I hate to have my very next entry be about more sickness, but alas, it is true.
Tomorrow, I will be taking my 4th sick day this year. It's my fourth week of school. By the way, I have never taken that many sick days in any one year or maybe in all my previous 3 years combined. Sometimes it's easier to just be at school and suffer, than to write the lesson plans.
It all started on Wednesday night last week. I felt a little congested and didn't feel so well, so I took my usual Claritin D. Unfortunately, I took it at 9pm and it is non-drowsy. Usually I don't find this to be a problem, but I didn't get much sleep that night.
I knew I couldn't take off school on Thursday because of responsibilities, so I went to school. I had a headache that steadily got worse, chills, and major body aches. By the end of the day, I could hardly move, had taken IBuprofen 3 times for the headache, but didn't make any difference. I was a little worried about driving home. I decided that if I could get a sub from the sub system, than I would write some lesson plans and take a sick day. I tell you, it sure takes a long time to write lesson plans. (mine are pretty detailed)
I stayed home on Friday and had a miserable morning. I spent it on the couch. I finally emailed my roommate to see if she had any pain relievers. She had some aleve, so she brought it home during lunch. I took some and it actually took away the pain, but for just 6 hours. I wasn't supposed to take more for a few hours. I was told I could alternate medications or double up on ones that aren't the same. I took 4 IBuprofen. (I've never taken more than 2, I think. I rarely take pain relievers.) It didn't even touch the headache. I took more aleve as soon as I was able. It worked again, but for just 6 hours and then my head was killing me. By this time, it was the middle of the night. This tells you how much we use pain relievers in our household . . . most of our pain relievers were very expired. I finally took some expired theraflu. It took off the edge a little and at least helped me get a little sleep.
Saturday, I took some more aleve, but it stopped working. My mom was so kind to come and take me to the doctor. I had a friend threatening me to leave her 5 kids and responsibilities to take me herself. Plus she lives more than 1/2 an hour away. I told her I would take care of it. The doctor thought I had a migraine and gave me an anti-inflammatory injection and told me it would take 1/2 hour to feel some relief. Well, there was no relief to be found. I wasn't supposed to take anything else until 6 hours later. After 4 hours, I called the clinic back to ask what I could do, since they were closed on Sunday. The nurse told me to take 500 mg of aleve and 1000 mg of tylenol at the same time. I had to get myself to the store that is close by to buy some tylenol that wasn't 4 years expired!!! :) Once again. . . . no relief was to be had. I made myself stay in bed all night and work through the pain.
Sunday I took some more aleve, but aleve wasn't working for me anymore. Saturday, I had canceled all my plans and responsibilities. Sunday, I did the same. It was a pretty miserable day as well. Finally, that afternoon after talking with family and friends, my roommate (wonderful person she is) went to the store for some Exedrin Migraine and Propel (which we thought might have electrolytes in it, but later found out it doesn't). It actually worked! Yeah!!!! I was thrilled, even though I was working through stomach queasiness, not having eaten much. I decided to get another sub just to go back to the doctor to find out what was going on. I even took a walk and visited with a friend on the walk. I got home late, just in time to write more lesson plans. Yeah . . . jk. I was so excited to wake up without a headache.
With a new Monday morning actually came with my headache back. Boy, I was not happy. It was good I got lesson plans together and a sub. Meanwhile, my team members at school have been fabulous with helping me with whatever I need. As the day progressed today, I felt like it was getting worse and worse. It wasn't so bad this morning. I actually got ready and was able to eat. It was nice to have some relief and some sleep, finally. I have not been sleeping well.
Mom came back up to take me to the doctor, bless her heart. It was so good that I had someone there. This new doctor heard the rest of my symptoms and occurrences since Saturday. I've also had a previous problem come back. About 5 years ago, I had this pulsing in my right ear that wouldn't go away. The doctors were very concerned and they ended up giving me an angiogram. (I wouldn't recommend it, if at all possible. It was also extremely expensive at that time in my life) This has come back in the last few days.
The doctor told me he thought it was a tension headache, along with some kind of virus. He says I'm a little congested, which I didn't know. How do you not know that, but I'm okay with that. He also says that my eustachian tube in my right ear is not functioning correctly. Fluids aren't able to flow, air can get in, and it causes pressure or something. Sorry, I'm not very good at medical things. He prescribed an antihistine to hopefully dry it up, so that it will open back up. I also have some headache medicine. It didn't really work and after 4 hours or so, a second dosage, I put a call to the doctor to ask for advice. It took a little edge off the pain, but not enough for me to function in a classroom with 25 6 year olds. So, I wrote more lesson plans and got another sub. My poor students. The doctor told me I could take 2 at the same time and that that might help. Of course, he's not working tomorrow, but says there are other options if this one doesn't work. Isn't life lovely? I'm grateful to be single, though, and able to get a sub, and can stay at home in the dark on my couch.
I'm hoping for better tomorrow. It's the never ending headache!!! I even have books to read, and I LOVE to read, but I can't seem to concentrate on anything. Here's to getting well and being able to go back to work!!!! Can you believe I'm saying that?, especially this year of all years. Hopefully, I wrote everything the way I want it, cause I'm not going back to read it again. Haha.
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