Tuesday, November 27, 2007

And When Bad News is Bad (Or Could Be Worse)

Long Row, 2007, Oil on Panel, 9x18

So it turns out that even if one considers oneself to be healthy, meaning that one seldom gets sick with colds or flu or stomach bugs, or eats organic foods, drinks only water and doesn't smoke or take drugs, and exercises (though maybe not as much as one should) that doesn't actually mean one will NEVER get hit with a double whammy flu/pneumonia combination.

I was starting to feel better over the weekend, but just a bit, not as much as I should have at that point. But still no new symptoms, just the cough and being tired. But then Monday evening I was REALLY wiped out and also noticed that my breathing had changed. Short and shallow breaths, just after walking from one room to another. And that was my sign to go in and get checked out for pneumonia, which despite having so few of the symptoms, was pretty much number one on the list of why I was not feeling better.

So today, Doug took me in and after a lot of sitting around, a few tests and a shiny new chest x-ray, I officially have bacterial pneumonia in my left lung, treatable with an antibiotic that will probably suck out my intestines unless I take my acidophilus and bifidobacterium along with it. I have decided to stick with my natural stuff anyway. Because maybe without all of that, I'd be much worse off than I am now.

Looks like I will have at least a few more days of enforced time off from the studio, after which I will have to really kick butt to catch up for the show in January. But I am not going to think about that right now - I am just going to enjoy resting for just a bit more, even if it is starting to drive me nuts. Well, not the being waited on part or handing over all chores and chauffeuring duties to Doug, that part is just fine. Heh.

9 comments:

n warner said...

Tracy -
Sounds worse as you get more news.
You are firmly imbedded there...and hope all your helpers will do just that.

Here's to knowing which remedies will work....and to regain your strength.

No more sacchrine comments from me...but I can not help but this one.

Life is simple, its just not easy. ~Unknown

Nina

Lindsay said...

Tracy, I've had pneumonia 2x! It sucks and I remember railing against all the rest I needed for 3 months!!!I have to say, it changed my life. I went back to art school when I was well and dropped out of the 20 things I had volenteered for.
]I hope you are feeling better soon.Just let your lungs tell you what is right and you can't go wrong.

Sizun said...

Get well soon, Tracy. Health is a priotity... else you can't do anything else !
Cheers.
Ghislaine.

Natalya Khorover Aikens said...

get well! but enjoy the rest....

Tracy Helgeson said...

Thanks Nina, good quote, not too saccharine at all! Anyway, I am fine, there could always be worse news so I am happy with what I do know.

You needed to rest for 3 months! Yikes! THAT would drive me nuts! But as you said it probably helped you prioritize which can be so valuable.

Ghislaine, Thanks and you are right, gotta get the health back. Hey, I can't understand a word of what you say on your blog:) but your works looks nice.

Natalya. Thanks, I already have a list of things to do while I am resting:)

Kesha Bruce said...

Tracy, you and I are currently in the same boat!

I'm sick as a dog, but I keep pushing myself to work,I think I'm going to take your condition as a warning and just stop trying to force myself to work while sick.

I mean how much money could we really lose by taking a week of break....during the busiest shopping season of the year...with orders waiting to be filled?

*deep sigh*

Anonymous said...

Tracy,
I am sorry to hear that you‘ve got pneumonia. I have some good news from Pittsburgh for you. Yesterday I brought my pictures to HeartBox gallery and I saw two red dots next to your small paintings. Congratulations!
Get well,
Marina

Anonymous said...

When you take the antibiotics, wait an hour and then take the acidophilus and bifidus. If you take it before the antibiotic, the antibiotic will kill it off. If you take it with the antibiotic or just after the antibiotic, the antibiotic will kill it off. If you wait a bit for the antibiotic to digest and move further down the line, you can restore the good stuff that the antibiotic destroyed. I hope you feel better soon. Your work is wonderful and I look forward to seeing more of it. :o)

Making A Mark said...

Tracy - I'm on catch-up and have been reading backwards and had more or less guessed what you got before I got to this post. Well it was either that or pleurisy which I've had and which is equally nasty.

All I can tell you is make sure you pace yourself as you get back on your feet. These sort of things linger long and if you overdo it they have a nasty habit of hitting you for six all over again.

Slow and steady gets you there in the end.