:: Vela Dare ::

:: Sunday, October 22, 2006 ::

:: Throat Death Update ::

After discovering that the University of Bristol clinic is apparently closed on the weekends I ended up venturing to the hospital at the urging of my mom. It started raining part way there and the cold/damn air was doing nothing for my throat/cough. Luckily the hospital isn't *that* far away so I wasn't out in the elements for two long. (Can we also briefly note how hard it was for me to actually leave my room because I need to do laundry so, so badly--- but haven't been able to do any of it because I've been feeling so awful?) Anyway, the walk-in ward of the hospital didn't seem terribly busy. I don't know if hopsitals in the states do this as well, but they had a seperate ward for "accidents" so the emergency room wasn't full of people with broken bones etc. as well as everyone with various illnesses. They had some British soap on the television. I tried watching a bit of it but gave up eventually... it seemed pretty awful. I think picked up a magazine from the table and started to flip through the pages. It was from March 2004. That's right, 2004. Eventually they called my name and I was led through a doorway, down a corridor and behind a curtain. There a very nice nurse (I think her name was Margy?) asked me about what was wrong, took my temperature, and looked in my throat and ears. The temp was fine and my glands aren't swollen, apparently my throat isn't even *that* red. She did say that it didn't look too irritated but I'm not sure I agree with that because just looking in the mirror I could tell that one side was more swollen than the other. Maybe she just meant that it didnt look strep-ish/infected. Anyway, as it turns out she said it looked like I might have an ulcer/blister of some kind in the very back of my throat that is causing the irritation (and presumably the coughing which causes even more irritation.) Apparently this must not be a very big deal, though I was certainly concerned. I guess maybe because this seems to be my only symptom? Who knows. Anyway, that was the diagnosis and I was told to go buy some pain killers (like ibuprofen) and come back in the next few days if it really persists. I'm glad I don't have pneumonia or something terrible like that, but honestly after hauling myself and my very VERY painful throat all the way over there I wasn't entirely pleased that all I was told was that I *might* have a blister in the back of my throat and that I should just buy some advil.

At any rate, I bought the advil, and another pain med she said I could take with the advil if it was really bad (which it is) and it hasn't helped too much. Eating is ridiculous hard and I'm currently drinking enough tea to serve at least the Clifton area of bristol. I feel like this day has stretched on forever and I still basically feel awful. I don't even want to think about going to sleep (I tried napping earlier... it was most unsuccessful) and I have a feeling that class tomorrow will be out of the question, which kills me because its my Medieval Britain and Ireland class, and as Tamar said to me at registration "that's why you're here isn't it?" I think what I *will* probably do is go to the University surgery for a second opinion. I don't necessarily doubt what the nurse at the hospital told me, but I still feel so awful that I'm willing to be told the same thing over again if need be. Maybe they can give me something stronger for the pain at least, who knows? One thing is for certain though, this really can't go on as it has or I might just go crazy.

:: find earth and reap :: 8:46 PM :: [+] :: | ::

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