Gifts From Abroad

I have bacterial pneumonia. It hit me like a brick--suddenly, out of the blue. Almost instantly I was congested, feverish, hacking, and with a sore throat that feels like I'm swallowing razor blades every time I cough or swallow. I knew it was not good when it was apparent that none of my home remedies even made a dent in it. Sleeping didn't help. Steam tents didn't break up the rattle in my chest. And as I fell asleep I could hear my lungs sounding like a concertina--rasping and rattling away.

The doctor was fresh out of medical school and looked like a good wind could blow him over. He chided me for using "cooling measures" and seemed to enjoy making the point that this idea is out of date. I only need to keep my head cool, not try to reduce my fever.
He listened to my chest thoughtfully. He thumped my back and listened to my heart. He wasn't too swift with the tongue blade, but then he wasn't sure that those were my tonsils hanging down inside my throat until I told him that I still had them. That did not inspire confidence.

But when he conferred with his attending--my regular doctor--they came back with a regimen of antibiotics and strict orders to stay in bed. Which is why I'm sitting up and writing this right now...He said that they believe I brought this back from Peru and it suddenly hit me after my antibiotic regimen for traveler's sickness was finished.

My chest x-ray looked hazy this morning. Blood cultures and lab work are pending. I'm just so grateful for antibiotics because after taking two doses I already am starting to feel a small measure of relief.

Last night as I lay on the couch waiting for Sam to pick up the medications, I was having a hard time breathing. The heat from my 103 degree fever emanated off my face and I was shaking with chills. I recalled the death scene from the book, Christi, where a young woman succumbed to something or another. It was a long drawn out agonizing time for those sitting with her, trying in vain to help. She died very young. Without antibiotics, I could have died. Never have I felt so ill before--just utterly unable to do anything for myself and miserable beyond words.

Today I'm again grateful that science has provided us with antibiotics. We get them so quickly and take them for granted. People in other parts of the world do not have this luxury. Perhaps their general health is better somehow, or they have more natural immunity. After this experience being in Peru, I'm not sure I care to travel abroad again. But I realize that my health is more important than many other things and it needs to be protected. At my age, good health does not happen by accident. I'm just grateful that an end is in sight to all this.