iHurt

I've been feeling miserable since Tuesday and trying to ignore it. Head cold, sore throat, etc. Going to work, slogging through, trying to keep it all together. Last night was rough, throat took a turn for the worst and I thought I had strep. Couldn't go to the walk in clinics because a storm had knocked out power most places.

I've been using a Neti Pot since Wednesday night. Man, those things terrify me. When I was a teenager, my mom and her close friend discovered the benefit of a Neti Pot and were raving about them. I was intrigued and asked them to help me out with it. They held me down and poured it in. I sputtered and screamed and kicked and thought I was dying. I've avoided them ever since. (Neti Pots, not mom.) Last year, I bought one, since again, I'd heard amazing things and figured with all the colds the boys had been sharing, I should try it. Of course, it sat in the cupboard as the days turned into weeks and then months and then longer. But Wednesday I couldn't put it off any more.

I dug it out, washed it out, filled it, poured in one of the 50 saline solution packets that came with it, leaned over the bathroom sink, put it to my left nostril and tilted my head. Jay stood beside me, holding my hand, reminding me to breathe normally through my mouth. We waited. Soon, I felt a zing by my left eye. Then over my right eye. Then it started to dribble out my right nostril. I removed the pot and blew my nose and marveled at the huge amount of snot that shot out. Then Jay read the part of the instructions that said to "Repeat in other nostril." I had a total WTF moment, whimpered a bit, then bent back over the sink. It took much longer to make it's way from right to left. A surprisingly long time. But it eventually completed it's loop and I was rewarded by more thick yellow stuff.

Then Jay wanted to try it. It was only fair, right? He washed and refilled the pot with warm water only. It took about 2 seconds for it to shoot through and he came up sputtering. Such a difference in the speed when your sinuses aren't inflamed!

So I did the Neti bit morning and night. It felt nice for about an hour afterwards, then I was heavy and pounding again. Not sure if I helped or hindered the infection. I'm scared I made it worse and introduced new and creative bacteria up there. I did a bad thing and used warm water straight from the tap: not distilled or previously boiled as per the instructions. By Friday, it wasn't making a difference, and I spent a good 20 minutes trying to get the solution to flow through. I was miserable.

Got up this morning, showered, started to get ready for work, but by the time I came downstairs, I was in tears from the pain. Jay said he wanted to be supportive, but he simply couldn't let me go to work. So, I called in sick - boy, were they not happy. The walk in clinic opened at 11, so I took a cab there and waited for over an hour. (An oddly short wait, given the amount of people already there ahead of me!)

So, the verdict is that I have a raging sinus infection. The doctor was kind of impressed by the amount of swelling and pain I have. Then he checked my throat and was surprised/alarmed at the amount of pus there. Since there was a lack of redness and other signs of strep, he just said it could be anything, but that the Amoxil for my sinuses would wipe out whatever it was.

Oh, and the best part... he wrote me a note (WITHOUT me asking) saying I'm not fit for work until Wednesday. The only reason I know I won't be fired is that they need me - especially now, when it's peak season and we have clients waiting an average of 90 minutes just to see us. Might not have a job next tax season, though... I kid, well, sort of. I'm good at my job and I know they need me... I'm sure there will always be a place for me. I hope. Anyhoo, yesterday I spent my day sleeping and watching TV with the boys, instead of preparing tax returns and infecting the unsuspecting public.

This had better be the end of the death-plague-sickies that have moved into our house. I am so beyond done it's not even wryly amusing anymore.

Sickness becomes us

So, where have I been, you ask, dear reader?

Well, after my run in with mastitis (from which I recovered - mostly - by Saturday), Felix cut 2 teeth and then woke up with a double ear infection on Tuesday. He went on antibiotics, which kicked in just in time for Elliot to get pink eye on Friday. And let me tell you - holding a child down in order to force polysporin drops into his eye 4 times per day is no picnic. I'd rather eat dirt. The eye started to look normal again yesterday morning - and then Elliot started barfing that afternoon. And then he passed that torch to Felix and they took turns every hour until somewhere after midnight. And then dear hubby picked up that ball and ran with it. And then Elliot developed an ear infection so he is also medicated. It's Monday night and I'm exhausted and scared I may be succumbing to the nastiness myself. Let's just hope not.

