Cold update
Went to see a doctor yesterday. (Technically a Physician's Assistant.)
She told me the following:
- It can't be just a cold, because no cold lasts more than 10-14 days. (At least three doctors have told me previously that my past multi-week illnesses were just colds. I'm not sure who to believe.)
- She couldn't detect anything wrong other than post-nasal drip. (She prescribed a nasal spray that I've used before, a few years ago, without any effect. She said it might take two weeks to show any significant effect.)
- She thought it was possible I might have a minor sinus infection, so she prescribed antibiotics. (I am always reluctant to do antibiotics, but when I pushed back, she said that without them, it might take several more weeks to get over it if I do have a sinus infection. So I got the antibiotics.)
- She thought it was possible I might have allergies. (As far as I know, I've never been allergic to anything, but it's possible.)
In other words, she wasn't sure what was wrong, but she offered some possible paths toward improvement, and I figure it can't hurt to follow those paths.
While I was there, they gave me a tetanus/whooping cough vaccine shot (it's been a while since I had a tetanus shot, and they're apparently now combining that with pertussis vaccine), and they cleaned the excess wax out of my ears. Full-service medical appointment!
In retrospect, it occurs to me that perhaps taking a dose of DayQuil four hours before the appointment was not my wisest choice; it may've masked some symptoms. But without the DayQuil, I suspect I would've been too miserable to make it to the appointment.
Today, I'm feeling a bit better, but still sick. And I'm ridiculously cold—the heat is turned up in my house, and I'm bundled up in semi-winter clothing, and I'm still shivering. Kam suggests I may have a fever, but I can't find my thermometer. Perhaps I will take a hot bath or drink some tea or something.
At some point I will blog about something other than this cold. I'm mostly only writing this entry to provide followup info to those who recommended that I go see a doctor.