Sick of Being Sick

Yep, I'm sick again. Actually, I have been. I thought I had kicked my sinus infection from last fall, but apparently it never went away.

When I had that diagnosed in October, I quickly started taking an antibiotic. A few days later, I had an AWFUL reaction to the antibiotic, so I stopped taking it. (The reaction, by the way, was EXTREME joint pain - think not being able to move your shoulder, elbow, wrist, finger, hip, knee, etc. all at the same time - for TWO MONTHS. It was on and off, at least, and at first the doctors thought I was allergic to the Penicillin {which still hasn't been completely ruled out}, but it's pointing more toward a sulfite allergy now... which is a major bummer because WINE. Every time I drank wine, I started feeling achey, and it seemed to exacerbate my symptoms. The joint pain finally subsided; I think the sulfites from the medicine finally got out of my system.)

Since I never finished the antibiotic, the sinus infection stayed. I grew accustomed to what that pain felt like, and it became my new normal.

After my nine mile run last Saturday (not this past one), I was sneezing like crazy (stupid allergies) and wheezing (I also have asthma... I am just the picture of health, huh?). It didn't stay for just one day. I couldn't breathe properly for five days before I decided to go to urgent care because it was getting scary.

They diagnosed me with a sinus infection AND bronchitis AND an acute asthma flare-up. All at the same time.

I've taken an entire round of antibiotics and steroids this time around (no sulfites, thank goodness), and I'm actually starting to clear up. I feel like I have more energy, and I'm not as congested (again, I thought that was normal after having it for so long).

Despite all of that progress, however, I am still struggling to breathe, so my doctor sent me home with a nebulizer breathing treatment system, and I do it twice a day now (down from three times). It helps, but it feels awful not being able to breathe properly on my own. Luckily, I've been able to get a few good runs in despite the whole breathing issue... I just make sure I take my inhaler along these days.

• Have YOU been sick this winter?
• What's the worst part of being sick to you?