At this point in my story, it's mid -January and I'm just recovering from another throat infection and another (6 week) dose of antibiotics. I have been ill and in pain for the good part of two months and I begin to feel the effects. I'm exhausted day in and day out to the point where going to the store becomes a feat of strength. My legs ache, I feel continuously on the verge of illness, I have light headaches, the circles beneath my eyes grow, my skin gets paler and I feel as though it is a daily struggle just to exist due to my fatigue. I'm typically a fairly active person who gets antsy and restless with too much downtime so this was a new feeling. I haven't worked out since my last run in November and less of my clothes start fitting as my body begins to expand and soften.
I consult my doctor and he informs me it is the effects of long term antibiotics combined with fighting off a low grade infection. Lovely. I begin to take a multivitamin, B-Complex and Vitamin D to try to build my strength. I play around with diet, cutting out dairy, gluten, sugar and caffeine in the hopes of seeing some improvement. Nothing.
After a month at my mom's, I couldn't put life on hold anymore and so I moved up to Seattle with my boyfriend and tried to start living again. It was difficult and I wasn't that successful. In early February, I finished my last dose of antibiotics and within 5 days, my throat infection was back in full force. Once again, I couldn't open my mouth more than the width of one finger and even speaking was a struggle. Enough was enough. I knew that if I didn't see a specialist my health would continue to deteriorate. And so, as I tried to figure out health care, my doctor called in one last round of antibiotics...I had two more weeks.
Up next: How I was able to see a specialist without a job or health insurance.
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