I Think I’m Dying
Image Source: mycompletelackofboundaries.blogspot.com
OK I’m probably not, but it sure feels that way! I have been sick with the Flu for several days. The real Flu, not just some cold. Each day I think it’s the worst it’s going to get and BAM I get sicker!
I may need an antibiotic or Tamiflu or something, but I don’t have health insurance so the cost involved with that would be quite astronomical; between the office visit, the necessary lab work, and a prescription, I just cannot swing it. Someone could dig me a hole a helluva lot cheaper. Your back yard or mine?
According to the CDC, Flu activity most commonly peaks in the United States in January and February. I guess I am a bit of a late bloomer. It all started with my son though and that was in February…
Almost two weeks ago my 19-year old son became very ill. It was the first time in years that he “wanted his Mommy” so it was kinda cool although I certainly do not wish this beast of an illness on anyone now that I’ve experienced it.
At least he has insurance…
A week later my li’l grand guy caught it and was so sick he required IV fluids at the hospital and several trips to the doctor’s office.
At least he has insurance…
The baby seems to be getting better now, but I think that’s only because he gave it to me and one of my daughters. She and I are like death warmed over…well maybe not so warm considering we have extreme chills mixed in with outrageous fever. Everything hurts. Everything! Even my skin hurts.
My throat is the worst. I can barely swallow water!
I have taken Excedrin, Excedrin PM, Melatonin (It’s almost 2 AM and I am awake again), TheraFlu, Emergen-C, Ibuprofen and a handful of other OTC remedies and I’ve gargled with warm salt water. I have used heat packs and ice packs and just about everything in the medicine cupboard. Nothing helps. Like I said, I think I’m dying.
Help?
UPDATE 03/08/13
Went to a clinic yesterday…after being there for nearly 5 hours I was sent to the ER. My daughter and I have strep-throat, but apparently I also have either cracked a rib or torn the muscle away from the rib from coughing. In addition, believe it or not apparently I got kidney poisoning as well from taking Ibuprofen.
I didn’t take an excessive amount of Ibuprofen, but because of past kidney issues (in relation to when my gallbladder ruptured a few years back) my body cannot filter it properly and what I have taken was too much for me. I knew something was wrong when everything started swelling up and hurting like hell.
So now I am on some medication to clear up the infections (strep and kidney) and they gave me some pain pills for the rib.
I don’t feel good and will be kickin’ it on the couch today (and this weekend) so if you want to direct me to some groovy online documentaries etc. I’d appreciate it. Thanks.
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Cheri Speak 
I wish I could help. I will send healthy, happy feelings your way! 🙂
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Thank you!
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I am sorry to hear this Ms. Cheri. I wondered what happened to you the past 2 weeks. I am flu proof, but try this old remedy…get a very big onion, slice it in half and put it on your night table next to the bed, stay close to the onion halves and your flu will be gone.
Onions absorb bacteria, the flu will show up in the onion. I promise you.
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I have an onion…
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Then you should be getting better as we type….. 😉
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If you try this, you will get well quickly, and so will anyone else around the onion.
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I hope you and your daughter feel better. Is there a clinic or a cheap place where you can get some help?
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I’m glad it’s “only” flu, Cheri. My feelings went from extreme concern as i read the title to outrage that anyone, you, should have to suffer without access to medical care. Isn’t there some kind of county clinic where you live?
I caught some kind of gastrointestinal bug in Thailand — I’m thinking it’s because I stupidly used tap water to brush my teeth. Extreme cramping, chills and fever.
But here’s my belief: You don’t start to get better until fear of dying turns to fear you won’t die. I think I’ve turned the corner.
