I don't know what oxidants are, but I know I'm supposed to be against them.

So, there havent been any posts on here for quite some time. I'd like to give a reason other than the writers just simply got bored and moved onto something else, but thus is the nature of everyone involved. So, in a Ali like return to the world of blogging I have decided to forego my usual format to explore something a bit off-the-beaten-path in hopes of both venting and informing the one to two readers this blog may (or may not) actually have.

I have been sick for the past two months. Literally. I have this painfully awful cough that seems as if it will never go away. It is a constant annoyance, a chick repellent, and deprives me of sleep. On the other hand, my abs are getting a serious workout.

I have been on two different medications since this started. The first was the fix-it-all "Z-Pack" hailed by medicine as the latest and greatest cure-all form of penicillin that could eradicate diseases ranging from the common cold to pneumonia. No luck there. I then went on another penicillin based antibiotic called Amoxicillin. I have taken this before for strep throat. It is used to treat certain infections caused by bacteria, such as pneumonia; bronchitis; gonorrhea; and infections of the ears, nose, throat, urinary tract, and skin. It is also used in combination with other medications to eliminate H. pylori, a bacteria that causes ulcers. In other words - this shit is legit. Again, full cycle - still coughing.

At this point I feel that it is worth mentioning that all of these prescriptions were called into a local CVS by my Aunt in Florida who is a doctor. That has always been and will most likely will be the way I handle being sick. A quick trip to WebMD, a haphazardly selected diagnosis, a trip to Wikipedia to select a medicine, followed by a call to my aunt requesting a script for the meds. A process, which at this point, has made zero improvements in my health and probably only decreased the effectiveness of future use of the two aforementioned antibiotics.

So.. with no other options I went to visit the doctor. Since moving to LA I have yet to find a primary doctor (mostly because of the way I typically deal with not feeling well). I asked a few people for a referral and ended up at some doctors office in Beverly Hills. Typical doctors office; weird sanitary smell, unreadable magazines in the lobby, a slew of forms and the inevitable wait on the awkward table/bench that's covered in sandwich paper. I always want to play with everything in there but I'm sure the one time I actually do the doctor will catch me; I'm not sure what the penalty is for playing with the thing the doctor looks into your ear with is but I'm not willing to risk it.

After approximately and hour into my doctors visit I was greeted by the nurse who promptly took my blood pressure and temperature. "The doctor will be right with you". "Thanks". A few minutes later, four throat cultures, one blood sample and a slew of questions I was told to take vitamin C and drinks lots of water. Really? This is why I waited an hour on sandwich paper half naked? So I could get the same diagnosis my grandma gave me?

Doctor: "Let me explain"
Me: "I will certainty allow you the opportunity to try"

After a long explanation my understanding (i think) is this. Apparently I had so many antibiotics in my system that it was actually having a negative effect on my immune system, I was sort of a walking antibiotic cocktail. The doctor also said I should be trying to get as many anti-oxidants into my body as possible as that would help with the recovery. Once the antibiotics had cleared my system the additional vitamins should be enough for my body to fight off whatever is going on - which they'd let me know about after the tests from the cultures and blood came back.

So after two months of having a death cough, two rounds of antibiotics and one visit to the doctors office - here I am, sitting at my desk eating an orange with a glass of water (supplemented of course by 1000mg of Vitamin C) waiting to hear the diagnosis from the doctor who will inevitably, regardless of the ailment, tell me to take more vitamin C and drink lots of fluid. Fuck me.