A Somewhat Bewildering False Alarm

[cimorene]

Thank you so much to everybody who left best wishes on my post last night! it was like a lovely hug to wake up to. 😊

I'm... uh... bewildered and delighted to report they already sent my dad home from the ER. After initially declaring it covid pneumonia, I guess they did a bunch more tests and decided it was just bad influenza instead!

Influenza is more severe for spinal cord injury patients, like pneumonia, because

• spinal cord injury inherently compromises the body's ability to temperature regulate, so fevers are more dangerous - they can do more damage by getting hotter or staying hotter for longer and can be harder to control



• spinal cord injury removes control of some of the muscles in the torso - even for paraplegics with low T injuries, but my dad's injury is C5/C6, at the base of the back of the neck - and thus compromises their ability to cough, so fluid in the lungs is a severe risk, which is why any sort of respiratory infection is a concern (because of its likelihood of turning to pneumonia). Assisted coughing is a thing for this but it's not perfect.

But of course, it's less dangerous than pneumonia. They'll have done tests or given him medications for the symptoms if necessary before they let him go; they wouldn't've sent him home if they thought he had a dangerous fever, or dangerous fluid accumulation in his lungs.

Comments

[princessofgeeks]

Hoping for the best for everyone!!!

[torachan]

Glad to hear it!

[viggorlijah]

Oh wow I missed this what a roller coaster of far away worry! I am so glad it’s something serious but but as scary serious and he’s stable enough to go home. Hugs and a better night sleep for all of you I hope

[cimorene]

It was a huge relief!! Still scary though. He's already gone back because his blood oxygen dipped, but that's not nearly as bad.