Hand over the cough syrup and no one gets hurt

I currently have a "cold". Not a big deal. Let it run its course. Drink lots of fluids. Take over-the-counter medication for symptoms. No need to see the doctor and definitely no need for antibiotics. UNLESS you are me.

We are going to take a journey back through time because I'm not sure when this all started. About 5 years ago, I got pretty sick in January and it took me out. I lost my voice, I coughed, I was stuffy, I was achy, I was miserable. I went to the doctor and they prescribed some meds and did bloodwork even. This incident lasted almost 2 months. I was sick for 2 months! Let me just say, I think that alone is ridiculous.

Since my doctors never really reached a diagnosis, I tried to be logical. I thought maybe I had developed allergies and my thought process was that if I could prevent from being THAT sick again, I would. I went straight to the top and was allergy tested. Intradermal, skin prick allergy testing. I was ready to start my allergy shots and do whatever else I needed to hit this head on. I was so almost excited to go to the consult to discuss my allergies when I went in and was told I am not allergic to ANYTHING. Nothing. I only reacted to the histamine. Who on this planet isn't allergic to anything?!

So, I regrouped. Maybe it was just a really bad cold/illness that my body struggled with. Maybe it was a one-time deal, blip on the screen. OK. Moved to Summerville, got pregnant. Had "pregnancy nose" with my first child. Had her and moved to Charleston. Got really, really sick again one Spring.

Side note: because my upper respiratory problems always, always led to cough and asthmatic like symptoms, I have an inhaler. This inhaler was one I only ever had to use when I was "sick". It was a little confusing because I don't have allergies and I don't have asthma.

Back to being sick one Spring. My doctor at that time prescribed Singulaire and told me to take Mucinex, Claritin and a Z-pack. It worked, but then about 2 or 3 weeks later I got sick again. We did it again and it worked but came back. I then went to her for the 3rd time. She changed up a few things and said if it continued, I was getting a referral. Time moved on, I changed insurance and doctors and such.

Christmas came that year and I stayed sick from Christmas until May. Really.  I was sick for FIVE (5) months. I was on meds here and there but nothing "worked". It would be managed and then I would get really, really sick again. We even checked the house for mold. We looked into all kinds of things. NO answers.

Fast-forward to this Spring. April to be exact. I got sick (yes, again). Coughing, inhaler, antibiotics, Singulaire, you name it. Went next door from my job to a Doctor's First place and he put me on a Z-pack, inhaler, Singulaire, Zyrtec. Finished the Z-pack and went back in one week, no better. This time I got 2 injections: 1 antibiotic, 1 steroid. Another Z-pack. All the otc stuff. Went back the next week, still no better. Got another 2 injections, another antibiotic pack, told to stay on the antihistamines and singulaire for another 30 days after my appointment. This was confusing to me, so I questioned him. I told him it didn't make sense that I don't have allergies. He said this year was much, much worse for allergies and the amount of allergens in the air was causing a reaction. OK.......

I had made an appointment for a new primary care physician for May. So, in May I had finished the month-long medications as directed (it was a decent month) but I went off them just in time for my appointment and I was sick again. She listened to the whole story and because I had been allergy tested within the last 5 years, she wanted to send me to the pulmonologist. Put me back on a z-pack, all the other meds, made the referral.

Went to the pulmonologist who did breathing tests, did a SouthEast allergen blood panel,  told me to try allegra daily in lieu of the other antihistamines since they weren't very effective for me, told me to continue Singulaire daily, advised Flonase daily and inhaler as needed. Re-check with her 6 weeks later (after a couple of rescheduled appointments). She stated my blood panel showed no allergens. She reiterated the "bad spring" talk. Sent me to the ENT doctor.

Went on Tuesday to the ENT. I have now been on the following medications daily:
Synthroid for low thyroid
Sertraline (Zoloft) because I need to be happy
Singulaire for my lungs
Allegra for my LACK of ALLERGIES
Flonase for my LACK of ALLERGIES
Melatonin to help me sleep
Biotin for hair loss due to stress(you think?), prescribed by dermatologist on a different visit non-related to this post

He had me breathe in some aerosol synephrine and lidocaine then put a scope into my sinuses. He said they are definitely inflamed, right worse than left. He also said my insurance company will not cover a CT scan of my sinuses until I have fulfilled a full regimen 3 different antibiotics. He also said there is an uncommon scenario of a parasympathetic neuro problem that will physically cause the nose to secrete more and so he prescribed me the nose spray to treat that in case that's what it is. So, now we add to the regimen:

Augmentin for the insurance company
Another nose spray in case it's a bizarre parasympathetic issue

Then, I get really sick. Like called in to work yesterday because I am so miserable I can't stand it.  It's moving to my lungs. While I don't have allergies, I DO have diagnosed reactive airway disease when means anytime I get "sick", I get SICK.  I added in my inhaler and Mucinex. And an OTC antihistamine with decongestant. I have to finish this course of Augmentin so I can't get the CT scan until August 30.

Here I sit, feeling sorry for myself and hoping and praying the CT scan shows something that can actually be fixed. How do you explain calling in to work for a cold that makes you really, really sick to the point of debilitating and this barrage of medication when you have no allergies?! So, as the title of this post suggests, hand over the cough syrup and no one gets hurt.