Discussion Topic
Hospitalized Patient Looking for Others
Posted on 11/05/09, 08:40 am
I am 52 years old and I was hospitalized with pneumonia for five days after having what was probably the swine flu (90% chance); they did not test. I would like to find others who had similar experiences and share feelings and thoughts. 99% of those who get H1N1 deal with it like a seasonal flu so most of you don't have to worry at all. It's the people who are high risk who need to be real careful. I wasn't really in the high risk catergory, but I do have bipolar disorder (for which I am taking lithium) and that may have made me more susceptible. Plus my chiropractor has always said I have auto immune disorders. I also suffer from sinus headaches and back pain.
I ended up not only with the pneumonia, but with slurred speech, vertigo, and dilated eyes. The latter symptoms were from nerve damage, probably to neurons in the brain as well as to the vestibular nerve which goes from the inner ear to the brain. Not too many people get this, vestibular neuronitis, but I did read that some people can get this after the flu. The flu virus gets into the vestibular nerve and damages it. My GP thought I got the nerve damage from lithium toxicity as the lithium levels went up to 1.7 for a couple of days. IV's brought the level down in a half day. My psychiatrist doesn't think it was the lithium. So all of this stuff, ikncluding the nerve damage could be from that H1N1 flu virus.
The flu started on September 25 and I have been sick ever since. The worst part is that I cannot drive. I have to call people constantly just to get groceries or drop off the overdue library book. I live in Vermont so most things are not closeby. Dr. appointments are 10-20 miies away.
It is a slow process recovering. I am taking soy lecithin and st. johnswort concentrated massage oil, as well as B vitamins, Ca, Mg, vit D, omega fatty acids, and fizzy drink form of Vit. C. I had to get back on the lithium (lower dosage of 600 mg) and 25 mg seroquel. On top of all these symptoms I started to become psychotic. I was going to stay off the lithium, but the psychotic episodess necessitated going back on.
All this sounds pretty bad, but amidst the suffering there have been really kind people who have brought dinners for me, given rides, etc. and this outpouring of love has kept me going.
CarolLN
I ended up not only with the pneumonia, but with slurred speech, vertigo, and dilated eyes. The latter symptoms were from nerve damage, probably to neurons in the brain as well as to the vestibular nerve which goes from the inner ear to the brain. Not too many people get this, vestibular neuronitis, but I did read that some people can get this after the flu. The flu virus gets into the vestibular nerve and damages it. My GP thought I got the nerve damage from lithium toxicity as the lithium levels went up to 1.7 for a couple of days. IV's brought the level down in a half day. My psychiatrist doesn't think it was the lithium. So all of this stuff, ikncluding the nerve damage could be from that H1N1 flu virus.
The flu started on September 25 and I have been sick ever since. The worst part is that I cannot drive. I have to call people constantly just to get groceries or drop off the overdue library book. I live in Vermont so most things are not closeby. Dr. appointments are 10-20 miies away.
It is a slow process recovering. I am taking soy lecithin and st. johnswort concentrated massage oil, as well as B vitamins, Ca, Mg, vit D, omega fatty acids, and fizzy drink form of Vit. C. I had to get back on the lithium (lower dosage of 600 mg) and 25 mg seroquel. On top of all these symptoms I started to become psychotic. I was going to stay off the lithium, but the psychotic episodess necessitated going back on.
All this sounds pretty bad, but amidst the suffering there have been really kind people who have brought dinners for me, given rides, etc. and this outpouring of love has kept me going.
CarolLN
Welcome
