Really, Really, REALLY sick...

[JavelinSST390]

Sorry I haven't been around much guys. I've been sicker than a dog for the last two weeks or so.

It started before the 4th of July, not sure when, with a stuffy, runny nose. Then it just progressively got worse.

I'm prone to sinus infections, (get two or three a year) and I have mild allergies to pollen and crap, so I just figured "eh, it'll go away like it always does."

Not this time.

When I woke up the morning after the 4th, I felt like run-over dog #$*%. MY whole head was packed with snot, even my ears, I was running a fever, one minute I was hot, the next I was cold, dripping sweat, nauseous, dizzy, etc. Basically I felt like I was gonna die. Then after a few hours I started to feel better, my head finally started to drain out, and the worst of it subsided. For a few days.

But it never really went away.

Then, about three days ago, it came back with a vengance. I woke up and the whole left side of my face and my left ear hurt very badly, along with all the super-nasty stuff I had before, only a LOT worse. I could hardly open my mouth, because my jaw hurt so bad, but again, after a few hours, The stuff seemed to break loose and I felt immensley better.

(I should mention at this point I was taking copious quantities of over-the-counter decongestants the whole time... that helped, a little.)

But after I got home, all of a sudden the pressure started to build up in my left ear again.

Then there was a sharp pain, like someone jabbing an icepick into my ear, a POP and all of a sudden the pressure went away.

And then my wife goes "Oh my god, Chris, you're bleeding out of your ear!"

I went into the bathroom and looked, and sure enough, there was blood and SNOT running (and I do mean RUNNING) out of my left ear.

At this point I finally agreed to go to the doctor (I hate doctors) and they do their usual tests and crap and tells me I have a MASSIVE bacterial infection, (DUH!) probably due to the fact that I'm a mechanic (I DO get dirty) and working out in the heat, And that the pressure in my left ear caused it to rupture the outer eardrum in that ear (great).

So now I'm on antibiotics and all that happy stuff, they say I'll probably have diminisheed hearing in that ear now, (my hearing wasn't that great anyway) and that it could be over a MONTH before the crap finally drains out of my ears and I get my hearing back.

And I still feel like crap. But at least the fever and the chills and all that crap is gone.

The point of the story is, don't put off going to the doctor, or your ears might explode.

[sparky0068]

After what my wife went through 2 years ago I don't waste time. After seeing her go from perfectly fine and 3 weeks later being in a coma, I don't screw around anymore.

Hope you get better soon. If you need help with anything let me know.

[Eritex Inc.]

Been there, done that with the doctor thing. I tend to say "I'm fine" way to much also. It took bleeding lungs to get me to a doctor in the past. i even tried the "I'm fine" thing last year with my knee.

I hope you get well soon and the family stays well.

[kwkride]

Sorry to hear about your problems Chris. I hope you get feeling better. Take of yourself! I need an e-mail address for you so I can send you some pictures of your daughters from the GTG in Omaha.