Last week, one of the window installers was coughing up a lung and going hoarse from some illness. I’m certain I caught whatever he had, because two days after he left, I was struck with the same sore throat, hoarse voice and nonproductive cough.
I though it might be a mild cold so I took some Tylenol and went easy during my workouts. After a day or two, I thought I was getting better.
Wrong.
Now my tonsils feel raw, my eyeballs feel like someone plucked them out and dragged them on sandpaper and my inner ears are achy.
So today, after nearly a week of rough nights in which swallowing was agony and sleep was fitful due to my throat pain, I went to the Urgicare to see if I had an infection. I had already done at home Covid tests twice this week – both were negative.
I was tested for strep. (It feels like strep). Negative.
I was examined and asked questions about my symptoms (no fever, no chills, no body aches). There were no visible signs of infected tonsils. The doctor said I had “slight tonsil inflammation”.
In other words – I have a cold.
I haven’t been sick in years. The last time was in early 2019 when I was completely run down after caring for my wife until she passed. Two weeks later, I got the flu.
Since then, I haven’t had a single cold. I’ve had a few other health problems like 2 hernia surgeries, an abscessed root canal, a chronic foot problem from drumming and an inner ear infection – but no colds. I’ve also never had Covid as far as I know.
I’m sure it’s got something to do with my limited exposure to other people. If I’m not around sick people, I don’t get sick.
Then a sick person came to my house and worked around me for 3 days. So here I sit, raw throat, swollen tonsils, stuffed sinuses and feeling sorry for myself.
I have been in some sort of pain everyday for at least a month straight now. I’m frustrated and angry and sick of it.
I know I’ll eventually get better. Although that doesn’t help me right now, when it feels like I’m swallowing shards of glass.
Happy Holidays.
Bah Humbug.