Today is day 13 with the crud. I didn't think it was possible for it to last this long, ugh!! I went on antibiotics last week but they are sure taking their time. Strep throat, who'd a thunk it? I hadn't been tested for strep throat since I was in junior high school so I was a little taken aback when they said they were going to test for that and all the flus. It's amazing what they can do in the doctors office these days! Since most of my illnesses are more serious, I don't usually get the colds, flus, etc. so this was all new to me. First she hands me a kleenex, which is never a good sign and then got out one of those long q-tips. Uh-ho, that isn't going in my ear is it I asked. Oh no she said just in your nose. Oh well in that case no problem, seriously? After sticking that thing all the way up both nostrils, I now see why they give you the kleenex first. She then puts the results of the q-tip in these vials and sets them aside to process.
While the flu tests were processing, she comes back in says it's now time to test for strep. Since I have been tested before, I knew that she was going to stick one of those long q-tips down the back of my throat. She hands me another kleenex and says she needs to get really far back. I do not have a sensitive gag reflex so I wasn't worried. Make that past tense I didn't have a sensitive gag reflex. Being prepared for anything, she had one of those pink plastic puke pans in my hands before I knew. Thank God I was able to hold it in, but I kept my pink pan close at hand.
Off wnet my nurse with all the little goodies I had let her take and then very shortly the PA comes in to let me know I have strep and bronchitis and I need antibiotics. Sounds good to me, but then in she comes again and this time with a needle that I swear was for a rhino! I have never seen a needle that thick! Please tell me you are not using that needle I asked and she said no, of course not. Ah, I exhaled and relaxed until I saw the needle she planned to use which was much thinner, but it was as long as my arm!! Ready she asked? What happens if I say no? OK, I stepped down from the table, dropped my sweat pants and prayed I wouldn't see the needle come out the other side. Except for the fact that it took about 10 minutes to inject it, it wasn't so bad. She handed me my script and off I go thinking I am well on my way to feeling better.
WRONG! I have taken antibiotics all my life, many different kinds. I have never had a side effect before and wasn't expecting any. I spent close to the worst 36 hours of my life. For whatever reason I had a reaction to the meds and was miserable. I NEVER want to go through that again!! I call and let the PA know and they call me in a new antibiotic. When my husband went to pick it up, he was informed from the pharmacist that this new antibiotic interferred with one of my other meds. She had called my PA but hadn't heard back and this was at 8 at night. Great, no one called so I went a day without antibiotics. So first thing the next morning I called the PA and told them and finally got called in an antibiotic I can take. Good grief, it's not supposed to be this hard.
In all this commotion, while I am on antibiotics, I cannot take my chemo. So it's now been almost a month and I really need to be on my chemo! I do think I am finally feeling better but I still have 7 more days of the antibiotics and no chemo. I cannot even tell you how frustrating this has been. I am not one to use the it's not fair card, but Andy gets this, he still can go to work, gets the z-pack antibiotics, done in 5 days, and then is fine, minor inconvenience. Me, it's a month long drama fest. Welcome to chronic illness!
