It was horrible timing. But getting sick never has a good, let alone perfect time. But this was bad.
My husband and I have completely opposite days off. My company closes the week that my husband’s firm won’t allow anyone extra time off. But-he had three days plus a holiday so we made reservations to spend some much needed couple time together. After fighting off the two horrible colds that my co-workers had I succumbed 4 days before we were to leave. Yep, sick as the proverbial dog right when we were finally going to have some romance. Figures.
I have an auto-immune disease, so every cold I manage to get goes into some form of bacterial misery. This was no exception. The day before we left, my fever broke and I thought I was getting better. But alas I didn’t. Fortunately, we somehow made it through and even managed to enjoy our time together. However I had never been so thankful to have scheduled a physical for the day after we returned.
By the time I arrived for my appointment, my fever was 102, I couldn’t breathe, talk or hear and I had a terrible case of vertigo. The doctor prescribed a nasal spray, something for the dizziness, a decogestant/antihistime AND Cephalexin (k-flex) for the infections. Fortunately, I had a good reaction to the medication and it started to do its magic within 48 hours. I still didn’t feel great, but at least I knew I was no longer “dying of illness”. For my situation, cephalexin had been a good choice. Not everybody can say the same.
Cephalexin is a powerful antibiotic that is usually well tolerated even by people have issues with penicillins and sulfas. However, the usual allergic side effects can happen an mean you must go straight to an emergency room or if severe enough-call 911. These are the most dangerous and life threatening of the bunch: any difficulty breathing, swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat that impairs your ability to breathe.
There are other severe side effects: seizures, mental confusion, muscle weakness and easy bruising accompanied by bleeding. Some people have been known to either not be able to urinate or have their trips to the bathroom diminish by a dangerous amount. Even though this drug is meant to clear up sinus infections, strep and other throat ailments, some people have been known to start running fevers, get headaches, have their throats become sore and even have blistering and skin rashes.
There are side effects that less likely to threaten your life, but they’re a bother all the same and no one would call them pleasant. To name a few that may trouble you-mild vomiting or just having the feeling that you can’t hold anything down, diarrhea, feeling tired or dizzy. Some people have reported to develop joint pain. There are women who have reported having an increase in vaginal discharge as well as itching in the area.
As usual, if your doctor feels cephalexin is the best choice to clear up an infection-ask him/her why they feel this is the best solution. All medications have side effects-cephalexin is no exception, but I must say-I was much better off for taking it.
