Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Bizarre simple illnesses

The strangest thing happened to me yesterday..... I called my PMD's office (he's part of the biggest Family Medicine Conglomerate in our town) at 0830 and said, "I need to make an appointment as soon as I can get in for this cough that I can't kick." And the appointment girl said, "He has an opening at 1140."

What are the chances of an appointment within 3 hours with a PMD? Creepy.

Anyway, remember the new disease that I caught at the beginning of the month? Well, 3 bottles of Tussionex later, I'm still coughing every time I lay down to go to sleep.

(First bottle was from a friend who had some on hand, second was a script from my favorite ER doc, and the third was a script from the ER doc whose wedding I just went to on the left coast. I told my PMD, "I figured I better come in," and he said, "Why, running out of suppliers?")

He thinks I have an occult sinus infection. He added some Augmentin to my Flonase and chlorpheniramine cocktail, and said that will fix it. Maybe. If that's what it is.

He also switched the Tussionex script to Robitussin AC, which is 10 bucks a bottle instead of 50. After the first dose when I went to bed last night, I can see why. It tastes like ass. With an ass aftertaste. That outlasts toothpaste. And mouthwash.

But it's working so far.

*sigh*

Goodbye, Hydrocodone. I'll miss you. I'm sorry I never got the chance to abuse you properly. Maybe next time.

20 comments:

Ladybug Crossing said...

Hope it works! If it doesn't, try Vicks vapo-rub on your feet. You just slather it on the bottom of your feet and put socks on. It works. I dunno why, but it really works!!
YMMV
LBC

Alexis said...

I'd just like to point out that the phrase "occult sinus infection" sounds very suspicious - like there's a little group of people in robes somewhere with a wax mold of your nasal passages and a chalk circle......

overactive-imagination said...

LOL @ alexis.

I found your docs statement of "Why, running out of suppliers?" quite hilarious. You need one of those fibro fidos.

scalpel said...

Tussionex is the sweet sweet golden nectar of the gods.

Robitussin AC tastes like that stuff they put on kids' thumbs to keep them from sucking them.

Anonymous said...

First, I hope you get to feeling better soon!

I can't stand the Robitussin AC crap, I've been prescribed Cheratussin AC (same stuff probably) a few times and it has to be some of the worst tasting stuff I've ever had. Now Tussionex just tastes wonderful (compared to the other stuff).

Anonymous said...

One thing about Robitussin, it tastes horrible, and you're still coughing, but you don't care!

Kacey said...

You might try some Asmanex for inflammed bronchi. I got diagnosed with asthma after five months of a strange high-pitched night cough. Not all asthma is classic.

Devorrah said...

Good luck! I actually broke a rib coughing, so I know it sucks. Get well soon, I hope.

Nurse K said...

Sounds funny, but try an NSAID like naproxen for an annoying cough---reduces inflammation of airways.

Anonymous said...

Welcome back, your last post had me worried. Hope you feel better soon.

EDRNKaren said...

Maybe (heehee!) you really have Fibromyalgia. Maybe what you need is some dilaudid... :-)

I love your blog! It makes me laugh.

MOJITOGIRL said...

Our ED doc swears by Phenergan with Codeine for coughs. Now THAT'S a BUZZ!

Anonymous said...

Pertussis?

Anonymous said...

LOL @ tastes like ass, with an ass aftertaste.

You have an excellent sense of humour, even when you are sick!

911DOC said...

i think you have fibro. make it yours!

Unknown said...

I use Tussionex when I get bronchitis every winter or so in conjunction with home nebulizer treatments (asthmatic represent!). Looooooove. It's so exhausting to cough that much and the subsequent relief is heaven.

But Robitussin AC? The AC should stand for Ass-Containing.

Mother Jones RN said...

Hope you start feeling better soon.

MJ

The Scrivener Collider said...

I don't know you history or anything, but if you just get it when you lay down at night, it sounds like allergies. My bedroom is pretty dusty and it only bothers me at night. Try vacuuming and dusting, get a new pillow, try allergy meds and see what happens.

Rogue Medic said...

I hope you feel better soon. You appear to have a second cousin of fibromyalgia - phayngomyalgia. A service dog and some dilaudid should do the trick.

Anonymous said...

So half the wedding party would like to know if you are feeling better yet. Yes, we are concerned about your health. But the bride may kill the groom if he doesn't stop coughing in his sleep, and poor Cindy looks as though she may die. What hideous back-water infectious thing did you bring with you? (No offense backwater-ville) P.S. the toolbox is excellent :)