Oops, slow down

"Time for rest" is what my doctor told me yesterday. For the past few weeks I have been busy helping my friend take care of her house and children. She works very hard, and it is my pleasure to step in and offer assistance. Her own health was in jeapardy just a few weeks ago, but by throwing all my attention into helping her, she recovered rapidly. Unfortunately, I let myself deteriorate in the process, and my asthma flared up at the beginning of the week. First it was a sore throat, and then I lost my voice. My doctor at that time suspected a viral infection and prescribed me to use my inhalers regularly from now on. But as the week progressed, I just got worse.

I took my friend to get her own medical tests completed but did not realize I was the one who was getting sick. Finally on Thursday night, I found just carrying the kids up stairs in her house left me winded and weak. I suspected that I was tired from a lack of sleep. Friday I had to go see my doctor again because my eyes were burning and bluring. He listened to my chest and checked my throat and eyes, only to reveal to me that I appear to have developed pnemonia. Wonderful. He prescribed powerful antibotics and told me to rest! That if I got worse, to go to emergency at the hospital. Now that was a disappointment. I was glad to learn the reason for my exhaustion and pain.

I took the first dose of my antibotics that evening and within a few hours, I was feeling a bit of improvement. My voice grew a bit stronger, my breathing was not as labored. My eyes did not burn as much. These were good things. When I told my friend what the doctor said, she was very compassionate and concerned for me. I intend to beat this, and get well as soon as possible. At the beginning of the week, I have to return to the doctor and get a chest x-ray. Oh, well, what can I do.

Sometimes, doing so much for others can cause unforseen problems in my own life. This time, it was caught early I hope.