Feeling Unwell

On top of the side effects of Lyme Disease and Co-infections, I am sick.  I'm not sure what ailment plagues me this week.  I keep getting different things.  If I had to put a name to it, I'd either say I have a case of Influenza, Sinus Infection or the dreaded Mono (I was exposed a week ago).

Yesterday was awful.  Two days ago, I would have sworn it was mono. Yesterday morning, I was sore it was a sinus infection.  By last night, I'm sure I have some strain of influenza.  Who knows what I have, all I know is that my fever is finally gone.

I've pretty much been on Tylenol since Monday due to pain so until I stopped taking it due to the pain going away, I didn't have a fever. Well yesterday afternoon the fever hit and it hit hard.  Every hour it went up a full degree.  By the end of my favorite show (SYTYCD -- which is back yeah!), my temp had reached 101.6 and by midnight it was almost 103. This was even with Tylenol.  I finally fell asleep at some point and when I woke up this morning, I felt cool.  My temp was back down to 98.6 (which is still high for me, but compared to 102.5, I'll take it!).

House progress:

We removed the two undesirable light fixtures in the master bathroom and replaced them with pretty ones courtesy of Lowe's.    Now instead of two -two light fixtures, we have two  three light fixtures.  And, it matches our beach theme.  We had one of these at our old house, except we only used one 4 light fixture. 

We tried to buy a new ceiling fan for our bedroom and our general theory is to go big or go home so when we saw a 70 inch ceiling fan --- in our general style we bought it.  Welllllllllllllllllllllllllll   It would have worked, but there were several things we didn't like about it so we decided to take it back to the store.  Oh well.  What we have works for now.

We found four great blinds in the clearance section that we loved so we brought them home.  We pulled them out and two didn't have brackets and the other two didn't match in color.  Fantastic.  So we took the two without brackets back and found two more of the blinds we wanted at the other location.  We brought those home and finally had a matching set.  So we now have beautiful blinds in my office.  I jokingly call it my Lyme Advocacy Office.

The blinds kind of look like this (courtesy of lowe's website):

Next thing on our list is to replace the covers in the bathroom with some bronze colored covers and brown decorative switches & outlets.

Our goal is to make this house a home and not just a place we rest our heads at night. 

Surviving the Raw Nose

I've seen to get over the worst part of the illness. I'm still coughing (which always lasts forever), but the thing that surprises me is the amount of mucus! Oh My Word. It just seems to be non-stopped. My nose was pure raw from the blowing. I finally had to pull out vaseline and pretty much lather it on my nose and lips after every single nose-blow.

Update

So I was pretty sick over night. Yesterday I fought to stay at work. Probably paid the price last night. I was doing pretty well, but decided on a whim to take some Night Time Delsym. Figured it would help me sleep and keep the coughing at bay over night. So I took the dose around 8pm. Around midnight, I woke up burning up. I thought that I had turned up my electric blanket so I checked it. It was OFF. Apparently I was so hot that I turned it off in my sleep. There are 10 levels on my blanket and I generally sleep with it on level 3 or 4. Sometimes hotter and sometimes cooler, but mostly 4. So I was shocked when it was OFF.

I decided to check my temperature and was a little stunned when I saw it say 100.5. I decided to wait 30 minutes to recheck and as I laid there ... I got hotter and hotter. When I rechecked it hit the 102 mark. I decided it was time to go ahead and take Tylenol. I went ahead and got a bottled water and Tylenol thinking that soon I'd be able to go back to sleep. Well by 2am, my temperature had reached a shocking 103.5. I stumbled into the kitchen to get a cool wet cloth for my body. I knew I had to take care of that fever quickly, but I can't take Motrin. Motrin makes my eyes swell up. It may help with the fever, but the last time I took Motrin I wound up at the Urgent Care getting a Steroid Shot.

I argued with myself over whether to use the Motrin or not and in the end decided that I would hold off. I continued to check. At 3:30am, it was 104.6. At this point I was pretty much out of it trying to sip water. Throughout all of this, I talked out loud to God. I knew He was with me. I knew He wouldn't give me more than I could handle. I remember asking for him to take away the fever. Somewhere around 4, I essentially passed out and woke at 5am when my alarm went off. I felt the coolness of the sweat and knew my fever broke.

