Saturday, February 03, 2007
Pharyngitis
So this time I actually have a good reason for not blogging. I have had my ass kicked by my own throat! Tuesday I got home late, around 9 and realized that I was really thirsty and when I had some juice I noticed more throat hurt. I drank some more juice but realized more and more that I felt kinda yucky. I went to bed and when I woke up Wed morning I was full blown sick! Sore throat, aches and pains and really hurting. I slept as much as I could all day and had some tea but by 8pm I was feeling worse had a temperature of 102 and finally called my parents. Now you should know how much I don't like my parents really and have been distancing myself from them a lot lately but I really needed help. My mom answered and said she was sorry I was so sick and that she'd call me in the morning to "check" on me. So I went to bed.
I didn't sleep well at all! I was up about every 2 hours. Hard to breathe and I wasn't swollowing my own spit so I would wake up with drool all over my chin (sorry, I know its gross) and I had a fever even after taking advil and tylenol. I called my parents house at 7, I couldn't take it anymore and my dad answered. He said he'd get dressed and have his breakfast and come pick me up to take me to the walk-in care clinic. I had almost no voice and was really getting scared. I somehow called my doctors office to get a referal to the walk-in care...no matter how sick I was I was going to make sure to have myself covered with my insurance. The poor guy at the answering service that answered could hardly understand me, I was crying and couldn't speak very well. My dad picked me up just before 8 and we went right to the walk-in, its about 5 minutes from my house. I walked in and the check-in lady took one look at me and called the nurse right over. I was checked in and on a bed within 5 minutes. The doctor was there about 2 minutes later! They were very worried about my breathing since I couldn't swollow at all.
Right away the doctor had the nurse put an IV into my hand. My dad came into the room and grabbed me as I went to fall off the bed. I should have laydown before the IV.... I started crying and it did hurt...not too badly but I was so scared that it hurt more then it should have. And then I threw up. YUCK! The nurse was right there with a basin so it was okay. Poor lady was holding the needle in my hand at the same time. She didn't lose the IV at all! The doctor was on the phone with the Ear, Nose and Throat clinic at the Hospital and as soon as the IV was in and they drew a little blood they sent me right over to the ER since they knew I needed more help then they could give me there. I could have had a ride in an ambulance but my dad drove me.
At the ER we had to wait about 5 minutes for the triage nurse. All I wanted to do was lie down...I almost was going to lie on the floor but we were called in. I told the nurse right away that I needed to lie down, she put me in a wheelchair and brought me into a room pretty quick. I didn't get to lie down through...the room they put me in had a chair in it. My dad came into the room with me which was really nice...I know how he doesn't like hospitals or sickness. The registration lady was in my room quickly and the doctor came in before she even left. He was un-nerved because I couldn't open my mouth very wide so he couldn't see into my throat. But he did send in a nurse with some morphine that she injected into my IV. Morphine...nice stuff! She also pumped in some compazine for my nausea and that helped. The morphine helped too but just took the edge off my aching body and didn't really even touch my throat. But I was able to relax a little and that helped.
A cute young lady showed up and pushed me, again in a wheelchair, and they took a quick X-ray of the throat to see what was going on in there. The x-ray lady asked me my b'day to make sure they had the right records and I couldn't speak so I just pointed to the stylish bracelet the registration lady had given me. I was back in my room in about 2 minutes and they adjusted the chair so it was reclined and I could lie back...not very comfy but better.
The on-call resident from ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) came down and was very happy to see I was lying back and able to breathe and could speak a little. I was able to open my mouth more since the morphine and she could see into my throat a little more and that took a little of the urgency off. I was given another morphine shot through my IV...I was still in such pain. The first doc came back in and said that they would give me some more nice drugs and I asked for some fluids through my IV too since I was SO thirsty but not able to drink at all. Next thing I know another nurse is wheeling a bed right up to the door. I was very happy to see that pillow and bed, you have no idea. I lay right down and was wheeled into a new room.
I liked this new room. First I had the bed and then the IV fluids bag was hung and hooked up and it felt really good to know all the healthy liquid was going into my body. I asked for a blanket and the nurse brought me one that was all nice and warm! Very cozy!
