Yeah, so having pneumonia sucks. Having pneumonia, while having a flu like illness that is in fact not the flu, sucks. Also, having pneumonia, while having a flu like illness that is in fact not the flu, on the tail end of having a cold and coughing for 6 freaking weeks, sucks. I don't think I have even been this sick in my life. I have spent the better part of a week in bed, which sounds awesome, but really isn't when you are so miserable you can't enjoy it. And when you can't lay down, because you may cough your own lungs up, right there in your bed. Faaaaaabulous.
So, what have I learned from all this? Other than the fact that I need to isolate myself in a plastic bubble for the next month? And that I have amazingly bad luck in managing to contract 5 (!!!) different illnesses in less than 6 weeks?
Lesson 1: Don't sleep out in a tent in the back yard when it is 39 degrees and you are recovering from being sick. Now, did this actually make me get sick again or was it going to the Exploratorium, Zoo (twice), and somewhere else I can't remember over Christmas break with the kids? I honestly don't know, but I do know I got sick for the second time after the camp out (and all the public places), so maybe it was a toss up, but it probably didn't help.
Lesson 2: Don't hike 3 miles while carrying a cranky 2 year old to see the Elephant Seals at Ano Nuevo State Park when you are recovering from/starting to get sick. Kieran's preschool was taking a field trip and I'm always game to go on along, so off I went! Now, it was very cool, but I really shouldn't have brought Alric, who walks everywhere but out to see Elephant Seals apparently. And the fact that I was already feeling bad that morning, should have convinced me to either ASK JARED TO GO or STAYED HOME.
Lesson 3: Having asthma really sucks. Cause, you know, I feel like I can't get enough air and that I can't take a breathe without coughing because I am recovering from Pneumonia. But asthmatics never get to recover. They feel like this ALL the time. So, while I'm over here having a panic attack at 2 AM because I can't breathe, my (awesome and manly) hubby is telling me it's OK because if you still have air to panic then you still have air to breathe. Duh! And oh yeah, he feels like that almost all the time. Asthmatics you have my sympathy!
Lesson 4: Robitussin cough medicine NEVER starts to taste better. And you NEVER get used to it. Enough said.
Lesson 5: Codeine cough medicine isn't the best thing since sliced bread. It is supposed to make you stop coughing by affecting the part of your brain that has the cough urge. My brain didn't get the memo. It is supposed to make you sleepy. It took me 2.5 hours to fall asleep. It is supposed to last all night. I had to redose at 4 AM, just like with Robitussin. And when I woke up in the morning it felt like I had been run over by a truck and I had a raging headache. Yep, back to Robitussin for me!
Lesson 6: Go to the doctor when you are sick. I am prone to not doing this, however I did go this time, twice as a matter of fact. The first time they said "Yep, you are getting over being sick, and yes you can have your own inhaler so you will stop using the one your pediatrician prescribed for your son." The second time I went I was sure that they were going to tell me that I was just sick, Why? Because that was what happened when my bed-ridden husband, from whom I caught the previously mentioned flu like illness, dragged himself in last week. I was prepared to cry and beg for drugs, but the doctor listened to my lungs and declared them sounding like Velcro. Yay! Drugs for me!
Lesson 7: Just because you get your drugs and take them, you are still going to be really, really, really sick for a few days. Yes, I know that antibiotics don't work instantly, but it always seems like the kids bounce back so fast after they get them. Yeah, I am not that bouncy I guess.
Lesson 8: A Hot Toddy is really gross if you make it with water. I guess I'm just not a hard liquor kind of girl, but man, it was NASTY. Smelled great but tasted terrible. Now if you make a nice cup of tea, then add the lemon, honey, and rum (cause that's what we had), that's not so bad. And they work to kill the cough, at least as long as you keep drinking them, plus they make you sleepy. And as a bonus they warm your feet!
Lesson 9: Once you have taken all your medicine and are starting to feel better, you will still be REALLY tired. But, you won't be able to sleep, you will just lay around in a heap on various soft surfaces, propped upright so you don't cough up that lung, and feel sorry for yourself. Although you will be able to read a book, or play on your computer, or watch your children attempt to injure each other.
So, there you have it. Life lessons from a bout of Pneumonia. And once I have sought help for my Robitussin and cough drop addiction, I might just put on fresh pajamas and take down the Christmas decorations!
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