Needless to say, I will be starting those antibiotics because I haven't gotten any better and all the factors my doctor said to watch out for started. I'm so glad to be alive. I'm so glad to be alive. Praise God I'm still alive.

cough cough sneeze

Because I'll have a long day of work tomorrow and because my head hadn't improved with Claritin or Zyrtec or Tylenol or any other thing and this morning was even worse, I decided to cough my way to the doctor.

I sound completely pathetic so if no one gets phone calls this week ... it's because it is down right frustrating to talk. When I left work today, I called over to my PCP to see if by chance they could squeeze in a sick visit. I was thrilled when they asked if I would be willing to see "K." "K" is the nurse practitioner that I saw before my diagnosis. She sent me here and there trying to find out what was wrong with me. Though I was frustrated with no diagnosis, I loved seeing her. She knows my "preferences." And what I mean by that is that she knows which antibiotics I prefer and she also knows that I prefer to do something else before antibiotics. So I went in today telling her about my symptoms. I knew that I didn't have an infection yet, but I also knew that within 24 to 48 hours I might.

I told her what I had tried (minus some special integrative things that she probably has never heard of) and what I thought. She investigated (looking at my ears, nose and throat) and told me that there was no infection (yet), but that she would write me a script just in case the tides turned. She also sent me on my way with 7 days worth of samples of Singulair ( I used to take it before Lyme during the seasonal times). I get to take this and hopefully it will improve. If not, then Zithromax will be my friend again. While it's not my favorite antibiotic, I know it works.

Gah! These pollinating trees are going to be the death of me. I think every bone in my face hurts. Hopefully the Singulair will work and I won't need the Z pack.

Allergy Season

I love March for one reason. It's March Madness. Basketball. UNC.

However March also makes me mad. It's the start of allergy season. So I woke up yesterday with a small sore throat and itchy eyes. Thought I'd "work through it" on my own, but this morning I woke wiht even more sore throat, irritating nose drippage and a small cough. All this tells me, I better jump on this and quick. Leucozepin, Zinc, Total B drops, Vitamin D ... to start. Then add in a Claritin and finally ... I had to add in Tylenol.

I'm hoping to be able to knock this out before it turns into an infection. Lately I've not been able to do that, but we'll see.

Madness, March Madness. One part exhilarating and the other part frustrating. Speaking of both the weather and basketball.

Bronchitis

The whole reason I went to the doctor on November 2nd was to prevent Bronchitis. I knew that if I kept that infection any longer that the bacteria would travel on down to my lungs and well I'd be feeling like an elephant was sitting on my chest.

After finishing my antibiotics, I didn't have a long period of "health" before I got sick again. The lovely stomach flu hit and after it departed from my body, I got a small cough. It wasn't that bad, but along with the cough I felt the urge to clear my throat. Within a few hours of the onset of coughing, I began to feel it. It hurt to breathe. My lungs felt wet and heavy. This was all on Monday evening. I was hoping that by Tuesday I'd feel better, but to no avail. Then Wednesday morning I felt even worse. It was a chore just to breathe and I struggled to catch my breath after coughing spells.

So I made the decision to go to the doctor's after work. I called my PCP (Primary Care Physician) to see if they by chance had any sick appointments available. TO my surprise, they did with the caveat being they needed me there in the next hour. I got there 30 minutes before my appointment time and expected that I would have a huge wait in the waiting room or in the exam room. However, that is not what happened at all. I had enough time to fill out the paperwork and shortly after I was called back. I had enough time to have 3 coughing spells before the doctor came in commenting on how wonderful I sounded.

I told him of my ailments over the last couple of months and he listened to my lungs. The words crackling and wheezing were mentioned a couple of times. He went to get a sample inhaler so I could get started on treatment right away, but they were out of samples. Indeed, I had Bronchitis. He faxed over the script for Zithromax and the Inhaler I'd need. I've had one dose of the antibiotic (it's a one dose a day for 5 days macrolide). This morning I woke up without a sore throat for the first time in a few days!

I've also had my hand at the inhaler on two different occasions. Once last night as soon as it got home and this morning. My lungs feel so much lighter and I'm actually coughing stuff up without the use of an expectorant. Delsym seems to be working to keep the coughing controlled.

