Started coughing September 19. Saw the doc September 24: tentative diagnosis of pneumonia. Chest x-ray confirmed it September 26. Medicated, slept, sick leave. Back to work October 6. Out of breath, easily winded. I’m moving like John McCain. Can’t take stairs. Saw the doc again today: second x-ray October 8 showed the gunk in my left lung had shrunk from the size of a fist to the size of a walnut.
So all this week, people at work have been saying, “Wow, Mike. You look like you lost 20 pounds.” Sure, I say to myself: I know my eyes and cheeks are a little sunken, but I’ve been eating. Soup and fruit, mostly, but hearty stuff too. Eating regularly, three a day. So I get on the scale.
Yeah. Holy shit. I’m down 22 pounds in two weeks.
Michelle ·
That sounds scary, Mike. Didn’t the doctor notice the weight loss?
Reply
Margaret ·
Shit!
Are you on the mend now??
I wish kitties were able to cook hearty soups and stews to feed you.
Speaking of which, kitty story: Flyer brought me a baby bird today. Unharmed. She is really good at bringing me unharmed prey. (I think she’s trying to teach me to hunt. Mama cats bring their babies unharmed prey to practice on. Niamh used to do it for Flyer & Alice. God, those poor moles.)
At the time, I was in the middle of an audio/web conference regarding the recent ADA amendment. I DID NOT NEED A SEMI-FLIGHTED BABY BIRD FRANTIC-ING AROUND MY HOUSE. So I’m wearing my nerdy earpiece, running around, trying to catch the bird, which is hiding in places such as under the washing machine.
Finally I caught it, took it outside, and it flapped away into a nearby bush. Cats have been confined to the house, at least until the baby grows up enough to fly into trees.
Hope you are feeling better.
Reply
mike (author) ·
I’m on the mend now. Doc looked at me this morning, said: “You have to eat. You are eating?” Yeah, Doc. I’m eating.
I’d ask Tink and Zeugma to bring me hearty soups and stews. Except the only things they know how to cook with are centipedes and hair.
Reply
Charlie ·
Stock the freezer with Ben & Jerry’s! That’ll help :)
Get better, Mike.
Reply
John ·
I’m glad to hear you’re on the mend. Take care.
Reply
Lanette ·
I’m glad to hear you’re getting better. None of my cats past or present would cook for me either, although they were all obsessed with food–for them. Take care. Recovery from pneumonia can take a while.
Reply
Dave ·
So I say to Sydney, “I just worked for 13 hours and you want me to feed you? How about you go and work for a day… or at least have a hot meal ready for me when I get home. Now you want me to pick up your poo. Can’t you pick it up after yourself for once.” Hope the mend continues along. Minda sends her well wishes, as do I. Take care bro, get well.
Reply
DocMara ·
Mike. Is there anything we can send?
Reply
mike (author) ·
Doc – well, I sure could use those 22 pounds, and maybe a book on how to teach cats to cook, too. ;-) Thanks for the good thoughts.
Dave, you need to get Sydney some thumbs for Christmas.
Reply
joanna ·
Your humor is back–you must be on the mend.
Reply
Quinn ·
take care of yourself
Reply