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Post by lagatta on Dec 27, 2016 1:15:08 GMT
Yes, and since it isn't as cold as here (even in mild winter temps) people are less likely to wear gloves.
Touching wood that I don't get any of that, I feel shivery and cold even though I'm at home and the heat is on (I don't overheat; prefer dressing warmly, but it isn't "cold"). I might be running a bit of a fever; it could also be psychological as we have freezing rain - but I don't have to go anywhere and deliberately had supper a bit early in case there is a power outage. Turning in early with Livia at my feet, or wherever the hell she wants to sleep. Under the covers with heat turned down. Tomorrow all of this should melt.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2016 5:17:33 GMT
...whereas here temperatures are supposed to drop by about 9° compared to last week. Next year I will reach the age to qualify for the free flu vaccine but of course that it not the same flu.
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Post by Kimby on Dec 27, 2016 15:08:49 GMT
Bizarre that Americans DO get "free" flu shots under our wacky inefficient health care system. Every supermarket pharmacy will give a flu shot on walk-in basis, no matter your age, just by showing your insurance card. I also got a "free" shingles shot last year. However the insurance that covers this - and a free physical every year - costs me and Mr. Kimby almost $12,000 per year. Plus additional coverage isn't provided until we have spent $6500 out of pocket (per person). We are in the small group that doesn't qualify for the government subsidies. Mr. Kimby goes on Medicare February 1st, but I have 2 more years to wait....
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2016 15:58:06 GMT
Oh, I could get my flu shot 100% reimbursed, but I would have to make a useless doctor's visit to get the prescription (also 100% reimbursed). I just don't like wasting the money of the health system.
But we only get a free physical once every 5 years, though (perhaps more often after age 65).
My additional insurance costs me a little less than 1000 euros a year, and there are no out-of-pocket expenses. I could find cheaper insurance, but I figure it is sort of fair to stay with them for the time being since they paid for more than a week in the hospital last December and also a hernia operation, plus all medicine and lab tests. I paid into the system for decades without getting anything out of it, but it appears that my turn has come now.
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 27, 2016 16:25:52 GMT
A friend visiting her daughter in Los Angeles called me this morning & said that her daughter barfed all day yesterday & ran a slight fever. In this age of people flying all over the world, it could be the European flu visiting California.
Not ignoring what you said, Kimby, but you already know my stance on the US let-em-all-die-unless-they-pay-the-insurance-mafia system.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2016 17:12:00 GMT
I only puked twice during my bout, but it was extremely intense. In barf comedies, I always think that the geysers of vomit look too fake -- not anymore! In a way, I felt kind of lucky, because I had been drinking a lot of liquids so it all went out easier than certain times in the past when I could retch almost to the point of asphyxiation with little result. I am also lucky that it did not turn me away from any food that I had eaten. The only identifiable thing that I saw were a few strands of endive fibres, and I do not hold a grudge against them, unlike certain other things in bygone years that I did not eat again for 5 or 10 years.
It must be admitted that I am sort of still suffering due to the flu, but not because I am feeling bad or because it isn't finished. My body convulsed with such intensity when it purged itself that I almost feel as though I cracked my ribs. Whatever muscles are in charge of moving things around in the chest clearly reached their limit, and I have not yet completely recovered from that strain -- I can't cough or sneeze until further notice.
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Post by Kimby on Dec 27, 2016 20:01:16 GMT
Endive could be the culprit, K2. When there are outbreaks of intestinal distress in the US, they are often traced back to "greens" which are eaten uncooked, and easily get cross-contaminated in transport or on cutting surfaces.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2016 21:17:42 GMT
In Europe, we don't immediately think "food poisoning" when the gastro flu is afoot, because it is not nearly as much of a problem as it appears to be in North America. People bitch about EU rules concerning food, but many of the rules are extremely valuable. In any case, it not the Belgian endive, because I have continued to eat it without incident.
The most common "poisoned green" here is watercress, because it is an absolute sponge for all pollutants and bacteria. So it is kept under extreme surveillance at all times, and I would be very hesitant about eating any given to me by a farmer who says it grows like weeds in the stream down from his barn.
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Post by mich64 on Dec 27, 2016 21:34:31 GMT
I hope you are feeling better as every hour passes Kerouac. It sounds like you got hit with a strong bout.
I have had an upset/sour stomach for the past 4-5 days. My husband thought he had a cold a few weeks ago and finally had to see our doctor who promptly prescribed antibiotics telling him he had a sinusitis infection, within a few days he was feeling so much better. Since we have planned a holiday for February, when usually the second round of the winter flu begins, I think we will take ourselves to town to the pharmacy and get the flu shot in the next few days.
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Post by Kimby on Dec 28, 2016 1:22:05 GMT
"Stomach flu" and influenza are two different things. "Flu" is probably a misnomer for gastric upsets, because influenza = flu, and it's a respiratory infection that rarely causes vomiting and diarrhea. The flu shot only works on the respiratory type of flu. What you have/had, K2 sounds like a form of food poisoning. Even if the Endive is blameless. ;-)
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2016 5:10:04 GMT
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Post by chexbres on Dec 29, 2016 18:08:38 GMT
kerouac and I happened to see each other for a chat and I didn't get sick I contend it must be those 2,000 year-old eggs he's been eating, and not the endive. I always get a flu shot, because I had pneumonia once and don't want to get it again.
