An update on my homeless friend

[Roon]

Here's the original thread http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=6425349

Anyway, I normally let him stay here for a couple/three days and he usually takes off on his own. (To do drugs again)But he just kept sleeping, and sleeping, and sleeping. He would come upstairs a couple of times a day, eat, cough his ass off, clean out his ears. (His ears are so infected they just leak,it makes his pillow wet, sorry if that was TMI)The coughing was my main concern. He said it felt like there was junk in his lungs and no matter how hard he coughed, he couldn't get it out.Then I noticed he was looking a little blue.

So I went next door and borrowed my Grandmother's oxygen monitor and tested his oxygen level. It was 53!! Normal is 90-something. I brought the monitor back and grabbed my Grandmother's spare oxygen tank and hooked him up. After about a half hour he said he felt much better. I told him, "Baby, you're sick! You need to go to the ER!" He agreed!! (He hates hospitals) So I put him on a bus,(it's a short ride) to a very nice hospital down the street. He went in and told the triage nurse what was happening, and before they even started the paperwork, they put him on oxygen.

It's been three days of blood tests,MRIs, coughing in a cup, etc. and they still don't know what's wrong with him. They got him on IV antibiotics and oxygen of course.

Anyway, although his ears are still leaking and he's still coughing, he says he feels a lot better. I am going to go visit him tomorrow and bring him some fresh undies. Hopefully by then we'll have a clue what's making him so sick. I just think it's pretty bad that after three days they don't know what's wrong! He must have some kind of weird, aids-related infection that is baffling them. I'll update as soon as we find out what is wrong.

[fizzgig]

1. i hope they can find what's wrong with him

i'm glad he agreed to go to the hospital. you're a good friend roon :hug:

[Roon]

2. I told him that if he needs oxygen therapy

He can stay with me until he doesn't need it anymore. Can you imagine being homeless and needing oxygen? It just wouldn't work. He would have to go to the clinic twice a day and get a new tank plus lug it around with him. I told him, NO METH!!!
:hug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. My dear roon....

You know, I think he would be dead if you hadn't helped him....

Good on ya! :thumbsup:

[Roon]

4. That's what I was thinking too!

His ears are so full of crap that he can't hear the phone ring in his hospital room, and I always assume the worst when he doesn't answer. But he so happened to answer tonight and got a full update on him. I can't wait to see him tomorrow!

[SeattleGirl]

5. Roon, you are a good friend to this man.

I'm so glad he agreed to go to the hospital. I hope they figure out what's wrong with him.

[Roon]

6. Me too!

I hate going to the DR. all sick and they can't tell you right away what's wrong. It drives me nuts! My friend has a little more patience than I do,plus this hospital has room service. I think he is digging that and is all, "take your time! I'll just hang out and order a burger!"

[SeattleGirl]

7. Being taken care of is a good feeling.

My thought, as far as him being willing to go to the hospital, is that he was probably really scared about his coughing and breathing problems. I know when my allergies really act up, and I start coughing and having trouble breathing, it's scary as hell.

[Roon]

8. Gawd!

He was suffocating! You know what that feels like! He thanks me every time I talk to him for coaxing him to the hospital. I think what would have happened normally is he would have gone out and did drugs again and that would mask his symptoms. I think he finally go to the point where he was too sick to do drugs and that might have saved his life.

[SeattleGirl]

9. I sincerely hope so, Roon.

Not being able to breathe very well is scary as hell.

[Roon]

10. an UPDATE

He has pneumonia. (I suspected as much) but it's not PCP, which is a killer and takes a month to treat. I went to visit him today and he looks a lot better. He is off his oxygen and they may release him tomorrow! Thanks for listening to me, guys. It got scary there for awhile and I really thought I was going to lose him! I think he coughed once the whole time I was there visiting. I did have to wear a surgical mask, I have no idea if it was to protect me or him. But he dodged the bullet this time,now if we can just get him off the drugs!

[bigwillq]

11. You're an angel.

You are such a great friend and human being.

:hug:

[Roon]

12. Awww, thanks eom

[LaraMN]

25. Holy crap!

You're a good egg, honey.
A good egg and an even better friend.
I hope your friend can break free of his addictions.
Scary!

[Roon]

28. It is scary!

Before it was just, well, he's on drugs. But this time I could see that he was really sick!

[LynzM]

13. I'm glad you were able to help him, Roon.

You're good people, for sure. :hug: I hope they can figure out what's going on with him.

[Roon]

16. I am glad I am able to help too

Although he spends most of his visits here sleeping, he is good company for the brief periods he is awake.

[MonkeyFunk]

14. That's very sweet of you, Roon...

I hope your friend gets better soon.

[Roon]

17. He seems to be getting better.

What sucks is that just prepares him to go out and "use" again. At least he is alive!

[MonkeyFunk]

18. Yeah

he probably will. But you can't do much about that.

Still, your help is a real mitzvah.

[Roon]

20. Thanks!

:hug:

[rockymountaindem]

15. It's really great that you're helping someone like this

Too bad there aren't more people like you in the world. Seriously :hug:

[Roon]

19. I just found myself in this situation.

I just can't turn a person at my door away.

[rockymountaindem]

21. Well, that's the difference between you

and the people who could turn someone away.

[Roon]

22. True!

And it really makes me appreciate what little stuff I have..a bed, my computer, and my broadband.

[wildhorses]

23. now that he has gotten help physically

do you think you can convince him to get help psychologically :shrug:

he needs it ssoo0o0o bad

:hug:

[Roon]

24. Yes he does need it!

That is one thing about Denver. You can't get mental help unless you have insurance or have HIV. They want the people with HIV to get mental help and take meds so they aren't running around willy-nilly spreading the shit.

[wildhorses]

26. my heart goes out to you and him ---

:grouphug:

may he stay strong mentally and physically:hug:

[Roon]

29. He is strong!

He just needs to channel his strength into something positive! Something where he can LIVE!!

[La Lioness Priyanka]

27. you are a hero.

:hug:

[Roon]

30. Aww, thanks, lioness

I really don't think that I am giving up much because he provides company for me when I am so lonely. Even though he sleeps most of the time when he is here. Just knowing he's downstairs and will come up for food and conversation every few hours makes me happy!