Coughing and can't catch his breath

NoExcuses · Feb 5, 2008

another thing that will help a ton is to use a nebulizer and not a puffer for albulterol. he should also be doing the vest twice a day..... and if his FEV1's are over 75%, pulmozyme twice a day has been shown to be more helpful than once a day.

yup, it's hard to face the fact that CF is progressive. but as i'm sure he knows, the longer you fight doing treatments as you should the more trouble you'll get in that you might not be able to climb out of.

NoExcuses · Feb 5, 2008

another thing that will help a ton is to use a nebulizer and not a puffer for albulterol. he should also be doing the vest twice a day..... and if his FEV1's are over 75%, pulmozyme twice a day has been shown to be more helpful than once a day.

yup, it's hard to face the fact that CF is progressive. but as i'm sure he knows, the longer you fight doing treatments as you should the more trouble you'll get in that you might not be able to climb out of.

NoExcuses · Feb 5, 2008

another thing that will help a ton is to use a nebulizer and not a puffer for albulterol. he should also be doing the vest twice a day..... and if his FEV1's are over 75%, pulmozyme twice a day has been shown to be more helpful than once a day.

yup, it's hard to face the fact that CF is progressive. but as i'm sure he knows, the longer you fight doing treatments as you should the more trouble you'll get in that you might not be able to climb out of.

NoExcuses · Feb 5, 2008

another thing that will help a ton is to use a nebulizer and not a puffer for albulterol. he should also be doing the vest twice a day..... and if his FEV1's are over 75%, pulmozyme twice a day has been shown to be more helpful than once a day.

yup, it's hard to face the fact that CF is progressive. but as i'm sure he knows, the longer you fight doing treatments as you should the more trouble you'll get in that you might not be able to climb out of.

NoExcuses · Feb 5, 2008

another thing that will help a ton is to use a nebulizer and not a puffer for albulterol. he should also be doing the vest twice a day..... and if his FEV1's are over 75%, pulmozyme twice a day has been shown to be more helpful than once a day.

yup, it's hard to face the fact that CF is progressive. but as i'm sure he knows, the longer you fight doing treatments as you should the more trouble you'll get in that you might not be able to climb out of.

AnD · Feb 5, 2008

I usually go in overnight, start my meds (make sure there aren't any reactions if I have a new med), get my picc, and get all the home healthcare stuff organized. Then, the home healthcare nurse comes out with the IV stuff, with lots of stuff to sign, and written directions, does the first med with me, and makes sure I am comfortable with everything before she goes. They also leave a number for you to call if you need help or have questions.

I think I did my first "tune up" at home, but I had had those meds before when I was in for surgery (which was where I caught the stupid pa to begin with, but I digress...).

Considering your situation, his doctor may be open to something like that. Of course, he's not supposed to be picking up anything heavy with the picc arm either.

When Ab was little, I had an umbrella stroller that I plopped her in if I needed to move her around the house (this was prewalking <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> ) while I was on home IVs. It worked pretty well <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> . Lots of one armed kid lifting happened too, of course.

Can someone come and help out for the hardest times of the day? It sounds like he needs those IVs, even with the bad timing. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">

AnD · Feb 5, 2008

I usually go in overnight, start my meds (make sure there aren't any reactions if I have a new med), get my picc, and get all the home healthcare stuff organized. Then, the home healthcare nurse comes out with the IV stuff, with lots of stuff to sign, and written directions, does the first med with me, and makes sure I am comfortable with everything before she goes. They also leave a number for you to call if you need help or have questions.

I think I did my first "tune up" at home, but I had had those meds before when I was in for surgery (which was where I caught the stupid pa to begin with, but I digress...).

Considering your situation, his doctor may be open to something like that. Of course, he's not supposed to be picking up anything heavy with the picc arm either.

When Ab was little, I had an umbrella stroller that I plopped her in if I needed to move her around the house (this was prewalking <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> ) while I was on home IVs. It worked pretty well <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> . Lots of one armed kid lifting happened too, of course.

Can someone come and help out for the hardest times of the day? It sounds like he needs those IVs, even with the bad timing. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">

AnD · Feb 5, 2008

I usually go in overnight, start my meds (make sure there aren't any reactions if I have a new med), get my picc, and get all the home healthcare stuff organized. Then, the home healthcare nurse comes out with the IV stuff, with lots of stuff to sign, and written directions, does the first med with me, and makes sure I am comfortable with everything before she goes. They also leave a number for you to call if you need help or have questions.

I think I did my first "tune up" at home, but I had had those meds before when I was in for surgery (which was where I caught the stupid pa to begin with, but I digress...).

Considering your situation, his doctor may be open to something like that. Of course, he's not supposed to be picking up anything heavy with the picc arm either.