Funny thing is that my blood work was postponed a few weeks so I would be away from antibiotics when the blood was done. Now, my blood work is on Tuesday ... So I'll have antibiotics and Albuterol in my system. Oh well. It will be interesting to see what the blood work says.

My guess is that the Amoxil didn't knock out the infection completely. So it festered and festered and then reappeared immediately as Bronchitis.

Never ending Illness

I sit here not really knowing whether to laugh or cry. I'm sick of being sick. I'm sick of talking about being sick. I have been fighting illness since the early days of October. We're nearing the end of November! I've been somewhat concerned, but until today (well ugh really 'last night') I wasn't alarmed because it's starting again -- already.

Back up to September where I began to have an allergic reaction to something. We still aren't sure what caused the reaction, but needless to say I wound up at Urgent Care getting something I certainly avoid at all cost -- Steroid Shot. Also took home a round of Steroids to take at home too. I must have been glutton for punishment. Here I am two months later and I realize that it must be the catylist (sp).

In early October, I began to fight off the common cold. I fought it off dutifully with Vitamin C, Zinc, Magic drops and even some OTC medications. I could feel nasal drainage in the back of my throat and had sore throats due to this. I also had small headaches. I did the best I could until October 24th when it hit me like a 2x4. Within 3 days, I had a fever and excess nasal drainage coming out of the nostrils. It was the beautiful green color that nurses used to say indicated infection. In order to prevent another trip to Urgent Care, I scheduled an IV appointment. You all know how that went, but let's recap -- shall we?

On the Friday I went in and got stuck twice over a three hour period, but wound up going home with no IV's. I went back on Saturday and got the IV. All was right in my world -- so I thought. I woke up the next day realizing I hadn't pushed out the infection ... in fact I was worse. I dosed myself up with OTC meds and went to work hoping I'd be able to leave early. That was a no go for launch however. That night, my boss told me I could stay home and rest since I had been feeling so terrible. I used this time to run to the nearest Urgent Care. They prescribed Amoxicillin and all was right with the world -- so I thought. I took this for the amount of time and slowly felt better. I thought about asking my Lyme doc for something else, but I was feeling better so I decided to hold off. November 12th was the last day of my antibiotic and I was doing well (or so I thought).

A few days later, I started feeling a little bit off. I couldn't explain it really, but I did have a headache. By November 17th, I felt a touch of vertigo and of course that's the day of the infamous puking incident(s). We all know what happened there and I won't rehash (pun intended) that one again. So fastforward to today (well by now .. yesterday). I felt pretty good at work. No particular problems, but I did notice that my lungs felt heavy. However, they had been feeling that way since the vomiting commenced. So I *assumed* that it was from that.

Well around 6pm, I started getting a little tickle in my throat. I thought ,hmm that's odd, and went on my way. By 8pm, I was coughing to the point where I decided to take old trusty (well new reliable) Delsym so I'd sleep. (you see where that got me). I honestly feel like I either have another bout of Bronchitis OR Pneumonia. SERIOUSLY? Can't I just get well? (and some rest would be good too)

I'm going to go trodge off to bed feeling the heaviness in my lungs. And you know it's Thanksgiving Week ... I pretty much refuse to go to Urgent Care for the third or fourth time in 2 months and regular PCP is booked up and so is Lyme doc. I go for blood work in one week and my Lyme appt the Saturday afterwards. I've also sent my doc a letter similiar to this post.

Either way ... I just want to get well. AND STAY THAT WAY.

Vomiting and Blogging and TMI

Gross post ahead ... TMI ... if you don't want to read it .. skip it .. I'm warning you.

Okay one might blog too much when in the process of cleaning up the bathroom from one own's stomach contents ... that I think, "I should photograph this .. this is MASSIVE."

You can thank me now that I didn't photograph the magnitude of said explosion. It is only now there in my memory. It took THREE old towels to clean up the bathroom floor. Along with almost a whole roll of TP. The casualties in the explosion were three magazines. The shower curtain got washed along with the bath floor mat and my clothes. The weight scale almost got wiped out. My purse was almost hit in the massive explosion. I don't even know how my shoes were spared in such a mess.