Oh and sweet jeebus, I just looked over to see Elliot's other eye pinking up and starting to ooze.

Note to self: Must. Disinfect. House.


It's my birthday on Thursday. I fear we may all be dead by then.

Nip check, revisited

So. The pain got better after going on a 2 week course of anti-fungal medication, paired with the most awesome All Purpose Nipple Ointment by Dr. Jack Newman. But the pain came back within 5 days of finishing the meds. So I convinced my doctor to put me back on them. I'm a week in. the nipple pain is improving.

BUT NOW I HAVE MASTITIS!!!!!

I have been terrified of mastitis for the past 3.5 years. I do tend to get blocked ducts but thankfully they've never gone beyond a simple (yet painful) blockage.

Oh sweet jeebus, this is painful. it started last night. I see my doctor in a few hours to get some antibiotics, hopefully. At least the fever broke and the puking stopped. That's something to celebrate, I guess.

Stupid scam

My sister is traveling right now. She's on a month-long experience-of-a-lifetime yoga retreat in India. She's due back within a few days. Yesterday, I received this email from her address, with the subject 'My Terrible Situation':

I'm writing this message to you with sadness. I traveled down to London for a short vacation and unfortunately for me, i was mugged at knife point last night at the park of the hotel where i lodged and all cash, credit cards and cell phone were all taken away.

I've been to the embassy and the Police here but they're not helping issues at all, My flight leaves in less than 8hrs from now and i am having problems settling the hotel bills.

The hotel manager won't let me leave until i settle the hotel bills now am freaked out. I need a loan from you to return back home and i want you to get back to me if you will be able to help me.

I knew immediately that it was a hoax, that someone must have hacked her webmail account or she got a virus, but there was that initial panic of 'ohmigod she's in trouble.' because it's plausible - she's traveling. Maybe her plans changed. Etc. My sister-in-law-to-be called almost immediately and asked me about it... she had the same thoughts and concerns. But we agreeded the wording isn't right. She certainly wouldn't have sent a mass email like that and she would have contacted her boyfriend directly to ask for help.

I called our mom right away to let her know it was a scam and posted a warning blurb on my sister's Facebook page. Then I decided to taunt the hacker by writing back and asking what I could do to help. Almost instantly, I got this email:

Thanks for your response. Please, I need a loan of $550 from you and i want you to help me send it via western union to my information below and sin ce i have my passport with me, i can quickly go rush down to the western union outlet/bank to pick up the money and go straight to the airport to catch my flight as am almost running out of my checkin time. Find below is my details where the money should be wired to OK??

Receiver's Name: XXX
City: London
Zipcode: WC2A 2AE
Country: United Kingdom
Amount: $550

Kindly email me back with the following details as soon as you've have wired the money to me via western union money transfer.

XXX

I'm almost impatient to wait for your email. I shall be waiting for your response soon,

And yep, I'm afraid I replied once again, asking for details on what happened and expressing sisterly concern.

I want you to please kindly wire the money to me immediately so i can pay off the hotel bill and go straight to the airport to catch my flight. I will explain things in details to you as soon as i get back home ok?

Thanks

And once again I emailed back (this is when hubby stepped in and told me to stop baiting the bad guys) but this time I said that it sounded fishy and that I wanted her to answer some questions to prove her identity as my sister.

No response.

Meanwhile, my brother called and jokingly said, "I've sent all this money, but she's still not home!" We had a little laugh and he said he'd call our father to let him know, and that he'd already heard from our stepfather wondering if she was ok.

No one has actually heard from our sister, but to our knowledge, she has very limited internet access on her trip. Hopefully she's able to shut down her webmail account as soon as she returns. And hopefully, no one actually sent any money.

There are many versions of this scam going around, but they all pretty much say the same thing: Stranded, send money. It's sad how many people fall for these things, but I guess the upside is that people are willing and wanting to help out their loved ones. The worst bringing out the best, maybe?

So now we all sit and wait for her return so we can talk about what happened, like the gossipy hens we are! Plus, I can't wait to see all the pictures from her trip. I'm so envious!