I'm Going to Live!!

Sunday, I was feeling puny.  I described my symptoms to a friend as I had a sore throat, was achy, a little clammy, got the chills, almost like a flu "lite" version.  It was not like I had been hit by a Mack truck, but maybe just run over by a golf cart.  I started taking some Motrin and alternated all day between laying on the couch and taking a hot bath.

I didn't hardly sleep at all on Sunday night and knew with certainty by morning that I had strep throat.  My throat was KILLING me.  My whole neck was swollen.  You could see the giant swollen lymph nodes in my neck...see them, not feel them.  My ears hurt...my teeth hurt...touching anywhere on the outside of my neck was painful.  I was at the doctor by 9:00 a.m.  Strep test was positive and antibiotics were in my body by 10:15 a.m.

The rest of Monday was a blur of thinking I was dying to just wishing I was dead already.  I don't know if this was some kind of super strep that planted little tiny knives or razors in my throat or what, but swallowing was so, so painful.  Maybe it is because I am 53 and not 8.  I have had strep too many times to count in my life and probably should have had my raggedy tonsils removed when I was young.  But never have I had to put my hands on my throat, brace myself and then swallow.  At one point yesterday night I started spitting in a cup so I wouldn't have to swallow any more.  Trying to even drink water hurt so bad.  My neck ached so bad, the outside of my neck, not just inside my throat.

I had another terrible night of sleep last night and woke up every 3.5 hours to take either Motrin or Tylenol to try to ease the pain.  I chugged more Tylenol and crawled into another bath this morning at 5:00 a.m. and thought to myself, if I am not at least a little better by noon I am going to the emergency room.  I either need some IV antibiotics or an emergency tonsil removal (is that even a thing?)

Well, about 10:30 this morning (right around the 24 hour mark) - FINALLY - I felt a little better.  The neck swelling has continued to go down over the last several hours.  Swallowing is not great, but it is not excruciating, so I am grateful.  I don't feel clammy any more. No more chills.  Ears feel better.  So relieved and grateful to finally be improving.

I am so grateful that antibiotics are available to me and that they work.  Also, I really hope I don't share this mess with anyone else.  If I saw you this weekend, I am sorry. At the first sign of a sore throat go get a strep test!