Things got rather worse before they got better. Despite the double strength antibiotics my chest infection got worse. Mr Earplugs got back from Spain and didn't like the look of me(!!) and whisked me back to the doctor, who said the same thing. I thought she'd just give me more pills but she sent me to the hospital with suspected pneumonia or a blood clot on the lung and they admitted me!!! I was completely unprepared - no spare underwear and badly shaven legs - lol!
My only encounters with hospitals have been when having the kiddies and I'm not too fond of them! Staying in for 2 days wasn't my idea of fun - nor anybody else's I'm sure. Whenever anyone comes near me with a needle my veins collapse and it's virtually impossible to get a blood sample. After 4 failed attempts the nurse called a doctor to take a deep vein sample instead and I still have the bruise. Add to that 2 attempts at a canula, an arterial blood sample, a shot of heparin, and a supersized canula for a CT scan and I felt like a pincushion! Apparently the risk to me of a blood clot was greater than the risk to the baby of having an x-ray (hence the CT scan rather than a standard chest x-ray). I would have preferred not to have an x-ray at all but didn't much fancy dying either! I don't know which was worse - the chest pain and not being able to breathe properly or the sickness caused by IV antibiotics and painkillers.
Luckily the scan showed no clots but some small areas of collapsed lung which would right itself over time (apparently!). I was sent home with even stronger antibiotics which made me rather sick. There was also some debate over whether I had pleurisy or a cracked rib from all the coughing. Since my ribs are still uncomfortable (sneezing really hurts!), and I've finished off the pills, my bet's on the cracked rib.
What was quite funny (well not really) was that I'd recently received the death certificates for my gt-gt-grandfather and his family (I'm a fan of family history). Pretty much all of them died of either pneumonia or TB. When I told my mate Pete he said my 'living history' experiment was taking research a bit too far! It certainly makes you realise how fortunate we are. Less than a hundred years ago people were dying for lack of antibiotics.
Pregnancy update:
I'm just over halfway through my pregnancy now and I'm getting very big. If I carry on at this rate I'll be like a house-end by 9 months! We had a scan on Friday which showed that everything seems ok despite my ill-health, so that was a great relief. They still think that new nipper will be a boy. Mr Earplugs was very pleased as he reckons he doesn't understand women. I said "even me" and he replied "especially you"! I guess ignorance is bliss?? (And we've been together 7+ years and just had our 1st wedding anniversary too!).
Hopefully I'll soon be able to blog something a bit more interesting than the state of my health!
Thank goodness Mr Earplugs got you to the hospital. I hope you are feeling more comfortable soon. You are a trooper Tilly.
ReplyDeleteHow awful, that all sounds terrifying! I really hope you're feeling a lot better now. I had to have a cannula when I was in labour with my second (as a precaution and it wasn't even needed) and I hated it. Hope you're getting some rest to get over it all.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear all's well with the baby :)
Hugs, Mel xxx
As a bit of a veteran of pleurisy (6 times) I can confirm that it continues to 'ouch' long after the antibiotics have finished. Every time you sneeze or cough you have to brace yourself beforehand!
ReplyDeleteVery pleased to 'see' you and to hear that things with the pregnancy are progressing well. Look after yourself. x
God you have been through an awful time. If I were you I would take to my bed and stay there until you are 100o/o again. You need to rest and take care of yourself and the 'bump'. If I lived close by I would bring you a basket of goodies. I agree with your husband that you are probably taking the family history illnesses abit too far LOL! My dad did our family tree and luckily our lot didnt have the lurgy or pox but several of them couldnt write their names so marriage certificates were signed with a X. I dont think illiteracy has passed down the family line. Tkea Race fo yrouslfe X
ReplyDeletePoor you, that sounds terrible. Hope you feel better soon :)
ReplyDeleteComing over from Pebbledash.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you are home and feeling better. I hate the hospital too! Been there too many times lately.
Congratulations on your new addition.
Oh Tilly, I hope you get better soon. I have been thinking about you hoping that you would get healthy so you can enjoy being pregnant with a new little one. Just really look after yourself; everyone else needs to be a little less selfish right now. Hugs! BIG HUGS!
ReplyDeleteHope you get better soon. Glad the little ones doing alright. Stay warm!
ReplyDeleteI'm really glad to hear that you are now on the mend. My husband had IV antibiotics a few years ago, then strong ones to take home from hospital - and he said that they were worse then the infection. You need to take it easy now and let everyone pamper you!
ReplyDeleteKimxx
Hooray for feeling better! Welcome back :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you are feeling better, that must have been quite scary. Pregnancy seems to attract every virus/illness.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that you are getting better!! I had to laugh at your mention of going to the hospital with unshaven legs etc. I was very sick once and called my husband home to take me to the emergency room - by the time he got home I had managed a complete bath and shaved my legs!! lol
ReplyDeleteWishing you continued good health!!