So the end of 2014 has been quite the nightmare for yours truly. Not that I’m bragging, but I have managed to elude sickness for most of my fifty-five years on this earth.
No flu, no flu shots, no colds, no nuttin. Just wake up every day happy, healthy and full of energy (except for “my condition” which involves a blood pressure pill, but that hardly counts in my book.)
Imagine my shock and indignation when suddenly and without an inkling of warning I am inundated with an affliction that has lasted two months…and really, there’s still no end in sight.
What happened, you wonder?
My happy self, trotting along in the woods on my daily walk. End of October, weather still somewhat pleasant, life is good. Completely out of the blue—oh dear—forget the incident.
Wake up next day lightheaded, dizzy, short of breath. Hmm. A cold perhaps? No snot, no congestion, still funny in the head feeling.
Flu? Naaahhh. Can’t be, but never had it so not quite sure. Folks everywhere starting to contract all kinds of stuff this time of year so… no. Refuse to accept illness in my world.
Well, doesn’t this mystery body invader start rearing its oh-so-ugly head in the form of face pressure.
And not just an itsy bitsy of pressure mind you but CRUSHING pressure all around my eyes, nose and cheeks. I woke up looking like Shrek, and trust me, this is not a pretty pic.
Being an anti-doc kind of gal I launch into mom’s home remedies. Boil the chicken, hover swollen face over steaming bowl of herb-infested water, vitamin C in every available form.
On and on it goes, worse and worse I feel. After six long weeks I finally relent with a visit to the doc who starts treatment for a sinus infection.
Antibiotics (been thirty years since those suckers have entered my bloodstream) are prescribed and taken religiously. Wine is forfeited. Vitamin A (Advil, the only pill I trust) becomes a daily regimen because by now my face is something out of a horror flick.
I avoid stores because surely children will run screaming if they lay eyes on me and I don’t wanna wreck anyone’s holiday season.
The dreaded pills run their seven-day course with no improvement. Back to the doc. Another round of anti’s—a different strain this time.
I wanna punch my own face in the face. By now I’m so darn weak that changing a roll of toilet paper seems like way too much trouble.
I’ve been a useless couch potato for weeks on end and P.R. has had to step up and take over some indoor chores.
He’s a champ I tell ya, even though each and every task is a challenge for him. God bless him though, he does ask questions when uncertainty lurks.
Bed changing day proved his total lack of household skill when he asked, “Which one is the bottom sheet, Honey?”
Oh dear.
In any other circumstance that would’ve evoked an explosion of laughter from me, but darn it I was too sick to enjoy the moment.
At one point all these stupid medications had a horrible reaction on my body and resulted in a blackout. Hubby called the EMT’s. I was lucky enough to come around and refuse to board the ambulance.
Jeez, this is a nightmare. To date, my symptons continue but they are not quite as severe. Each and every day a new afflication occurs and quite frankly I have no idea when and if it will end.
Now we’re playing the waiting game. Thanks to navigator health insurance guy George (he’s a super fella who meets you at the Old Forge Library) a policy is on the way and then some tests can be taken.
Meanwhile, back at the sicko rancho, I actually feel well enough today to try book reading. One day at a time.
Had to vent to you good folks cuz I’m pretty sure my dear friends and family are ready to drag me kicking and screaming to a hospital.
Guessing that will be another chapter in the book of sick. Oh yeah, and Happy Flippin’ New Year!!!