Follow up Doctors appointment. First of all let me say that I waited an HOUR AND FORTY FIVE MINUTES for this appointment. There is no excuse....and there was NO apology or anything for my wait. I walked into the doors of the ER on Sunday and walked out 2 hours later. The ER was almost quicker than a visit to my family doctor...(and i had more tests done at the ER...). I think it's time to find a new doctor!
Ok, diagnosis. The doctor agrees with the diagnosis of Bronchitis. The problem.....prolonged infections in your respiratory system can cause pleuritis (and inflamation in the lining of the lungs). Uhh yeah....apparently three plus weeks (that's how long I"ve been dealing with this) is enough to cause that. Joy joy. What do you do for pleuritis........nothing. Treat the original infection (done...the ER did that) Anti-inflmatory drugs....so basically ibuprofen for a few weeks. I have a follow up appointment on January 6th. Hopefully I'm healthy and well by then!
I got to thinking about this. When the chest pains started to get worse, I kept telling myself "MaryFran, you are NOT having a heart attack...you are only 38 years old." But I knew that there IS a chance....even if I were younger. I also realized that by regaining the weight I brought back the very thing that I worked so hard to eradicate. And that was extra risk factors to my health. I originally lost the weight for a few reasons...and one of those was because I knew that the added weight was going to kill me. So while I denied how bad these chest pains were to everyone that would listen....inside I was beating myself up and telling myself that "this time you've done it...you've let things get out of control and your body has had enough of it" Luckily that was not the case....but if I don't get it under control I may not be so lucky next time. One of these obesity related diseases WILL strike me. (as it is, I need to get the weight down to bring my cholesterol back down!)
So while I really can't exercise.... (movement is NOT good.....causes the chest pains to increase in intensity tenfold) I CAN start tracking my food and really starting to watch what I eat!
Oh, I'm so sorry. I hope it starts healing and getting better soon. That's tough to deal with. And the doctors taking THAT LONG to see you? Whoa. Hopefully what they said will help get you better by your next visit. Take care of yourself!
ReplyDeleteSorry that you have such such a prolonged case of this "crud" that is making the rounds. I have also been dealing with it for about 7 weeks. It just never quite leaves. Take good care of yourself. I know it's hard at this time of the year, but YOU and your health are important. Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeletePraying you feel better soon.
ReplyDeleteFor a doctor appointment, I allow a minimum of three hours, not including travel time. I have waited as long as an hour in the waiting room, then another 45 minutes in the exam room, another 15 minutes in line to turn in my paper and set up the next appointment. And how long am I actually with the doctor? 5 to 10 minutes.
But I was told one time that the schedule they go by is: see three appointments, then take a walk-in; 3 more appts., then a walk-in.
Moral: Never be a "walk-in".
Moral: Always take something to read or crochet/knit.
Sad, but true...DRs. Don't keep track of time. Makes you wonder how many people they actually squeeze in at one appointment time, doesn't it? Sorry to hear you've been feeling under the weather. Hopefully you'll beat the crud into submission soon.
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