When Ab was little, I had an umbrella stroller that I plopped her in if I needed to move her around the house (this was prewalking <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> ) while I was on home IVs. It worked pretty well <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> . Lots of one armed kid lifting happened too, of course.

Can someone come and help out for the hardest times of the day? It sounds like he needs those IVs, even with the bad timing. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">

AnD · Feb 5, 2008

I usually go in overnight, start my meds (make sure there aren't any reactions if I have a new med), get my picc, and get all the home healthcare stuff organized. Then, the home healthcare nurse comes out with the IV stuff, with lots of stuff to sign, and written directions, does the first med with me, and makes sure I am comfortable with everything before she goes. They also leave a number for you to call if you need help or have questions.

I think I did my first "tune up" at home, but I had had those meds before when I was in for surgery (which was where I caught the stupid pa to begin with, but I digress...).

Considering your situation, his doctor may be open to something like that. Of course, he's not supposed to be picking up anything heavy with the picc arm either.

When Ab was little, I had an umbrella stroller that I plopped her in if I needed to move her around the house (this was prewalking <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> ) while I was on home IVs. It worked pretty well <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> . Lots of one armed kid lifting happened too, of course.

Can someone come and help out for the hardest times of the day? It sounds like he needs those IVs, even with the bad timing. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">

AnD · Feb 5, 2008

I usually go in overnight, start my meds (make sure there aren't any reactions if I have a new med), get my picc, and get all the home healthcare stuff organized. Then, the home healthcare nurse comes out with the IV stuff, with lots of stuff to sign, and written directions, does the first med with me, and makes sure I am comfortable with everything before she goes. They also leave a number for you to call if you need help or have questions.

I think I did my first "tune up" at home, but I had had those meds before when I was in for surgery (which was where I caught the stupid pa to begin with, but I digress...).

Considering your situation, his doctor may be open to something like that. Of course, he's not supposed to be picking up anything heavy with the picc arm either.

When Ab was little, I had an umbrella stroller that I plopped her in if I needed to move her around the house (this was prewalking <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> ) while I was on home IVs. It worked pretty well <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> . Lots of one armed kid lifting happened too, of course.

Can someone come and help out for the hardest times of the day? It sounds like he needs those IVs, even with the bad timing. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">

Sevenstars · Feb 5, 2008

If he's NEVER done IVs of any sort I'd definitely recommend going into the hospital at least for a few days to see how it's done, and get situated. It will let him rest a little and he can see what the nurses do, and get homecare set up. I didn't need home IVs til I was 18 or so (I stayed in the hospital for the duration of my exacerbations before that) so by the time I went off on my own to do things, it was quite easy for me. I imagne it would be pretty hard if you're doing it all for the first time, and also they'll want to make sure the medicine levels in his blood are theraputic and not too high or low.

Like AnD said you can get the PICC and all that set up in advance so you don't have to sit around ER or waiting rooms forever. It's not bad at all if you get it scheduled through your doc first. They would definitely want to start a PICC (to answer your question) since IV meds usually run for at least 7-10 days, and up to several weeks (3+). I do pretty much anything with a PICC after the first few days, even lifting stuff, so if he just is careful, he should be ok with it.

If you want any other info or a novel's worth of how home IVs go, feel free to PM me. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Sevenstars · Feb 5, 2008

If he's NEVER done IVs of any sort I'd definitely recommend going into the hospital at least for a few days to see how it's done, and get situated. It will let him rest a little and he can see what the nurses do, and get homecare set up. I didn't need home IVs til I was 18 or so (I stayed in the hospital for the duration of my exacerbations before that) so by the time I went off on my own to do things, it was quite easy for me. I imagne it would be pretty hard if you're doing it all for the first time, and also they'll want to make sure the medicine levels in his blood are theraputic and not too high or low.

Like AnD said you can get the PICC and all that set up in advance so you don't have to sit around ER or waiting rooms forever. It's not bad at all if you get it scheduled through your doc first. They would definitely want to start a PICC (to answer your question) since IV meds usually run for at least 7-10 days, and up to several weeks (3+). I do pretty much anything with a PICC after the first few days, even lifting stuff, so if he just is careful, he should be ok with it.

If you want any other info or a novel's worth of how home IVs go, feel free to PM me. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Sevenstars · Feb 5, 2008

If he's NEVER done IVs of any sort I'd definitely recommend going into the hospital at least for a few days to see how it's done, and get situated. It will let him rest a little and he can see what the nurses do, and get homecare set up. I didn't need home IVs til I was 18 or so (I stayed in the hospital for the duration of my exacerbations before that) so by the time I went off on my own to do things, it was quite easy for me. I imagne it would be pretty hard if you're doing it all for the first time, and also they'll want to make sure the medicine levels in his blood are theraputic and not too high or low.