Aren't you glad I didn't take photographs? :D

BTW: I am feeling better today. I'm still very weak from 17 hours of sickness. Oh and my husband can never ever say I didn't give him anything. In November alone, I gave him a sinus infection AND the stomach flu. Isn't he a lucky fellow to be married to me?

For a real Lymie ... Stomach flu = 17 hours of throwing up and more than 48 hours afterwards to recover.

For the husband ... Stomach flu = 4 hours of vomiting, 8 hours of sleeping and now he acts as if nothing ever happened.

SICK

Yesterday I got home and didn't feel well. My stomach was feeling kind of "gnarly" and I thought I was hungry. I had a couple of pieces of salami (in hindsight ... bad choice) and a protein bar and went to go get my hair done. AS I was sitting there, I began to feel worse. My head began to pound. Almost near the end of her styling my hair, I told her I had to leave. I just felt horrible.

I got home ... and a moment that can only be described as the exorcist happened. Then it happened almost every hour for the next 17 hours. Fever, Vomiting and Diahrea. Gah I feel awful. I'm dehydrated, but I am starting to feel better. I've not gotten sick in about 6 hours though I still feel nauseated.

It's going around at work (the kids and other teachers) so once the first round hit, I knew I was in for it. So I called the boss to find out if she'd prefer I just go ahead and call out (which I never do) or if she wanted me to wait and see if it was just what I ate. She told me to call her in a couple of hours, but in about an hour she called me saying she found someone to cover my shift. I'm so thankful for the teacher that was willing to cover for me b.c I was still pretty sick this morning when I was supposed to go to work.

Ugh. Sinus infections and Stomach Flu all in the month.

Sick Check In

Remember when I said, '"Well if it "may" cause drowsiness, it might as well say "WILL" cause "sleep for 1/2 day."'


Well last night I started having some eye itching and swelling. It happens (more often than I care to admit). So I decided to take the Delsym Night Time cough syrup with antihistamine. Well the typical adult dose is 30ML. I poured it into the dosing cup and decided that it looked like it could knock me out for a good 30 hours so I poured 15 ML back into the bottle leaving me with only 15 ML to take. I took it at 8:30 and was asleep by 8:45. I didn't budge until 9:30 .... THIS MORNING. If you take into account last night was the end of Day Lights Savings time, I slept for 13 and 1/2 hours on 1/2 a dose. I can't imagine if I had taken the full dose.

Anyways, I do feel better. :) I'm still on antibiotics. I've only had three bouts of running to the bathroom. I was supposed to have blood work on this coming Wednesday, but we pushed it back to the week after Thanksgiving since there are several factors that could really affect the blood work results. I go get my eyes checked on Tuesday. I imagine that in about 2 1/2 weeks I'll be sporting new glasses.

Getting there!

With each passing day, I feel a little bit better. On Wednesday and Thursday, people kept recommending to me to try a little cough syrup I had never even heard of. Where do I live? The Dark ages?



This stuff is liquid gold man! Thursday I was coughing so bad to the point of almost puking. And by almost ... I mean (TMI alert!) something came up and I was forced to swallow or I would have vomited in my car. And for those of you that know me, know that I LOVE my car! I was in tears from coughing so hard Thursday evening. I told my husband about this stuff and the trooper he was went out after his work event to get me some. When I woke (from very little sleep from all the coughing), I discovered three bottles of the stuff. One for Day time relief and Two for Night time relief. The thing is .. the Day Time stuff works so well, that I didn't even need to use the Night time stuff (b.c it has three other meds in it that I didn't really need last night).

I actually have a difficult time trying new medicines because I'm terribly sensitive to things. You know the side effect list of things ... if one says "MAY cause drowsiness." Well if it "may" cause drowsiness, it might as well say "WILL" cause "sleep for 1/2 day." Things that don't even say "may cause drowsiness" cause me drowsiness. Sometimes when I take Tylenol, I sleep for hours! Plus lately, I've been having weird allergic reaction to things. Example is that the other day I had a fever so I took Motrin and it caused my eyes to swell. I'd say who is allergic to Motrin, but I know a lot of people are allergic to different fever reducing meds. It's just weird that I haven't had a problem in 34 years and all the sudden I am ...

