photo courtesy of Michal Marcol at http://freedigitalphotos.net
And by the way? TOTALLY FAKING IT HERE. NO WAY would I have still had makeup – including false eyelashes – on when I was this sick. And no way would my hair still look remotely groomed! Stock photos – what can you say? (But no way would I have let an actual photo of me when sick grace the internet!)
So Friday afternoon, I was sort of feeling…unwell. I should have known something was up; my patience with the kids was at an all time low for both Thursday and Friday, and that usually indicates Bigger Problems on my end.
The Geek got home from work, and I basically don’t remember much of the next 48 hours.
I came out of my high fever-induced fog (pushing 103 degrees at one point!) long enough to do two things:
-Ask my fellow FPIES Mama’s on both FB and Babycenter what they do to treat themselves when they’re sick on an elimination diet
and
-Tell the Geek that we needed to go to the walk in clinic at our GP (one of the few doctors left in the world that I LOVE LOVE LOVE) on Saturday morning.
The Mama’s were very helpful; they gave me tips on how to try to treat myself without antibiotics (which, for those not in the FPIES know, cause issues – pronounced with a soft s – in gut flora for both Mommy and Baby, which can then cause increased reactivity for Baby in all respects and just, basically, sucks a lot and we generally try to avoid using antibiotics if at all possible).
Actually, what’s up with the word “issues”, by the way? Where’s the “h” in that word? Don’t we pronounce it with an “ish-shoes” sort of pronunciation? Is this just one of those words that everyone pronounces incorrectly?
And dude, am I just a little weird when I’m sick, or what? (Don’t answer that.)
Anyway, basically the advice boiled down to this: mainline raw onion and garlic as much as you can, and if possible, try cinnamon and turmeric for anti-inflammatory properties. If you MUST use an antibiotic, like, for instance, if you have bacterial Strep, which you don’t want to mess with, then request one in capsule form, not caplet form. Fewer additives that way.
OK, ladies!
Armed with that advice, off to the walk in clinic we went. I slept. The Geek drove. I think the kids wailed in the backseat. I wouldn’t know. Did I mention I was up to almost 103 degrees at that point?
We were taken in quickly to the doctor and – thank God! – it was our beloved GP working this weekend. I’m sure the other doctors are lovely, but…oh, blow it. I’ve got such a hard-on about doctors right now I’m sure they could have been the most awesome doctor in the world to me and even in my fever induced fog I’d have been thinking “bloody a**hole” the whole time. So, thank GOD it was our regular doctor, who (whom?) I already love, trust and respect.
‘Cause me sick? With the knowledge that whatever I say can be blamed on me being sick? Not. Pretty. I pity the doctor that messes with me in that state!
Anyway, she basically looked at me for about five seconds and said that I – hands down – had 5 of 5 markers for ‘treat this patient for strep PRONTO’, though she could do a swab if I really wanted to be sure. I figured since my own brilliant diagnosis before we got there was “tonsillitis, strep, or the flu with a raging sore throat”, and her diagnosis coincided with something that made some sense to me, I’d just roll with it.
Now, onto curative procedures. She was totally okay with me trying the garlic/onion thing for the rest of that day (Saturday), though, if it wasn’t making any difference she REALLY wanted me to try the antibiotic starting Sunday at the latest. Told you this doctor was awesome, right?
She even took it upon herself to prescribe an antibiotic that was not bio-available to Mr. Happy, though, while a sweet gesture, didn’t exactly inspire comfort. The problem isn’t so much the antibiotic (though that does mess with gut flora!) as it is the FILLERS they shove IN to the antibiotic. (Seriously? You need FOOD DYE in a friggin’ capsule?? WHY??? I mean, who opens it up to inspect whether it is pristine white or not? I usually just swallow the damn things…I don’t DISSECT THEM!! UGH!!!!)
Sadly, the compounding pharmacies in our area are closed on the weekends, so that wasn’t an option. And, the Geek pointed out, it would be wise for me to get better as quickly as possible so that A) he can avoid missing too much work – ’cause NO WAY could I handle anything resembling, you know, LIFE, right then and B) to reduce the likelihood that I’ll ‘share the love’ by passing the cooties on to everyone else.
Basically, it boils down to: when Mama’s sick? The house comes to a grinding halt, and the Geek doesn’t like that. So, take the antibiotic and we’ll deal with the fallout.
Fair enough, my sweet. Fair enough.
And, it’s not like I was enjoying being sick.
And, it’s not like I had a mild case of the sniff-oos. I had a raging case of “5-0f-5”, “don’t mess with it” Strep Throat. It was already spreading into my ears less than 24 hours after it reared it’s ugly little head.
So, I started popping pills. Took it almost 24 hours to start making a difference, but by Sunday afternoon, my fever had dropped to a whopping 100.5 degrees, and I could swallow with only STRONG pain, instead of feeling like Ninjas were jamming 1,000 sharp needles into my throat in some form of torture.
Hopefully, I’ll continue to improve, and hopefully more quickly than the first 24 hours showed.
I’m very grateful, by the way, for the nifty little App on my iPhone that allows me to control the TV from my phone. Because when Mr. Charm’s DVD has played through and is on the menu screen and the music from it is making my already throbbing, sick head want to explode? Hitting “MUTE” from my bedroom is freaking PRICELESS.
Though I do wish there were a mute button for children when you’re sick. Sadly, no such thing exists.
And how did we ever survive being sick before text messaging? “Honey, can you bring me a glass of water?” “Honey, he’s done nursing, could you come get him?” “Honey, could you muzzle the children for me, please?” (JOKING, PEOPLE! JOKING!)
So my brain isn’t AS foggy anymore, but I’m still not up to snuff, which is why the Geek is taking at least Monday off to stay home and help me and the kids stay alive.
Because at this point? Staying alive is about as lofty a goal as I can handle.
How do you deal when YOU get sick? Do you also wish there were a soundproof room you could go burrow into?
