A 43-year-old morbidly obese female with a history of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) presented with fatigue, shortness of breath, orthopnea, cough, and lower extremity edema (LEE), thought to be congestive heart failure (CHF). The patient was admitted on 6/19/2000 and was prescribed a diet of House/Low chol/low sat. fat, and was given instructions to follow up with Dr. Schak one week, Dr. Hartis next week, and Dr. Chionchio nest available. She had definite iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and was treated with iron intravenously. A gyn appointment was recommended with Flagyl for bacterial vaginosis (BV). The patient was treated with TYLENOL (ACETAMINOPHEN) 650-1,000 MG PO Q4-6H PRN headache, TYLENOL LIQUID (ACETAMINOPHEN ELIXER) 650-1,300 MG PO Q4-6H PRN headache, TYLENOL #3 (ACETAMINOPHEN W/CODEINE 30MG) 1-2 TAB PO Q4H PRN pain with instructions to not exceed a max dose of tylenol of 4gram/day, LAC-HYDRIN 12% (AMMONIUM LACTATE 12%) TOPICAL TP BID with instructions to lower extremities, CEPACOL 1 LOZENGE PO Q4H PRN sore throat, FLAGYL (METRONIDAZOLE) 500 MG PO BID X 5 Days with instructions to take with food, METAMUCIL SUGAR FREE (PSYLLIUM (METAMUCIL) SUGAR FREE) 1 PACKET PO QD PRN CONSTIPATION, DICLOXACILLIN 500 MG PO QID X 12 Days with instructions to give on an empty stomach and LISINOPRIL 20 MG PO QD. The patient was also instructed to inhale steroids or claritin, and was consented for iv treatment, with a tolerance for iron iv, and was prescribed Flagyl for BV. The patient was also given a flu shot and pneumovax. The patient has allergies to Aspirin, Iron (ferrous sulfate), and Nsaid's. The patient was not compliant with CPAP at night due to feeling of suffocating and was also refusing inpatient rehabilitation despite assistance from social work and care coordinators with home and bills issues. An EKG with possible lateral strain was also done. The patient was refusing BP medication because she claimed she did not have high BP, and was treated with Dicloxacillin for cellulitis. She was recommended to follow-up with Dr. Fridal and Dr. Trezza in one week and to see Dr. Knipple at the next available appointment. She was also to get a VNA for every other day to do a respiratory evaluation and assistance with medical care, as well as physical therapy/occupational therapy twice weekly. The patient was to use CPAP at 18-19 cm H2O for 8 hours a night with oxygen at 4-5L and with ambulation, and to do sitz baths to vagina twice a day. She was instructed to call her doctor if she was short of breath, had chest pain, nausea/vomiting, worsening leg pain, headaches, or other worrisome symptoms. She was discharged on 9/10/2000 with a code status of Full code and disposition of Home w/ services in a stable condition.
Has this patient ever been on steroids
The patient was also instructed to inhale steroids or claritin,