Sunday, January 4, 2015

And the next thing I knew, it was January


I NEVER get sick - well, I used to never get sick.  Not a cold, flu, allergies - nothing.  Late Christmas evening, I felt a tightness in my chest that was constricting my airways.  By Saturday morning, my fevers had spiked to 103.  Against my better judgement, I went to the nearest Quick Quack (that's what I call urgent care, and I have YET to be adequately diagnosed at any of these so call medical institutions).  

After 2 1/2 hours of sitting in the lobby full of other people coughing up a lung or two, I was screened and tested positive for 2 separate strains of flu.  Yippee.  They prescribed TamiFlu, but by the time I got out of the Quick Quack at 5:50 PM, all the pharmacies in my area were closed.  Since when did the pharmacies close at dinner time?  What rock have I been living under?

After a few phone calls in the morning, we located located a pharmacy that actually HAD TamiFlu on hand (it's like Gold, people).  $125 later - yet another prescription that my crappy insurance (thanks Health Care Act) does NOT cover, and one pill later, I became worse.  So, no more TamiFlu for me.  But the tightness in my chest, and soon the wheezing and shortness of breath became almost unbearable.

Monday rolled around and I have never been more thankful to have a Primary Care Physician that I can trust - took me YEARS and many failed attempts to find her.  Anyway, add bronchial infection and bronchitis to my ailments, four prescriptions, and by Tuesday, and I am slowly (and I mean slowly) but surely on the mend.  

Flash back to last Sunday...Mom does not feel well.  Same crappy flu symptoms.  But, she is in the "elderly" category, and, according to her and my doctor, has to be watched very carefully.  So, like a dutiful daughter, I wrap my mother up in her warmest coat, slap a sneeze mask on both of us, and take her to her doctor on Tuesday.  Her doctor declared that, although a slight fever, it appears to be a cold.  Never even checked for flu.  Hmpf..

Wednesday - 11:30 AM.  I leave a message for my mother's doctor's office to please call me - my mother is tanking - fevers, terrible cough, yada yada.  The doctor never called back.  (Note - I was very selective in choosing this doctor 5 years ago, as he is a specialist in geriatrics...hmmmmm)  At 6:00 PM I contact the "on call doctor" who tells me that if her fever spikes, call 911 and get her to the ER.  You see, when the elderly suffer from high fevers, and many times, dehydration, they lose their cognitive abilities.  This is not something I recommend anyone ever have to go through - it is very scary - and I hope I never have to witness that again.

So, New Year's Eve was spent in the ER.  I have only wonderful things to say about Novent Prince William/Manassas Emergency Room.  The doctors, nurses, everyone, has always excelled and I felt a wave of relief when the chest x-ray came back negative for pneumonia.  But, a bag and half of saline solution pumped through her veins, and Mom was back to her old lucid self.  The doctor told her, a minimum of 64 ounces of liquids (non caffeinated) daily, or she can come back for refueling.

Mom slept from 4:30 AM New Years Day until Friday morning.  She woke to take drinks of water, etc., but no food, not much talking.  But she was "back" - just very, very tired.  She ate 3 very small meals yesterday, sat in her chair to crochet, played on the computer, all semi-normal stuff.  Still very weak, but improving every single day - thank goodness!

So....my advice to anyone who gets this blasted, "never been this sick before" flu, DRINK LOTS OF LIQUIDS.  It's the only thing that worked.

Today is the first day I have not worn a sneeze mask when walking around my house, and I feel free!


Source

Monday, I foresee a visit with Mom's doctor - just me and the doc, not Mom.  Something snapped last week with her care, and the trust I had for his team is now broken.

I apologize for digressing from jewelry making and will hopefully get back to creating again very soon.  I bid everyone - including those in my household - who is reading this Good Health for 2015.

Thank you for stopping by!

xo
Patti

13 comments:

  1. Patti,
    I am glad you are feeling better and your mom is on the mend!
    You are doing the right thing to talk to your mom's doctor - you have to be the advocate for her or no one else will be. Mom and I learned that with my grandma and her doctor's - I think they cringed each time they saw us but we made sure they took care of my grandma!
    I hope the both of you start to feeling better!
    (If this posts twice I apologize)

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  2. oh how horrible! so glad to hear both you and your mom are on the mend, but what a scare! and I'd be laying it down with her doc too. That is a big snaffu

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  3. Glad that you and your mom are feeling better now. I was sick twice since September (also never get sick, yadda yadda ) My secret cure for the snots was Mucinex plus hot lemon water. Still had to work through it, but it kept things moving!

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  4. Glad you are both in the mend, hopefully it will work out with the doctor!
    Take care.

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  5. Sounds like a tough holiday season for you and your Mom. I'm happy to hear you're both on the mend now. This is a particularly scary flu virus going around. Good luck when seeing your mom's doc. They can be so defensive and bristly when in the wrong and it sounds like they messed up big time here.However it usually ensures they are on the ball in the future.

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  6. First I am glad to hear that you and your Mom are better. Don't be to hard on her Doctor, but be stern and stand your ground. Happy New Year to you and yours and here's to good health through out the year!
    Therese

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  7. Oh, Patti, I'm so happy you and your mom are on the mend! I've heard the flu is bad this year. The experience with your mom's doctor is disturbing. I hope you can come away from your meeting feeling you accomplished what you wanted.
    Happy New Year and hopefully, it will be a very healthy and happy one for you and your mom!

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  8. Awful! I feel the same about urgent care. I'm glad it exists, but never feel like I get stellar care there. I'm glad both you and your mom are on the mend. I also "never" get sick but was sick all through the holidays and am still not quite well. Hoping it is just finishing up and I don't have to go back to the doctor.

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  9. So sorry to hear this! Glad things are getting better. Hopefully you got ALL of the illness for the next decade or two out of the way with this ordeal! Everyone get well and stay well!

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  10. Hi Patti, I am sorry to hear that you and your Mom were both ill. I am very glad that both of you are on the mend. Yes I do think that you should speak to her Doctor.

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  11. Oh my goodness. I am so glad you are taking such good care of your mother. That could have had a really poor outcome. I am so glad you both are on the mend.

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  12. I am glad you are feeling better and what a great daughter you are for taking such good care of your mother, I hope she is feeling better soon too and that you get the issues with her Doc sorted out. Here is to a happier and healther New Year!

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  13. Good doctors are like hen's teeth - not exactly easy to find! Hope you kick some butt with your mum's care team and I hope you both fully recover soon. Best wishes for a happy - and healthy - new year from Shroo :) x

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