Head Case

I was supposed to go to a hockey game last night.  Since I woke up yesterday morning with a low grade fever (which I've had on and off since Sunday), I decided not to go so that I could lay low and get better.  This has been a hell of a cold -- started with a tickle in my throat which led to an annoying cough, the aforementioned fever, and then the congestion started yesterday.  I took a sick day on Monday and half the day Tuesday, but once I went to the office on Tuesday (after sleeping for 13 1/2 hours), I made the mistake of behaving like I was fine, even going out on Tuesday night.  I had a headache for most of the day Wednesday, but just attributed it to being part of the cold.  But this headache had a life of its own.  By about 3 pm it had proved itself to be completely resistant to Advil, and was bothering me so much that I went home to rest before my 5pm conference call.  By the time of the call, I was lying on my couch with my eyes covered, pressing into my temple to try to get some relief.  It felt like the entire left side of my head was stuck in a vise.  When the call was over, I started to worry -- I had never had a headache this painful, or limited to one side of my head.  I took some more Advil, worried some more, and called my doctor.  She asked me a few questions, then suggested I head to the emergency room.  Now, I'm sure she was being cautious, and had I called during office hours, she likely would have had me come in to her office, but off I went to St. Vincent's.  Long story short, I waited around in the "Fast Track" waiting room with my eyes covered to block out the light, my head still caught in that vise, and ultimately was seen and examined.  The doctor declared happily that I didn't have meningitis (huh -- hadn't thought of that one) gave me some super high-dose Tylenol, and left me to rest in the dark until it kicked in.  Which it ultimately did, thankfully.  I was free to go. 

Certainly not the best way to spend an evening, but at least the headache went away.  Today, I'm off to Philly with my Puffs Plus in tow.  And some extra Tylenol -- just in case.

Comments

[Mom#1]

Shoulda called Mom. She could have given you the same thing without St Vincents! Does the word Flu mean anything to you? Stay home for a few days or work from home. Feel better!

[twitter.com/tweric]

Laren - me too. Not fun. I like Mucinex to dry out the gross phlegm, tylenol and advil for the fever (and headaches from coughing), and ginger for the sore throat. Ginger has magic earth power.

Feel better!

[Nancy]

Laren -

Sorry to hear of your woes. Sure sounds like the flu to me. But, what you also described sounds to a tee exactly like a migraine (vise-like pain just on one side and light sensitvity).

Feel better!

Nancy

[Laren]

Thanks for the good wishes, all. I'm feeling much better, even though I'm still coughing. And of course, I'm scheduled to get a flu shot today. A little late in the game, in my opinion.