Sunday, as you read in my last blog, was a very busy day for us. So, when my neck and upper shoulder started hurting, I thought I had just pushed myself a little too far. I thought I had strained a muscle or something like that. Instantly, I went into self-medicating mode. First, I took Advil and applied heat. Then, I tried Tylenol and applied heat. Finally, I attempted Excedrin and once again applied heat. None of these truly eased my discomfort, but the hot pad and Bengay released some of the tension in my neck for a VERY brief time.
Then, this morning I woke up and couldn't turn my head at all, brush my hair because it hurt to extend my arm in that direction, and needed help putting my shirt on. Okay, I finally decided that maybe I need to see a doctor. I checked into CareNow at 5:45 (I was up anyways) and they would have me in their system when they opened their doors at 8. I arrived at 7:55 and checked in. Soon after, I was hustled back to the room. Two hours, one steroid shot, and two prescriptions later, I was diagnosed with Mono.
I thought this was a teenage disease from kissing. At my age, this shouldn't be a concern of mine. Turns out, it is a virus in the spleen. The doctors treat the symptoms, which vary greatly from sore throat to exhaustion, but cannot treat the disease. You actually get Mono two to three weeks BEFORE you show symptoms, and you can continue to show symptoms for up to a MONTH after you have been diagnosed!!! The doctor told me to drink lots of fluids (hard when it hurts to swallow) and get lots of rest (hard with two young children who don't really get that mommy is sick), but told me I could go right back to work. Oh yeah, she also told me to avoid contact sports. I told her I avoid those without a doctor's orders!
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