#I’ve literally become Juliet / Kate Winslet in heavenly creatures (1994) and I’m not sure I like it anymore

[alwaysahiccupandastrid]

Health Update 😷

So, for the past nearly-six weeks, I have been very sick. It started on the Tuesday after Easter when I went to work at camp, and I noticed my chest felt weird, and my throat was scratchy like I needed to clear it. I kept on coughing but nothing was happening so I just assumed it was a cold on its way. By a week later, however, I had a full blown dry cough and no other symptoms, which wasn’t ideal because it was the week of my play I was doing; I went to my GP/doctor, they prescribed me a brand new inhaler (I had lost my last one) and spacer to help me space my breathing properly, and a five day course of antibiotics. Somehow I got through the week, did all my performances, and finished the course of antibiotics - which I was relieved about because it was causing me to come out in itchy hives and to feel nauseous.

Then a few days after finishing the medicine, two and a half weeks after my cough had started and while my grandparents were visiting, I suddenly got a blocked nose; I thought it was either hay fever or a cold, though usually when I have a cold, I get a sore throat first. Since then, my nose has constantly been running or blocked, but especially so in the last week - it wasn’t too bad though, it felt manageable and the cough had subsided so I brushed it off and carried on going to work as usual. All of last week and the week before, however, my nose has constantly been on and off like a tap - and my cough started to come back. On Friday, I felt very poorly and like I had a sore throat, but I thought it was a result of post nasal drip or something from my nose being so bad; on Saturday, the sore throat went away after I coughed up some gunk, but that’s when the cough got REALLY severe.

So since Saturday night, the cough is back and maybe even worse than it was before; I’m coughing so hard I’m gagging and worrying I’m going to vomit. I’ve tried using the inhaler and drinking lots of water, but nothing has helped - I’m still hacking away and bringing up the most disgusting shit from my lungs. I don’t like taking days off of work but even I had to concede defeat last night, and this morning I had to tell the headteacher of the school, the teacher whose class I’m in, and my employment agency that I’m too sick to come in. I don’t get sick pay either so… that’s fun.

I went to my doctor this morning and told him I’ve been sick for nearly 6 weeks now, that my cough has gotten worse and that my inhaler is no longer helping, that I was taking antibiotics a few weeks ago but it didn’t seem to work, and I’m super congested so I can’t breathe from my nose or my mouth without green gunk coming up. He took my temperature and said I had a fever, which I wasn’t even aware of, and I apparently have “low sats”. He’s prescribed me a different antibiotic now that I have to take twice on the first day and then once on the other six days, as well as some decongestant tablets and a nasal spray.

The doctor also wants me to do an X-ray, so… currently I’m sitting in a walk in centre and waiting to have an X-ray done. I’ve never had one before, at least not that I can remember, but apparently it’s painless and quick. They’ve just called number 20 and I’m 21, so… yep. Exciting, I guess?

Hopefully once I tell the school/agency that I’ve had to have an X-ray on my chest and that I’m on a bunch of medicine, they’ll understand I’m genuinely sick and not just trying to get out of work… fingers crossed!

Anyway, to sum up my mood right now:

(I’ve used this as a joke so many times but it’s not funny anymore, I’m genuinely extremely unwell and want to cry)