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Peds Place

Some Surprises with Cough Syrup

Published August 21, 2009 5:09 PM by Stephanie Scarbrough
There's been a lot going on lately, not all of which applies to my job (as ironic as that is). Let me tell you about it. 

I had a random cough for two weeks after coming home from King's Island. I didn't feel sick or anything, just a wretched cough that made people wonder how many packs I smoked a day.

I went to work on the 14th day, thinking things would be fine. I started feeling crummier and crummier and barely made it through the night. Something was definitely up. Even though I was doing my best not to call a doctor unless I had been run over with a Mack truck, I had to. I knew it was bronchitis and just figured I needed some antibiotics. 

The doc agreed and prescribed antis and a heavy-duty cough syrup. He told me to rest so it didn't get worse and I should be as good as new. I faithfully took the meds until complete and rested like a champ, but I still felt crummier and crummier.

It was eventually time for another call to the doctor. He was alarmed I was getting worse after completing a course of antibiotics and was running high fevers. It was time for a flu swab. When that came back negative (even for H1N1), he decided it was a very bad version of bronchitis and started a much stronger antibiotic and oral steroids. He told me he wouldn't approve of me to go back to work for a few days. 

Even more couch time later, I got tired of my house. I pretty much paced the house when I felt OK and went back to the couch when I didn't. Eventually I ran low on several items, so I decided to grab some stuff at the pharmacy. I tossed a few random things in a basket and then went home. 

We've been trying to conceive for almost a year now, so it's not unusual for me to take a pregnancy test every few months or so. I went ahead and took one, thinking it would say "not pregnant" as usual. When I looked at it, I was surprised to see it was missing the very important word "not." Did that really mean what I thought it did?

It did. We're going to be parents in April.

Things have been hectic and so crazy since we found out, but exciting and wonderful at the same time. I know too much about potential complications, so it has been slightly nerve-wracking. So far, I'm trying to just relax and let it be. I apologize that I took so much time away from my blogging, but now you all know why. It's been quite a ride, I can't wait to see what the future will bring!

2 comments

Thanks Robbie! The doc was starting to think in that direction, that's why I got the super strong antibiotic.  It's been 6 weeks now and I still have a cough! I'm doing my best to take care of both of us!  

Stephanie Scarbrough August 25, 2009 9:56 PM

Well congratulations!!! Now you still need to see about that fever and cough... could you have pneumonia? It will be all about your symptoms because an X ray will not work for you right now....

Take care of you and the baby...

Robbie Virgo August 24, 2009 1:14 PM

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