The Dr. Says....

In case you don't want to read about all the gory details....the nutshell version:
Since last Thursday night/Friday morning Dean and I have had fevers between 103 and 105 F (40 and 41 C) (no breaks in fever either!)  We are coughing like crazy.  Saturday Dean ends up in hospital.  He has chest infection.  Lots of throwing up and changing bedsheets because he is coughing so bad.  I develop terrible chest pains (feel like my chest is being crushed by super powered vice).  After four trips (over three days) to Dr.  I have chest infection, pleurisy (very painful inflammation of lung lining) and inflamed/strained muscles all between my ribs.  On antibiotics now too (plus pain killers and muscle relaxers).

To give you the whole picture, I am going to give you the nitty gritty details (which are not always pretty!)

Last Wednesday I took Dean to the Dr. because he had a lingering cough.

Dr. said he had a cold, colds were going around.  He told me to give him a tissue to spit his phlegm into and he would be fine for school.  I kept him home anyways

Thursday he goes to school.   9:30 school calls....can I pick Dean up, he's been sick.  Apparently they were walking to PE (which is a good long walk from his classroom to the sports center) and he got to coughing and threw up.  We spend the day gardening, hanging out....there is a lot of coughing, but no more throwing up and he is in good spirits.

Thursday night I come down with fever and aches and mega cough.  Sore throat, head ache (well everything ached).

Friday morning (I am in bed totally unable to get up...feverish, aching, coughing, being pissed off (sorry for the language, but it's true.)  Spike gets Dean to school.  12:00 School calls, Dean is not himself, very tired, falling asleep in class.  I call friend to collect him b/c there is no way I can drive.

Dean gets home, has 103.5 degree F temp  (40+ degree C) and just wants to go to bed.  He and I sleep for three hours.  We rage with fever all night.  Cough like crazy.  Feel very poor!!

Saturday. To put it mildly Dean and I feel like crap.  We lay in bed, shiver, cry, cough, sputter.  I wish I could go into a coma just for a few days until this all passes!

Dean's temp as 104.5 F (41 C).  Not good.  I phone Drs. On Call.  They are very busy, they will call me back.  45 Minutes go by, I am not happy, I call back.  They say bring him in to hospital.  He wants his mom to bring him....I have a 103 degree temp and am weak as can be, start crying (how can I NOT go with my son to the hospital....this is just all wrong!!!)  I decide I will go, I am not staying home while he drives off crying for his mom. So Spike and I both go (since I am in no form to drive or carry Dean).  Dr. says very bad chest infection.  Prescribes antibiotics.

Weekend totally sucks. By Sunday afternoon upper ribs hurt SO BAD!!  I am only able to breath very shallow.  Every single breath makes me wince with pain!

Monday.  Savior Lillian takes Addie.  I go to Dr. (Dean has to come with me.)  I'm told I have a flu virus.  There is nothing ot be done about it.  Dr. thinks I have cracked a few ribs from all my coughing. The flu can be horrible she says.  I get pain killers for ribs.

At home I am feeling like throwing a big fat pity party for myself (and I am NOT a pity party kind of gal....OH NO, I am PolyAnnie, I am queen of positive and looking on the bright side.)  I ask Spike if he thinks we can find a private Dr. to induce that coma I was talking about.  I am totally serious.  He does not take me seriously, so I feel ever more sorry for myself (again, very unlike me.)

*I know this is getting long, but please note that at no time during this whole weekend and Monday does my fever ever break....there is no relief from the aches and shivering and agony in my ribs!

Dean and I nap.  I wake up and my legs are covered in the UGLIEST rash you have ever seen....like something from a horror film.  Go back to Dr.  "Your body must be getting allergic to being so hot".....it happens she says.  "Try to cool down" she says. GREAT!

Nights are terrible b/c lying down feels like a vice is crushing my ribs (in addition to all the other aches and pains).  Pain is no longer contained to the ribs just under the breast....it's all the way around the side and right into the middle of my back.  Rash keeps appearing in new places.....once covering my whole neck and face...NICE!

By Wednesday morning I am really in a state.  I am not really a "crier" (well unless it's a sentimental movie, then I bawl my eyes out!)  But really in general, not a crier.  I go to Dr. crying my eyes out, no shame, no trying to be a big girl....this sucks!  New Dr (he is so great....love him!)  He is so sympathetic, touches his stethoscope to my ribs and says "WOW, raging chest infection you've got there."  He takes ages listening (both to my chest, back, sides and to me tell him how I can not catch my breath b/c breathing is so painful...now like knife going right through my front and out my back.)  He tells me I have Pleurisy (inflammation of the lining of the lungs that causes pain when you take a breath or cough) and "sprained" or inflamed/torn internal intercostal muscles (the muscles in between your ribs.)  That's what's causing the drop me to my knees pains in my chest.

