Today Sucks....

Sunday, November 1, 2009....


Today I was supposed to go into NYC and meet some fellow bloggers and cheer on another blogger running the NYC Marathon, but couldn't. Instead, I'm home on the couch with a horrible earache - actually, a staph ear infection.

It started Thursday and got progressively worse every day. I knew when I got up yesterday if I didn't go to a doctor I'd be miserable today. No way did I want to miss out on meeting fellow bloggers (heck, one drove 8 hours) so I planted my butt in the waiting room of a local hospital's walk-in medical center and waited.

Here's what I experienced while at the walk-in center for 2 hours --

1) A lot of waiting to be checked-in. Not sure what that was about, but 40 minutes and only 2 people ahead of me before my insurance info was taken.

2) A lot of waiting once you were brought into your own exam room.

3) A little boy Timmy, who thought it cool and brave to fall on his head, create a huge opening, but scream & cry when told he needed staples.

4) Discovering that Timmy could cry and cry and cry without anyone ever touching him for 1/2 hour.

5) Feeling horrible and wondering why his parents didn't tell him how 'cool' the staples were going to be (this kid was into the cool factor).

6) Having the PA (Physician's Assistant) examine me and tell me that they are going to treat me for both inner and outer ear infection (yes, I was in a lot of pain). Me, thinking I hope they give me some good drugs to dull the pain.

7) Having the doctor come in after PA, check out my ear, listen to lungs (was a bit confused about that connection) then tell me I might need surgery before disappearing for 5 minutes. WTF???

8) Me, now feeling like little Timmy, have tears welling up (I have a justifiable fear of surgery) and begin breathing techniques to calm self down before doc gets back.

9) Learning he wanted me on IV drug, but Cipro and Bactrim are prescribed. This is when I'm told I have a staph ear infection (didn't have a clue what it meant, but his deadpan expression told me I should be very concerned). I was also informed if the swelling on my face didn't disappear that evening, I needed to get to the ER.

10) Later, I called my sister the nurse, to find out a staph infection in the ear can spread to the sinuses which can go up to the brain and kill you. Glad I didn't know this in the medical center.

11) For the rest of the evening, my husband kept looking at my face, not in a lovingly way, but to monitor my swelling. I can only imagine what he would have been like if we had kids together.

Today, my ear hurts. My jaw is stiff. It is not fun to chew food and my ear canal is swollen.

In a roundabout way, I am thankful I was supposed to meet up with some bloggers. If I wasn't, I probably would have avoided going to the doctors and heaven knows what would have happened. For this, I will even congratulate Otin on the Yankees' win last night.