A Long Week

That Started Off Hot

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

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I had pneumonia as a freshman in high school, and the only two things I remembered about it (before this week) were:

1. I felt like I was dying.

2. I got out of gym class for two months.

Of course, when you’re 15, you haven’t been around long enough to develop a thick skin for illness. And being excused from tumbling and gymnastics was fine with me!

Fast-forward to last weekend: I woke up Sunday with a high fever and a slightly dry hacking cough. I rode it out for two days, expecting to feel somewhat better by Day 3, but when I saw 103.4 on the thermometer that morning, I decided to see the doctor.

It's a good thing I did; he checked me over, listened to my lungs, and asked, “Have you noticed a wheezing sound?”

I responded in the affirmative, and he sent me over for a chest X-ray.

Sure enough, it showed pneumonia in my right lung. Interestingly, I had my first pneumonia vaccine precisely 12 months ago, and if this is what it feels like WITH the shot, I’d hate to experience it without one.

It didn’t require hospitalization and is considered a milder case, which convinces me that I dodged a bullet. I felt pretty ill for five days before finally turning the corner.

Some of the symptoms included:

• High fever

• Headache

• Awful taste in the mouth

• Nausea

• Lots of coughing

• Zero appetite

• Lethargy

The doctor prescribed two antibiotics, one inhaler, cough meds, and a steroid pack. My energy level is still down, but I’ve also lost 10 lbs. (Which is almost as exciting as getting out of gym class!)

But I’m getting better, and that’s what counts!

This is why I was radio silent for anyone who may have wondered where I was last week. I have Part 5 (and the final post) of my short series on Addiction scheduled for Thursday. After that, I plan to write about some new topics.

I’d advise anyone without the pneumonia vaccine to get one. It can’t prevent getting sick, but it CAN protect you from getting seriously ill or developing other complications.

As a 63-year-old and someone immunocompromised, I need all the extra protection I can get!

Take care!

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