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Post by Kimby on Dec 29, 2016 18:40:33 GMT
There is a separate shot for pneumonia. Given to those 65 and older.
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Post by chexbres on Dec 30, 2016 13:30:53 GMT
Yes, pneumonia vaccinations are only given 5 years apart. Had mine already.
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Post by bixaorellana on May 27, 2017 9:58:29 GMT
I am as sick as a dog. Could barely sleep last night because of waves of nausea and because everything hurts. Dragged myself up before six and had a cup of coffee, then lolled on the sofa -- well, as much as I can loll on something only four feet long. Went back to bed for a couple of hours, then got up and boiled myself in the shower. Made a cup of tea, took two sips and promptly barfed. *sigh* The worst of it is that the weather is absolutely glorious and I'd like to be taking advantage of that. Poor me!
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Post by lagatta on May 27, 2017 12:04:57 GMT
Hardly petty, that! Any idea what's wrong with you? Will you be going to a clinic? Rest up as best you can.
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Post by bjd on May 27, 2017 12:32:25 GMT
Poor Bixa. At least you can console yourself by thinking that you often have nice weather -- it's not like this is your only opportunity for sunshine this year. Hope you feel better soon.
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Post by Kimby on May 27, 2017 13:22:59 GMT
Sounds like food poisoning. Should be over soon. I hope.
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Post by mickthecactus on May 27, 2017 15:16:57 GMT
Hope it isn't Norovirus. I had that last year. Not nice at all.
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Post by questa on May 27, 2017 15:46:05 GMT
Sounds a bit like viral gastroenteritis. Highly contagious, wash hands often and warn family ditto. Cover face if cough or sneeze. Use pain killers to ease symptoms. REST you may get aching joints,it is a form of flu with gastro. Drink as much water or electrolyte replacement as you can without chucking up. Worst should be over in 2-3 days but you feel a bit second-hand for a week.
A chap from UK joined our bus tour in Nepal having just left his toddler sister who had it. he went down with it on 2nd day and one by one we all 14 others got it. As people tend to sit in the same seats each day, you could see the wave of victims working its way from the front of the bus to the back. The day I was supposed to do a trek on the Annapurna Mountains, I was forced to lie back on a lounge in a lovely sunny garden and do my knitting, with sweet Tibetan lads coming to see if I wanted anything...Travel can be hell sometimes!
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Post by kerouac2 on May 27, 2017 17:49:32 GMT
I am as sick as a dog. Could barely sleep last night because of waves of nausea and because everything hurts.
Sounds like a bad case of brexitis to me. Hope things have improved.*
* perhaps not everybody knows that Bixa is in Old Blighty at the moment
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Post by bjd on May 27, 2017 19:03:54 GMT
Thanks, Kerouac. I thought she was still in Mexico -- that's why I told her not to worry about missing some sunny weather.
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Post by kerouac2 on May 27, 2017 19:19:38 GMT
Probably hotter at the moment in London than in Oaxaca.
Not quite -- I checked.
In fact:
temperature Oaxaca (wind and rain) : 25° temperature London this afternoon (sunny) : 22°
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Post by cheerypeabrain on May 27, 2017 20:13:12 GMT
Poor Bixa...I do hope that you get better soon hun. X
My beloved was on a photography course today learning how to use his posh new camera. This meant that I was on my own with smelly dog Django...he was fine on our long walk and good as gold until I decided that the French marigolds, tagetes, gazanias and night scented phlox plants (grown from seed) needed to go into the garden. Boy that dog can dig. I managed to plant half of them then gave up..he thinks he's helping *sigh*
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Post by cheerypeabrain on May 27, 2017 20:18:15 GMT
I hope that you are managing to keep some fluids down Bixa....you can become dehydrated very quickly. Is there pharmacy nearby where you can get electrolyte powders ?
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Post by mickthecactus on May 27, 2017 21:29:30 GMT
I am as sick as a dog. Could barely sleep last night because of waves of nausea and because everything hurts.
Sounds like a bad case of brexitis to me. Hope things have improved.*
* perhaps not everybody knows that Bixa is in Old Blighty at the moment
I didn't know that or I would have rushed to her aid and mopped her brow and anything else that needed mopping.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on May 28, 2017 7:36:06 GMT
Anybody know how Bixa is? worry worry....
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Post by Kimby on May 28, 2017 12:42:43 GMT
Yes, worried about our Bixa. 27 hours without a peep...
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2017 13:21:21 GMT
Me too. I expressly checked earlier and now again no word. Hopefully she's out and about exploring making up for lost time.
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Post by lagatta on May 28, 2017 15:46:51 GMT
I visited this thread now for the same reason. Usually those things resolve quickly, but someone on another forum had that for over a week. It is usually just the body purging itself of food poisoning, but can lead to serious dehydration if it drags on...
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