I'm sick....again!

[doxielady5569128]

I have been coughing badly off and on for a few weeks.  They treated me for bronchitis for 2 weeks on antibiotics.  Well, I felt better for a week and now I feel worse.  I have the cough, muscle aches, etc... Also I have a new symptom now, chest pressure/pain.      I called my family doctor and she suspects that I have walking pneumonia or that my lungs may be bruised from all the coughing.  Unfortunately I couldn't get an appointment until Tuesday.  And, to top it off, since one of my co-workers is on vacation, my bosses won't let me take any time off. 

I'm going to get a note from the doctor if she wants me to stay home and rest.  Hopefully that will convince my bosses that I'm not "faking it."   My chest has been hurting badly enough that it hurts to take a full breath and I find myself trying to hold in my coughs to avoid the pain.  Since I am young, they are not too concerned about it being serious.  But, I was told if I start feeling confused or extremely tired I have to go to the ER immediately. 

If you all could spare some rays for me I would apprecate it.  The chest pain/pressure is not constant and is worse when I lay down or try to sit up.  It also hurts more when I cough.  I have had walking pnuemonia before and it honestly feels like that's what I have.  Keeping with my yearly tradition, it looks like I will be ill for the holidays again.     I'm hoping if I rest today and tomorrow it will just go away, but I'm seriously doubting that. 

[Teresa]

I'm guessing that since you are in a small town that you don't have an urgent care facility nearby. Am I right about that? It would be a great solution and help avoid the ER, yet give you an answer before Tuesday. I just hate that they will not work you in before then. That is unheard of here. If someone is sick with anything lung related, they are going to be seen somehow. The doctor can "guess" that it is just walking pneumonia or a bruised lung, but you can quickly have pneumonia and be much sicker by Tuesday. Sure, you are young, but you've also been sick for awhile, so your immune system isn't at it's normal strength. I just get frustrated when doctors take assume one patient's body will act one certain way because another patient's body did.
As for work, they can't make you be there if you are sick and they don't need you to be there making their clients sick. If a client were to get sick (and be sick over the holidays) because you were there and they "think" they caught it from you-not that they actually did-the owners could get a lot of grief for letting a sick employee come to work. I work in a dental office and we are told not to come in if we are sick. Even with a mask and gloves on, the patients would jump on the chance to say they caught something from us if they get sick within a day or two of being in. They can't prove they did, but we wouldn't be able to prove they didn't. As long as you have a doctors note, you should be covered.
I would ask about doing an antibiotic for a longer amount of time, even though I think you wrote earlier on that you were doing that. See if there is any type of inhaler you can use as a preventive. It may help, especially with the season just starting. Make sure you get the pneumonia vaccine this year, also, along with the flu vaccine.
I hope you feel better quickly and the holidays aren't ruined by you feeling bad.

[papbouv]

I had pneumonia 2 years ago I just went to the ER would not have made it if I had waited a few days to get into the doctors office they wanted to put me in the hospital I said no had dogs at home to care for so they let me go home + the hospital was really full anyway.Please get the flu shot & the pneumonia shot did not get pneumonia last year,hubby brings stuff in from where he works they go to work sick and then stay long enough to spread it around then they go home????Hubby over 50 could get a free Flu shot but he will not do it he is a hard head,like most men. I already have taken my flu shot this year so hope it will work.
Since you have been ill for a while try to get them to give you all the shots you can get was easy back in the day where you just had one doctor & they did not keep changing doctors on you  like now days.
I just rented Michale Moore's Sicko movie documentary it is quite enlightening I highly recommend everyone to watch it no matter what you have heard about it watch it for your self it seems to be quite honest.
Papbouv

[cheryl186]

Oh no!!!  You poor thing.....I agree with Teresa, is there an URGENT CARE FACILITY you can go to before Tuesday?  That seems ridiculous that they can't get you in to see a doctor until Tuesday!!! Walking pneumonia could turn into full blown pneumonia before that!!!  Yep, the flu shot and pneumonia shot are in your future!!!  I've had pneumonia three times (no fun at all)....Take Care, please....Porky, please take care of your momma ....as for work:  Take your doctor's note to work and then go home to rest!!!

[MimisMomma]

Sending major rays from eastern Nebraska!! I didn't get this till today. I am so sorry your feeling bad again. You didn't break a rib from all the coughing did you? This just isn't right. I am beginning to think there is something wrong with the state of Nebraska!! Please try to get as much rest as you can. Oh and stay warm supposed to get cold this week.

Mel

[doxielady5569128]

Well, I found out what's wrong.  I went into the ER today because I just couldn't wait.  They did chest x-rays and the whole bit.  The doctor I saw said.  Well, good news is you don't have pneumonia, bad news is...you have bronchitis still and you have some severely strained pectoral muscles.   Well, I hadn't thought of that one.      They gave me enough antibiotics to last me through December 15th.   Then he sent me with a note for my work.  I'm not taking any time off, I just have to avoid any of the machines that involve the pectoral muscles for up to three weeks.   Pretty easy solution!   :apls:   The doctor told me that I probably strained those muscles originally from coughing so hard, then aggravated it because I was doing workouts with clients and my own workouts.   

I am so happy this was such a minor thing.  :apls:  I do feel kinda dumb for going to the ER for strained muscles.  But, the doctor assured me that he was glad I did, it could have been something worse.   (Maybe just cause I was paying him, but it made me feel better.) 

[MimisMomma]

I am glad you found out sooner than later. And yes does sound like an easy solution there at work. How is your boss taking it? I would think she is happy that you don't have to take time off! This is good news!!.

[Frankys_mom]

Rays for you and it is never dumb to go to the ER......better safe than sorry!

[Merion]

Glad to hear that it isn't pneumonia.     Take good care of yourself and don't overdo things.  It is also good to hear that you have good neighbors this time.  :thumb:
Merion & the ZZ's

[doxielady5569128]

Thanks everyone.  I agree with you Merion!  I LOVE our new neighbors, They are great!   :meme:  My boss took the news pretty well.  She is still having me do the workouts and stuff with clients, I just skip certain machines until I'm feeling better.  Just resting for the last three days had made a huge difference in the pain.  It doesn't hurt nearly as bad.  The worst time is when I have to lie down to go to bed or when I wake up in the morning.  I never realized how much those muscles are involved in sitting up and laying down.     As long as I don't have to yawn or move too fast, I'm good.    

[cheryl186]

I am soooo glad to hear that it is nothing serious....just take it easy as much as you can!!!! 

[PattyInAK]

You poor thing, please rest as much as you can.  I know that sometimes that is impossible, but TRY!