As I was being put onto the bed I saw my mom walking down the hallway. My dad had called her. He had been missing his office hours and had a class to teach that late morning. But he had stayed with me. I know he didn't want to leave me because he was really worried. When the first doctor had come in he was talking about possibly bringing me up to the operation room if my breething started to get bad so they could keep a better eye on it and to check my throat there, just in case. But he had called one of his co-workers to put a note on his office door telling any students that he was with a family emergency and if need be, his co-worker would tell his class the same thing. But my mom walked over and "took over" for him so he was able to go to his class. My parents live about a 15 minute walk from the hospital so she was able to come right over when she got back home from teaching her water-aerobics class that morning.
Another doctor came in. He was trying to be funny and whitty but I couldn't have laughed even if I wanted to but he was nice and I appreciated his trying to be cute. He was the ENT doc and he sprayed some really nasty tasting numbing spray up my nose (left side) and I had to swollow it and it was bad! Then he had some trouble inserting the scope down my nose. I have a fairly deviated septum on the right side, thats why I asked him to do the left side. He did check the right side real quick, I don't know if he believe me since he had trouble on the left but he saw I was right. He passed the scope and even had my mom come over and check out my voice box and down my throat. He said that it was red and inflammed and painful but nothing serious that could compromise my breathing so that was very good news! Then he took out the scope and checked my throat with his might and wooden paddle. He took a swab to run for tests but he diagnosed me with tonsilitus. My mom started talking about how I have had so many sore throats and shouldn't I have my tonsills out? All I wanted was more drugs.... So he said he'd send in some more drugs and I should schedule an appoitment to be checked in a couple of weeks and start talking about having my tonsills removed.
A nurse came in with lots of nice drugs! She gave me one more round of morphine and some advil for my fever. She hooked up a pump for the antibiotics and pushed the steriods too. I had an hour for the antibiotics to run in so I just closed my eyes again and enjoyed the warm blankets and dozed. When the drugs were all in, the pump started beeping so I hit the call button and she came back in. I sat up and realized that I really was feeling a lot better! I could talk, well...my voice wasn't the same and I sounded funny but I could talk. And I could swollow!! The nurse asked if I could handle a popsicle and I asked for cherry. That popsicle didn't taste very good but it felt amazing on my throat! Then the doc, the first one, came back in and said I was just about ready to go home. He said he was giving me liquid antibiotics and steriods for 10 days and liquid oxycodone for pain, as needed. And I should have lots of jello and popsicles and water. He gave me a note for work saying I needed to stay home until Monday 2/5.
I was ready to go home. It was after 1:30pm. I had been there for 5 hours. My mom was still with me but my dad had stopped in to pick up my keys and switch cars with my mom. He was going to get my drugs and some food for me from the grocery and pick up Laurey. My mom took me to their house and I camped out on the sofa until my dad came home. He was gone a long time...the drug store didn't have all the medicine I needed and they had to mix what they did have and then he got Laurey and feed the mice for me. It was nice to see Laurey when she came in!! She had been such a good dog all Wednesday when I was so sick. I knew she was worried about me since she hadn't been bratty at all or even demanding. Just asked to go out twice and didn't even beg for her food. And I knew she would have be thrilled to see my dad when he came through my front door.
I won't bore you with the details of spending the night at my parents house but I will say this.... It is CREEPY sleeping in my childhood bedroom and its FREEZING in there! I woke up twice and covered my head with the blankets. Laurey had to sleep on the floor, I hate twin beds. But mom had hot oatmeal waiting for me when I woke up and I took all my drugs first thing and she dropped me and Lau at home just before 9am. I took a marathon shower and that felt wonderful! It had been 2 days without a shower and up and down with a fever and cold chills...I was yucky! I spent the day cleaning my house and resting, cleaned the mouse cage and fish bowl and soup for lunch. I did lots of laundry and ran the dishwasher and even unloaded it when the dishes were still warm! I went to my parents for dinner and dad and I went to the Univ of Vermont hockey game (they won 3-2). I was chilled at the game but it was nice to be there. Then Laurey and I went home and I snuggled into my nice clean bed!
