By Thursday morning, my tonsils started to swell and I was able to take the day off, hoping to sleep at least a little bit (I hadn't been able to get comfortable the night before) and even set up a doctor's appointment (which past Cassidy would have put off for another week, convinced that she would just need a couple days to recuperate on her own) but this older, wiser, and been through tonsil swelling before Cassidy knew it was better to get in sooner rather than later.
I went in on Friday morning, even more miserable than the day before (though I was keep perfectly hydrated so as not to do a complete repeat of two years ago) and explained to the doc what was going on. He looked at my tonsils for maybe 5 seconds, announced that they were indeed inflamed and that he would set me up with an antibiotic stat. It came in the form of pills. Which at this point, I could still swallow. However, as Saturday dawned, I realized that my throat had gotten even worse...
Urgent Care was up next. They were quite concerned to learn of my previous doc's quick handling of my case and couldn't believe that he had ruled out strep or even thought to look closer into it to see if it was as bad as it had been two years ago (or had the potential to get there) but after giving me a good look over (even starting to look for signs of mono), the lady looked in my throat and ears... and with great concern said there was a good chance that I had an abscess behind my right tonsil and that I couldn't put off going to an ENT for Monday and so encouraged me to get myself to the ER that evening.
After some rather.... poor handling of my arms, I finally got an IV into which they could inject dye to give me CAT Scan to see what exactly was going on in my throat and checking to see if it was blocking anything that could potentially throw me in the ICU if not handled properly. It was nice to discover that I, in fact, did not have an abscess, but I wasn't in the clear yet. Tonsillitis, the doctor pronounced. And yes, all the signs are there. From the fatigue (I may have dosed off all throughout church yesterday), an earache in my right ear, and even headaches and fevers (though I am doing very well at staying hydrated [perhaps a little too well]) and thus here I am. On three different medications as well as my antidepressant and I even threw in an Airborne vitamin into the regimen to help propel me forward out of this wretched state.
Those were my doctor adventures.
Then, as some of you have seen/noticed, my great grandmother passed away yesterday afternoon. Prayers are welcome and I would express my gratitude for the comfort that can be given to those who live closer to her than I have these past years.
Honestly, I had taken it upon myself to treat each goodbye as the last one--the last time I would see her. After seeing her in a nursing home, wherein she still mildly remembered who I was, I can only say something told me I would not be seeing her again in this life. Gladness more than sadness has struck me at her passing. She is with her husband finally, after being apart for 34 years this past winter. She is no longer in pain. And she no longer will look on any member of my family with hazy eyes that don't recall names or faces.
I am thankful for the opportunities I got to see her these last couple of years so that I could be at peace when the time came.
Lastly, as some others of you may have seen, my little cousin went missing after he found out she had passed away (he had gone for a walk but didn't make it back at a decent hour). The search parties were out en masse and it was my father who found him. Unconscious on a rock a little far from the shore (being near the ocean and the tide had come in). He had apparently slipped and hit his head but, though he is indeed being kept an eye on in the hospital, they say he should make a good recovery though he doesn't remember the past two days which breaks the heart when one realizes he will have to learn all over again about his beloved grandmother's passing.
But I know the Lord is aware and that all of the prayers that will be circulating around my family in the coming weeks will help all come to terms and to be able to look with gladness toward the day when we can all be united once more if we choose to live according to our Lord's will.
Love,
Me
