In the ER with pneumonia and a collapsed lung. Trying to avoid a repeat.
I am nursing a cold. It started out as a sinus infection that has most likely turned into mild bronchitis. It’s going on week three. Not really a big deal, except that around this time two years ago, a similar seasonal cold resulted in pneumonia, a collapsed lung and two days in the hospital.
Because of my kidney stuff, I don’t take any over-the-counter medication which can be hard to process by damaged kidneys. This means that I’ve slung my head over a pot of boiling water, doubled-up on the daily showers and drank lots of water. This is viral and I know it will run its course soon enough, but just in case…
Because of scoliosis and the congenital malformation of my trachea and esophagus at birth (TEF), I generally have a tough time kicking these things. After a particularly rough coughing session (sounds worse in me than it really is), Phillip became concerned and when I asked what he wanted to do on Saturday, he replied, “take you to the doctor.” That’s proved to be problematic when I couldn’t get the on-call doctor to call me back to authorize a trip to urgent care, a lovely insurance company requirement. I let the weekend pass and picked up the phone first things Monday morning.
I knew I was probably fine. I could feel that my lungs were much clearer than during the pneumonia episode, but just to be safe I wanted someone with a M.D. to stick a cold stethoscope up my shirt and check. When the triage nurse returned my message about getting into the office, I knew she was reluctant to book me an appointment. “I just had this myself; it’s viral, breathe in steam, cough, etc…”
I get it. This nurse doesn’t know me. She’s probably getting multiple calls from people with the same viral symptoms. What she doesn’t know is my unique health. She hasn’t read my chart, she’s just returning my phone message. It is up to me to educate her.
On a side note, you’ve gotta love the five hoops you have to jump through when you’re sick. Anyhoo, I know my body. I am the one in charge of my body. I am the one coughing, and I’m not a hypochondriac.
Sometimes it is like this with your health. Because we have to rely on other people to help us manage illness, we must become good at speaking up when we need something. Most of the time this is polite asking or making a follow-up phone call. Other times it requires insistence. Whatever you need to do to have your voice heard, do it.
Monday morning, all I had to do was agree to all of the symptoms being thrown at me and to mention TEF and the pneumonia debacle a few years back. Appointment scheduled. Cold stethoscope up my shirt. Breathe deep. Breathe deep. Yes, mild bronchitis, but relatively clear lungs. Peaceful sleep knowing that I’m on the mend.
How have you made your voice heard when it comes to your health?