Right now I’m not feeling well at all. I got so sick I
finally went to the doctor. He prescribed antibiotics and within twenty-four hours
I was feeling better. Sort of. I no longer have a sore throat.
I looked over the paperwork they gave me to see if they’d
given me any recommendations for self-care that would help with my remaining
symptoms. I saw that they’d tested me for covid, influenza, pneumonia, and
strep. I don’t have any of those.
He did mention bronchitis. Being an asthmatic, bronchitis
isn’t a good thing because it means your bronchial tubes are swelling shut. The
doctor told me to take my nebulizer for the coughing, which I hadn’t been doing
and put me on antibiotics.
Having been there many times before I figured I’d be feeling
better within a day. And I was. All signs of a sore throat had gone away.
However, now I do have a cough. I also still have a stuffy/runny nose,
congestion, sneezing (lots of sneezing), and quite annoyingly a decided lack of
appetite.
So I’m still very sick and quite sure I had not only a
bacterial infection but a viral one. I’m working on my self-care. Plenty of
rest, fluids, and regular doses of albuterol, plus I haven’t been skipping
using my C-pap. I figure forcing air into my lungs every night has to be
helping even if it is only a little bit.
I’ve also barely left my bed for a week now. I’ve canceled and/or
rescheduled multiple appointments and forgone running errands that can simply
wait. I mean I could use that skein of navy-blue yarn. Though it’s not like it’s
a desperate thing. Yes, I’d like to finish it before the end of the year but I
still have plenty of time to do it.
Now still being very sick while on antibiotics has never
happened to me before so yesterday I started wondering what viral infections,
that weren’t any of the ones the doctors tested me for, could give me the
symptoms I’m still having.
I think Jerry hit the nail on the head last night.
RSV.
RSV is a deceptive little virus. For most people, it’s just a
little cold. You get a few days of sniffles, maybe a little cough. No big deal.
But I know it is a big deal because it very nearly killed my
baby twenty-one years ago. Believe me, you never forget watching a code blue
called on a loved one, especially when it’s your less than a year-old baby. Generally,
doctors say that babies under six months or premature are the most at risk. Though
asthma is also a risk factor. This might be why Royce was diagnosed with it at
a lot younger age than the rest of my kids.
I am also very much aware that RSV isn’t only deadly to babies.
As a general rule, any chronic health condition that affects the lung (asthma,
COPD) or the heart (CHF) or a weakened immune system (such as cancer treatment)
puts you at greater risk.
Yeah, I have asthma. I’m also at risk for Congestive Heart Failure
because of my overlying health and my family history of it.
I also know how RSV is treated. You treat the symptoms. Which
I’ve been doing. You know, rest, fluids, nebulizing treatments, and oxygen. Thanks
to my underlying health conditions, I can do all that at home. (a C-pap forces
air into your lungs.)
So now it is just a waiting game to see how long I’m
fighting this infection and I’m hoping it doesn’t require another doctor’s
visit. I’m also hoping I’ll have enough energy, and brainpower to work on my
writing while I’m stuck here in bed.
Of course, there is one more thing I can do to ensure I get
better.
A blessing.
Jerry has already offered me one so that is something I will
do as soon as I’m done with this post.
On top of all of that, my vision has been giving me issues.
I’ve already seen my eye doctor and he has already diagnosed the problem and
how to fix it. The doctor says the treatment should fix the main issue I’m
having and then he can get me a new prescription. It’s just going to take a few
weeks to get the treatment set up.
Fun.
Though I suppose it could be worse. At least I do most
things on a screen where I can increase the magnification so it’s easier to
read. If this had happened before the computer age, I’d have had a big problem
with it.
So that’s where I’m at. How are you doing?
Smile. Make the day a brighter day.