Anyways, Delsym has been wonderful. I took it before going to work yesterday. I only had one major coughing spell instead of a continuous coughing spell I had been having. I took it again last night before bed. I slept all night soundly.

On the antibiotic front, I've been taking Amoxil since Tuesday evening. It's really starting to work. My nasal passages are pretty clear and my nose is no longer running like a faucet. And you know that lovely post nasal drip that causes serious sore throat? Yah that's disappearing too. The antibiotics have only given me one round of bathroom runs (PUN intended) after dose 3.

As far as I can tell, I'm not really having any herx reaction. The only thing really "off" was that yesterday I felt like a complete moron ~ like washing my hands and turning around and washing them again ... or throwing bibs in the trash instead of the laundry or even being baffled as to why formula wouldn't come out of the bottle when I've used this type of bottles many times (it had a stopper in it .. DUH!). It added some humor to the class yesterday. In my defense, the others were just as stupid yesterday. We kept teasing each other all day about "How old are you?" (indicating that we were in our 90's instead of in our 30's).

I've been enjoying helping out at the other school. I'm feeling very appreciated (not that I don't feel appreciated where I already work) by the teachers. The teachers want me to stay on permanently. I haven't made a decision. I love both schools. Each school has it's pro and con. For right now, I'm splitting my time between the two schools.

The friend that won't leave

So I've had this cough since Sunday. I've pretty much coughed non-stop since. I'm surviving though. I've had 4 doses of Antibiotics and only had round of stomach problems. I call that a success. :o) I'm hoping that by Saturday I'll be feel tons better. Even though I sound terrible and the cough just doesn't want to leave, I actually do feel better today than I have since Thursday. So I'm heading in the right direction.

Amos The Amoxy

Usually when I leave the Urgent Care, I remember why I hate regular physicians. This was a P.A and I was very impressed. He even asked me what generally worked best with my bacterial infections. I told him usually either Amoxil or Zithromax and that I preferred a suspension. He was very willing to write it for Amoxil and to write it out for a suspension without question. I'll be taking 1200 mg of Amoxicillin twice a day for 10 days for a total of 2.4 grams a day. If I'm remembering correctly, the typical adult gets between 500 mg and 875 mg twice a day.


I don't remember what my dosing was when I took Amoxil with other antibiotics for Lyme Disease, but 400mg/5ml is the largest dose in a suspension form. I just don't recall how many ML's I took. Usually day one and two go okay, it's days three and four on antibiotics post Lyme diagnosis that are the killer. Just wanted to give a good update not only for you guys, but for me to remember later on. :)

So the P.A. said that generally what happens is that people get a small virus that they fight off on their own in about 5 days. Since my symptoms have been going on for about 10 days, it has mutated into a bacterial infection. This is typically what happens in my case. However if I get the Vitamin C IV quickly enough, it helps kill off the small virus so that it doesn't change into the bacterial infection.

There is a small chance that I'll have a herx reaction due to the antibiotics killing off any Lyme bacteria lingering around in my body. I have blood work on next Wednesday. It will be interesting to see how things look while I'm on antibiotics.

Still sick

**Update since this morning** I know the way my body runs and it was either try to squeeze in yet another IV or go get some antibiotics today. I personally know that Tuesdays are my LLMD's business IV day so I didn't think I'd be able to get squeezed in for one and for two, I wasn't sure they'd be able to get an IV started so I decided to hit the Urgent Care to go ahead and get this infection cleared up. I'm sick of being sick and didn't think I could wait until Saturday to take care of the problem. So Amos the Amoxicillan and I are becoming reacquainted today. I would take it right now, but really the best dosing is at 12 hours. So I'll wait until about 5:30 to take it so I can take it at 5:30 twice a day for 10 days.

**** original post *****

I'm still not running on all 4 cylinders. In fact, I'm running on maybe only 2 of them. Last night, I got a really kind email from my boss. She told me she knew I hadn't been feeling well and offered for me to take today off. I would like to say that I accepted this offer, but it wasn't taken guilt free. I always feel so guilty about taking time away from all my "babies." I feel like I'm letting them down or something of that nature. Truth be told, I need today to be at home curled up in the bed dosed up on otc medications. All my waking moments will be spent wishing I was teaching my kids how to read.

