"Welcome home Susan!" screamed the streptococcal bacteria that has made it's home in my throat over the last week.
I forgot how bad strep is. I never hear about folks getting this in France, other than my Canadian friend of course. Always being unique she is (wink at ya Steph!). I had a small irritation for two days in my throat. Then on Monday night I woke up at 1:30am because I tried to swallow and thought maybe I was eating a cactus in my sleep. After a desperate call to my old doctor, and $75 later including $25 for antibiotics, it turns out I have strep.
The good thing is that at least now I know why I was so darn tired. I also have this weird eczema thing on a small part of my scalp. My friend Missy said her hubby has the same thing and suggested T-Gel. I went out and bought some. Turns out it works. Turns out I also smell like a dog that has just been washed with flea shampoo. I'm hoping I can use it every other wash so that I can have the Gee Your Hair Smells Delicious (am I dating myself here?) thing going on again.
So today I am feeling pretty good after three days of meds. So good in fact that I went to the little gym in our temporary corporate apartment complex and did a light workout for the first time in over a year. Oh my how the body deteriorates. I am on a mission though. I WILL have arms that look more like actual arms than legs before June. Do not expect pictures of this folks. The leg-arms shall be hidden until the unveiling on June 1st. Mark your calendars.
OH - we found a house!! We are going to rent for a while until we see what the future holds for us then maybe buy down the road depending on our stay here. We both love the house, it's big and in a good neighborhood. Although for the first time in my life I will be an "Outer Looper". Those of you in Houston know what I mean. We are not that far out though. Less than 2 miles actually...so I'm more like a "Close To The Looper".
This weekend is the International Festival (Ireland is the country this year - go peeps) AND the Spring Crawfish Festival. Not sure which, if any, we will do, but I'm looking forward to a good weekend. Did I mention that Cyr LOVES his job? It's a challenge but I know he will be a success.
Thanks again to all of you who have emailed and posted to me about continuing my blog. I love my internet friends and family. :-)
Showing posts with label sick. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sick. Show all posts
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Velcro, thy name is "Crazy Nigerian Flu"!!
So...turns out maybe I had an excuse to be glued to the couch!
My husband was in Nigeria four days last week and returned Thursday. On Saturday he came down with fever, chills, cough and all kinds of nasty symptoms. He called his doctor who booked him in for a 10:30 appointment. All you American's reading this, yes, it's true! They work on Saturdays! AND...Cyr spoke with the doctor, who answered the phone, not a nurse or a receptionist. Crazy stuff I tell ya.
We went in and Cyr got meds for his flu. I thought I was escaping it as I didn't really have any symptoms. Then Monday I started getting the fever thing, my asthma started acting up, and my neck hurt so bad I couldn't look left or right, I had to do that all too irritating to be witness to full body turn thing. Cyr had another appointment with his doctor to pick up a note for him for work. Yes...here doctors give notes to work and you can miss as much work as you want as long as a doctor says it's ok. I laid on the couch napping and somehow pulled myself up to go.
Turns out it's not something crazy, just flu. I have different symptoms because of my asthma; respiratory infection being the big one. The doctor saw both of us, treated both of us, and only charged us for one visit; 26 euro. He also did this cool neck-pinching-torture thing to clear out my muscles a little. In the words of John Cougar Melencamp; "Hurt so good". Oh yeah...so now, two days into antibiotics, mucus thinners, pain meds and steroids for my lungs I am feeling a little better. I did have to teach yesterday though. He gave me a note to get out of it, but since I teach one day a week I didn't think they could get a replacement and I didn't want to have another bad mark against me after the complaint about my letting classes go early and then loosing the stupid key (which was found).
Since Cyr was home he drove me and picked me up so I didn't have to take the Metro and walk. Ahh...l'amore. Classes were ok, though the student that complained about me letting classes go did sit in the back row, head up with his eyes closed almost the entire class. I didn't even call him on it because I thought I might loose it. I did however try to breath on him as much as possible.
My husband was in Nigeria four days last week and returned Thursday. On Saturday he came down with fever, chills, cough and all kinds of nasty symptoms. He called his doctor who booked him in for a 10:30 appointment. All you American's reading this, yes, it's true! They work on Saturdays! AND...Cyr spoke with the doctor, who answered the phone, not a nurse or a receptionist. Crazy stuff I tell ya.
