And don't feel sorry for me. I am not really complaining. I've done a lot with the company and I see a lot of new opportunities ahead. I've traveled to a lot of places and seen a lot of things, so I am grateful for the chances I've had. I still feel a I have a strong roll in the new regime, albeit different. I expect a road trip to France/Italy in the near future, so things are not all that bad. Beyond this year, who knows? In the meantime, I will take the cards dealt to me. Besides, one of the few benefits is that all this drama at the office has kept me distracted from dwelling on Claire.
Another distraction has been the damn cough I have had since October. Nothing I have done, nothing I have taken has seemed to help. Multiple trips to the doc, with no real progress. Around Christmas, I finally switched over to a pulmonologist - a guy that deals with respiratory problems. A chest x-ray revealed nothing, allergy test was negatives (although I told my wife that he said I might be allergic to redheads), but the CT scan (computed tomography) showed some small obstruction in one of the bronchi of my lung. Nothing alarming, just something to get checked out. At this point, I am so fracking tired of this cough that I am willing to try voodoo or a seance to get rid of it. So, the doc recommended a Bronchoscopy. That is similar to a colonoscopy, just from the other direction. Normally an outpatient process. Check in early, dress in that silly hospital gown, get wired up and knocked out and they run a scope down your throat (or nose) into your lungs. I was knocked out at the time, so I don't recall anything aside of being hungry and really jonesing for some coffee. Everything came out fine and the doc said they found a pistachio lodged in one of airways that was creating the irritation/coughing. Pistachio? I don't recall having any of those for a long while. Like, maybe back at one of our football games at A&M. As my loving wife glibly pointed out, you are what you eat. Gee, thanks. Good news is that the nut is out and I should start to recover soon. May take a week or two for the irritation to go away, but, hopefully, this is will clear up quickly.
Feeling a bit better now, if not somewhat sore/tired. Not sure if that is from the procedure or from the lack of coffee. Of course, that does not spare me from any lectures I get from my loving spouse on watching what I eat.
Yea, right. I'll take that advice to heart....
3 comments:
When I read that doc found a pistachio, I thought he/you were kidding. Really? Either way, I hope that was the root cause, and your cough vamooses! If not, I know a couple of witch doctors... Really, though, a lingering cough can be annoying at the least and a sign of scary things at the most. Hope it's gone for good.
I guess it's hard to work anywhere for an appreciable amount of time and not have to deal with mergers and resulting changes. It can be nerve wracking to see "heads" get cut. Sounds like your future is pretty bright, though. I like the ship steering metaphor :)
Okay, I have to say that I am SO relieved the culprit of your cough was a pistachio. When I read in one of your recent posts that you've had a nagging cough for the past few MONTHS, it really made me nervous that something big was going on. I hope you're feeling back to normal soon!
I can appreciate the nerves and chaos of a buyout/reorg. I've been through a few myself and if there's one thing I've learned it's that - you're right. Enthusiasm and willingness to roll with the changes is the best way to go. From all you've shared about the work you've done, I'm sure they'll take good care of you.
I was worried, too, when you mentioned having a lingering cough. Glad to hear it was only a pistachio. (Did I just say that?)
There are changes going on at my hotel, and your advice of just rolling with the punches is a good one. It's nerve wracking though. At least for me. I don't like when things are up in the air and I don't know where they're going to land. I hope all goes well with you. And a trip to France/Italy doesn't sound too shabby!
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