Oh...Just A Little Bronchitis

A few weeks ago I lost my voice working my p/t gig. I chalked it up to the cold weather that weekend and me being outside. But, I probably picked up a bug. Since then, the entire family's been affected. We've coughed and hacked, sniffed, and sneezed, but this morning, I woke up freezing. 

I was freezing even while buried under a thick down comforter and wearing sweats.

"I think we should take you to the InstaCare," my wife said.

I did not argue.

We arrived and I walked up to the desk. When the lady admitting me kindly handed over a mask, I could tell they thought this could be serious. And, for the first time, so did I. I got signed in then taken back into one of the examination rooms.

The nurse took my vitals--things were okay. Then he said, "we might be looking at pneumonia."

I didn't like the sound of that.

And when the doctor came in wearing a mask herself, well, I started to worry just a little bit. They took a couple of chest x-rays and the conclusion--no pneumonia. Whew!! Next, they tested for influenza. That came back negative as well.

So far, so good.

They diagnosed a mild case of bronchitis, sent me home with some drugs, and that was that. I'm not the healthiest person on the planet, but I'm also not the most prone to illness. I'll get a cold every now and then, but usually, I do okay. It was weird being in an InstaCare considering all the horrible things that could be wrong with me. Thankfully, none of them came to pass. Now, to get better.

Pop Goes The Calf Muscle...

For all my fifty-one years (except when I was an infant and I couldn't walk, of course...), I've been able to run. I wasn't the best runner, by any means, but I wasn't the worst. Running to me has been as natural as talking. So, when I had some tightness in my calf muscle lately, I took it easy at the gym this week. No running, just walking, inclined walking, and a little elliptical action. The good news was after going slow, the calf felt better.

That was, until I began crossing a busy road this afternoon and something popped. That something was my right leg calf muscle. I almost thought someone hit my leg with a pipe or something. It was the strangest thing. I made it safely across the street, but I was in no way walking normally. I was reduced to hopping.

My wife suggested I go to the local InstaCare. After I told her my symptoms, it reminded her of when she felt the same way and it took her six months to fully recover. Yes, getting it checked out by a professional sounded like a good idea.

The diagnosis: a strained muscle. The physician said it could have been worse, and she counseled me on what to do if it got worse. I came home and elevated my leg and thought about the day that was. I began it at the gym. I'm ending it with a wrapped and elevated leg. And any running will have to wait.

I know people who have battled physical issues their entires lives. Fortunately, I've been blessed to avoid major health problems. But, as I age, enjoying good health is something I hope to appreciate, and not take for granted as I've done so much in the past.

Time will tell how the recovery goes. Thankfully, I have a loving supportive family. I'm not scheduled for any writing conferences in the next month or so. And my job requires I basically sit at my desk all day. So, even with a strained calf muscle, I'm very lucky.