May 29th, 2005
It has left me somewhat awestruck at how many illnesses I have had so far this year. After going five years without a single malady beyond minor head-colds (that didn't keep me from work), I have had:
- 'Flu in January
- Three nasty colds in January, February, and March
- Acute bronchitis in February
- Agonizing foot problems in March
- And now two simulateously infected ear canals in May.
Really, I should only have one infected ear canal ("external otitis") but my boneheaded doctor finished inspecting the gungy ear and used the same cone on his otoscope to look at my uninfected ear. Instant transfer of infection from one side to the other. Way to go, buddy; glad to see you paid attention in medical school.
(And now maybe you can catch a whiff of why I am sometimes quite negative about doctors.)
Anyhow, when my face started swelling up and my temperature rose to dizzyingly (literally) temperatures of 102-103 degrees F, I knew I was sick, goddamnit, sick again ...
And then when I woke up this morning I couldn't hear a single damned thing because both ears were so inflamed that the canals had shut. And the pain was exquisite and totally resistant to the maximum dose of Extra-Strength Tylenol. So I did something that would surprise and shock many who actually know me: I caved in and drove myself to the hospital emergency.
Now I'm taking different antibiotics, but—more imortantly—I'm taking happy-making painkillers. The codeine kind. So although my ears are still swollen up and remain mostly plugged, I've got better drops and Great Dope to forget about it while I recover.
And, for the record: My wife was entirely right in urging me to go to the hospital since Friday and tireless in continually suggesting it until I listened to reason. I was entirely wrong and overly stubborn.
Now I think I owe her something nice.
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