February 4, 2009

Really Sick ... and a little restless.

Two days ago, I started feeling pretty awful at work. Chills, then sweating, the chills, then sweating. And everything ached - my head, my legs, my back. It started around 3:00, bu I pushed through it thinking if I just focused on projects and kept drinking my water, it'd get better. Knowing this likely meant I was running a fever, I took my temperature as soon as I got home -- it was 103. Needless to say, pjs and an early night called my name.

Yesterday morning, the thermometer read 102 and the aches had gotten worse. I stayed home from work and slept nearly all day long. By the middle of the afternoon, my temp had dropped back down to 97 and I was starting to feel a little better. I did some work from home and cleaned up a few things around the house, but then the aching came back. And my temperature rose again to 100. Around 7:00 or so, I also noticed that I'd been itching a spot on my arm pretty regularly and that the itch was not going away. I looked down and saw it was covered in little white bumps. And in a matter of about an hour, the little white bumps went away and were replaced by this awful red splotchy rash that burned more than it itched. And it wasn't just on my arm, it covered my entire body.

Through the night, my temperature rose to 103 again, the aching continued to get worse, the rash was burning and I couldn't fall asleep for the life of me. My plan was to call my doctor at 9 and try to get in for the first available appointment, but by about 5am I was so miserable and getting really lightheaded and dizzy even laying down that Mike decided to take me to the ER.

Where we spent four hours going through triage, seeing two nurses and finally a doctor (who was really great). I had been imaging all of these worst case scenarios, like toxic shock syndrome since I just had that toe injury or a severe allergic reaction to the antibiotic I was taking to treat it. Turns out I have a really bad case of strep -- my throat doesn't really hurt at all, but it's strep bacteria that are causing the rash. So the nurse gave me two shots, one of which is suppose to be so painful she added a numbing agent. So far it's the other one that hurts. And unfortunately these are not the kind of shots you get in the arm ... so sitting down or laying on my back doesn't feel so great. I've also stopped taking the other antibiotic and am starting a new one. And I have to take heavy duty motrin for three days. Oh, and I'm not allowed to go back to work until Monday. I'm suppose to rest and stay in bed for at least three days. Which isn't the best news as I get restless very easily, already spent most of yesterday in bed, have lots of things to get started at work and my butt hurts from shots ;)

I think I might stop by Blockbuster and Barnes and Noble to find some entertainment to enjoy from bed. I have to go out and get my prescriptions filled, so I'm trying to defend these two added stops. Otherwise, maybe Mike will feel bored for me and at least go for me?

What a week. Is it Monday yet?!

2 comments:

  1. I hope you found some entertainment. It was good chatting with you. I am so sorry that you are sick. Feel better.

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  2. Oh, Jes ... you take it easy. Take those meds and REST! Enjoy reading, enjoy movies, and focus on healing. Do not worry about grants!

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