Today’s blog
Lynn Murphy Mark
On giving in
Nurses often have a stubborn streak when it comes to getting health care for one’s self. After all, we have a world of medical knowledge in our own brains, knowing that our years of experience have taught us a thing or two about how to treat XYZ in others. Not to brag or anything, but I have a case load of friends and family stretching from Los Angeles to New Jersey to Florida who sometimes use me as their medical advisor…known as practicing medicine without a license. But I will stand by my advice at least 90% of the time! I guess there’s a reason why I just can’t NOT renew my nursing license every couple of years.
Anyway, last week me and the Corona Virus had an encounter and she won. I stayed in our house for 7 days, not even allowed to take out the garbage to the trash chute across the hall. I thought I had the better of the virus because I only had mild cold-like symptoms and mostly what I needed was to sleep and binge watch Queer Eye’s latest season on Netflix. I love that feel-good show where people’s lives are actually changed for the better as the result of five gay guys who love what they do and give their talents away in sweet and practical ways.
By the time I tested negative, however, my little cold has settled deep into my chest. I’m not naïve enough to wonder why this is my vulnerable body place. After years of being a dedicated smoker I have done some damage to my lungs. I gave it up for good 14 years ago, but I pay the piper every time I get my annual cold.
This latest round resulted in periods of harsh coughing that sometimes last an hour. The only remedy is to sit up straight, and fight it out. This is especially disturbing in the middle of the night, not just to me, but to my poor wife as well. Yesterday I wisely got an early morning appointment to see my doctor. He prescribed a strong cough suppressant, a chest x-ray, and regular dosing with chicken soup. Turns out my chest is clear of any pneumonia, which is an illness I have dealt with in the past, and with which I spent time in an ICU for two weeks once. A negative chest xray is good news.
Not willing to give up the ghost just yet, I went to work after seeing the doctor. I lasted a couple of hours, and coughed enough to elicit some kind words of concern from my co-workers. Those words prompted me to head home after a trip to CVS to pick up my prescription. I can be a headstrong goat sometimes.
I am grateful to God for my usually steady state of good health. It’s true that I only need to see my doctor twice a year – once for the silly Medicare “physical” and once for whatever my annual ailment might be. However, I am no spring chicken anymore. This means I might have to change my approach and follow the good advice that I give to others. To all my nurse buddies out there, I pledge to believe that, like everyone else, I have feet of clay. Self-care, I think it’s called.