Happy Painful New Year

So far in 2009, I have managed to be sick. That's pretty much it.

It all started on Tuesday, 12/30. I've been feeling tired and cold all the time, and really, when I think about it, it has been getting steadily worse over the last couple of years or so, so I thought maybe it would be a good idea to have my thyroid checked. I called and made an appointment for Friday afternoon. Well, apparently a number of germs took this as an invitation, because by the time Friday afternoon came around, I had come down with:

• tonsilitis
• a urinary tract infection
• my period (not that the period is caused by germs, of course, but it certainly doesn't help me feel any better)

I was kind of disappointed with the doctor's response to my hypothyroid concerns. I made this long involved list of symptoms, and she just sort of rolled her eyes and asked if I got it off the internet. Well, excuuuuuuse me for trying to be an informed patient. The problem is that with the insurance I have, I have to use the clinic at the University, so I don't have a doctor that's really MY doctor-- I'm just assigned to whomever is available. I had hoped to see Dr. H or Dr. M, who have done right by me before, but instead I got Dr. P, with whom this was my first visit. I was not impressed.

Anyway, she did order the bloodwork for hypothyroid tests, along with a blood count and a metabolic panel. She is thorough, I'll give her that.

She also gave me a prescription for Bactrim to knock out the tonsilitis and the UTI. When I got my pills home and got ready to take one, I almost fainted. They are this big!!!!
(Sorry it's such a bad picture, but the pill is next to a dime for scale.) Why would anyone give a pill that size to someone with a sore throat?!? I had to cut it in half to take it. I've managed to choke down two days worth now (three days to go), and I'm feeling somewhat better. I did sleep all day today, though. I plan on doing much the same tomorrow. I'm sick, I get to do that. Illness has its privileges.