I am now on antibiotics.  No more fever which is good.  Coughing so bad Spike has moved to spare room.  Still painful chest, but now able to see "the other side" (as in know I will get better and no longer feel we need to find Dr. to induce coma.)

Dean went back to school today. 

Do you want to see some pictures now???

I took these last weekend (not this last horrible sick weekend, I guess I mean two weekends ago) under a gorgeous big tree in front of the church at Dean's school. 

Addie is OBSESSED with necklaces at the moment.  I bought her a couple new ones + her first head band just before we went to take Dean to tennis (at school.)  When I showed her she squealed with delight (LOVE that little girl squeal of delight!!) and put them ALL on.  I said "oh honey, you don't have to wear them all at once.  You just have one at a time."  She looked at me so earnestly and said "Silly Mommy, More is Better!" 

How about some layouts now:

My Pencil Lines layout for this week...with Guest Designer Kazue Macdonald.  This is my first ever hybrid layout.  The background paper and all those funky swirls (which I think kind of give a wave feel), the photos, and the yellow and funky green/blue along the right were all done in photoshop CS and printed on a piece of 12X12 cardstock.  I added the journaling strips, brads, and all Making Memories die cuts onto the cardstock.  A little sewing and viola a hybrid layout!

This was a Pencil Lines layout a few weeks back.

Spike is reminding me I still must rest (and admittedly it's only 2:00 in the afternoon and I feel like it's midnight!)  So I am off....hoping and praying for a very speedy recovering!

Comments

[Aimee]

ugh, dang! glad you're starting to feel better, what an ordeal!

[anna]

oh hunny!!!!! wish i lived closer :(
thank goodness you have good friends so close and are now on the mend.
I will try and catch you tomorrow after work
huge hugs hun xoxoxoxo

[deanne]

Oh Annie sounds like you've had a right one. Hope you feel on the mend very soon and pleased that Dean has come through it okay too.
hugs and best wishes xx

[sandie]

Oh hun, you have been so poorly, thank goodness the nice new doctor took time out to check you over properly!! Glad Dean is better soon, big hugs xxx

[sara lambert]

Hey Lovely, hope those anti biotics are kicking in now as we so want to see you at the weekend, we have withdrawal symptoms - it's been so long!
Was it the young dishy doctor you saw - he is very yummy!
Love the layouts xx

[BeckyGotch]

You poor things! Take things easy and hope you feel better soon. xx

[Dawn]

blimey I feel like I've travelled the sick journey with you but without the chest pain - fingers crossed you are now on the road to recovery. Finally finished layout from workshop and have popped it into a frame and onto my craft room wall. Hugs

[Brenda Hurd]

im so glad your on the mend....how miserable. So sorry - your little one is beautiful and so are your layouts!!

[janine]

Oh all right then - you are forgiven for not posting forever!! This all sounds horrid, but I'm glad you're on the mend and have had the energy to post such gorgeous photos and layouts. And poor little Dean - I hope he's feeling much better. Thank goodness for that adorable bejewelled little girl to keep your spirits up! Will catch up soon, I hope xx

[kelly s.]

Hope you get better soon!!

Have you read the "Fancy Nancy" Books to Addie, she would love them.
take care!!

[Peg]

She's so pretty !!!!
Love yours layouts..

[Dawn]

thanks for the comment - fingers crossed you will be able to make lunch :-)

[sasha farina]

oh Annie!! oh Annie!! i feel so sorry for you... damn that infection! Poor girl.. so glad you're on the mend now..

[Heidi Sonboul]

SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!
Oh my word girl... that beach lo is AMAZING! WOW.... I mean WOW! SO SUPER AMAZING. I love ya sista and everything you make! CUTE little girl! You make me long for a daughter :)

[Jo]

Annie, you poor, poor girl. So pleased that you on drugs and on the mend, it sounds absolutely awful. x

[Shelley Haganman]

Oh my...where do I start!? First, your photos are gorgeous and the layouts totally rock!! I hope you are all feeling better each day!! My best to you all!!

[noel culbertson]

i am SO glad you guys got a better doc. that's terrible. hang a big quarantine flag at your house and keep taking it easy. love the pics & necklaces. where did they come from? i *need* them!

[Tricia Wilson]

Glad to hear you are on the mend because that did not sound like it was fun AT ALL!
On a happy note your layouts great and Addie is a cutie patootie.

[Brandi]

That sounds horrific, Annie! Love the layouts and pics. I hope you're doing backflips now!

B.

[Tricia Peever]

That little dress with the beads is the cutest thing I have ever seen!!!! Gorgeous pictures!!!!