I slept pretty well. I'm feeling okay. My throat still has a big tingle in it and its red when I look down with my flashlight. I'm weak and exhausted but I know I'm getting better. I hope you are feeling well and are healthy and happy!!:) L, E
I didn't sleep well at all! I was up about every 2 hours. Hard to breathe and I wasn't swollowing my own spit so I would wake up with drool all over my chin (sorry, I know its gross) and I had a fever even after taking advil and tylenol. I called my parents house at 7, I couldn't take it anymore and my dad answered. He said he'd get dressed and have his breakfast and come pick me up to take me to the walk-in care clinic. I had almost no voice and was really getting scared. I somehow called my doctors office to get a referal to the walk-in care...no matter how sick I was I was going to make sure to have myself covered with my insurance. The poor guy at the answering service that answered could hardly understand me, I was crying and couldn't speak very well. My dad picked me up just before 8 and we went right to the walk-in, its about 5 minutes from my house. I walked in and the check-in lady took one look at me and called the nurse right over. I was checked in and on a bed within 5 minutes. The doctor was there about 2 minutes later! They were very worried about my breathing since I couldn't swollow at all.
Right away the doctor had the nurse put an IV into my hand. My dad came into the room and grabbed me as I went to fall off the bed. I should have laydown before the IV.... I started crying and it did hurt...not too badly but I was so scared that it hurt more then it should have. And then I threw up. YUCK! The nurse was right there with a basin so it was okay. Poor lady was holding the needle in my hand at the same time. She didn't lose the IV at all! The doctor was on the phone with the Ear, Nose and Throat clinic at the Hospital and as soon as the IV was in and they drew a little blood they sent me right over to the ER since they knew I needed more help then they could give me there. I could have had a ride in an ambulance but my dad drove me.
At the ER we had to wait about 5 minutes for the triage nurse. All I wanted to do was lie down...I almost was going to lie on the floor but we were called in. I told the nurse right away that I needed to lie down, she put me in a wheelchair and brought me into a room pretty quick. I didn't get to lie down through...the room they put me in had a chair in it. My dad came into the room with me which was really nice...I know how he doesn't like hospitals or sickness. The registration lady was in my room quickly and the doctor came in before she even left. He was un-nerved because I couldn't open my mouth very wide so he couldn't see into my throat. But he did send in a nurse with some morphine that she injected into my IV. Morphine...nice stuff! She also pumped in some compazine for my nausea and that helped. The morphine helped too but just took the edge off my aching body and didn't really even touch my throat. But I was able to relax a little and that helped.
A cute young lady showed up and pushed me, again in a wheelchair, and they took a quick X-ray of the throat to see what was going on in there. The x-ray lady asked me my b'day to make sure they had the right records and I couldn't speak so I just pointed to the stylish bracelet the registration lady had given me. I was back in my room in about 2 minutes and they adjusted the chair so it was reclined and I could lie back...not very comfy but better.
The on-call resident from ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) came down and was very happy to see I was lying back and able to breathe and could speak a little. I was able to open my mouth more since the morphine and she could see into my throat a little more and that took a little of the urgency off. I was given another morphine shot through my IV...I was still in such pain. The first doc came back in and said that they would give me some more nice drugs and I asked for some fluids through my IV too since I was SO thirsty but not able to drink at all. Next thing I know another nurse is wheeling a bed right up to the door. I was very happy to see that pillow and bed, you have no idea. I lay right down and was wheeled into a new room.
I liked this new room. First I had the bed and then the IV fluids bag was hung and hooked up and it felt really good to know all the healthy liquid was going into my body. I asked for a blanket and the nurse brought me one that was all nice and warm! Very cozy!
As I was being put onto the bed I saw my mom walking down the hallway. My dad had called her. He had been missing his office hours and had a class to teach that late morning. But he had stayed with me. I know he didn't want to leave me because he was really worried. When the first doctor had come in he was talking about possibly bringing me up to the operation room if my breething started to get bad so they could keep a better eye on it and to check my throat there, just in case. But he had called one of his co-workers to put a note on his office door telling any students that he was with a family emergency and if need be, his co-worker would tell his class the same thing. But my mom walked over and "took over" for him so he was able to go to his class. My parents live about a 15 minute walk from the hospital so she was able to come right over when she got back home from teaching her water-aerobics class that morning.
