I was supposed to be on vacation.
Today, tomorrow, and Monday were supposed to be my first non-sick vacation days since January. But instead of enjoying the sun, the beach, or more likely, the grandstands at Charles Town, for the second time in ~35 days, I am down with a nasty bout of bronchitis. It hit me like a train in late May, making me feel all disoriented and unfocused until I finally got drugs to treat it. It took around 15 days to finally feel better, and since then, the last three weeks have been fine. On Monday, however, I started to feel a sore throat coming on, and before I knew it, I was up at 3:00 or 4:00 in the morning Tuesday with a badly swollen throat. That evening I had a low-grade fever, and early this morning, I awoke at 4:00 am with the same bronchitis cough I had experienced in May.
I slept for about 45 minutes between 7:15 and 8:00, at which point I called the doctor’s office for an appointment. As I began to talk the receptionist, I was shocked to learn I had no voice. It was a struggle just to get my name and date of birth out.
The doctor indicated the most likely explanation for getting stricken with this again so quickly was that the bacteria from May never fully left my system. So in addition to a broad spectrum antibiotic (levafloxacin, which my body has reacted very well to twice in the past) and a really good cough medicine (tussionex, with yummy hydrocodone in it to make me sleepy), he put me on a corticosteroid regimen to eradicate the bacteria once and for all (opening up such comedic opportunities as Ed remarking, “Does that mean you’re going to hit 50 home runs this season?”)
6 hours later, I’m feeling less phlegm-y and the coughing isn’t as violent (which is expected, since the tussionex is really quite effective). I am sweating profusely, and have been all afternoon, but I’m guessing that just means my temperature is yo-yo’ing (just like it did last a few weeks ago when my body temperature fluctuated between 97 and 102 or 103).
So, a few more days of rest, and hopefully I can beat this thing in time for the weekend.
