Working to Breathe after Traveling

Living through four decades of the quad life, I have learned a few things about lung health. One, I cannot continually go between warm and cold environments as my body can't take the rapid change. Second, I need to make sure I move regularly and not stay flat in bed for long periods. Both these lessons were learned by doing them and then ending up in the hospital with pneumonia. Unfortunately, I did both of these scenarios and added a third irritant just for good measure.

Sitting in a cabin to chat

During my trip, we brought one of my regular night nurses. This was my first time traveling with Steve and my parents and I wanted him to be able to enjoy the excursion as well. Therefore, after my parents took over at 7:00, we stayed in the hotel for a few hours so he could sleep. We did this three mornings in a row, which meant I was in the hotel bed for 11-16 hours straight. I turned on my sides at night, but the beds aren't easy to move me on and tried to decrease work as much as possible.

The weather in Indiana and Kentucky was wet, but nice temperature. We got caught in a couple down pours, but made it through. Just like in previous years, the buildings at camp were very well air-conditioned and visiting cabins was rapid adjustment. Our hotel rooms were frequently quite cold for my preference, with the air-conditioning nearly constantly running. Two scenarios are down, but one more came.

Wednesday and Thursday nights were in one hotel in Kentucky. Steve and I noted our first night that the AC sounded funny, but it worked. Thursday evening, I was in bed while my parents and I hung out until Steve had a nap. Even though it was on the opposite end of the room, it felt like the frozen air was pointed directly up my nose. After a while, my lungs started to feel sore with every breath. I asked dad to turn off the AC for a while and pull up the sheet, but it was too late. It wasn't long before I needed suctioned as well. Clearing out my lungs isn't unusual, but I normally need it 2-3 times a week. By the time morning came, I had already been suctioned seven times.

Ready to head home

I had Steve turn me to my sides to keep junk draining from my lungs, but it only helped to delay the procedure. Friday morning, we left as early as possible and let Steve sleep in the van. I suctioned once before leaving our accommodation and didn't like the looks of what came out. For the ten-hour drive home, we had to stop and clear my lungs twice, but thankfully not like over night. Steve also wasn't feeling the best, so we both suspected the hotel's AC had mold or something. I had hoped getting home would clear up my breathing, but it didn't.

The routine of suctioning 6-10 times per day, and constantly turning me to help my lungs, continued over the weekend. A trip to the local ER on Saturday didn't produce answers, but an antibiotic was ordered just in case.

Monday morning, I called my supply company to order more sterile gloves and suction catheters. The 60+ tubes I had before leaving would normally cover more than a month, but they were dwindling rapidly and would soon run out. Late Tuesday afternoon, a box arrived from the company, but it didn't contain what I ordered. It wouldn't be until Friday when I finally got my order, but not all of it.

Thankfully, suctioning has decreased to 4-5 times a day, with occasional long stretches between. My lungs are sore, and I'm tired, but a second medication has started and will hopefully help. I likely won't ever know for certain what exactly set off this round of illness, but I need to pay better attention to lung health. It's unlikely I will be traveling again, but I'm thankful for the time away and the experiences enjoyed.