Another doctor came in. He was trying to be funny and whitty but I couldn't have laughed even if I wanted to but he was nice and I appreciated his trying to be cute. He was the ENT doc and he sprayed some really nasty tasting numbing spray up my nose (left side) and I had to swollow it and it was bad! Then he had some trouble inserting the scope down my nose. I have a fairly deviated septum on the right side, thats why I asked him to do the left side. He did check the right side real quick, I don't know if he believe me since he had trouble on the left but he saw I was right. He passed the scope and even had my mom come over and check out my voice box and down my throat. He said that it was red and inflammed and painful but nothing serious that could compromise my breathing so that was very good news! Then he took out the scope and checked my throat with his might and wooden paddle. He took a swab to run for tests but he diagnosed me with tonsilitus. My mom started talking about how I have had so many sore throats and shouldn't I have my tonsills out? All I wanted was more drugs.... So he said he'd send in some more drugs and I should schedule an appoitment to be checked in a couple of weeks and start talking about having my tonsills removed.
A nurse came in with lots of nice drugs! She gave me one more round of morphine and some advil for my fever. She hooked up a pump for the antibiotics and pushed the steriods too. I had an hour for the antibiotics to run in so I just closed my eyes again and enjoyed the warm blankets and dozed. When the drugs were all in, the pump started beeping so I hit the call button and she came back in. I sat up and realized that I really was feeling a lot better! I could talk, well...my voice wasn't the same and I sounded funny but I could talk. And I could swollow!! The nurse asked if I could handle a popsicle and I asked for cherry. That popsicle didn't taste very good but it felt amazing on my throat! Then the doc, the first one, came back in and said I was just about ready to go home. He said he was giving me liquid antibiotics and steriods for 10 days and liquid oxycodone for pain, as needed. And I should have lots of jello and popsicles and water. He gave me a note for work saying I needed to stay home until Monday 2/5.
I was ready to go home. It was after 1:30pm. I had been there for 5 hours. My mom was still with me but my dad had stopped in to pick up my keys and switch cars with my mom. He was going to get my drugs and some food for me from the grocery and pick up Laurey. My mom took me to their house and I camped out on the sofa until my dad came home. He was gone a long time...the drug store didn't have all the medicine I needed and they had to mix what they did have and then he got Laurey and feed the mice for me. It was nice to see Laurey when she came in!! She had been such a good dog all Wednesday when I was so sick. I knew she was worried about me since she hadn't been bratty at all or even demanding. Just asked to go out twice and didn't even beg for her food. And I knew she would have be thrilled to see my dad when he came through my front door.
I won't bore you with the details of spending the night at my parents house but I will say this.... It is CREEPY sleeping in my childhood bedroom and its FREEZING in there! I woke up twice and covered my head with the blankets. Laurey had to sleep on the floor, I hate twin beds. But mom had hot oatmeal waiting for me when I woke up and I took all my drugs first thing and she dropped me and Lau at home just before 9am. I took a marathon shower and that felt wonderful! It had been 2 days without a shower and up and down with a fever and cold chills...I was yucky! I spent the day cleaning my house and resting, cleaned the mouse cage and fish bowl and soup for lunch. I did lots of laundry and ran the dishwasher and even unloaded it when the dishes were still warm! I went to my parents for dinner and dad and I went to the Univ of Vermont hockey game (they won 3-2). I was chilled at the game but it was nice to be there. Then Laurey and I went home and I snuggled into my nice clean bed!
I slept pretty well. I'm feeling okay. My throat still has a big tingle in it and its red when I look down with my flashlight. I'm weak and exhausted but I know I'm getting better. I hope you are feeling well and are healthy and happy!!:) L, E
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I'm glad to hear that your ok. That did not sounds like a pleasant experience (though the Morphine might have been the exception).
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