I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving. This year, we traveled to the Northeast to spend the holiday with our families. We had a great time and were fortunate to spend quality time with everyone.
Unfortunately, I came back with a bad chest cold. After doing a home test for COVID and testing negative, I treated my cold with fluids, cough drops, cough medicine, and rest. However, after eight days, I was still hacking away, so I went to an urgent Care Center at Cleveland Clinic to be seen by a doctor.
After waiting an hour, as the doctor had just gone on his dinner break, I was seen by a doctor who said that although my lungs were clear, and he thought I ‘just had a cold,’ he was going to start on antibiotics, a steroid and nasal spray.
He said he did not want the cough to become pneumonia as I was an older patient (ouch). He said to return in a few days if I was not better.
I started the medication and am feeling better. The experience made us realize that a cold at 40 or 50 is different when someone is 65 or older! I was glad the doctor was looking out for me, and I hope I stop hacking soon!
Stay well, everyone!
The exact same thing happened to me! This could be my story word for word. It has been a very long 10 days now but seeing light at the end of this tunnel. Thanks for sharing this. I feel better knowing I’m not crazy!
Take care and feel better soon, Anne! I came home from a nurse conference before Thanksgiving with the extra gift of COVID – still recovering after a course of Paxlovid – and unfortunately caused my husband to be ill as well. Hoping we are all healthy for Christmas!
Anne,
Thanks for sharing and i hope you continue to improve & feel well soon.
Yes, we all need to come to the realization our bodies are changing, this is not a bad thing but something we need to accept. Those 1-2 days have now progressed to a week or more.
Oh well, we can & do adjust to these continued changes.
Happy Holidays to all!
Glad you feel better, Anne. I have been wondering about RSV; did that ever come up and do you have thoughts about that particular vaccine? Interestingly many insurers do not pay for it and therefore it is an out of pocket expense. This so unfair considering the media hype surrounding this vaccine.
It is interesting how our care has to ebb and flow as we age, and how it takes longer and longer to heal. I’m way more focused on preventative care and environmental toxins & chemicals than ever before to be preemptive. Hope you feel better soon so you can start off the new year healthy, happy, and carefree !!
Very helpful info. Not enough people follow up with colds that linger.
Also, I know of 2 people who died from sepsis after a UTI One was 47
the other was 81. Another important area that people don’t pay attention to
Glad you are feeling better Happy and Blessed Holidays
I’m going to miss your newsletters when u retire
Jeff
Feel better Anne. It seems as we become more fragile with age, mild illnesses and muscular skelton issues easily turn into something more concerning.
This is a reminder for us to pay attention to and proactively address even the mild symptoms.
Hope you are feeling better!
Ms. Anne, I hope you feel better and completely recovered.