Plura-WHAT?

No, not "Plura-What", said the doctor. "Pleurisy". Oh, OK. That is so much clearer. In laymen's terms, Pleurisy is swelling (inflammation) of the thin layers of tissue (pleura) covering the lungs and the chest wall. And that is the latest illness afflicting me. Remember Mr. Nasty Cold Germ Man and the subsequent Mr. Nasty Flu Germ Man? Well, they never seem to have gone completely away and the past weekend they really got me down. For awhile now, I've had this dull but ever present pain that goes from the front of my chest through to the back of the chest; it hasn't been painful enough for me to go into panic mode, but annoying nonetheless. However, when over the weekend I began to feel as though I was suffocating and that I wanted to throw up when the slightest morsel of anything (even air) went through my throat, I figured I might need to get it checked out.

I had the hubby take me to Urgent Care last evening and after 2.5 hours there, two X-rays, an EKG and making me blow into this blow-thingy, they determined it was "Pleurisy". The word (which sounded to me like some kind of nasty bug I'd find on the bottom of my shoe) was intimidating and shot me into panic mode when I envisioned myself once again (like I was 4 years ago when I was inflicted with pneumonia and spent two...yes two...entire weeks in the hospital), laying in a hospital bed with wires, tubes and bleeping sounds around me. Not remembering from one minute to the next what was going on because I was so drugged up. The doctor must have seen the sheer look of panic on my face because she assured me very quickly that it isn't serious and most likely due to a "former illness" I may have had that caused irritation and inflammation in the lining of my lungs. Most likely that nice case of pneumonia and probably festered by Mr. Nasty. Thanks a lot. So, now, I am on a steroid (to bring down the inflammation) , an antiobiotic (to ward off any other Mr. Nasty's who may want to invade me), and an inhaler (to open my bronchial airways so I don't feel like I'm suffocating....cuz that's really not a fun feeling y'all.)

She told me that within 3-5 days, I should feel better....and if not, go to the E.R. Cool. As long as I don't spend the holidays in the hospital, or die and leave my kids motherless....I'm all good.

Oh, and by the by, it's snowing mad-crazy here today. Brooke posted a nice picture of what our neck of the woods look like today. Cool. No, COLD. Glad I saved that last fire log for tonight and didn't use it this morning....even though I wanted to so badly while I was drinking my coffee and folding laundry.

(Yes, I am lazy, folks!)

And one last thought: I just discovered I've been tagged for two memes. I'll get to those tomorrow! :-) Thanks!