We went in and Cyr got meds for his flu. I thought I was escaping it as I didn't really have any symptoms. Then Monday I started getting the fever thing, my asthma started acting up, and my neck hurt so bad I couldn't look left or right, I had to do that all too irritating to be witness to full body turn thing. Cyr had another appointment with his doctor to pick up a note for him for work. Yes...here doctors give notes to work and you can miss as much work as you want as long as a doctor says it's ok. I laid on the couch napping and somehow pulled myself up to go.
Turns out it's not something crazy, just flu. I have different symptoms because of my asthma; respiratory infection being the big one. The doctor saw both of us, treated both of us, and only charged us for one visit; 26 euro. He also did this cool neck-pinching-torture thing to clear out my muscles a little. In the words of John Cougar Melencamp; "Hurt so good". Oh yeah...so now, two days into antibiotics, mucus thinners, pain meds and steroids for my lungs I am feeling a little better. I did have to teach yesterday though. He gave me a note to get out of it, but since I teach one day a week I didn't think they could get a replacement and I didn't want to have another bad mark against me after the complaint about my letting classes go early and then loosing the stupid key (which was found).
Since Cyr was home he drove me and picked me up so I didn't have to take the Metro and walk. Ahh...l'amore. Classes were ok, though the student that complained about me letting classes go did sit in the back row, head up with his eyes closed almost the entire class. I didn't even call him on it because I thought I might loose it. I did however try to breath on him as much as possible.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Difficult French
Currently I am trying to type but I have a very strong urge to blow my nose. Which by the way, won't blow when I blow it. I just end up forcing air to the top of my throat, then my ears threaten to pop. Of course there is that odd running thing every now and then so you have to keep a tissue near so you don't drip on yourself and offend the people around you.
Cyr took me to the pharmacy and I got some kind of spray and some pills to take. These are serious pills too! Four times a day then one at night for four days. Maybe tomorrow I won't be the irritating mouth breathing person you can actually hear.
Inhallllle....exhaaale.
Ewe...that's me.
I also discovered something interesting about the French language. It's virtually impossible to speak French as a non-native speaker (ok, complete beginner) when you have a stopped up nose. It's like my mouth can't form the words because the pressure is off or something. I have suddenly forgotten how to form the words. Example: We went to lunch and I wanted a hot mint tea. You would have thought I was trying to order a 5 course meal. I could not get it out, I had to say it I think three times before the waiter got it. Cyr was so patient, he just smiled and let me talk loud and spray spittle on the waiter. I think the waiter thought it was amusing. He had that raised eyebrow (both of them) look and a smile. Like I was a three-year-old trying to do a magic trick. For a person who really doesn't like three-year-olds.
Cyr didn't try to order for me because he knew I was already irritated at the lady who sat us and offered "Shall I bring you a menu in English?" said in French very quietly to Cyr. My poorly tied scarf must have given me away as being non-French. Cyr declined, saying; "No thank you, she understands." (in French of course) Then the lady says; "I'll bring you one anyway."
What....Did.....You....Say?
Granted, maybe I'm a bit touchy because someone filled both of my nostrils with cement glue last night, but I was offended. Seriously lady, guess you people don't get the "no means no" thing here eh? When she came back with the menus I gave her the one eye brow raised look and Cyr reaches out and takes the English menu. Ha...how sweet is that?! Low and behold I was even able to find my agneau (lamb) without a problem.
Of course she was not our waiter, that was the guy mentioned above. Darn it...I would have felt much better getting a little spittle on her and forcing her to hear my stuffy nosed French. Oh well, maybe next time. Even if I feel fine. :-)
Cyr took me to the pharmacy and I got some kind of spray and some pills to take. These are serious pills too! Four times a day then one at night for four days. Maybe tomorrow I won't be the irritating mouth breathing person you can actually hear.
Inhallllle....exhaaale.
Ewe...that's me.
