Infectious Bacteria Stalkers-My Summer Saga

One

Most people remember the return to school after a long lazy summer playing with friends, hanging out, swims, hikes, camping with family or riding bikes and sleeping in.

Once back in school it was often a chore to regurgitate the “what I did this summer” essay believing it to be a boring chore.

Well, I’m no longer in school, long past it in fact, yet this summer a set of experiences I’ve had led me to believe it must be told.  However, I’m hopeful it’s a one of its kind, never to be repeated summer saga.

A lovely May of great weather promoted my early planting of flowers and vegetable garden, outdoor play of Pickleball, fitness class attendance and trying to return to my normal since a car accident one and a half years ago.  Though still in treatment for ongoing pain in my back I remained dedicated with my physical therapy and massage to improve muscle strength in order to support my spine.

Over the past months I had been irritated by an ongoing plugged ear – continually sticking my finger against it to try and shake it unplugged.  I tried a decongestant with limited results.  At a doctor visit last fall, I’d been informed I had water in behind the ear drum and to return if the problem continued.

As months passed by I continued to complain to anyone who listened.   I received many suggestions that it could simply be a wax buildup – really.  I’m in my 60’s, have a hubby, have raised children and I’ve seen wax buildup.  I would have just kept quiet and cleaned my ear.

Before an already booked visit to Whistler Mountain with hubby to lounge in pools and hot tubs I decided to get another ear check.   Discovering that my doctor was on holidays I chose to go to a walk in clinic.  I managed to get about a sentence into my reason for being there before I was rudely interrupted by the attending physician asking me questions which drew me into a defensive description validating my issue.  Apparently he was unable to check my ear unless I had reason to believe I may have an infection.

With a steady and steely voice I said,  “I will tell you if you let me finish my sentence.”

After a bit of sputtering from clinic doc, I was able to finish expressing my concerns and have my ears checked, then informed, “OH, such a bulge, I wonder why…such a bulge.”   I deduced I had a valid issue though I was unclear exactly what the bulge was.  Later, my internet research suggested it might have been the eardrum.

Suddenly clinic doc got busy on his laptop giving me a lesson on the construction of ears via pictures and I waited out the instruction.  I was handed a prescription for a nasal spray which would last a few weeks and told to also get an over the counter spray – that one to only use for five days.

Being a good patient and compliant personality that I am, I promptly went to the pharmacy on site and filled the prescription.

What a mistake.