I, like most of you, thought Whooping Cough (also known as Pertussis) was wiped off the face of the earth but I was so wrong. I got it and I'm still getting over it.
I came down with what appeared to be a cold in early April. Several weeks later, when it was still there, I went to the doctor who said it was just a cold. About a week later she put me on antibiotics since it was not going away and I felt worse. Those antibiotics did nothing so she prescribed something stronger but unfortunately I had a serious reaction to those new meds and ended up in the ER. The ER Doctor said it was a viral bronchitis and antibiotics wouldn't help. He prescribed some cough medicine with Hydrocodone so at least I could sleep a bit.
About a week later we took a drive out to California to see family and I got worse again. I went to see another doctor who thought it was a sinus infection so different antibiotics and more high-octane cough medicine were prescribed and I started to feel better - about 50% better.
When we got home from California at the end of May I went back to my own doctor feeling about 50% better but still really pooky. By this time my coughing was so hard and severe that at times I felt I was going to pass out. I had a very hard time getting my breath back after coughing. I had also either sprained or tore a muscle in my chest from the coughing. So not only could I not talk much because it would get me coughing but I could hardly move due to the chest pain and the movement would get me coughing as well. To help avoid talking so much I had typed out the entire timeline from when it started to them. When my doctor came in the room and we talked a little - I started coughing and she got to see and hear what was going on. She was amazed and so was I when she diagnosed Whooping Cough. Tests confirmed it and I was prescribed the right antibiotics and more high-octane cough medicine. It took about 2 weeks to get to where I am now.
It's now the end of June. I'm about 95% Better. I still have a hard cough but it's definitely not as bad as it was a month or so ago. My chest muscle issue is slowly resolving itself but it will still take some time. My voice is still rough but better. Doctor said it could take several months for me to get back to normal.
Why am I telling you this? I'm telling you this to alert you to the fact that this dreaded disease is back. Almost all of us have been vaccinated against it as children. Those vaccinations are wearing off and we need boosters. Please take the time to check with your doctor to see if you might need a booster for Pertussis (Whooping Cough). They often combine it with Tetanus so you get a two-fer.
This disease is usually not fatal in adults but it is not uncommon for small children to die from it. Adults are usually carriers and the children are the ones who suffer the most. There is a commercial on now from the CDC that shows a mother holding a baby and you hear the sounds of a child with Whooping Cough - it's horrid. And I can tell you, from personal experience, that the feeling of coughing all your air out and then having such a hard time to get the air back into your lungs is frightening and exhausting. I wouldn't wish this horrible disease on anyone. I have truly never been this sick my entire life and I don't want you to get sick with this either.
Please take the time to check on your vaccinations and get updates if needed.
Do it for you.
Do it for them- your family, friends, and the children
JUST DO IT!
Thanks for reading this. And please pass the word along to everyone. This disease is spreading like crazy right now since the childhood vaccinations are wearing off. Just ask people to check with their doctors about getting their vaccinations updated if needed.
Thanks,
Jan
I came down with what appeared to be a cold in early April. Several weeks later, when it was still there, I went to the doctor who said it was just a cold. About a week later she put me on antibiotics since it was not going away and I felt worse. Those antibiotics did nothing so she prescribed something stronger but unfortunately I had a serious reaction to those new meds and ended up in the ER. The ER Doctor said it was a viral bronchitis and antibiotics wouldn't help. He prescribed some cough medicine with Hydrocodone so at least I could sleep a bit.
About a week later we took a drive out to California to see family and I got worse again. I went to see another doctor who thought it was a sinus infection so different antibiotics and more high-octane cough medicine were prescribed and I started to feel better - about 50% better.
When we got home from California at the end of May I went back to my own doctor feeling about 50% better but still really pooky. By this time my coughing was so hard and severe that at times I felt I was going to pass out. I had a very hard time getting my breath back after coughing. I had also either sprained or tore a muscle in my chest from the coughing. So not only could I not talk much because it would get me coughing but I could hardly move due to the chest pain and the movement would get me coughing as well. To help avoid talking so much I had typed out the entire timeline from when it started to them. When my doctor came in the room and we talked a little - I started coughing and she got to see and hear what was going on. She was amazed and so was I when she diagnosed Whooping Cough. Tests confirmed it and I was prescribed the right antibiotics and more high-octane cough medicine. It took about 2 weeks to get to where I am now.
It's now the end of June. I'm about 95% Better. I still have a hard cough but it's definitely not as bad as it was a month or so ago. My chest muscle issue is slowly resolving itself but it will still take some time. My voice is still rough but better. Doctor said it could take several months for me to get back to normal.
Why am I telling you this? I'm telling you this to alert you to the fact that this dreaded disease is back. Almost all of us have been vaccinated against it as children. Those vaccinations are wearing off and we need boosters. Please take the time to check with your doctor to see if you might need a booster for Pertussis (Whooping Cough). They often combine it with Tetanus so you get a two-fer.
This disease is usually not fatal in adults but it is not uncommon for small children to die from it. Adults are usually carriers and the children are the ones who suffer the most. There is a commercial on now from the CDC that shows a mother holding a baby and you hear the sounds of a child with Whooping Cough - it's horrid. And I can tell you, from personal experience, that the feeling of coughing all your air out and then having such a hard time to get the air back into your lungs is frightening and exhausting. I wouldn't wish this horrible disease on anyone. I have truly never been this sick my entire life and I don't want you to get sick with this either.
Please take the time to check on your vaccinations and get updates if needed.
Do it for you.
Do it for them- your family, friends, and the children
JUST DO IT!
Thanks for reading this. And please pass the word along to everyone. This disease is spreading like crazy right now since the childhood vaccinations are wearing off. Just ask people to check with their doctors about getting their vaccinations updated if needed.
Thanks,
Jan
