The doctor saw me last Thursday. And I saw her. ( I have now formally abandoned my previous doctor-for reasons I will soon explain). The S.O. dragged me to her doctor-after three days where I was not getting better, just coughing and coughing-so hard I ended up on the floor, and I don’t remember how I got there.
The doctor did a battery of tests, including sticking a swab up my nose almost into my brain ( at least it felt that way). Want to know why? Because she suspected I might have pertussis.. That’s right, disease you are vaccinated against in childhood, but evidently the Navy neglected to give me a booster shot for in my 40’s. The doctor felt she needed to test for it when she heard I had gotten back from Eastern Europe. And she was right.
As a result I had a nice chat with a public health professional who informed me the disease is making a comeback in the US and around the world. Part of the US problem has been the solid group of folks who have taken to not vaccinating their children due to fears of autism. Whatever the reason, I am stuck with it now. And it takes a while to heal. ( probably 5-6 weeks). The doctor said because they found it early-the course of antibiotics I am on should significantly lesson the symptoms, but at the same time I am going to have to also let this thing run its course. The fact that I am under more than a little stress right now figuring out which future outcome I will be walking down-does not help matters much.
According to the public health guy-it could have come from anywhere: being in a taxi with someone who had it, the subway, even just spending 10 hours breathing recycled air on the plane. ( Although the doctor thinks based on timing, I probably picked it up in Romania).
I was very concerned about the S.O. she has been around me since I got home. She has no symptoms-but the doctor put her on antibiotics as a preventive measure. Which is what you are supposed to do. According to the guy, I’ve got about two weeks of hard coughing, which gets worse at night. Then I should see it gradually decline and I will get better.
So let this be a warning to you. If you are in mid-life and have not had a booster shot, ask your doctor about it. According to the CDC adults should get a booster shot every ten years. For the life of me-I don’t recall getting one my entire time in the Navy-and I got shots for just about everything.
Which brings me to my doctor. I went to see him-complaining of what was wrong with me. He just dismissed it as a viral infection and said I would have to fight it off on my own. Even though I had the same symptoms as I had three days later when I saw the S.O.’s doctor. I’m done with him. And while its not a good idea to have the same doctor as the S.O.-for now it will have to do.
UPDATE! It is 2AM-and I am up when I should be sleeping. Why? Because if I lay down-its only a matter of time before I up doubled over the bed afraid I am drowning. I now know what it feels like to be waterboarded, I think.
This blows! I actually coughed so hard I got hypoxic-for some reason if I am sitting up, hunched forward, I don’t cough as much. Nights are so much worse than days.
Yikes! That sucks!! And I too don’t think I’ve ever gotten a pertusis booster in over 20+ years of Navy service…. hmmm……
Yet they are dogmatic about flu (which I don’t like to get jabbed for!) and anthrax (which seems silly given my vocation).
But I’ll throw this out there: I’m skeptical about ALL Doctors re: vaccines because I think that they downplay/outright ignore some neurological problems that are (or may) be caused by vaccines.
Take, for instance, this hot cheerleader who got screwed up by the swine flu vaccine the year before last. (Remember that one? We were all going to die of swine flu….)
http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/health/101309_woman_disabled_by_flu_shot_reaction_dystonia
Oh God, I ramble. All I know is that I’m sorry you got sick and hope you get better!!
And I’m saddened that a hot chick got messed up….
Personal guess was that you had contracted pneumonia but, as difficult as it will be, please forget everything but getting well and thank God the S.O.’s physician is on the ball.
Prayers up for you both, for as serious as this is in children it’s more so in adults.
Whooping cough is back – who knew? My Mom remembers pre-vaccine days and still speaks of it with dread in her voice. But I’ve never heard about Pertussis boosters for adults in the civilian world, either. Best wishes for a rapid recovery.
Don’t you think it’s time to head over to the local ER, preferrably via an ambulance (although from what you describe, a MEDI-VAC helo would be best)? Pertussis is not only rough on the lungs…the heart is none too happy………don’t want to end up with permanent cardio woes, do you?
Hang in there.
Gald you got doc who pays attention to the warnings that pertussis is making a come back. Lack of vaccinations/booster shots are to blame.
As vaccinations rates decline risks rise.
Get well Skippy. Hope you and the SO get better.
Sorry to hear that you are ill Skippy. I hope that the SO dodged the bullet. I imagine she’s been wearing the mask for days now and will for the next 5 or so weeks and manage to stay well.
I was quite sick for a long while and the nights lasted forever. Sleep was something that happened or not and it didn’t matter how long one was awake but in all cases sleep didn’t last more than 20 or 30 minutes. I’d look at the clock thinking hours had passed and it would just be 30 minutes. Sucks.
Get well soon!
Whooping cough is all over the San Diego schools, presumably being brought across the border by illegals.. The school system is supposedly enforcing vaccines this year (no shot/no school), but it’s effectiveness remains to be seen.
The Pertusis shot is part of a DTP shot, which I’m sure the Navy jabbed you with at least once. (not the same as PPD)
According to my doctor-the DTP only came about in the last few years. So it is possible they missed it.
Hey man, that not good news. Sounds terrible. Hope that this sorts itself out soon so get you back on track, wherever that may lead, and that the SO remains in the clear.
Just wondering about the preemptive strike with the ABs though. Is this not the course of action that has resulted in many bugs now being resistant, viz; new strain of TB? Of course if you walk in the door of any Hong Kong medical clinic they give a course of antibiotics and ask you to take a seat as the Dr will see you soon…
And yes if you get a really bad coughing fit, sit down. I had bad bronchitis after skiing in Japan this year. Had a massive coughing attack in the bathroom and woke up with my head on the floor – the parquetry just outside the door only, just missed the door frame and the bathroom tiles.