question for nurses

[sunshineclarity]

I'm sorry to be asking you all this--please don't answer if you don't want to, but hospital in my area is not being very cooperative and I'm just starting nursing school, so I don't know.

Yesterday at 4pm, my boyfriend got very tired, weak, chills, fever was 102.6. Hospital said don't bring him in, that he just has the flu. This afternoon, it reached 103.4, so I brought him to the hospital. They hooked him up to an IV, gave him anti-biotics and fluids, took blood, x-rays. They said he has pneumonia and the flu. They released him with 4 prescriptions and with a temp of 101.

It's now 10 pm, he took all these medicines 3 hours ago and now he has chills, is coughing up mucus, can't move and his temp is 103.2. ER says don't bring him back up, just rest at home.

I'm worried for him and don't know what to do. He's in terrible pain.

[sunshineclarity]

Thank you all so much for your kind thoughts and advice! My BF is doing much better. His temp is down to 99.2, and he ate 2 bowls of soup today! (He hasn't eaten in 5 days!) Again, thank you so much! You guys are great! :-)

[jemb]

Originally posted by DoctorRN

That is too much tylenol!!!!

Do not exceed the recommended dose of tylenol it kills your liver!!!

Giving more than the recommended dose does not give you any more effect and it is very dangerous.

Three caps of 325mg = 975mg which is less than the recommended dose of two 500mg. caps (extra strength tylenol). Whether the dose was excessive depends on the mg., not on the # of caps.

That said, I agree that you need to be careful with Tylenol to protect his liver.

Coughing up the mucus is a good thing. Keep pushing the fluids so that yucky stuff doesn't sit in his lungs! Give him a dedicated waste receptacle for the tissues and mucus, and wash those hands!

He's lucky to have you caring for him! Hope he improves soon.

[happystudent, RN]

Originally posted by Brownms46

and a white male

Just curious.....what relevence does being a white male have?

just asking...no flames:D

[DoctorRN]

Originally posted by happystudent

Just curious.....what relevence does being a white male have?

just asking...no flames:D

Great observational skills happystudent, I read that post twice and never noticed that.

I am curious too, while according to the CDC there are a larger number of deaths due to influenza in the white male population it is likely that this difference is due to the difference in population rather than a true increase rate.

I am curious if there is some data supporting a difference in morbidity/mortality for white males.

I know it matters with premie babies, the white males have a higher mortality rate.