Part One: When minor symptoms become worrisome

For the last several weeks, I have felt very ill. I have had a cough which has progressively gotten worse, fatigue, horrible headaches, neck pain and confusion spells. I go to my infectious disease (ID) doctor searching for answers. When a chest X-ray comes back as normal, I am assured I will be contacted when my sputum culture results come back from the lab. I wait and wait. The doctor never calls.

I am not terribly worried. I have a follow-up appointment with my pulmonologist in a few weeks. Two days after that appointment, I have an appointment to see my ID doctor. I know everything will be figured out. My pulmonologist and ID doctor know each and work together. They will have a plan to help me.

The night before my appointment with my pulmonologist, I attend Bible study. I feel very off-balanced. I cannot focus or recall facts to mind. I get lost in the middle of my sentences. I want to scream; I want to shout, “I am so lost and confused. Someone help me!!!” I do my best to get through the session.

When I get home, I need to finish packing for my doctor’s appointment. I roam around the house, lost in a fog. I know I need to make food for the trip. I know I need to place my bags in the car. The tasks seem so difficult. I manage to do the best I can and collapse into bed. Despite being completely exhausted, I cannot sleep. Finally around 2:30 a.m., I fall asleep. A few short hours, my alarm startles me awake. It’s time to get up and get on the road.

I am surprised when I sleepily move about the house I feel ok. I don’t feel great, but I feel better than I did the night before. When we begin our journey, I can feel my body is starting to act up. My airways feel tight. I start coughing. I continue to tell myself I am feeling fine. As the trip continues, my head aches. I become nauseas. I become extremely cold. I put on my thick winter parka and winter gloves. My body begins to warm up. Soon, I am in a cycle of being very hot and then profoundly cold. I think to myself, “Well, if I am going to be sick, at least I am going to see my doctor. She will be able to help me out.” An hour before my appointment, I find a thermometer. It reads 100.8 degrees. My heart sinks. I don’t run fevers unless I am extremely sick. I dread my day may not end in a relaxing night at the hotel.


(For the link to Part Two, click here)