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OK this is what you do. Ready a cup of water. a Cup of Orange juice. A cup of ( really really hot steaming tea, no milk, in fact avoid all dairy products it increases congestion). Drink a couple of swings of water. Staying hydrated is really important for blood flow which helps your immune system. Then with the cup of orange juice take two pills of a decongestant medicine like sudafed. If you have vitamins take them too, the overall vitamins with everything in it, vitamin c pills, vitamin b pills, immune boosters…whichever is your choice or a combination i recommend the vitamin c vitamin pill. Then with cough medicine, theraflu is really good and my fav( it’s been discontinued in NY though) but if it’s your normal medicine you have developed a tolerance to it and need to switch brands. My second choice is DayQuil ( or store brand is cheaper and just as good) the cough version ( it comes in different types, cough, cold, flu) . Take not one cup( the cup that comes with the bottle) take two. Then directly afterward taking the medicine bring up your steaming hot tea. It has to be steaming really hot. Put your face over the cup and breath in the steam deeply. Then drink the tea steadily. You don’t have to glup it down but drink it before it cools and while it’s still steaming. You can also add a vapor rub to your chest. If you use a vapor rub a little trick is put a power towel over the area with the rub. It seals the rub in and prevents it from rubbing off on your clothes before it has a chance to work. And sweating is good! Sweat helps push the sickness out. In four hours take more cough medicine. I like to wait five or six hours and then take a cup of cough medicine and two pills of some genetic flu medicine like comtrex. Do this for the first two days. Then drink cranberry juice too. Cause it’s a lot of medicine , higher than the recommend dose but it contains some of the same stuff the antibiotics the docs give., and your kidneys and liver are working hard to process all this medicine so a little cranberry juice to make sure you are not doing damage to yourself ( unless you have a previous condition then cut back on the medicine dosage to the regular amount). As the days pass you can cut back on the dosage. You will reach a plateau of sickness where you don’t feel better but you don’t feel worse. That’s a good thing. Try to do things like rest , sleep, drink lots of water and tea to help your body get past that. Also, look up free clinics. They can write you a script for antibiotics for the flu…and they tell you still take the OTC stuff with the antibiotics but the antibiotics is to make sure the sickness doesn’t spread and metabolism else where like your throat( strep) and lungs( bronchitis). If it does strep you need to gargle with salt water and bronchitis you will need a mild inhaler. The free clinic can provide this stuff. If you can’t afford the scripts make sure to ask for generic and lesser known brands that are cheaper and even ask the docs for the free sample stuff. ( Free clinics and hospitals clinics usually have them)
And sleep! I know your busy but sleep really does work wonders.
After like 4/5 days i like to stop taking everything and let my body work on its own to fight off the sickness and stay in bed ALL day.
Also, I’m not above taking other people’s prescription, but you know that’s frowned upon.
That’s my sage medical advice. I have health insurance, but can never afford to use it! You know my retail job is new so before my job I had no income to make the copays. But going to the doctors will take a pretty chuck of my check for the co-pay and medication co-pay. I have been sick with the flu three times this year! And a regular cold twice. I’m basically sick throughout winter.Then I will get sick when it changes to summer and when summer changes to fall . I have such a crap immune system someone that is sick can look at me and I will get sick. LOL.
Feel better!
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Familiar with your Health insurance issue, hope you get well soon.
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I am also familiar with this health insurance issue but I want to add…what can all of us do about it. We are all loyal followers of our girl here, aren’t we? What about a blog-a-thon or something along those lines to generate the means for our friend to get herself to the doctors…I mean, how appropriate is her title…this flu is killing people! Any doctors out there who want to donate their services? Any suggestions?
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Aww Jack you are so sweet. Thank you for the kind idea and thoughts. I wish we had a better health care situation in America.
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The best flu killer I’ve ever had is home-made chicken soup (they call it the Italian anti-biotic!) Apart from the chicken you need onions, garlic, carrots, swede, and any other vegetables you can get your hands on. For some reason the mixture of the vegetables with the chicken boosts your immune system and makes you feel like you had a shot of pure energy. If I lived close by, I’d make it for you 😉
Big *hugs* and I really hope you feel better soon 😦
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😦 I hope you feel better soon, Cheri. I take something called Bronch-Aid that helps with congestion. Also chicken soup. Sorry I don’t have better advice. Let us know how and if the onion works.
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Went to a clinic yesterday…after being there for nearly 5 hours I was sent to the ER. My daughter and I have strep-throat, but apparently I also have either cracked a rib or torn the muscle away from the rib from coughing. In addition, believe it or not apparently I got kidney poisoning as well from taking Ibuprofen.
I didn’t take an excessive amount of Ibuprofen, but because of past kidney issues (in relation to when my gallbladder ruptured a few years back) my body cannot filter it properly and what I have taken was too much for me. I knew something was wrong when everything started swelling up and hurting like hell.
So now I am on some medication to clear up the infections (strep and kidney) and they gave me some pain pills for the rib.
I don’t feel good and will be kickin’ it on the couch today (and this weekend) so if you want to direct me to some groovy online documentaries etc. I’d appreciate it. Thanks.
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Oh no, sorry to hear this. Feel better soon. Take care of yourself & your family. non-germ *hugs* 🙂
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I hope you are feeling better soon Cheri xx
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Thanks Rebecca. Each day is a struggle right now. Hopefully by tomorrow the antibiotic will have kicked in enough to notice. last night was a rough night for both my daughter and I. Sigh. I had to get something on my blog though. i don’t want it to die a slow death just because i am LOL>
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Lol aww 😦 Let’s hope not!
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Oh no, Cheri! Ugh! & I thought my flu was bad! I’m coming out of mine now, though. Yours sounds like it got waaay worse! *hugs*
Oh jeez, I wish I could come over & make you some soup or something. Keep us updated. I’m worried for you. I know what having no insurance is like & it sucks!
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