I've passed this lovely germ to my husband who is now more than likely also going to be spending today at home as well. So we both get a day off of work, but more than likely we'll spend it sleeping. When we get sick, he tends to get it in the ears and I get it in the lungs/throat. Last night, he could barely hear and I could barely speak. Makes for quite interesting conversation.

I guess one of the main reasons I feel guilty is that I haven't stepped foot into my school in a week's time. I volunteered to help at another school so I have been there. There was no time to prep the children to let them know I was leaving and that I would be back soon ... I just was gone. I feel so guilty about that. Now it's time to hit the DayQuil and try to get some relief from the symptoms I'm feeling.

PS, hubby has Lyme appt on Saturday. So if I'm still like this, I may try to see if he'll write me a script since I've tried all the other routes.

Human Pin Cusion 2

My last post inspired me. It inspired me to do this:



and this:



Put it together and you got this:




Yesterday I told you I felt like a Pin Cushion. Well it inspired me. Between my ideas and my husband's genius ... we created my crazy red hat into a pin cushion hat! We turned Rob's white shirt into a "Jennifer the human pin cushion" t-shirt

It made me happy, see ...



You know what else made me happy?

Slick got me in one stick. :) I got my much needed IV today.

Human Pin Cushion

Sometimes I just feel like this

(photo courtesy of: Wikipedia)


I went to go get an IV today. It wasn't successful. I practically left in tears. Between the tourniquet that shouldn't have been used (b.c it was latex) and the pokes in veins that wouldn't accept the IV, I was extreme pain three hours after I walked in. Three hours that I won't get back. In fact, I have to go do this all over again tomorrow. I've decided that two hours is all they get. If they can't get it in two hours, I'll beg for antibiotics and be on my merry way.

It's been one of those days where I feel like ... I'm so tired. I'm tired of the effects of Lyme Disease. I feel like saying Why me .. but then I remember, "Why Not Me?" I think about how much more can I take and then I remember that I can do all things through Christ. I'm tired, but not done. I'll fight this fight. I maybe grumpy, but I'll continue to fight the best I know how. I'm just tired of feeling like a pin cushion.

Immune Function

Update:

I do feel better this morning! My eyes aren't swollen (Yah God & Claritin). My fever is down to a typical person's temp (which is still high for me ... but I'll take it!). My throat isn't as on fire this morning. I'm hoping that my immune system is waking up saying, "Hey there's something here I'm supposed to be fighting" and actually getting the job done. Just to be on the safe side though, I"m taking Vitamin C, Tylenol & Claritin to work ... ya know just in case. :)

****
Original Post:


So there is something I have to be very cautious of. I have to watch out for large crowds and germs. Now as much fun as I had last week, I did do several things that were huge "uh ohs" for me. 1st: Crowd at the State Fair on a Sunday. 2nd: Thursday Night Work event in which I was in small place with lots of people. 3rd: Friday Night Vikings Kick Cancer Game 4th Saturday Marching Band Competition. Then Tuesday: I began helping out at another center with new teachers and new babies ..meaning new germs.

It only makes sense that I'd get sick. I'm feeling quite lousy. High Fever (for me) and sore throat. Not very lovely combination. IV on Friday. Pray for an easy stick.

** Added **

So apparently I've developed an allergy to Motrin. Sometimes I have "delayed" reactions to medications. So two hours after I took the Motrin (aka right now), my eye started itching. I just realized it's quite swollen. The good news is that my fever is down to a normal person's normal. I don't like to take OTC meds. I don't like how they make me feel (more or less most make me sleepy for 12 hours). So within 2 hours ... Motrin, Claritin (to help with the allergy) and .. now my Prescribed meds. I'm going to be conked out shortly .. miss my favorite show. :( I know. It's not the end of the world. But it is the one day a week I stay up until 9. That won't happen today.

Just pray for me regarding the Fever, Sore throat (and now add itchy eyes to that).

