs my impulse to cough.
So this is one of those fun little "extra" things we experience with CF. I know others of you have experienced this type of thing. What have you done for airway clearance when this happens. Has anyone tried a rib belt or binding the ribs? Does it work? Any tips or tricks? Right now it's just 800mg of Motrin 3 times daily and rest.
4 comments:
I've shoved blankets in my vest to soften the blow. It doesn't take the pain away, but it helps a little. I've also taken painkillers.
Hi stacey, hope your pain is better. I am writing to you again, on the issues of children (sorry to be a pain). Would you say that your health has decliened after becoming a mother, and if so, is it due to the pregnancies, the bugs your children bring home etc. or have they given you more energy. I know from reading your blog, that your lung function is going down beacuse of what you're culturing (which sucks :o() but when your childen were smaller, how was your health then, and do you think that growing the bugs you are is the reasong for your decline, or is it something else?
thank you and sorry agan :o)
Hi stacey, hope your pain is better. I am writing to you again, on the issues of children (sorry to be a pain). Would you say that your health has decliened after becoming a mother, and if so, is it due to the pregnancies, the bugs your children bring home etc. or have they given you more energy. I know from reading your blog, that your lung function is going down beacuse of what you're culturing (which sucks :o() but when your childen were smaller, how was your health then, and do you think that growing the bugs you are is the reasong for your decline, or is it something else?
thank you and sorry agan :o)
Hi Gunhild!
The pain isn't gone, but it's much better than it was!
Never apologize for asking me questions! As far as my health and having kids is concerned, they definitely did not give me more energy. They actually took much of the energy I had. My pulmonary function declined after each baby from the harsh births, but I got it back each time. My lung function has been declining a bit more after my last baby, but I really attribute that more to all of the new stuff I'm culturing and not the kids. I don't think they've given me anything that has been horribly troublesome.
The one thing I will say is that having children did make it more difficult for me give priority to my health all of the time. I think it's important to have a good support system to help when you need to care for yourself.
I'm going to look for you on Facebook!
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