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Jul. 10th, 2011 08:06 pmThe allergy attack I mentioned in the last post? I'm not sure what caused it - I originally thought it was the Benadryl PE but then I had a second attack in the morning and I had none of that med in the morning. There were also some new brand of throat lozenges but I had those on four occasions and only two coincided with the attacks so it might have been that or it may be something else I haven't even thought of. Have ceased to take either of them, just in case.
So yes, second allergy attack. And "gosh" I thinks and makes an appointment to see my doctor later that day ...
... or I thought I had. When I got there the doctor who called my name was a guy I'd never met before! Turned out that I have been asking for my Dr whose given name is "Joseph" under the incorrect name of "John" for the past several years... I had a "Dr John" for many years starting before I was even sick, so I think my brain mis-encoded this guy's name somewhere along the line. In retrospect I recall the receptionist correcting my naming of this doctor several times but it never mattered before because there was no "Dr John" at the clinic.
Except, evidently, now there is. I've met him!
Having met him I have absolutely zero wish to meet him again.
I went in there and explained I had this virus which had also progressed to a chest infection and was taking prescribed antibiotics and had had two unexpected allergic reactions which I suspected were caused by symptom relief meds, which I had taken to make sure I didn't mess up the names or anything. He gave me this huge lecture about how they didn't make the infection go away faster so I shouldn't take them. I pointed out that my pulled chest muscles (from coughing) meant that I couldn't actually rest at all without treating some of the symptoms and getting too tired aggravated my disability. He re-iterated that I shouldn't take the symptom relievers because they didn't make me better, and recommended I take Manuka honey[*]. He refused to give any recommendations on any symptomatic treatments that he thought might be less bad for me, despite my explanation that I was concerned about aggravating my existing conditions or rendering my immune system kaput because I was coughing too much to sleep. In the end he said I should take paracetamol (US: tylenol) if I had to.
I understand that people with viral infections who take symptom relieving meds and then go about their regular active busy lives and then complain about not getting better must frustrate doctors a lot, but geez! Despite me using my powered reclining wheelchair to get there he appeared totally unable to perceive that advice appropriate for a Type A businessman who refused to rest was not necessarily appropriate for yours truly. So yes, thank gods he is not my regular doctor, basically.
That was Friday. This is Sunday and I now have pulled muscles on both sides of my chest wall from more coughing than anybody should be doing, and almost no skin in the middle of my face because I have wiped it all off by blowing my nose approximately seventy seven billion times! I have invested in some of those stupidly expensive tissues which have aloe vera impregnated in them and they are indeed wonderful.
I did "give in" and take some Sudafed (pseudoephedrine stuff which dries up secretions) today once because I was so tired I was basically crying with exhaustion and also feverish and all the rest. I'm very uncertain about how sensible it is to dry up secretions when one has viral and bacterial infections of the respiratory system because, really, mucus that colour should not be inside me. But on the pragmatic side if I end up having a complete collapse and relapse because I killed myself trying to out-stubborn this that would also be dumb. So one dose of Sudafed this morning and I plan to take another dose just before bedtime because I really really really need to sleep! Am also doing all the usual stuff like lots of liquids and breathing in steam and trying to rest.
Oh, also drinking chicken and corn soup because that's a soup my Nana used to make and so it has truly splendid placebo powers! Also it's really easy to make: you use a packet of chicken soup, a packet of chicken noodle soup, a can of creamed corn, a can of corn kernels, a pile of cooked shredded chicken and a bunch of grated processed cheese. Make up both soups according to direction, you can cook them together or apart depending on equipment. Add all the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Scents of Ricky's childhood and something I can get my helpers to make without fuss!
Now I just have to remember to ask for Dr Joseph next time I make an appointment...
Hugs,
r
[*] It's a honey alleged to have exceptional anti-microbial properties. As far as I know these have only been tested for skin infections when it's applied directly (such as with burns patients) and the Wikipedia page is so exceptionally bad that I'm not linking it here.
So yes, second allergy attack. And "gosh" I thinks and makes an appointment to see my doctor later that day ...
... or I thought I had. When I got there the doctor who called my name was a guy I'd never met before! Turned out that I have been asking for my Dr whose given name is "Joseph" under the incorrect name of "John" for the past several years... I had a "Dr John" for many years starting before I was even sick, so I think my brain mis-encoded this guy's name somewhere along the line. In retrospect I recall the receptionist correcting my naming of this doctor several times but it never mattered before because there was no "Dr John" at the clinic.
Except, evidently, now there is. I've met him!
Having met him I have absolutely zero wish to meet him again.
I went in there and explained I had this virus which had also progressed to a chest infection and was taking prescribed antibiotics and had had two unexpected allergic reactions which I suspected were caused by symptom relief meds, which I had taken to make sure I didn't mess up the names or anything. He gave me this huge lecture about how they didn't make the infection go away faster so I shouldn't take them. I pointed out that my pulled chest muscles (from coughing) meant that I couldn't actually rest at all without treating some of the symptoms and getting too tired aggravated my disability. He re-iterated that I shouldn't take the symptom relievers because they didn't make me better, and recommended I take Manuka honey[*]. He refused to give any recommendations on any symptomatic treatments that he thought might be less bad for me, despite my explanation that I was concerned about aggravating my existing conditions or rendering my immune system kaput because I was coughing too much to sleep. In the end he said I should take paracetamol (US: tylenol) if I had to.
I understand that people with viral infections who take symptom relieving meds and then go about their regular active busy lives and then complain about not getting better must frustrate doctors a lot, but geez! Despite me using my powered reclining wheelchair to get there he appeared totally unable to perceive that advice appropriate for a Type A businessman who refused to rest was not necessarily appropriate for yours truly. So yes, thank gods he is not my regular doctor, basically.
That was Friday. This is Sunday and I now have pulled muscles on both sides of my chest wall from more coughing than anybody should be doing, and almost no skin in the middle of my face because I have wiped it all off by blowing my nose approximately seventy seven billion times! I have invested in some of those stupidly expensive tissues which have aloe vera impregnated in them and they are indeed wonderful.
I did "give in" and take some Sudafed (pseudoephedrine stuff which dries up secretions) today once because I was so tired I was basically crying with exhaustion and also feverish and all the rest. I'm very uncertain about how sensible it is to dry up secretions when one has viral and bacterial infections of the respiratory system because, really, mucus that colour should not be inside me. But on the pragmatic side if I end up having a complete collapse and relapse because I killed myself trying to out-stubborn this that would also be dumb. So one dose of Sudafed this morning and I plan to take another dose just before bedtime because I really really really need to sleep! Am also doing all the usual stuff like lots of liquids and breathing in steam and trying to rest.
Oh, also drinking chicken and corn soup because that's a soup my Nana used to make and so it has truly splendid placebo powers! Also it's really easy to make: you use a packet of chicken soup, a packet of chicken noodle soup, a can of creamed corn, a can of corn kernels, a pile of cooked shredded chicken and a bunch of grated processed cheese. Make up both soups according to direction, you can cook them together or apart depending on equipment. Add all the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Scents of Ricky's childhood and something I can get my helpers to make without fuss!
Now I just have to remember to ask for Dr Joseph next time I make an appointment...
Hugs,
r
[*] It's a honey alleged to have exceptional anti-microbial properties. As far as I know these have only been tested for skin infections when it's applied directly (such as with burns patients) and the Wikipedia page is so exceptionally bad that I'm not linking it here.
