. Well, I didn't want to be a complete downer, so I refrained from posting yesterday when I was having a little pity party.
No Thanksgiving for PatientSaver; she was too sick to do anything and so my family 'cancelled' the holiday until further notice.
It was last Friday (a week ago) when I dragged myself to my doctor's office and my APRN prescribed an antibiotic. I called her 3 days later, on Monday night, complaining that I really didn't feel much better. She said I hadn't given it enough time, to give the meds another day or two.
Well, another "day or two" was Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and by the time I thought to call her back when I STILL wasn't feeling better, their office had already closed for the long weekend.
So I basically was crossing my fingers all week and hoping and waiting for the drugs to really kick in. They never really did. Well, most of my worst symptoms (the earache, fever, chills and nighttime cough that wouldn't quit) are gone, but my ears are still completely muffled, and have been, since last Wednesday.
I spoke this morning to a friend of a friend who is a retired emergency room nurse. She suggested going to a walk-in clinic rather than simply waiting another 3 days til my doctor's office reopens. I have to agree.
I found a clinic in a nearby town and went there this morning. The waiting room was packed with very sick people, all of whom, I presume, were in the same fix I was in: their normal doctor's offices were closed for the holiday.
I saw the guy and he prescribed a different antibiotic (amoxicilin, 875 mg) and Sudafed for the muffled ears. Another 10 days worth.
It wasn't til i was walking to my car that i realized by reading the paperwork that the guy i saw wasn't even a doctor: he's a Physician's Assistant! I sure hope he knows what he's prescribing, becus at this point, I don't feel I can mess around with my health any longer.
At the least, they should tell you in advance if you're not going to see a real doctor.
I've already lost 2 full weeks of work from 2 p/t jobs, work that I won't be able to make up. I haven't calculated it becus it's too depressing, but it's probably at least $600 I've lost in income this month, not to mention another $100 in doctors' bills and meds.
T-giving was a non-event. All around pretty depressing.
Sick of being sick
November 23rd, 2012 at 05:30 pm
November 23rd, 2012 at 05:58 pm 1353693514
I started on the CVS version of Theraflu and it has help.
November 23rd, 2012 at 07:45 pm 1353699932
November 23rd, 2012 at 08:48 pm 1353703699
Celebrate Thanksgiving when you recover.
November 23rd, 2012 at 09:37 pm 1353706629
PAs are highly trained, and really are perfect for this kind of thing. What kind of antibiotics were you on for the first round? If you don't feel better by Monday, you should still go see your doctor again. Not all bacteria respond to the same kind of antibiotic.
I've been sick, too, and avoided posting. Possible food poisoning from food eaten Wednesday while traveling to the relatives for Thanksgiving. I stayed in bed at the relatives' house for most of the day, and my Thanksgiving dinner was toast and a spoonful of mashed potatoes. I woke up this morning, and thought, "My stomach feels okay," and then realized that I have a terrible sore throat and cough. Blech.
Hope you are better soon!
November 23rd, 2012 at 11:29 pm 1353713390
November 24th, 2012 at 12:33 am 1353717224
November 24th, 2012 at 02:46 am 1353725162
November 24th, 2012 at 03:10 am 1353726608
November 28th, 2012 at 04:14 pm 1354119242
November 28th, 2012 at 10:57 pm 1354143423
I am very, very upset about it all. Tried to go to work today and stayed about 4 hours, but i am totally distracted by my health issues. Depressed, actually.
I am not sure she has conclusively determined what my problem is, and i am starting to lose faith in her. May end up going to an ear, nose and mouth specialist. I don't know what else to do. The doc felt the 2nd course of meds prescribed by the urgent care place i went to when regular doc's office was closed over holiday was wrong; don't know if that's set me back any.
November 28th, 2012 at 11:20 pm 1354144835
November 29th, 2012 at 03:06 am 1354158389