I also discovered something interesting about the French language. It's virtually impossible to speak French as a non-native speaker (ok, complete beginner) when you have a stopped up nose. It's like my mouth can't form the words because the pressure is off or something. I have suddenly forgotten how to form the words. Example: We went to lunch and I wanted a hot mint tea. You would have thought I was trying to order a 5 course meal. I could not get it out, I had to say it I think three times before the waiter got it. Cyr was so patient, he just smiled and let me talk loud and spray spittle on the waiter. I think the waiter thought it was amusing. He had that raised eyebrow (both of them) look and a smile. Like I was a three-year-old trying to do a magic trick. For a person who really doesn't like three-year-olds.
Cyr didn't try to order for me because he knew I was already irritated at the lady who sat us and offered "Shall I bring you a menu in English?" said in French very quietly to Cyr. My poorly tied scarf must have given me away as being non-French. Cyr declined, saying; "No thank you, she understands." (in French of course) Then the lady says; "I'll bring you one anyway."
What....Did.....You....Say?
Granted, maybe I'm a bit touchy because someone filled both of my nostrils with cement glue last night, but I was offended. Seriously lady, guess you people don't get the "no means no" thing here eh? When she came back with the menus I gave her the one eye brow raised look and Cyr reaches out and takes the English menu. Ha...how sweet is that?! Low and behold I was even able to find my agneau (lamb) without a problem.
Of course she was not our waiter, that was the guy mentioned above. Darn it...I would have felt much better getting a little spittle on her and forcing her to hear my stuffy nosed French. Oh well, maybe next time. Even if I feel fine. :-)
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
More Interesting Facts and Packing Up
Why is it that every time I plan to go home I seem to get sick right before I leave. I'm no where NEAR the sick I was the last time I went home, but I did wake up with a sore throat and have felt nauseous all day long. I'm also friggin hot. All these damn people talk about how friggin cold the north of France is and how I am going to hate it because it's so cold and the sun never comes out. Guess what folks, I'm sitting here melting with an oil slick on my face, the sun pounding it's way through my curtains and no air conditioning. Oh, and I'm going to miss Cyr's birthday and that makes me a little grumpy too. I love birthdays. Cyr hates them, is that a French thing? The good thing is that I get to have a wedding shower and see friends and family. Oh, there is also the slight possibility that being hot and sticky makes me grumpy.
I did want to blog about something I see here all the time. When I go grocery shopping I always see what I like to call the Strangely Focused Shopper. These people, the SFS's buy a whole bunch of one thing. Often I see men or women with no less than 10 baguettes in their arms. Why? Are they feeding an army? That bread will only last a few days you know, you can't store it like jelly. Or water, I always see people with shopping carts FILLED with water. Just water, nothing else. This happens EVERY time I go shopping. I'm not just talking about oh that one time I saw the guy with the shopping cart full of water. I mean I always see it, often more than once in an outing. I have also seen the soda pop cart. The last time I saw this it was a family with a shopping cart overflowing with coke, ginger ail and tonic water. They love tonic water here too, how interesting. I thought the French were supposed to drink wine all the time. What's up with all the water and soda? Are they meeting the people that have all the bread for dinner?
I did want to blog about something I see here all the time. When I go grocery shopping I always see what I like to call the Strangely Focused Shopper. These people, the SFS's buy a whole bunch of one thing. Often I see men or women with no less than 10 baguettes in their arms. Why? Are they feeding an army? That bread will only last a few days you know, you can't store it like jelly. Or water, I always see people with shopping carts FILLED with water. Just water, nothing else. This happens EVERY time I go shopping. I'm not just talking about oh that one time I saw the guy with the shopping cart full of water. I mean I always see it, often more than once in an outing. I have also seen the soda pop cart. The last time I saw this it was a family with a shopping cart overflowing with coke, ginger ail and tonic water. They love tonic water here too, how interesting. I thought the French were supposed to drink wine all the time. What's up with all the water and soda? Are they meeting the people that have all the bread for dinner?
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
All clear and help for a friend
Thank you so much to all of you who posted to my blog or sent emails asking about me. I really appreciate it. I was really worried there for a while. On Monday I went to my awesome internist in Houston Dr. Muntz. He took blood, looked me over and gave me antibiotics, an anti-dizziness med, migraine meds and a nausea medication. I am still having issues with vertigo / dizziness but don't have that nauseated feeling all the time. Looks like I am going to make it!! A nurse called me Tuesday morning to let me know that I didn't have anything weird come up in my blood tests but to make sure I kept drinking Gatorade and kept hydrated.
