For the Love of Strong Medicine

As you may know, I have been one sick cookie for a long, long time. I have had major sinus problems, headaches, a horrible cough, and zippo energy. After one round of antibiotics, every OTC cold medicine known to man (Nyquil, Tylenol Cold, Sudafed, Airborne, Robutussin, etc.), Darin's prescribed cough syrup with Codeine, tons of "herbal/natural remedies", (Umcka Drops, Herbal Throat Drops, Zinc lozenges, Apple Cider vinegar - YUCK!, Mega Vitamins of several different varieties and brands), running humidifiers (both cool mist and warm mist), etc. etc. etc....I was still very sick, with no relief in sight. Last Monday (a week ago), I went back to the Dr. My ears were full of fluid, on top of all the other symptoms. No wonder I couldn't hear anything. Nor could I taste anything for the last 3 weeks. The Dr. prescribed the "good stuff", the stuff they reserve for the "last resort". I suppose that's because of two reasons. Not only is Avelox strong medicine (it makes me nauseous and dizzy), but it also costs a ton of $$$$. For 10 pills it would had cost me about $170. Good thing the insurance paid $99 of it. But still, $69+ was not easy to "cough up" (excuse the pun). He also prescribed Tussinex suspension cough syrup to be taken at bedtime. Did any of this work? Drum roll please........A little, a tiny bit. My cough has slowed a little (starting later in the day and less frequent), but the sinus stuff is still there! My face hurts when I press below my eyes. You know that sinus pressure kind of hurt? Only it hurts all over the face/head. What's a girl gotta' do? I better not complain, too much. Even a little reprieve from the cough has been a welcomed change. But, I would like to taste my food again. Darin and I had a prime rib dinner on Saturday (compliments of Trivani), complete with mashed potatoes, tequila lime chicken, steamed asparagus, green salad, buttered bread, and a dessert bar to die for. Could I even taste it? A little. Only snippets of taste were coming through occasionally. How sad is that! But again...I couldn't complain...At least, I didn't have to cook it.

My church calling as the Primary Music Chorister has been a lot of "fun" with this sickness, too. Every Sunday, the kids say, "You're still sick!" It's kinda' hard to cover it up when I'm coughing up junk, have no voice, can't hear the kids, and feel dizzy. But, I show up every week anyway, ready to "perform".

I am slowly getting better, but it's been a very long road to recovery and I'm not there yet. I only have two pills left of the strong antibiotics, but I still have the sinus stuff going on. Do I go back to the Dr. again? Or wait it out? I'm afraid that it will never really go away, and then it will flare up again. That's the cycle I've been dealing with for 4 months (since October). Keep your fingers crossed that I can finally kick this thing. Now if I can just get my family healthy. (They keep passing it back and forth, too.)