Feeling better

Woke up this morning feeling a bit better. Woke up for the first time in days without actually feeling like I have a fever and while I haven't checked it, I'm going to assume that I don't have one. The massive amount of swelling in my nose along with any mucous to go along with it is non-existent meaning I can actually breathe in and out. Speaking of breathing, it doesn't hurt my back to breathe this morning either. This was the most worrysome part of yesterday. It hurt so bad to breathe that I was holding my breath most of the day. I am still coughing, but coughing for me lasts a long time after all other symptoms are gone. I do have a sore throat this morning, but again this is something that typically comes on at the first and end of the stage. Also my cough doesn't like like a dying seal this morning.

So between DayQuil, Magic Drops and the IV intervention, I am feeling so much better. I won't be able to take the DayQuil except at night because I'm an oddball and it actually makes me go to sleep. So I'm praying that it all stays away. I can deal with the cough, but what's a tad bit annoying is the way cough drops leave your mouth. Ya know the rough dry bumpy feeling I'm talking about? Just wanted to leave a cold update.

And I think I have a new nickname for the lady that inserts my IV's. Slick the one stick. Since March, she's had to do something with my veins 5 times. She did all 5 things (4 IV's and a blood draw) with only one stick a piece. Only one of those 5 times actually hurt throughout the IV and that was only a 30 minute IV and once it was out the pain was gone. In the last 4 weeks, I've had 5 IV's. Four have been done by "Slick" and one by S (guess she needs a name too eh?) "Schtick." In all honestly Shtick didn't do too bad. She got it in one stick and the IV stayed open the entire 30 minutes, but because it was in my hand ... it was painful. VERY painful. It bruised pretty bad, but because of her tip about the Neosporin (who knew that Neosporin could help bruises?) the bruising went down a lot quicker than normal. In fact a few days later and it was practically non-existant.

Unless there is an emergency of some sort, that should be my last needle until the 28th or so. That's when I get my lab work to see how my Iron is doing. It will be interesting to see how my other labs are since I've just had something that would probably play with my White Blood Cells. I just have to remember that 2 weeks prior to the labs I was sick so that if numbers look funny there, there is a good reason.

Miracle

So they were able to squeeze me in today. That's miracle number 1.

They were able to get my vein on the first try. That's miracle number 2. In the last month, every single IV was gotten in the first stick. So 5 IV's .. only 5 sticks. Pure Miracle (Or Skill .. probably a bit of both).

I have a fever today. In fact, it was even there at the doctor's office. I'm a weirdo. I'll have a fever of 103 at home and when I get to the doctor's office, it will be 98.6. Always causes me to roll my eyes. Anyways, today I had a low grade of 99.9 at home. When I got there, it had actually risen a whole degree. That never happens.

I got a treatment and I'm hoping that with some oral Vitamin C and magic drops that I will be feeling better in a few days. I am very grateful to some special people at the office. They truly don't know how much they have helped me over the last 3 plus years.

Ears Nose Throat

My Ears are popping. My Nose is dripping. My throat is scratchy. Add those things together and you have a pretty miserable Jennifer.

Between yesterday and today, I have had more water pass my lips than I usually do in about seven days. Yesterday was absolutely ridiculous. Not only was I having to drink the water for the IV, but I was actually thirsty. So I was drinking the bottles down as if I hadn't had any water in weeks. I thought it was bad yesterday until I woke today. I drank TWICE as much today as I did yesterday. What does this mean? I spent most of my day on the toilet. *sigh*

I thought I might be able to get another IV today, but that kind of fell through so I'll probably be drinking the same amount of water again tomorrow just in case. I know how it feels a day or two before Bronchitis sets in and that's how I am feeling today. I go from a small cold to Bronchitis pretty quickly so the quicker I can get help the quicker I'll feel better. I could wait until next week IF it turned into Bronchitis, but why wait when I can do something to prevent it from turning to Bronchitis this week. So I keep myself extra hydrated just in case I can be squeezed in for an IV.

Anyways as I told someone else, "I feel awful." It's so weird to feel awful and it not be a Lyme Disease awful. It's a normal reason to feel bad. I have a cold. Now because I do have Lyme I am more susceptible for the cold to turn into something nasty. So I'm just trying to stop it before the simple common cold turns into the nasty Bronchitis or Pneumonia. Right now, I'm drinking plenty of fluids (what an understatement) and getting plenty of rest.