READERS UNITED

Hi Ladies,

Sorry it has been a couple of weeks or so since I've checked in.  Everyone in the house has been sick from something but all better now.  My computer is frustrating me too.  It keeps freezing right after I turn it on.  Sometimes it will be fine but then other times I have to turn it off and on several times for it to work.  I haven't even finished paying for it!  Maybe I need a new battery?

DonnaH, I'm sorry you had such a scary experience but I'm really glad to hear that you are safe.  That was your guardian angel watching out for you. 

Cady, I'm glad Maggie is getting better and that your dad is also improving.  It is taking forever for my library to get The Perfect Hope but I did pick up the new In Death and I'm reading it now. 

Sandi,  Good thing you called your brother and got to visit with him before you had to leave.  I was in San Jose last week too but not for such a nice reason as you. 

We had a pretty big scare with my sister last week.  Gavin had been sick with tonsillitus and he got meds which cleared it up.  My sister ended up getting it too but she decided to tough it out and just gargle.  It did clear up but a few days later she started feeling pain in her ear, jaw, throat area.  She thought maybe it was an earache or tooth thing.  Then she would have pain on the left side of her throat that she said was a level 10.  She couldn't even sleep for the pain she was in.  She went to her doctor and he said her gland was swollen causing the pain so he gave her an something to reduce the swelling and ease the pain....but no antibiotics because she didn't have a fever and her throat was not red.  I told her that she probably needed antibiotics ....something was causing the swelling.  Her throat was not red but you could see the swelling inside her throat and on the outside of neck.

My sister went to work but by the time she got out she was still at a level 10 for pain and couldn't swallow without it hurting.  She went to the evening clinic and was told by the physician on call that he agreed with her doctor.  So he gave her nothing.  All night she was in pain.  So the next morning I went with her to insist they see her even if she didn't have an appontment.  It was a physicians assistant on call and she took a test for strep but it was not that.  She said my sisters gland was very swollen so gave her a steroid to reduce the swelling and gave her a shot for the pain. ....still no anibiotics, again because there was no fever or redness.  She said my sister would feeling better in a day or so.  It was very frustrating.

Anyway, she went the dentist the next day thinking it must be a tooth.  She even got some work done but this did not help the pain.  By Wednesday night she couldn't swallow her own saliva and I could hear it gurgling.  So scary.  I took her to the emergency room and they admitted her right away.  She had only this tiny opening in her throat.  They said she had a puss pocket and don't know how anyone could miss that. (even I saw how closed her throat was) They did a ct scan and it was too complicated to just drain and they said she needed surgery.  But we don't have a specialist that comes to our town for that so she had to go by ambulance to a hospital that did.  But first they started her up on three differnent antibiotics by IV.  Also some other stuff I can't remember.  They took really good care of her there.  The nurse was very nice and informative.  She explained that the meds my sister was getting were very strong and would really help her.  Then they sent her off to San Jose by ambulance.  I followed with my aunt.  We had our pastor and family praying.  My sister said she didn't want surgery and was praying that she would not have to go through it.  Well, the Lord answered her prayers because the antibiotics worked so well that she didn't need it.  They released her that next morning. 

The next day I looked into her mouth and it was back to normal.  I swear that she only had an opening the size of a marble when it was closing.  She was told it was PeriTonsillitus abcess that she had.  They sent her home with very strong meds to continue taking and said to follow up with her doctor and then a specialist in a couple of weeks.  

Sorry to go on so long.  Just had to get it off my chest.  I was so upset with the doctors.  I could see what was happening in her mouth ....how could they not?!   At her follow up with her regular doctor, he said that he learned a lesson and next time my sister compains will immediately give her antibiotics!

I'll say good night now. 
Margie :)