Saturday, May 12, 2012

Bronchitis

I can barely breathe. My cough is so bad people are asking me if I have pneumonia. They tell me I sound horrible. I cannot imagine going to that darn ER and waiting for hours and hours hacking like this. I call my doctor, but of course, they have no hours. I call urgent care and get an appointment. Check in is quick and they take me right back. The nurse swabs my throat for strep and I wait for the doctor to come in. I half expect her to throw me out, tell me I have a cold and its a virus and I am a wimp go home. If I could breathe better, I wouldn't have come. I am completely uncaring.

The doctor is an older woman. She is quiet and gentle, checks me out, then excuses herself to check the strep results. She reenters and tells me I do not have strep, but I do have a bad case of bronchitis. Because of my chemo she is giving me both an inhaler to help the lungs be less irritated and swollen and a Z Pack of antibiotics. I am validated! I was right to come. I thank her and head for the pharmacy.

After I collapse back home, I take my medicine, ever so grateful that I could go to urgent care and that I could afford the prescriptions. I fill a tall glass with ice and water, thankful thankful thankful for cold water and a comfy chair. Then I put on a Monk DVD and veg. Within seconds of using the inhaler, I can breathe easier, though the hacking cough takes considerable time to calm down. Maybe tonight I will be able to sleep. That would be nice. God is good and I am ever so grateful. I doze on and off until Drew comes home, then go to bed.

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