48
August/September
It’s Your Life Magazine
to go to the doctor so I re-diagnosed my-
the pharmacy he said no, he would have
single, hard working mom. We talked for
charge, the doctor walked in. I immediately
self with acute tonsillitis. It made sense.
to see me first. That made me upset but
some time and her diagnosis was a relief.
thought about my appearance because
I had suffered similar symptoms several
I scheduled my appointment…never to
I told her of my fear that I was HIV positive
he was quite handsome. He was very kind
years before for only one month and that
show. By the end of July, the symptoms
but she dismissed my concerns and said it
and explained to me that he had reviewed
was the diagnosis given to me by my doc-
had intensified including darkening finger
was unlikely, that mono was in fact the cul-
by files and did not feel that my diagnosis
tor. So again, I took some antibiotics not
nails, shortness of breath, difficulty walking
prit. She left and came back a short time
was correct. I was immediately deflated.
prescribed to me and I moved on with my
for short periods, accelerated heart rate
busy schedule. It was hard. Single mom,
and it sounded like I was snoring whenever
stay at home mom and business owner.
I took in air. One night, after forcing food
However, what I presented to the world
down my throat and mouth that was riddled
was that I was fine…just a little under the
with sores, I said enough. I had had it with
weather. Loved ones began to get con-
this tonsillitis. I put my daughter to sleep,
cerned noting my request that someone
asked my sister to watch her, packed my
help with my little one had increased due
blanket and drove myself to the hospital
to my extreme fatigue.
prepared to spend the night.
later to let me know they had the labs and
He explained that it could be any number
nothing stood out so she would be sending
of things but he soon began to ask about
me home with antibiotics and pain medica-
my sex life. He went on to explain that my
tion. Great! As I prepared myself for dis-
symptoms along with my race and gender
49
Just walking into the ER was laboriJune came and went with antibiotics
ous. Thankfully, the process of getting me
and the introduction of high grade tem-
into a room was surprisingly fast and easy.
peratures, chills and night sweats that
The nurse had come in and evaluated me,
I controlled with Tylenol and pain that I
drew blood, and within minutes the Physi-
controlled with Advil. July was when “it”
cian Assistant came in to speak with me.
became a problem. I had no more access
She said that they would wait for the labs
to antibiotics and when I called the doc-
but that from what I presented, it appeared
tor to see if he would just call some in to
that I had Mono. She said my lifestyle fit;
Isssue 3
2015
itsyourlifemag.com