Like AnD said you can get the PICC and all that set up in advance so you don't have to sit around ER or waiting rooms forever. It's not bad at all if you get it scheduled through your doc first. They would definitely want to start a PICC (to answer your question) since IV meds usually run for at least 7-10 days, and up to several weeks (3+). I do pretty much anything with a PICC after the first few days, even lifting stuff, so if he just is careful, he should be ok with it.

If you want any other info or a novel's worth of how home IVs go, feel free to PM me. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Sevenstars · Feb 5, 2008

If he's NEVER done IVs of any sort I'd definitely recommend going into the hospital at least for a few days to see how it's done, and get situated. It will let him rest a little and he can see what the nurses do, and get homecare set up. I didn't need home IVs til I was 18 or so (I stayed in the hospital for the duration of my exacerbations before that) so by the time I went off on my own to do things, it was quite easy for me. I imagne it would be pretty hard if you're doing it all for the first time, and also they'll want to make sure the medicine levels in his blood are theraputic and not too high or low.

Like AnD said you can get the PICC and all that set up in advance so you don't have to sit around ER or waiting rooms forever. It's not bad at all if you get it scheduled through your doc first. They would definitely want to start a PICC (to answer your question) since IV meds usually run for at least 7-10 days, and up to several weeks (3+). I do pretty much anything with a PICC after the first few days, even lifting stuff, so if he just is careful, he should be ok with it.

If you want any other info or a novel's worth of how home IVs go, feel free to PM me. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Sevenstars · Feb 5, 2008

If he's NEVER done IVs of any sort I'd definitely recommend going into the hospital at least for a few days to see how it's done, and get situated. It will let him rest a little and he can see what the nurses do, and get homecare set up. I didn't need home IVs til I was 18 or so (I stayed in the hospital for the duration of my exacerbations before that) so by the time I went off on my own to do things, it was quite easy for me. I imagne it would be pretty hard if you're doing it all for the first time, and also they'll want to make sure the medicine levels in his blood are theraputic and not too high or low.

Like AnD said you can get the PICC and all that set up in advance so you don't have to sit around ER or waiting rooms forever. It's not bad at all if you get it scheduled through your doc first. They would definitely want to start a PICC (to answer your question) since IV meds usually run for at least 7-10 days, and up to several weeks (3+). I do pretty much anything with a PICC after the first few days, even lifting stuff, so if he just is careful, he should be ok with it.

If you want any other info or a novel's worth of how home IVs go, feel free to PM me. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Faust · Feb 5, 2008

Now that I see his does the vest: When I have been sick in the past, I have upped my vest useage time, duration, and times per day and have been able to "clear up" health bumps in the past. I swear by it. It won't work everytime, but I have had lingering sickness in the past, and did longer and more frequent vest therapies, and I got over the health problem. Is he working? Part time or full time? I'm sure he wouldn't trade being a daddy for the world, but I couldn't imagine how hard it is for a CF patient not only to be a dad, but a dad to several children at the same time. I'm pretty sure that would be the death of me, considering how rushed I am now time wise with work and my care. If he isn't working at all, that would be a benefit to him now. If possible, get him to do 4 vests a day (I see he is doing 2) with the albuterol, and just cough/hack like mad and get that evil goo up. Once, out of the blue while we were watching a movie, I suddenly couldn't catch my breath. Instead of panicing I calmed down, and did some very aggressive vest treatments. A WHOLE TON of mucous came up, and I immediately felt much better. Ever since that day (this was before I did vests twice a day), I do it twice a day, occasionally 3 times when I feel more crappy, but only have time for that on weekends. As far as IV's go...He has gone this long without them...Try the vest tactic first, and if he still feels like crap, then get on the IV's. I look at IV's as a final solution, to be turned to after nothing else works. So far it's been a working tactic for me...Even though I know others disagree.

Faust · Feb 5, 2008

Now that I see his does the vest: When I have been sick in the past, I have upped my vest useage time, duration, and times per day and have been able to "clear up" health bumps in the past. I swear by it. It won't work everytime, but I have had lingering sickness in the past, and did longer and more frequent vest therapies, and I got over the health problem. Is he working? Part time or full time? I'm sure he wouldn't trade being a daddy for the world, but I couldn't imagine how hard it is for a CF patient not only to be a dad, but a dad to several children at the same time. I'm pretty sure that would be the death of me, considering how rushed I am now time wise with work and my care. If he isn't working at all, that would be a benefit to him now. If possible, get him to do 4 vests a day (I see he is doing 2) with the albuterol, and just cough/hack like mad and get that evil goo up. Once, out of the blue while we were watching a movie, I suddenly couldn't catch my breath. Instead of panicing I calmed down, and did some very aggressive vest treatments. A WHOLE TON of mucous came up, and I immediately felt much better. Ever since that day (this was before I did vests twice a day), I do it twice a day, occasionally 3 times when I feel more crappy, but only have time for that on weekends. As far as IV's go...He has gone this long without them...Try the vest tactic first, and if he still feels like crap, then get on the IV's. I look at IV's as a final solution, to be turned to after nothing else works. So far it's been a working tactic for me...Even though I know others disagree.

