"I can't catch my breath."

[Rezq304]

Curious about the 12-Lead also. Use of MDI's?

[Dustdevil]

Birth control? She is 82yo. I seriously doubt she is on birth control.

LMAO!

She was 35 when the pill was first introduced in America, so I also seriously doubt she ever was on birth control.

[brentoli]

Maybe she needs to regulate her menstural cycle?

:ky:

Ignore my post, go back to the topic at hand, its almost 3am, and I thought I made a funny, but it is not really funny

[RedZone]

You are dispatched to a respiratory distress for a 82 year old female.

Upon arrival to the patient's apartment, you see a elderly looking female appearing to have some slight respiratory distress. She is on home oxygen and you notice some MDI's on the table next to the patient.

Hx: COPD, IDDM, HTN.

Meds: Insulin, HCTZ, Benazepril, Ecotrin, and the MDI's for the COPD.

Vitals: 140/90. Pulse @ 92 and regular. Resps @ 24 and slightly labored. Skin is slightly diaphoretic, but otherwise pink and warm. Temp is normal.

EKG: NSR with no ectopy.

SpO2: 92% on 2LPM via NC (home oxygen therapy).

Onset: The patient was eating, got done, and decided to watch some TV. The dyspnea started while watching TV.

Associated symptoms: Weakness, upset stomach.

Has this happened before: "Not really, I just can't catch my breath."

BGL: 102mg/dl.

MDI: Positive use...Three albuterol treatments...No relief.

Breath Sounds: Superior - Slight wheezing. Inferior - Rhales.

Smoker: Used to be, not no longer.

Everything is good with the home o2.

"How long ago did the breathing problems start (this episode)?"

"Do you normally lie flat when you sleep?"

"Do you have any pain anywhere?"

"Have you had any vomiting or diarrhea? Have you been nauseas?"

"Have you been feeling sick at all the past few days?"

JVD or tracheal deviation?

Abdominal palpation? (tenderness/rigidity/ascites/abnormal masses?)

Pedal edema?

Allergies?