Now I'm just making the round and trying to see everyone. Cyr is here until this Saturday so I will spend most of my time with him since I won't see him again until June 2nd when I return to Lille. I was telling him how I am going to miss speaking, or trying to speak French, and he bought me the coolest gift!! It's a language package called Instant Immersion. It has like 300 lessons and even had a think that can listen to you pronounce words then will tell you if you are close or not. I'm excited to use it. Maybe I can learn a few things before I return.
It's strange but normal to be back. The first few days I kept saying "merci" to people when they would give me a glass of water or my meal or hold a door open. I think the funniest one was when I was in the airport in Houston and some guy wanted me to apply for a US Airways credit card and I told him in French that I didn't speak English. What was so funny was that he believed me! HA!
On an important note: I received an email from a sorority sister of mine about one of the girls we went to U of H with. Vicki S. (now Vicki W.) and her family (two boys 5 and 3 years) live in a suburb of Houston and her house was struck by lightening last week. The family got out ok but the house burned down and they lost everything including their cars. Send me an email or post to this blog if you would like to help Vicki and her family out with toys or gift cards. I'll post again to let you know how things are going with them.
Yes - I was in a sorority (Alpha Chi Omega) at the University of Houston. You know what? The girls were and still are great. No snobby types in AX. Most of us had jobs and had to pay for our own schooling. Don't judge too quickly please!
Now I'm just making the round and trying to see everyone. Cyr is here until this Saturday so I will spend most of my time with him since I won't see him again until June 2nd when I return to Lille. I was telling him how I am going to miss speaking, or trying to speak French, and he bought me the coolest gift!! It's a language package called Instant Immersion. It has like 300 lessons and even had a think that can listen to you pronounce words then will tell you if you are close or not. I'm excited to use it. Maybe I can learn a few things before I return.
It's strange but normal to be back. The first few days I kept saying "merci" to people when they would give me a glass of water or my meal or hold a door open. I think the funniest one was when I was in the airport in Houston and some guy wanted me to apply for a US Airways credit card and I told him in French that I didn't speak English. What was so funny was that he believed me! HA!
On an important note: I received an email from a sorority sister of mine about one of the girls we went to U of H with. Vicki S. (now Vicki W.) and her family (two boys 5 and 3 years) live in a suburb of Houston and her house was struck by lightening last week. The family got out ok but the house burned down and they lost everything including their cars. Send me an email or post to this blog if you would like to help Vicki and her family out with toys or gift cards. I'll post again to let you know how things are going with them.
Yes - I was in a sorority (Alpha Chi Omega) at the University of Houston. You know what? The girls were and still are great. No snobby types in AX. Most of us had jobs and had to pay for our own schooling. Don't judge too quickly please!
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Pushing a 5.5
Last night I went to brush my teeth and noticed I had an odd rash on my throat, chest and parts of my back. Huh...well that isn't reassuring. I did however sleep with the aid of a little medication and woke up around 8 this morning. The rash was gone so that is a good sign. Must have been some allergic thing. Ewe...
Still feeling like hammered poop though. Couldn't make it outside today so I won't be arriving bearing gifts. My presence will have to be your present. I'm feeling a little better though and so I'm thinking the 16 hour travel day I have ahead of me tomorrow maybe won't be complete torture. I hope.
My day rating dropped a half point though because the sick feeling is coming in waves. It's like a tease. I think I'm on the road to recovery then BAM! Hit once again with the stomach thing. Oh well, if nothing else my next post should be an entertaining one. I hope it's not. I hope all I have to post is that it went smoothly and I had no problems traveling after I woke up from a great night's sleep feeling refreshed.
It could happen...right?
Still feeling like hammered poop though. Couldn't make it outside today so I won't be arriving bearing gifts. My presence will have to be your present. I'm feeling a little better though and so I'm thinking the 16 hour travel day I have ahead of me tomorrow maybe won't be complete torture. I hope.
My day rating dropped a half point though because the sick feeling is coming in waves. It's like a tease. I think I'm on the road to recovery then BAM! Hit once again with the stomach thing. Oh well, if nothing else my next post should be an entertaining one. I hope it's not. I hope all I have to post is that it went smoothly and I had no problems traveling after I woke up from a great night's sleep feeling refreshed.
It could happen...right?
