Story time -
Finally feeling a "little" better. A trip to the Dr (lost at least one, possibly two, days to the fever - no recollection). Missed a day of work while caught up in the one (I thought I was scheduled for the following day) and then called in for the next and boss is mega put out and let me know I was "on notice" and needed a Drs note when returned to work.
DID make it to my already scheduled appointment on Wednesday. Fever had broken at home before I took my shower but was at 99* when I went in and during the hour I was sitting in the office it went up to 102* (again!) but this time using the much higher quality medical thermometers! U kno - I don't think I've ever been tested for the flu before? THAT was TERRIBLE. I thought they were trying to pull an "Arnie" on me (pull a bulb tracker out of brain thru nasal cavity - can't remember which movie it was - Larry would know). Wow. And wouldn't you know, my nose was actually relatively clear right then (no yucky mucous since I'd cleared it w/ coughing/blowing in the waiting area- people shifted around the longer I waited, didn't blame them)... No flu. Hmmm.... Dr listened to lungs and then had me move my Tshirt around to listen again... Id forgotten how cold a stethoscope could be, chills started again and did not stop (for several hours). Dr not at all happy. Said fluid behind both ear drums (ears have not hurt and trust me, I've had ear infections before) & lungs were heavily congested, but not rattling - not pneumonia. Decided to treat for bacterial (due to high, lengthy fever) bronchitis and asked if I needed a cough syrup prescribed. I'd tried 2 different ones otc, they hadn't touched the cough and I was coughing till vision narrowed down and close to passing out (due to out of air?). Went over the chart that last year had noted i was allergic to all antihistamines (?? not sure where that came from?). She then gave me a scrip for a typical "Z pack" and a cough syrup. The scrip for the "Z" was called in - I had to hand walk the cough syrup in and give info in person. She then handed me a $20 coupon for the scrip. WOW, what IS this stuff - I briefly wondered... Given the Drs note and told if NOT BETTER by Sat/Sun (end of "Z pack") to come in next week again (they would be open Mon - Wed normal hours and short staffed on Thur/Fri during Thanksgiving). I sat in running truck for a while - waiting for the heater to warm me up (it's over 70* f, WHY am i so COLD??) enough that the shakes lesson. 30 miles w/ 2 stops on the way home seemed to stretch forever and I really wished someone else had been driving (I've never really experienced that before...)... I called Larry, waking him up, and told him he needed to get checked too. So he immediately called and also got a Drs appointment (he'd come down ill and had had a fever as well - we are not usually both sick at same time - the whole 30 yrs that we've known each other, 28 married).
"Z pack" is ready, but young lady at the drop off counter had to call a pharmacist up to assist her with the cough syrup. Turned out - they didn't have it (CVS pharm). Said they could order it, but wouldn't be in till NEXT Monday (?? - our vet clinic can order and have product in the next day - REALLY???). She called several other Pharmacy's - the further out she called - the more of a "heart attack" i was having. WHAT was in this stuff - gold? No one had it. She then called back to Lillington and found a small pharmacy that had it - but they closed at 6 pm and I wouldn't make it back there in time to get it (I was at a pharmacy 10 miles from my house and 20 miles from Lillington/Drs office/pharmacy) with Ft Bragg traffic coming home now. So I said OK, I'll be back out to get it tomorrow.
Larry turns out to have a "touch" (??) of bronchitis - but Dr wants Xrays of his chest. So we get up the next morning (Thursday) and head out. Good thing I guess... Got to Pharmacy (I'd been confused by the name - it had changed!) and it's one I'd used for years next to the IGA in Lillington where I used to work in 04, 05 & 06. Don't know if this cough syrup is new, but they had a few bottles... Did paperwork and Larry and I sat down to wait. We did talk about going to the hospital (new one opened right before we moved to our new property) to do his Xray and come back, but decided to just wait. Moments later, the woman who'd run my 'scrip card came out and said it wouldn't run - that it was no longer in effect (Larry - HUH??? I use it all the time. He would have to check on that). Well, would you still want it - it's $300. GULP!! Larry and I looked at each other and then another coughing fit hit. He said YES, we can do that (me -
). And we waited again... I had already had my "heart attack". Then the woman who called us that it's ready - seemed to have one right before ringing it up. I told her I'd already had one... Then she held up the bottle and I have another "heart attack" - it's almost the size of a bottle of Strongid that I use to double dose 15 full size horses or 30+ Shetlands with!!!!!! O. MY. GOSH. "Uh, don't you have it in a smaller bottle" - checked - "No, this is the size your Dr prescribed". "O...". "Still want it"? "Yes, but do need a pharmacist to come tell me about this "bottle of gold" - have no idea what it is". Turned out - it's the stuff I usually take (& had been) OTC but in higher (better quality?) dosage AND with Hydrocodone Bitartrate added... It is to lengthen the time between coughing episodes and shorten the time spent coughing (it works!)... But still WOW. Hycofenix (TM) - hydrocodone bitartrate, pseudoephedrine HCI & guaifenesin in 2.5mg/30mg/200mg per 5 ml dose. I take 10 ml dose every 4 hours (as needed) for cough.
The stuff smells wonderful - w/ that scent I wasn't at all prepared for the brew affects! I almost spewed the whole dose across my kitchen as my stomach heaved when I tipped the dose cup up. The gagging/throat spasms were hard to work thru - the dose so bitter my eyes also watered... I've moved the dosage out to 6 hours when I sleep & 4.5 to 5 during the day. My body lets me know when to take again - the coughing fits wake me up or hit at those times currently. Yesterday, Friday, was day 3 of "Z pack" antibiotics and I was still running a fever for while (but outside longer catching up on chores and farrier appointment which was cut short - since I forgot to cancel). Definitely hurting yesterday after way too long of a "normal" day. DID stop to pick up daughter/1 granddaughter - we were out of feed for ponies, hay for "special ponies", rabbit feed, cat food & chicken feed. Picked up Arby's sandwiches & SIL, other grand daughter met us at our house. Quick meal, then they helped unload all the feed (thanks, family!!). Then they headed home and I settled down on couch with a sigh... Larry soon had to get ready for work. When he coughs now, I can hear his rattling - but he does have to go in tonight - doesn't want to use all sick days AND no-one to cover for him this time...
But he's off normally tonight & tomorrow, so he'll get some more rest himself (hopefully. He's coughing pretty bad, now, too. No, he can't take what I have due to his blood pressure & specific meds he takes daily. The web portal, where the results of his xrays are to be posted, wasn't up yet last night).
I can say one thing. It's 537 in the morning here. I've been awake since the coughing fit woke me at about 330 am... After a quick pit stop, I took the cough syrup again. The gag reflex is gone, the stomach no longer heaves and I just shiver thru the throat spasms - the nasty stuff does work and I sure shouldn't have any problem with weaning off of it. This is the best, and most coherent, I've felt since last Friday noon! Don't know if it's too soon to hope I'm getting better...
Sorry so long... posting before I lose it!!!!