Seems I didn't cough much after last night's post because, well, in order to cough you have to be able to move air in your lungs and all and the BlogHerbola virus doesn't let you do that.
I went to bed around 11:45 or so and woke up 20 minutes later feeling mighty, mighty funny.
And not in a blog with a lampshade on your head funny, either.
My right lung felt very, very tight and I was making funny noises when I breathed.
I have an inhaler, and it helped somewhat, but not for very long.
I got out my stethoscope (I used to be a real nurse, I haven't always pushed papers, ya know) and decided, "Well, that ain't right."
I tried to sleep some more, but no dice.
Every time I did fall asleep, I'd wake up 15 minutes later gasping for air.
I took a shower around 4am and drank some hot tea.
At least I was clean and hydrated while I was dying short of breath.
Thinking I might have pneumonia or fulminating pulmonary edema or something, I decided to go see the doctor around 5am.
I went to the ER at my place of business and they promptly took me back and did an EKG.
Damn, I hadn't thought of cardiac issues in my worst case scenario.
The nurse did the EKG, looked at the paper and bolted from the room.
Now, if that doesn't do an already short of breath body good, I don't know what does.
He returned and started doing other stuff, so I said, "Hey, you'd tell me if I were dead or something, wouldn't you?"
He just kinda looked at me and said, "We have 5 minutes to get the EKG signed by the attending physician."
Oh.
Ya might wanna tell sick people that before you high-tail it out of the room.
Anyway, I got a chest x-ray and it was clear.
I don't have pneumonia, and they are saying it's "allergies".
Hmm.
Not so sure about that, but whatever.
I got a breathing treatment, some steroids (and my Olympic dreams go up in smoke), some narcotics (Lortab, go me), an inhaler and some nose spray.
I've never told y'all about my nose phobia, have I?
Coke addict? Ur not doin' it right. Fail.
CANNOT put anything up my nose, but I managed to act like a grown-up when they gave me the spray.
I was there for about 4 hours (yay for my new Nintendo DS Lite I won at Donna's) and was discharged.
I came home and tried to sleep, but was literally kept awake by the musical stylings of my lungs.
I alternately thought Busy D, was crying downstairs, the dog was howling and a car drove up the driveway, and it all turned out to be me breathing.
PSA: when you wear your pajamas to your place of business in the dark and leave your place of business in the light, you still have your pajamas on.
Pajamas. At work.
A new one, even for me.
P. S. I know you're on edge waiting for me to wrap up my BlogHer trip, I'll try to get to it after I make some sort of contribution to the household today.
Try to contain yourselves in the meantime.
Recent Entries on Busymom.net:
- What the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and Google Buzz Can Teach Us About Social Media
- Blissdom 2010 and some introspection
- Like yesterday, only moresnow.
- Snowpocalypse 2010
- Rabid procrastination
LMAO, that was hilarious! you just got yourself a very excited fan!
You can even make being deathly ill funny. I hope that the drugs kick in and you are feeling better soon.
that sounds kind of scary! I'm glad it wasn't anything cardiac, although the nurse bolting from the room seems odd for just "allergies". Get better in time for Monday!
Dude, I hope you feel better soon! That sounds pretty horrible. But I love how you checked your breathing with a scope, didn't like what you heard and STILL went back to bed. Clearly you're a mom, sleep outweighs everything.
That Doc couldn't diagnose BlogHerEbola?
What a hack!
Just don't go all 'roid rage on us. Hope you are feeling better soon.
Take care of yourself...we can wait for the BlogHer recap finale.
Popped over from Twitter when I saw ER! Glad you're still alive and well.
Best wishes
I'm no doctor - I just play like one with my Internet MD-ness, but I'm glad you went to check it all out, pajama'ed and all. Get well soon, k?
Feel better soon!
Mary, who at the moment can't remember if we actually met at Blogher.....
GAH! I am glad you are OK. I hope the drugs are good.
Allergies are kicking my booty today and it occurred to me that I got pneumonia in July two years ago. Ugh.
I am thinking we all need to escape Nashville during the dirty air month of July. I guess I'm not going to work for the Convention and Visitors Bureau any time soon. ;)
So, I'm glad you're not dead. The line about PJs at work made me snort.
Word. You're a mutha.
Holy crap! I hope you feel better soon.
What are you allergic to? Bloggers?
That's so awful! I had a similar issue while I was pregnant. At about eight months into my pregnancy, I just couldn't breathe anymore (audible wheezing without a stethoscope). I wound up on steroids, inhalers, blah, blah, blah. It made me very grouchy. I never would have dreamed how irritating it could be not to be able to breathe. I feel for you!
You alternately scare the crap out of me and crack me up. Breathing issues just terrify me. The first four times the now-9yo had the croup as a young child, my head nearly exploded. You'd think as a person who grew up with lots of allergies, I'd be used to all this. But no.
I hope you are feeling better and that everyone else has contributed to the household in your stead today. :)
No way! That's a hell of a way to end the week. Take care of that lung. Or whatever.
Ugh, I'm so sorry. :(
I hope you feel better soon!
Glad they gave you drugs, hope they're working by now.
I hope you feel better soon! It's not easy being sick and taking care of the kids.
Every pregnancy after my third gave me sinusitis, for some odd reason. The midwives suggested boiling water and putting a free drops of tea tree oil, then grabbing a towel to put over my head and breathe in the fumes from my little towel tent.
It's like a spa from home! ; )
Oh girl...I'm sorry to read that you're not feeling so good either. Poor girls. You and Jenn sure got sick at the worst time :( Maybe it was BlogHer/Travel stress combined with a nasty bug.
Hope you feel better soon!
Hope this note finds you on the mend. Must have been very scary when the nurse bolted from the room, eh?
Enjoyed sushi dinner with you Saturday night. Feel better soon!
Molly (aka Tacky Princess @ White Trash Mom / Balanced Babe @ Mother's Balancing Act)
I had the SAME thing happen to me! It was completely painful and I was convinced that I was going to die, but I had to drive myself to the ER because it was the middle of the night and we had NO family nearby to watch the kids. I was crying on the drive over, feeling sorry for myself, saying, "I'm going to die alone in this minivan, which I hate more than anything."
Luckily, I'm not dead either. Hope you feel better!
UGH...just, ugh. This may sound weird, feeling like crap as you do, but I'm glad you are, you know, still here.
Feel better, soon.
I'm a little unclear on the jammies thing - I always thought scrubs (which I assume you've worked in when you were actively using the stethoscope) looked just like jammies and have in fact been seriously considering purchasing a set or 7 for myself.
Hope you're feeling better after the good drugs!
So glad I found your blog! I googled "mom blog" and came across some pretty snoozers, er, interesting blogs. Yours is going to the favorite list!
Please don't die suddenly (or slowly) from a PE. Did you pump your feet on the flight?
Did I tell you about the last time I went to the ED? It was for a blood exposure. They sent me home with the appropriate d/c paperwork, but with someone else's name and DOB, which I didn't realize until I got home. The (new) RN gave me a tetanus booster, which ran down my arm, and I thought I was going to have to draw my own blood. I know they trick new nurses into working in the ED b/c those with experience have the good sense to stay out, but, damn.