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Today is a 6
Uhh...couldn't sleep last night. Finally dozed off around 3am I think. Then I kept waking up because I was hot, then I was cold, then I was hot, then thirsty and it just never ended!! We have one of those clocks that shows the time on the ceiling so when you can't sleep it's super easy to know just how often you wake up. I finally drug (or is it dragged?) myself out of bed at 9am after what seemed like nothing more than a few strung together 30 - 45 minute naps. Auchan was supposed to come before lunch and I thought maybe a shower would help.
Not so much really. After a shower, two Excedrin, some orange juice and cereal I still felt awful. All I could think of was that I was sooooo glad this happened today and not Friday. I don't think I could have traveled like this. Not to mention my flight schedule is horrible. I fly from Brussels to Cleveland and then I have about a 4 hour layover before I go to Houston. The price you pay for a cheap ticket I guess.
Auchan guy shows up at 1:30 (13:30 for those of you in France). Amazingly we are able to talk for the most part. Miracle! I show him the seche-linge (clothes dryer) and he immediately says something that I know is "Oh no, I brought the wrong part." Well merde. Turns out the guy that came out last week to diagnose the issue wrote down the wrong part. Auchan-boy brought a new door. I don't need a new door. So now it's going to take a "bon semain" to get the other part in. That is translated into "good week". Good? Not so much good about that. Looks like we will have a few more weeks of super-duper-extra-noisy clothes drying. The latch that holds the inside closed is broken so every time the dryer goes around you hear "THHHHUMP, THHHHUMP". I'm sure soon it will totally break and we won't be able to use it at all.
Once he leaves I fall further into the depths of sickness. Whew...glad he was gone when that hit. No way could I have been on an airplane today. Oh well, maybe I'll loose a little weight before I go home. The irritating thing is that I really needed to go downtown today because I wanted to buy some gifts for family members before I return. Do most other people feel the need to supply gifts upon return from a long vacation or separation? I feel like I should bring people something but right now I don't have anything. Hopefully tomorrow I will feel tons better and will have the chance to do a little gift shopping.
There are a few things that made today a 6 out of 10 as opposed to a 2. One is that I talked to Cyr and that always makes me feel good, another is that I'm getting to be sick on our super comfy couch with soft pillows and watch marathon reruns of "Ed" while drinking bubbly water. It's also cloudy outside so it's perfect for a calm day on the couch while not feeling so well.
Not so much really. After a shower, two Excedrin, some orange juice and cereal I still felt awful. All I could think of was that I was sooooo glad this happened today and not Friday. I don't think I could have traveled like this. Not to mention my flight schedule is horrible. I fly from Brussels to Cleveland and then I have about a 4 hour layover before I go to Houston. The price you pay for a cheap ticket I guess.
Auchan guy shows up at 1:30 (13:30 for those of you in France). Amazingly we are able to talk for the most part. Miracle! I show him the seche-linge (clothes dryer) and he immediately says something that I know is "Oh no, I brought the wrong part." Well merde. Turns out the guy that came out last week to diagnose the issue wrote down the wrong part. Auchan-boy brought a new door. I don't need a new door. So now it's going to take a "bon semain" to get the other part in. That is translated into "good week". Good? Not so much good about that. Looks like we will have a few more weeks of super-duper-extra-noisy clothes drying. The latch that holds the inside closed is broken so every time the dryer goes around you hear "THHHHUMP, THHHHUMP". I'm sure soon it will totally break and we won't be able to use it at all.
Once he leaves I fall further into the depths of sickness. Whew...glad he was gone when that hit. No way could I have been on an airplane today. Oh well, maybe I'll loose a little weight before I go home. The irritating thing is that I really needed to go downtown today because I wanted to buy some gifts for family members before I return. Do most other people feel the need to supply gifts upon return from a long vacation or separation? I feel like I should bring people something but right now I don't have anything. Hopefully tomorrow I will feel tons better and will have the chance to do a little gift shopping.
There are a few things that made today a 6 out of 10 as opposed to a 2. One is that I talked to Cyr and that always makes me feel good, another is that I'm getting to be sick on our super comfy couch with soft pillows and watch marathon reruns of "Ed" while drinking bubbly water. It's also cloudy outside so it's perfect for a calm day on the couch while not feeling so well.
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