Wednesday, February 23, 2005
Bedshaped
I'm writing to you from the me-shaped hole forming in my mattress. I've been in this exact spot for almost three days, making only a few brief appearances in the outside world. Short trips to work, the doctor, the emergency room and two fairly miserable attempts to be social were all my tired little form could handle. I'm not exactly sure what has placed me in bed, certainly not your run of the mill flu as I have none of the usual symptoms. Swollen glands, a fever that comes and goes and a righteous case of fatigue have made this mystery illness a bitch to beat and has left me desperate for the runny nose and hacking cough of influenza.
On Monday, after a seven and a half hour trip to the ER for unrelated problems, I wretched myself from bed and into the office. I lasted only an hour, my limbs bruised and aching and my body screaming for sleep. By the evening I was able to pull myself together enough to make an appearance at my friend's birthday dinner but was back in bed before 10. Tuesday I made it a bit longer, but was sent home after lunch due to a raging fever. This time Motrin and more sleep tricked me into a secure sense of wellness. That lasted only a few hours and I was wiped before I even hit the social scene. This morning, after almost 12 hours of sleep, I was barely able to make it to the doctor on time. He checked my glands, still swollen, checked my fever, still raging, and ordered more blood to be taken and checked for whatever is toying with my immune system. Still no real diagnosis, only conjecture and a whole lot of, "Let's wait and see." On the upside, I did leave with a free stash of Allegra and yet another follow up appointment where I pay him money and he gives me NOTHING.
So, the inventory for this week thus far includes six incredibly painful needle scars, 34 hours spent in bed, three weeks worth of free Allegra, half a box of Motrin Cold and Sinus, four cans of soup and $65 down the drain(taken by doctors who tortured me for hours and diagnosed me with NOTHING). Impressive, I know, but what can I say. We can't all be this forunate.
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On Monday, after a seven and a half hour trip to the ER for unrelated problems, I wretched myself from bed and into the office. I lasted only an hour, my limbs bruised and aching and my body screaming for sleep. By the evening I was able to pull myself together enough to make an appearance at my friend's birthday dinner but was back in bed before 10. Tuesday I made it a bit longer, but was sent home after lunch due to a raging fever. This time Motrin and more sleep tricked me into a secure sense of wellness. That lasted only a few hours and I was wiped before I even hit the social scene. This morning, after almost 12 hours of sleep, I was barely able to make it to the doctor on time. He checked my glands, still swollen, checked my fever, still raging, and ordered more blood to be taken and checked for whatever is toying with my immune system. Still no real diagnosis, only conjecture and a whole lot of, "Let's wait and see." On the upside, I did leave with a free stash of Allegra and yet another follow up appointment where I pay him money and he gives me NOTHING.
So, the inventory for this week thus far includes six incredibly painful needle scars, 34 hours spent in bed, three weeks worth of free Allegra, half a box of Motrin Cold and Sinus, four cans of soup and $65 down the drain(taken by doctors who tortured me for hours and diagnosed me with NOTHING). Impressive, I know, but what can I say. We can't all be this forunate.
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