Faust · Feb 5, 2008

Now that I see his does the vest: When I have been sick in the past, I have upped my vest useage time, duration, and times per day and have been able to "clear up" health bumps in the past. I swear by it. It won't work everytime, but I have had lingering sickness in the past, and did longer and more frequent vest therapies, and I got over the health problem. Is he working? Part time or full time? I'm sure he wouldn't trade being a daddy for the world, but I couldn't imagine how hard it is for a CF patient not only to be a dad, but a dad to several children at the same time. I'm pretty sure that would be the death of me, considering how rushed I am now time wise with work and my care. If he isn't working at all, that would be a benefit to him now. If possible, get him to do 4 vests a day (I see he is doing 2) with the albuterol, and just cough/hack like mad and get that evil goo up. Once, out of the blue while we were watching a movie, I suddenly couldn't catch my breath. Instead of panicing I calmed down, and did some very aggressive vest treatments. A WHOLE TON of mucous came up, and I immediately felt much better. Ever since that day (this was before I did vests twice a day), I do it twice a day, occasionally 3 times when I feel more crappy, but only have time for that on weekends. As far as IV's go...He has gone this long without them...Try the vest tactic first, and if he still feels like crap, then get on the IV's. I look at IV's as a final solution, to be turned to after nothing else works. So far it's been a working tactic for me...Even though I know others disagree.

Faust · Feb 5, 2008

Now that I see his does the vest: When I have been sick in the past, I have upped my vest useage time, duration, and times per day and have been able to "clear up" health bumps in the past. I swear by it. It won't work everytime, but I have had lingering sickness in the past, and did longer and more frequent vest therapies, and I got over the health problem. Is he working? Part time or full time? I'm sure he wouldn't trade being a daddy for the world, but I couldn't imagine how hard it is for a CF patient not only to be a dad, but a dad to several children at the same time. I'm pretty sure that would be the death of me, considering how rushed I am now time wise with work and my care. If he isn't working at all, that would be a benefit to him now. If possible, get him to do 4 vests a day (I see he is doing 2) with the albuterol, and just cough/hack like mad and get that evil goo up. Once, out of the blue while we were watching a movie, I suddenly couldn't catch my breath. Instead of panicing I calmed down, and did some very aggressive vest treatments. A WHOLE TON of mucous came up, and I immediately felt much better. Ever since that day (this was before I did vests twice a day), I do it twice a day, occasionally 3 times when I feel more crappy, but only have time for that on weekends. As far as IV's go...He has gone this long without them...Try the vest tactic first, and if he still feels like crap, then get on the IV's. I look at IV's as a final solution, to be turned to after nothing else works. So far it's been a working tactic for me...Even though I know others disagree.

Faust · Feb 5, 2008

Now that I see his does the vest: When I have been sick in the past, I have upped my vest useage time, duration, and times per day and have been able to "clear up" health bumps in the past. I swear by it. It won't work everytime, but I have had lingering sickness in the past, and did longer and more frequent vest therapies, and I got over the health problem. Is he working? Part time or full time? I'm sure he wouldn't trade being a daddy for the world, but I couldn't imagine how hard it is for a CF patient not only to be a dad, but a dad to several children at the same time. I'm pretty sure that would be the death of me, considering how rushed I am now time wise with work and my care. If he isn't working at all, that would be a benefit to him now. If possible, get him to do 4 vests a day (I see he is doing 2) with the albuterol, and just cough/hack like mad and get that evil goo up. Once, out of the blue while we were watching a movie, I suddenly couldn't catch my breath. Instead of panicing I calmed down, and did some very aggressive vest treatments. A WHOLE TON of mucous came up, and I immediately felt much better. Ever since that day (this was before I did vests twice a day), I do it twice a day, occasionally 3 times when I feel more crappy, but only have time for that on weekends. As far as IV's go...He has gone this long without them...Try the vest tactic first, and if he still feels like crap, then get on the IV's. I look at IV's as a final solution, to be turned to after nothing else works. So far it's been a working tactic for me...Even though I know others disagree.

Coughing and can't catch his breath

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