So apparently that cold I came down with last week was not, in fact, a cold. It was a raging chest infection brought about by the intubation and anesthesia.
After ten days of having glands so swollen I couldn’t swallow, I finally called to try to go to a regular doctor. I thought I had mono again. I had it once in college and apparently it’s been going around at church, not to mention that recovering from abdominal surgery would be the perfect time for something so opportunistic to take hold.
But no. Something else opportunistic took hold.
I was trying to get an appointment just to get my throat cultured. The nurse came on the phone to ask about my symptoms so they could send me off to the right doctor, and with each question she got more and more agitated. I’d had surgery 10 days ago? There’s been a heaviness in my chest? I’m coughing and wheezing? I’m achy all over? Oh Dear. Let me get my manager.
So the manager gets on the phone and asks me all the same questions. Are your glands swollen? Both sides? Are you dizzy and weak? Oh Dear. Let me send an urgent message to Dr. I’mnotlooking and have him call you back.
Having the advice nurse and her manager both freak out at the urgency of my problem freaked me right the freak out. I thought I had a sore throat, and the nurses are running into stat mode like I’m on the verge of death.
A few hours later Dr. I’mnotlooking calls me back, asks if I’m allergic to penicillin and sends off a prescription for antibiotics. La di dah, calm as you please. In fact, when Bear went to pick up the prescription they hadn’t even filled it yet because the Dr. sent it in as NON-URGENT.
I’ve been on the antibiotics now for four days and this thing is not going anywhere. My glands are a little less swollen, but they’re not normal yet and this cough and wheezing are just as bad as ever. But I’m finding reserves of strength that are getting me through it that come from pure unadulterated rage. One minute I’m insane and making up my symptoms, the next minute I’m stupid for not reporting my symptoms sooner. Even Bear blew me off, telling me that I must have just caught what was going around.
It’s maddening. MADDENING. If I wasn’t crazy before all this, I’m sure I will be afterwards.