ER visit

[ashewoman]

I had to go to the ER tonight. You know how we feel pretty crappy a lot of the time?  Well apparently, I've had a cold for about a week that turned into a middle ear infection.     Started out as a scratchy throat and escalated to fever, chills, and the sensation of having a screwdriver jammed down in my neck from my ear... Not trying to be dramatic but definitely aiming for descriptive.    Anyway, I'm sitting here with the AC on, an ice pack, a scarf and four kinds of medication.  I'm hot.  I'm cold.    I'm sleepy.    I'm wired for sound.    I'm cranky  and I decided to share all of that with you guys. 

Did I mention itchy?    That's the pain killers.  I guess the reason babies scream the whole time they have an earache is they hurt like crazy.     But I can't imagine the noise of their own screaming helps much or I'd try it.    Anyway, itchy itchy itchy is better than screwdriver jabbing deep down inside the ear so I guess four hours at the ER was pretty good time invested and really not all that long as ERs go also.  I should be grateful, but I'm not... I'm cranky.    All of this has also made my usual sjogrens, fibro, and RA misery act up more too.  I should have known something wasn't right with me when I was in soooo much muscle and joint pain last night.  

But have you guys ever noticed how auto-immune disorders seem to both aggravate and mask other illnesses at the same time.  It's like there is so much going on in my poor body these days that I can't isolate where the problem is a lot of the time.  So I can have a cold for a week before I realize I'm not just exhausted.  I can end up with a ear infection before I even realize I have a cold.  It's like trying to distinguish what a single person in an auditorium is saying... I can't hear them for the roar of the crowd. 

Anyway, wish me well, or better yet, wish me less itchies.  That's what I really need. GG

[Cheryl]

GG,
I hope your itching stops and you get some rest while the medicine helps your ear infection.  I'm sending hugs and good wishes!
Cheryl

[Gayle]

Ashwoman!!
That was a perfect description! Less itching and feel better!!! Hugs!
Gayle

[ashewoman]

GG,
I hope your itching stops and you get some rest while the medicine helps your ear infection.  I'm sending hugs and good wishes!
Cheryl

Thanks Cheryl-- this medication is stronger than a whole pot of coffee... I'm not sure sleep is going to happen.  I tried not to take the 2nd dose when I realized it was having that effect along with relieving the pain but the screwdriver started up again so I guess I'm just going to have to veg out propped up and be glad that I'm not in pain even if I can't sleep.  I feel like I'm drunk and hyper at the same time. Don't know how that happened but I imagine its the same effect people drinking alcohol and red bull are trying to achieve.  They can have it... it's for the birds!  GG   

[ashewoman]

Ashwoman!!
That was a perfect description! Less itching and feel better!!! Hugs!
Gayle

Thanks Gayle.  I do love my metaphors.    Spike the kitty sneaked out while I was leaving to go to the ER and he only came back a little while ago.  He has one eye puffed up and gooey so I know he was up to his catty shenanigans out there, but the reason I'm telling on him is because he brought home in his wonderful long black furr... every seed pod in the darn wilderness.  I held him for a while trying to pick those itty bitty little boogers out but they were just clumped in a matted mess.  So I go to the bathroom a minute ago and guess what was in my undies that usually isn't there.  Seed pods!  Keep your dang sticky seed pods to yourself Mr. Tom Cat!  No wonder I'm so itchy.  I mean that's not the only reason.  I'm sure the medication is also involved because that is clearly listed as a side-effect, but I'm also sure those little grabby seeds are at least partly to blame as well.  I think he got them all in my bed too.  Oh and you know how irritatingly sensitive our skin is thanks to Sjogrens.  Plus I just changed the sheets!  Anybody want a half strangled kitten.  He'd make a good duster because everything sticks to him like velcro with that curly long hair.  Brat cat!  Okay I'm rambling. I think that is the medication too.  LOL GG

[Gayle]

Bad cat! Bad Kitty! Geesh, like you don't have enough going on...

[Iwantmylifeback]

Did they mention Benedryl or an otc like Zyrtec to stop the itchies, help you sleep, calm you down???  Most ear infections come from a viral infection as opposed to a  bacterial infection..just saying.

Here is to hoping you feel better soon!  Thanks for the details I could def feel ya!

[ashewoman]

Gayle- He is... a bad bad kitty with a shiner from his bad boy fight.  LOL  It was like trying to comb dreadlocks on his belly.  It's no wonder he didn't like me trying.   Ever notice how dogs are like, "Please pet my belly. Isn't my belly cute?  Here let me show you my belly (just in case you suddenly need to pet something) it'll be right where you can find it in a hurry.  Are you absolutely positive you don't want to pet my belly?" Whereas cats are like this, "Worship me. Adore me.  HISS HISS!  Get your hand away from my belly or draw back nubs my friend!"   

Iwant-  No, they didn't.  I can't believe I didn't think of that on my own.  I'm gonna go take two right now.  That's one thing that sucks so much about brain fog... you know there is probably a simple solution from experience but its like your mind takes you on a long detour and you can't seem to get to the answer.  LOL

[Iwantmylifeback]

Hope it helped!  My husband puts our brain for this way..We have a large book of facts...the info is still there..the pages are just a little slower to turn,LOL he is a great help!  Feel better!

[susanep]

Hope you feel better soon soon soon. 

susanep

[lynnmarie219]

Hope you feel better soon!

Don't be too hard on kitty...

[ashewoman]

Iwant-  I slept until an hour ago.  That was good.  LOL  I woke up throbbing again because I slept so long all the pain meds worse off.  But now I'm properly dosed again and if the itching starts back up I know I can just take one or two if I need sleep.

Susan and lynnmarie-  Thanks for the well wishes.  GG

[ashewoman]

Hey I've got a funny for you guys. 
So this doctor tells a patient... "You have a middle ear infection." 
The patient says, "but that's impossible doc." 
"Impossible?  Why would that be impossible?" the doctor asks.
"Because I don't have enough ears.  I only have two--a left and a right." HA HA HA HA!  GG

[Iwantmylifeback]

Ashewoman  GREAT! glad to help! Glad they helped! 

Here is a funny for you!  My husband is blind, no thats not the funny!  He was being bothered by a fly Labor Day.  I was reading the forum at the time.  He said "If I had a flyswater, I would get that little pest!"  So  I got him one chuckling the whole time.  Nothing funnier than watching a blind man smack the stuffin out of himself trying to hit the fly!!  Yes my cheeks hurt from laughing and even managed a couple of funny tears!  I swear he did finally get him!

[meow]

Ashewoman--- the itching from your painkiller may be a mild allergic reaction...if it has codeine, that's probably your culprit. Next time, let them know and they'll give you something else.

I love the description of your bad-boy cat. You are hilarious! What's his name?