Thursday, March 26, 2009

If you're sick and you know it (clap your hands....THEN go to the doctor)

I think I might have been delirious last night. I was freezing cold when I finally laid down for the night; I wore my pajamas and my socks and my bathrobe and I was still shivering under the covers. So I figured I was still fever-burning through this crud. And tried to ignore the state of my nose--one nostril full, the other painfully empty. I woke up almost every hour and for a few minutes was running through scenes from Twilight. With no reason, and no end in sight. Just hamster-on-a-wheel thoughts and then back to sleep. Completely random and a bit weird. But when I finally woke up for good, I knew that I just wasn't okay. I felt like I had run full-speed into a wall. I kept thinking to myself, "E.R. doctors, you were wrong. It's not just a virus!" I did start coughing up green nastiness yesterday. Which made me think that perhaps I had something bacterial. And then when I woke up this morning my eyes were crusted shut. Ew. So, so gross.

I was pretty much useless today. Got the kids dressed (oh, the pain of moving that much) and got them breakfast. But when lunch time rolled around, I cried at the thought of having to get up. Luckily.....blessedly.....Sarah the Great swooped in and brought lunch to my babies so I could continue to cry on the couch. (Oh Sarah, bless you. You angel.) And then Mary Ann came over at 1:30 and picked up the kids so that I could go see a doctor. (Who says angels aren't obvious?) And what did that doctor say? What did he do, while listening to me take painful deep breaths? He furrowed his brow and said, "Well, I think you're really sick. You don't sound good. Your lungs are snapping and crackling with each breath. I want to find out how much I need to worry about you." Oh thank you, Dr. Moore! (go to InstaCare on Sunset. Such attentive staff; it was a dream.) Another chest x-ray was done, and then they stuck a fat cu-tip up my nose. (Yum.) Not the flu. Not pneumonia.

Bronchitis. (Abby was right. She's always right about my ailments. She's basically a nurse without credentials--although we might count her four children as credentials.) Which was an odd comfort to hear, because then I was prescribed antibiotics. Oh, bless you, antibiotics! I just love being treated for the root of the problem, not just the symptoms of the problem. And for me today, a good thorough doctor is most definitely a godsend.

8 comments:

Abby said...

It's fun being right. :D Now get better! Thank goodness for antibiotics. Aren't they wonderful? I wish there was something like that for the cold I'm trying to kick. Why is is that although we are so technologically advanced and medically advanced, we still have no "cure" for viruses? Just "treatments" that kind of help but the viruses still have to "run their course"....Ah, well. That's life eh?

Sarah said...

I love Dr. Moore! He gave me the award for being the sickest (his words, not mine) when I went. He listens and is great! Wonderful Dr!! I think Jadyn will be seeing him tomorrow for this round of...stuff.

I am sorry you had to cry on the couch. I was glad to be able to help you after all the help you have given to me.

I automatically feel better with that prescription in hand. Yay! Get better!

Qait said...

Oh YAY! I mean for the fix, not the problem. :)
To Abby, also-- we COULD have medicines that fix the common cold, but it morphs so often that it's basically pointless. You'd have to make a new medicine every time. Silly, isn't it? But old people get colds less because once you've had one kind, you never get it again. Babies experience tons of them. Makes sense...but it's still not fun!

Heidi said...

Oh, yuck, I'm sorry. I'm glad it's not pneumonia but I've had bronchitis and that's miserable. I hope the antibiotics work quickly so you can mend.

MariePhotographie said...

You poor thing! I hope you feel better quick. I'm glad you have lots of angels to help you!

Kate said...

I sure hope you are getting better. It is so awful to be that sick. It sounds like you have great friends and neighbors that have helped out. Have a better weekend.

Anonymous said...

You have such great neighbors and friends!! I hope you start feeling better soon.

Bridget said...

Oh no! I had bronchitis once and same thing...went to three doctors before they finally diagnosed what was wrong with me. It got so bad that I actually have acute asthma now and have to take an inhaler with me everywhere. Sucks huh? Feel better friend!