In Case Anyone Needs To Reach Me...

[dr_pretentious]

It seems I lost my cell phone at the emergency room on Monday while I was getting diagnosed with probably-pneumonia. I usually tell people the best way to reach me is by cell phone, but at the moment, the home phone's the better bet.

Given my inconclusive X-rays, the question of whether I actually have pneumonia seems to turn on which doctor is holding the stethoscope. Over the course of my two ER visits and a follow-up, some have said yes, some have said no. At least it's clear I'm on the mend.

I've decided to embrace the word pneumonia, because that word means the rules are different. If all I have is a cold, well, I soldier on. If I have a virus, I soldier on without antibiotics. Soldiering on is what landed me in the ER twice, so I need a new game plan, one that's compatible with what all the doctors agree on: my recovery will take weeks, maybe months.

Breva the Axe (the Barbarian Queen of Concision Revision) points out that it's not a good idea to soldier on through colds and viruses, either, and that she wishes I would stop attempting stoicism. She's right. She also made us chili. She's a Savage Editor and a mighty fine cook. She and rianders and sporos have provisioned us for the coming week, since my mom's heading home tomorrow. Praise them with great praise.

Comments

[evilbunny.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry! I'm glad to hear you're on the mend, though! I'll think good thoughts for you. *hugs*

[onyxtwilight.livejournal.com]

I sympathize. I'm at work against my better judgment, because the Monday holiday (for which I don't get paid) has already made this a short week and I couldn't afford to lose another day.

But I feel like I've been beaten with boards. That's my only symptom, achey all over like you get with the flu. Could be worse, I'm sure, and I'm grateful it's not. But it hurts to use my muscles, even in small ways.

Holy Bacteriological Balrogs, Batman!!!

[leapfaith.livejournal.com]

When I had that really nasty bug back in Jan/Feb, I would go take a shower twice a day. While the steam helped get some of the ickiness loose, I would bend over and hold my ankle for a minute or two, so that gravity could pull stuff out of my chest. It made for somewhat ickier showers, and it meant I had to bleach the bathtub frequently, to be sanitary, but a nurse I know says that it almost certainly kept what I had from developing into pneumonio. It isn't for everyone; at least 2 friends of mine would pass out or have or issues if they tried this, but apart from praying for you, it is the best thing I have to convey.