'Just a cold'? No, it's worse than that
Jan. 19th, 2026 10:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
melcharI've been suffering from a cold since just past Christmas. It's gotten worse, despite hot soup, tea and care.
5 days ago, on Wednesday, at 7-8am I had a terrible coughing fit that made some muscles in my side feel like I was being knifed there. My Sweetie convinced me to go to the emergency room. About 4 hours later, I had been examined, poked, X-rayed and diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia. I was given 2 different antibiotics [Amoxicillin & Azithromyci] as a 5-day course that ended today.
I was also given 3 other drugs: Prednisone - a corticosteroid medication - for the inflammation, an albuterol inhaler & benzonatate gels to ease coughing. The examining doctor said that I was in really good shape - everything considered - and thus did NOT need to be immediately hospitalized. Back home, I flopped into bed and have been slowly recovering over the last 5 days - seeking to rest between coughing fits.
Currently, I feel SO much better than I did, but am concerned since [a] the antibiotics courses are finished but I am still unwell & [b] - given my typical rate of recovery it is extremely likely that my condition will not improve. Also, why 5 days now, when the 'norm' used to be 10-14 days of medication? The probability of relapsing and feeling worse again just depresses me.
5 days ago, on Wednesday, at 7-8am I had a terrible coughing fit that made some muscles in my side feel like I was being knifed there. My Sweetie convinced me to go to the emergency room. About 4 hours later, I had been examined, poked, X-rayed and diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia. I was given 2 different antibiotics [Amoxicillin & Azithromyci] as a 5-day course that ended today.
I was also given 3 other drugs: Prednisone - a corticosteroid medication - for the inflammation, an albuterol inhaler & benzonatate gels to ease coughing. The examining doctor said that I was in really good shape - everything considered - and thus did NOT need to be immediately hospitalized. Back home, I flopped into bed and have been slowly recovering over the last 5 days - seeking to rest between coughing fits.
Currently, I feel SO much better than I did, but am concerned since [a] the antibiotics courses are finished but I am still unwell & [b] - given my typical rate of recovery it is extremely likely that my condition will not improve. Also, why 5 days now, when the 'norm' used to be 10-14 days of medication? The probability of relapsing and feeling worse again just depresses me.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-20 08:43 pm (UTC)I'm glad they persuaded you to go to the doctor, and that the drugs are working. Fingers crossed you feel better soon.
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Date: 2026-01-21 04:29 pm (UTC)[This does include the doctor my mom worked for who was a greedy, careless man who felt no need to do anything beyond the minimum of care he could get away with.]
** - and the BEST damn doctor I have every encountered. The man diagnosed me with Diverticulitis over the PHONE, after an 'urgent care' nurse, then a doctor examining me in-person tried telling me I had to be suffering from an ulcer. Father-in-law sent in a script for me [for Floxin] & he told me that, based on described symptoms I would have 'tarry stools' [literally black in color] after the first dose of the meds. And he was 100% right. I was recovered and pain-free in 3 days. Damn, he was a difficult man in some ways, but 100% the best doctor & kindest soul!
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Date: 2026-01-21 04:42 pm (UTC)I'm glad you found a good one! Impressive diagnostic skills!
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Date: 2026-01-21 04:58 pm (UTC)Other things? ^_^ He was terrible with finances, brilliant with horses and every person in the family knew of his love and care for them. I still mourn that he died so abruptly: cerebral hemorrhage killed him instantly at age 79, between one breath & the next as dinner was being assembled. He had spoken with everyone - kids, wife, brother - within the last 3 days and no one felt left out of his life.