The Tuesday Drudge, Part XI

Do you remember how I got mono just over a year ago?  How I just wasn't feeling well, my tonsils swelled up, became spotty, and gross?  And then afterwards how it seemed that anytime I didn't sleep well or was stressed out it would flare up again?  Remember that?

Yeah, so I haven't been sleeping so well the last week.  And I've had lots of homework to do.  And lots of late nights.  This afternoon it felt like I had a hair in the back of my throat.  I opened my mouth wide and checked out my tonsils.  Yep.  Even a year later, they were slightly puffy and hashed.  My uvula (the hangy thing) was a bit saggy (hence the irritation I felt) and slimy looking.  And there, tucked in one of the folds of my lumpy tonsils, was a single white spot.

So, I ask you, my friends: How long did it take for your mono to go away?

The Tuesday Drudge

I don't like Tuesdays.  In fact, I think Tuesdays may just be worse than Wednesdays.  Here it is just after 9:00am, and I am already longing for the day to end and for my head to hit the pillow. 

Just some thoughts this morning:

• Today commences the first semester of my second year of graduate school.  It is good that my education is underway but the fact that I will have a 15-hour work/school day is less than appealing.
• Over the last 3 months, it seems that every time I get less sleep than I should, my tonsils flare up.  They get all swollen again and start spotting.  Is this normal for people who have had mono?  Does anyone else have this problem?
• My left eye is starting to twitch--another sign that I haven't been sleeping well.
• There is this person I am forced to associate with on a professional level who is driving me insane.  He gets paid, so why am I doing his job?!?
• I still have $66 to spend before September 15 for flexible spending.  I guess I better start filling up my medicine cabinet.  Maybe I'll buy some more throat lozenges... stupid tonsils.
• I think it is funny that every time I log on to Facebook it tells me I should "reconnect" with my boyfriend.  Little does Facebook know how much I'd like to make that happen... 
• Which it is, as we will be "reconnecting" in October.  He's taking me home for Thanksgiving, Canadian style.  I love Thanksgiving.
• I like this song.  It makes me feel better about it being Tuesday.  Except now I really want to go to the beach.  Enjoy.

PTSD: Post-Treatment Symptom Display

Why is it that you always feel worse, not better, the day after you go to the doctor?

My tonsils are bigger and my throat is sorer.

Why can't it just go away?

(And you always thought PTSD stood for something else.  Ha!)

Mind Your (Bedside) Manners

I went to the doctor's today for a little post-mono followup.  Things look good, though I still have a little swelling of the tonsils, and some mucus and drainage in the back of my throat (just thought you'd want to know), and may be a secondary infection.  Great.

I told him I'm a little sluggish still, but overall, I've been feeling pretty good. 

After poking my spleen, he proceeded to make me feel really good by saying,

"You know, most people get mono as teenagers... You're a bit old."

Thanks, Doc, for reminding me of my age.  Maybe next time I'll go see a gerontologist.

A Diagnosis

I went to the doctor yesterday for new drugs and blood work.

Today, I got the test results back.

Don't worry: what I have is not contagious...

...Unless I KISS you.


I blame my boyfriend.

A Beginning

A whole lot of Amoxicillin, Azithromycin, Ibuprofen, Clindamycin, and Prednisone later, I am starting to feel better.

Late Night Letters

Dear Mucus in the Back of my Throat,

You stink.  No really, you do.  Or, I assume you stink because you sure do taste bad.  I am sick of choking on you, swallowing you, gagging on you.  Stop secreting and just leave me alone, please. 

***

Dear Medicine Cabinet,

You make me happy. 

***

Dear Lumpy Tonsils,

You are a haggard lot.  All swollen, red, puffy, and disgusting-like.  You definitely have seen better days.  Remember those?  Yeah, me too.  They seem so long ago...  I miss those days.  Do you think we could go back to them?

***

Dear Flexible Spending Account,

I've never used you much; never really had the need.  Well, what with co-pays, prescription drugs, and over-the-counter medications, I feel that I have gotten to know you better recently.  And you know what?  I like you.  I like the fact that I am going to get reimbursed for my pain and anguish.  Just don't let me forget to turn in my receipts come September.

***

Dear Insomnia,

I'm tired and would really just like to sleep.  Is that too much to ask for?

***

Dear Insurance Card,

I feel empowered when I see you.  I feel so adult and grown up.  We should have a BBQ (or, more like and smoothie-Q, as that's about all I can eat these days) to celebrate my newfound sense of maturity.

***

Dear Infection,

Just go away.

Please?  I'm dying here.

Sincerely,

Jill

Doubt

I was a bit feverish this morning.  At first, I took it as a sign that my body was finally fighting back and that I might actually be overcoming this illness.  And then I realized that my tonsils were still super swollen and my throat was still super sore, and I decided that I don't believe in signs anymore.  Nor in antibiotics. 

Is it ever going to end?

Speical Diet

My throat hurts so bad and my tonsils are so swollen, that I've decided to start drinking my food.

For breakfast I blended up a mango, a banana, a handful of blackberries, a few ice cubes, and a splash of cherry limeade, and ate it with a straw. 

Now, the question is, what can I liquefy for lunch?

A Cocktail of Sorts

The doctor prescribed something called a "Triple Mix" for my sore throat.  It is three lovely medicines mixed together to numb the throat and make it feel good.  I just took a teaspoon of the mix and swished and gurgled it about in my mouth like I was supposed to.  And I'll tell you what: my throat is still hurting, but my lips sure are buzzing.

Now time for Alice in Wonderland.  If the medicine doesn't get me tipsy, maybe the movie will.

Waiting for the Amoxicillin to Kick In

There was this time in kindergarten when I contracted the chicken pox.  One afternoon I had gone and played with the neighborhood, and before you knew it, I soon broke out in spots...and so did the rest of the neighborhood. 

Everyone blamed me for the breakout.  But really, how could it have been my fault?  I was only six! 

Lately I've been under the weather and yesterday I broke out in spots again (this time on my tonsils).  And again I've been playing with the neighborhood.  It's true.  It was just Memorial Day weekend and I've been hanging out with friends, family, and all of WX city.  I have been fearing another epidemic.

Fortunately, my Meryl Streep look-a-like doctor says my test came back negative for strep.  Unfortunately, she doesn't know what my problem is.  But she says that I have an impressively sore throat that looks just terrible.  Yep.  Knew that.  Thanks.  She prescribed me some meds and now I wait to see if they work. 

However, if you suddenly fall ill, don't blame me.  Twenty years later and it still isn't my fault.  Hey, I'm not responsible for your poor immune system.