When I got the job as a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) in a hospital, I was pretty pumped. I was always interested in all the interesting cases that SLPs see in hospitals and the fast-paced environment excited me. Well...one thing they don't tell you too much is you will get sick your first year...alot. I am usually a pretty healthy person. I don't usually have to go to the doctors and my dad can normally help me with any minor ailment over the phone. This year though, I have been hit hard by illnesses..stupid hospital jobs.
So what do I have this time? Since last Tuesday or so, I felt a heaviness in my chest. I didn't really think anything of it. I just thought it was some sort of minor respiratory issue. When I got home from work on Thursday though, I felt dizzy and feverish. I took my temperature and it was a small fever..about 99 or so. Over a half hour or so though, it got up to 100.7. I called in sick the next day from work thinking I would have a whole weekend to recover. Friday I felt a bit better, went out a bit to do some errands and everything. That night though, I couldn't sleep at all...the fever returned with a nasty cough. Saturday morning came and I still had a fever and a cough. I finally called the doctor and got myself an appointment. They made me wear a mask and everything in case I had the flu. I was mortified when I had to walk through the waiting room with someone escorting me into an exam room. Oh and she also had a mask on too, which made it look like I was the most diseased person in the world.
The office was very busy and I waited almost an hour until I got to see the doctor. When he did get into my room and completed a short exam, he ordered tons of tests including a blood test and x-ray. He wanted to make sure I didn't have the flu, mono, or some other crazy things. By this time, I was thinking, oh man, I have the swine. So I went to the lab and x-ray to get the tests done. When I returned to the office, the doctor called me over to look at my x-ray. He then shocked me when he said I have pneumonia! I couldn't believe it. Only like 80 year olds get pneumonia right? I guess not. Then he said that I should get an IV of fluids because I was also dehydrated. What a day.
The nurses were great at the office. They got my IV all set and turned off the lights so I could "rest". I spent a total of 4 hours in the office before I got to go home. I was relieved to see that Clayton took a train home from his job to be with me.
So, I took Monday off from work and I'm thinking I might have to take Tuesday off too. Hopefully, this is the last sickness I get in a while. Knock on wood.
