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Except, you know how within eight or so hours of starting an antibiotic course, you want to happy dance and pay homage to Alexander Fleming, because you feel so much better?
That didn't happen this time.
In fact, it wasn't until Day 3 of 5 of my Z-pack that I started to feel moderately better, if not still very, very tired. (For clarification, "very, very tired" translates to sleeping 15 hours at night, napping during the day, and feeling like I overdid a workout x10 when I'm up and walking around.)
If this is mononucleosis, you'll recall that this is the same wretched disease that presented itself in "chronic" form in college, requiring me to take a year off from school. The EBV and I don't play well, it seems, and it's quite possible that if I wasn't already on a leave of absence, I'd be asking for one right now. If this isn't mononucleosis, I guess it's possible that I'm just very, very exhausted, but I don't know. 15 hours is a really long time to sleep at night.
Every day is touch and go, but on Saturday, I felt well enough to go apple picking with The Lawyer. As he pointed out, there wasn't much strenuous activity involved. I sat in a car while he drove us into the Western Maryland countryside:
Fall colors!
Fiji apples, anyone?
Then, I ate and picked for barely an hour and a half.
Picking apples just like a small child: Eat one, pick one. And no, I did NOT wash that apple before I started eating it. DAREDEVIL!
At the end, we had 20 lbs. of apples, as well as swiss chard, broccoli, and cauliflower.
Some people were more excited about the broccoli/cauliflower harvesting than others.
In his defense, that is a REALLY big cauliflower. Besides, we Florida kids didn't have these fall harvest picking experiences growing up! Don't judge!
It was my intention to come home and make all sorts of apple pastries, but instead, we've loaded the apples into the crisper drawers of The Lawyer's fridge and I've spent my days pinning recipes from Pinterest in bed, until I feel energetic enough to make something with the apples.
I did, however, make these for a bake sale at my church last weekend, and I'm unreasonably proud of myself. I had to buy a special piping tip from Michael's, which obviously qualifies me as an expert cupcake decorator. (It also proves that my time spent on Pinterest IS NOT IN VAIN!)
Behold!
Until my blood work comes back, any suggestions on what else could be wrong with me? Is this African sleeping sickness? Narcolepsy? WHAT IF I HAVE A PINEAL TUMOR?
(But for reals, someone diagnose me!)
15 comments:
I'm so sorry :( I've also had mono and it sounds a lot like it. I hope it's not but I also hope you get some answers one way or another. Could it be a combination of things? I'm sure all the drama you've been enduring with your med school crap isn't helping it, either. Feel better! Love the cupcakes :)
Maybe CMV. It causes a mono-like illness also.
If the abx took 3 days to work, then I'm guessing your feeling better was due to natural disease course than direct benefit of the drugs. But hey, I'm just glad you're feeling better now!
You are having an unlucky year! (Except for the Lawyer.) Sorry you're still feeling terrible... I hope you feel better soon and have something easily fixable. And yes, you are a cupcake expert!
Obx- Yes, it could definitely be a combination of things. I didn't want to believe it was one viral illness after another, but it could be. :/
OMDG- Exactly to the Abx...suggests it wasn't/isn't a bacterial pharyngitis. I guess it could be CMV...didn't think of that.
CM- I know! I definitely am not having good luck this year! :/
Gotta check that splenomegaly girl! Actually it's very tricky to check that one yourself (been there, done that) but The Lawyer could probably handle it.. Definitely sounds like mono to me :/
RS -- I only thought of that because a good friend had it, and she had very similar symptoms to you. She suggested the dx to her primary dr, he scoffed at her, and then the test came back positive. Oopsie. I think that's IgM serology?
Future Dr. Mier- It seems like mono, right?! Fine. I suppose there's a Bates video somewhere, showing spleen palpation. I've already taught The Lawyer how to use a stethoscope and otoscope, as well as subjecting him to being my fake patient while prepping for my clinical exams...what's one more exam for him? (His favorite is definitely the neurological exam...probably because it was my worst and I made him sit through it about 6 times!)
OMDG-Good to know! If my blood work is negative for EBV, I'll look into CMV. My PCP is actually really nice and he values my opinion, so he'd have no problem ordering the serology if I asked.
Oh and I wanted to say, I think this is the first picture I've seen of The Laywer. CUUUUUUUUTTTTTE!!!!
OMDG- Aww, thank you! I'll tell him and he'll be THRILLED!
Cute cupcakes! Your Pinterest time was definitely not in vain! Sorry you are not feeling well, but yay for the harvesting! We lived in AZ for med school, so my kids had never been picking either, and they were so excited when we went! :)
I miss being in the part of the country that actually has a fall with changing leaves and apple trees. There is nothing like it (sigh). I have no idea what you have, but I would enjoy the sleep and time on pinterest, it is time you may never have again so soak it up:-) Those cupcakes look amazing. I might have to break out the pipping tips!
Jillian- It's so fun, right?! We had a blast and are definitely eating better this week (lots of apples for dessert instead of cupcakes...AHEM.)
From a Dr's Wife- Yep, I know the time may not come again for a long time, so I've been trying not to feel guilty about resting. Definitely break out those piping tips! Cake decorating is so fun!
Sorry to hear you're still not feeling well! :(
I hope you get your diagnosis soon and can get a handle on whatever it is. Mono is no fun. Two of our three girls have had it and it took a long time for them to feel better. Get well!
Hope you are feeling better soon - I remember being down a few weeks with mono in my late teens. Only rest and meds can do their thing for you.
I'm really sorry to hear you have mono =(. But it's really really nice to see your face (at least part of it) and The Lawyer's face! The cupcakes look delicious!
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