[Gossamer's Scrapbook] The Ethereal Canyon I

by **Kadrath Onktaka** on April 5th, 2012, 7:56 pm

Is this a bad time for us to talk about my sciatica acting up? Just saying...

by **Phoenix** on April 6th, 2012, 1:09 am

Can I get in on some of this revenge action?

by **Legion** on April 6th, 2012, 3:32 am

by **Verilian** on April 6th, 2012, 6:24 am

I'm totally going to help you get revenge on this person, Jen. Jules and I got your back.

by **Gossamer** on April 8th, 2012, 5:23 am

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Today

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by **Bolden Denusk** on April 12th, 2012, 5:18 pm

Just coz I wanted to hug you -that- much!

<3

by **Gossamer** on April 16th, 2012, 8:46 pm

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I'm Sick. My Doc Proved It.

So I hate to be a drama queen, but I'm very sick. I got sick in early Jan/Feb with Pneumonia and have been kinda under the weather since. For the last two plus weeks I've been ill though, going into this third week with having no signs of it getting any better. I went to the doctor today and actually got a diagnosis.

I have Whooping Cough.

Yea, you know that little baby illness that can be fatal? I guess adults get it too now, and when we get it we get really really sick. We cough like we are dying all the time, deep hacking coughs that sometimes produce phlegm and sometimes just produce ear pounding splitting headaches. It sucks. You don't feel better until you get the right drugs, and then you still want to kill yourself or sleep forever except you can't sleep because you just cough and cough and cough.

Coughing is exhausting. It makes you cranky along with the lack of sleep. This is the worst I've felt in a long time. So... let this be a warning to you. GET YOUR TETANUS SHOT. In the US the vaccination for Bordetella pertussis (Whooping Cough) is piggybacked in that shot. If you haven't had a tetanus for a while, its well worth the cost and time to get it done.

Here's more info:

Bordetella pertussis: What are whooping cough symptoms, signs, and stages?

The first stage of whooping cough is known as the catarrhal stage. In the catarrhal stage, which typically lasts from one to two weeks, an infected person has symptoms characteristic of an upper respiratory infection, including
runny nose,
sneezing,
low-grade fever,
mild, occasional cough, similar to the common cold.

The cough gradually becomes more severe, and after one to two weeks, the second stage begins. It is during the second stage (the paroxysmal stage) that the diagnosis of whooping cough usually is suspected. The following characteristics describe the second stage:

There are bursts (paroxysms) of coughing, or numerous rapid coughs, apparently due to difficulty expelling thick mucus from the airways in the lungs. Bursts of coughing increase in frequency during the first one to two weeks, remain constant for two to three weeks, and then gradually begin to decrease in frequency.

At the end of the bursts of rapid coughs, a long inspiratory effort (breathing in) is usually accompanied by a characteristic high-pitched "whoop" sound.

During an attack, the individual may become cyanotic (turn blue) from lack of oxygen.

Children and young infants appear especially ill and distressed.

Vomiting (referred to by doctors as post-tussive vomiting) and exhaustion commonly follow the episodes of coughing.

The person usually appears normal between episodes.

Paroxysmal attacks occur more frequently at night, with an average of 15-24 attacks per 24 hours.
The paroxysmal stage usually lasts from one to six weeks but may persist for up to 10 weeks.
Infants under 6 months of age may not have the strength to have a whoop, but they do have paroxysms of coughing.

The third stage of whooping cough is the recovery or convalescent stage. In the convalescent stage, recovery is gradual. The cough becomes less paroxysmal and usually disappears over two to three weeks; however, paroxysms often recur with subsequent respiratory infections for many months.

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by **Seven Xu** on April 16th, 2012, 8:50 pm

Sorry to hear about your illness. Get well soon.

by **Pash'nar** on April 16th, 2012, 8:54 pm

Ugh. Whooping cough sucks! A friend's little one had it. Hang in there!

by **Verilian** on April 16th, 2012, 9:29 pm

Wow, so that sounds exactly like what I had about 2 years ago. I coughed and coughed for I don't even know how long. It was horrible, my back hurt so much during the coughing that I could barely stand while it was happening. I don't remember vomiting, but I do remember the initial sickness. I of course refused to see a doctor and it eventually went away.. but it was awful. ..then later that year I stepped on a nail and got and Kelsey forced me to go get a Tetanus shot. If only I had impaled my foot a few months earlier.

Anyway, I hope you get better. And I think I know just what will do it!

A really, really, reeaalllly long drive to Texas, arriving there Friday night just in time for my beach birthday bash! That will fix your right up. (Probably not.)