I iz ill

June 7, 2011 • 1:16 pm

Posting may be, as they say, “light” over the next day or two.  I’m suffering from an severe allergic reaction to Bactrim, an antibiotic I’m taking for sinusitis, and am temporarily in non-writing condition.  Let us just say that I spent all last night in bed with a back-scratcher so I could reach the every square millimeter of my body that was on fire.  There are other symptoms, too, but I won’t go into detail.

I spent all day on the floor of my office (I foolishly thought I should go to work) ensconced in my North Face down sleeping bag, until a friend kindly drove me home.

It is a testimony to my tenacity—or stupidity—that I put up three posts this a.m.  There’s a lot more to say, but it must wait until I return to work.  Ceiling Cat willing, that will be tomorrow.  There is no time to be ill!

65 thoughts on “I iz ill”

  1. Damn…that sucks.

    I’d offer to loan you a cat to help you cope, but I’m thousands of miles away and Baihu is terrified of all non-Ben humans.

    I’m sure you’ll let us know if there’s anything else we can do to help.

    b&

    1. Yes me too. Only a couple of months ago I was covered from head to toe in hives after taking Bactrim. I took antihistamines and it went away after a few days. I wasn’t as sick as Jerry though by the sound of it.

      Get well soon Jerry.

  4. Ack. Get well soon.

    Lying on the floor is usually only a cure for hangovers for me.

    Of course, as it happens I’m just out of surgery, myself. I liked my vasectomy so much, I decided to get another. (I threw up this time …)

    I’m having a very nice stout now, that seems to dull the discomfort.

    Now go to bed, and stop trying to be a hero. You have tenure, don’t you.

  6. Very sorry to hear of your extreme discomfort. Take care of yourself please. Looking forward to your resuming your regular blogging.

  10. Oh no, I’m so sorry to hear you aren’t well.
    Hope you get better soon 🙂

    1. Indeed there are, but in general antibiotics are vastly over-prescribed for sinusitis.

      The vast majority of cases are viral (for which antibiotics are obviously useless), and even amongst the bacterial ones, most will resolve spontaneously without treatment.

      A general rule of thumb is that in all but the most severe cases, you only consider (but not necessarily give) antibiotics for sinusitis lasting more than 10 days.

      However, Jerry’s case is most probably an exception, as he has had significant sinus issues in the past and so would probably warrant more active intervention!

  14. Get well, and in the meantime stop thinking about posting. We want fresh posts not sick ones.

  20. Get well soon & don’t worry about not posting, we want you back, fit & strong.

  22. Ask your doctor for some oral steroids. It will help the sinuses and the allergy. It’s like magic. I prescribe them all the time. But if you take any late in the day, you won’t be able to fall asleep. And also, it’s “Bactrim” with an “m”.

    1. Ugh, I know your pain. I had the same allergic reaction from Bactrim and as randyextry says, oral steroids are the way to go. They really help!

      Hope you’re feeling better sooner rather than later. Take care and we can talk amongst ourselves.

  24. Oy.

    A cool bath, followed by some cortisone cream maybe, and then a lovely tranquilizer. You’ll be good as new.

    xxo

  25. “I spent all last night in bed with a back-scratcher”
    In your condition?
    Show-off!
    Seriously, get well (and posting again!) soon.

  28. There is no time to be ill!

    Nonsense. There is always time to be ill, and you need to take the time to recover. You already know this, but I thought I would remind you in your fever-ravaged state.

    Get as well as you can, when you can.

  30. Awfully sorry Dr Coyne. I won’t be praying for you but I am enthusiastically awaiting your wellness.

  31. Aw, crum, how miserable! Take care of yourself and don’t worry about us–we’ll muddle thru somehow.

    May you feel better toot sweet! 🙂

  33. So, exactly what prize does one win for all that tenacity?

    Take care of yourself and set a better example.

    Get well soon. L

  35. I am an avid follower of your blog, and am sorry to hear of your sinus distress. I have been using a neti pot for several years and my sinus woes have almost (almost…) totally disappeared. Or, disapparated, since it seems like a magical occurrence. Get well soon.

  36. On a lighter note. Jerry I don’t know if you’re a fan, or I suppose anyone else that mighy be interested, but Tim Minchin is in Chicago next week. He’s touring around the US and you can see his dates on his website.

  40. Oh, I know the horror of a bad sulpha allergy – mine manifested itself VERY badly (as in eight weeks off of work and permanent skin & capillary damage, plus anaphylaxis, woo!).

    Take care and get thee some prednisone! Just make sure it’s a nice tapered dose (up and down) and watch out for the depression, mood swings and restlessness. And hunger.

  41. Take lots of care and watch your working inspite of sickness tendencies. Believe your body…..

  42. Get well soon!

    If it’ll cheer you up, I’ve bought three copies of your book so far 🙂 Bio students love to read it.

    Do write a sequel!

  45. Eek! Can’t take Bactrim either. Didn’t get a rash, but the 107 fever (Fahrenheit) was no fun. Also, it took several days to figure out what was going on, as this wasn’t, apparently, a usual reaction.

    Speedy recovery to you.

  46. Good luck on speedy recovery. Having been there, those “other symptoms” can be pretty rough also.

    1. So many reported cases of the same allergy here–amazing! Surprised there isn’t some test-for-sensitivity before it’s prescribed.

  47. ‘Least it ain’t shingles. But to counter that, once you’re better, drop tenacity long enough to get a Zostavax shot.

    1. Shingles can be as bad as its reputation. Just had my first really good week since being hit by this in mid-April. Looks like I won’t have any permanent pain out of it, thank goodness.

      Story: Two thugs walk up to an old man. One says, “Give us all your money, Gramps, or we’ll beat the crap out of you.” The old man says, “I’ve had shingles. You don’t scare me.”

      Yeah, it was just about like that.

  49. Sounds awful! I’ve never had a reaction to antibiotics like that, so I have no advice except rest up and get better soon!

    -mark.

  50. Get well soon, Prof. Coyne!

    You have been on my mind since I saw your grizzled visage in a documentary on Darwin the other day.

    Best wishes from Australia.

  51. Oh, that sounds truly horrible! Please get well soon. Lots of Benadryl! It has the added benefit of making you sleep.

  52. If it’s this bad, don’t worry with the orals, get an Adrenaline shot and some iv steroid in Hospital, fix you right up. And no sulphur drugs for you in the future.

  53. Ouch! I don’t know how that is as it hasn’t happened to me, but it sounds terrible.

    Get well post haste.

  54. Thanks to all for the well wishes, and for the private emails as well (many including photos of kittehs). I am feeling much better and should be back to work tomorrow.

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