erika | my life, i can't breathe again

Before I say anything else, don't panic! The antibiotics are working, judging by how much better I feel today.

So yesterday I started feeling Pretty Damn Bad. Like, bad enough I started texting people that maybe I should just give up and lay down and die or whatever because the albuterol they gave me last week wasn't helping anymore.

SO instead of just waiting for the sweet release of death, I used the anger-fuel of my 'negative' COVID19 test—my ~~mild~~severe irritation with existence, the world, and life as a concept and specifically my life— to go to the urgent care associated with my cool new doctor.

(Side note: I ABSOLUTELY HAVE CORONAVIRUS. This is not influenza, this is not whooping cough, this is NOTHING I have ever felt before. What a shock—I REFUSE to cough, so I'm not coughing shit tons of the virus from my lungs into my throat, so a nasal swab shows nothing! Ugghghghgghghghghghghghgh. It's not like this has been repeatedly documented or anything. Apparently 30+% of documented cases test negative on and off with a nasal swab. Whatevs, I await the antibody blood test for my complete vindication.

PLUS THEY GOT MY GENDER WRONG. I can't decide if it's because they are under a lot of pressure, suck as medical professionals or whether this is social shaming because I looked like shit, wasn't wearing a bra, and didn't smile. Maybe all three. They also gave me the Spanish version of the COVID info even though I only spoke English to them??????????)

Go to Urgent Care, nurse who takes my vitals goes ... huh. Your right lung sounds raspy/congested and you're not breathing well. They did not rub my face in my oximeter results, which makes me think they weren't 'perfect!' like when the chirpy practitioner last week tried to shame me for coming in.

Doctor calls to consult via the phone since they're not exposing the prescribing professionals directly anymore. Doctor says "huh, you may have bacterial pneumonia brought on by an opportunistic infection, could be a result of" (wait for it) "pulmonary fluid build-up caused by another infection."

So!

Took my first dose of the new antibiotics last night, I've got a new inhaler of different drugs with sexy sexy mask spacer, and I'm feeling much more with it this morning.

Apparently I very much worried Travis as I "was not myself." I interpret this as I stopped ordering him around and telling him how to do everything around the house and gently teasing/roasting him. Instead I spent yesterday sobbing a lot in between taking pictures of my dog's worried face and texting people to complain about how dying is really a fucking drag.

Therefore Trav has promised me that if I do bed rest for the next 3 days I get to (temporarily) dye his hair blue. Result!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Posted by

captain_chrome

So glad you're feeling better. I love you so much. <3

erika

Thank u dork

halojedha

Huh, that thing about not coughing the virus into your throat is a really good point. I'm glad the antibiotics are helping and I hope you feel better soon!

Ever since I had whooping cough at 14, I developed a way to breathe around throat tickles and generally abhor myself coughing. Now I find out I might have had a better outcome if I'd been coughing that shit out.... /o\

delight

Glad you got it sorted, glad your partner is being an excellent temporarily-blue partner, and I cannot stop giggling at "revenge of the SARS."

Since it's just 2 and not 3, I'm tempted to change it to "the SARS strikes back." Better movie to reference.

worlds_of_smoke

I'm glad that you finally are feeling better. <3

I'm so ready to be fully recovered... looks like a long road ahead.

shanaqui

Thank you for the links on the false negatives! Iiiinteresting. Feel better soon!

another article from WaPo. They're saying 85% for US testing, but that's assuming trained medical professionals, optimal storage etc etc.

platypus

I'm glad you're doing a bit better. Yeah, the nasal testing only captures ~60% of positive cases, I've heard, and throat swabbing (which is what they did to me) catches even less. I was quite shocked to get a positive result. I mean, I thought I had it -- I haven't been as severely ill as you, but it definitely wasn't a normal cold -- but I fully expected the results to be inconclusive. But, nope, I won the lottery. I'm feeling considerably better now, and I hope you are very soon too.