A Tale of Two Views

Writing my last post on July 11, had someone told me that my life might change for a bit, I would hardly have believed it.  But boy howdy, did it ever change! 

I made a loaf of banana bread, and began preparing some things for dinner, however, I felt kind of achy and took a hot shower, hoping for some relief. As there are hardly any photographs to post from the last two weeks, much of this post will include text messages which tell the story far better than I can.

To Cynthia at 5PM: I am yawning at 5 PM! 

Laying down on the couch, I realized that I might have a fever which the thermometer confirmed. Is it Covid perhaps? Both Bill and David suggested testing Monday night, however, I thought it might be a fluke and waited for the morning. Tested negative. All day Tuesday I either slept or stared out the window wondering what the heck was happening. Bruce, of course, was mostly staying away so if it turned out to be Covid he wouldn't get sick as well. 

My view, at least, was a lovely one.

I could tell when the fever was returning after a few hours of relief from the Tylenol; oddly enough I felt it in my lips. 

Meanwhile word was spreading that I was not well. 

From Jane Lou: Gail it’s Jane Lou Bruce told me you were sick I think you have what I have it’s not catchy but it sure is hard to get over gargle a lot drink tea with honey the doctor said I got a Z pack it’s helped he got a really cough up all that stuff I have a good book for you to read that’s a bit there’s something you can do to pass the time let me know I have 1000 questions for you about Nancy and other things I’m not going back until the end of this month or the first week in August I have to wait for my crown I sure hope you’re going to be feeling OK you’re gonna have to rest and I know that’s hard for you it’s been really really hard for me drink lots of fluids let me know if I can do anything if you get stir crazy crazy we can pull our chairs up about a distance apart and talk seriously outside.

As the days passed, I just kept feeling worse and worse. Fallon was urging me to go to the ER, however, as you well know, I can be stubborn especially when health care is involved. 

One day Mary texted me, well she actually did most days, but on the one I am thinking of specifically, she told me we had ducklings and I should go look at them. When I told her I was just too sick, she was flabbergasted. Yup, I was really feeling horrible. By then I had moved to the couch where I spent many days and sometimes nights. My stomach went awry so there was all that to deal with. My darling husband, after my having tested negative several more times, took the most amazing care of me. David kept insisting I try this tea and that along with some immunity boosters. Nothing worked. 

Finally on Saturday morning Bruce took me to Guidewell on 17-92, a place we'd heard about from both Mary and Ann. It did not take long for them to see me and when they did their care was excellent. Seriously good, and coming from me, that is saying a lot! Bloodwork, x-rays, CT scan and fluids, followed by an intravenous infusion of antibiotics, we left with this:

Susan: Hey there my friend. Are you feeling better today, I hope?

Me: Thank you for checking. It’s been a rough week but we now have a reason. I have booth pneumonia and a urinary tract infection. IV antibiotics have helped some and I will be taking oral antibiotics as well.  I hope to feel better soon!

Except I did not get better. My fever went over 103 that night. 

Even Connie's chicken noodle soup did not do the trick although I had high hopes.

Me: Thank you, thank you. We ate early before my fever spikes and both soups were amazing. There is nothing in the world like good home cooking! I haven’t eaten hardly a thing for a week.

Before we left Guidewell they said that they would run blood cultures to make sure it was the right antibiotic for me. As I was not improving, declining actually, I called asking for those results. Bruce called repeatedly and each time we were told a nurse would call. Except they did not. So, on a stormy Tuesday afternoon, Bruce drove over and demanded answers as well as the documentation of my visit which turned out to be so very helpful. 

At the same time I called Dr. Parrillo's office and had to leave a message. My message was that we were at our wits end and did not know what to do.

Here's a few messages with Yvette:

How’s 

Momma Gail!?!? 

I heard you have pneumonia 🤦‍♀️

I hope your feeling/getting better? 🤗

Me: I wish I were improving but I still feel pretty terrible.

Here's an amusing one from Carolyn: So Gail, what seems to be the problem?  You do not have COVID right?  So sorry you aren’t feeling well.  Just found out yesterday that Ryan has Covid! 😫

What seems to be the problem indeed?

Mary texted most days and I had this to say to her: To tell you the truth I still feel like shit. Whatever this is, my gut took a big hit last night. On a different note,Bruce just make me home made tapioca pudding which was so wonderfully soothing. Thank you for checking on me Mary.

A note to one and all, warm tapioca is the best. I have no idea how I thought to ask Bruce for some because it has been years since last I made it. It had been a lifetime for Bruce who, in spite of never having done so before, followed the recipe on the box and it was the best thing I had all week!

Last Wednesday morning, I urged Bruce to play pickleball so that for at least a few hours things would seem normal. What we did not count on and to tell you the truth was a pleasant surprise, our doctor's office called, saying if we could get there in the next half hour, Dr. Parrillo would see me. I called Patti asking for help. Anyone who has had the pleasure of knowing Patti knows she will do just about anything to help a friend in need and she did just that. It is hard to describe how poorly I felt. One thing that had happened in the night was that I think my fever finally broke and it was unreal. I woke up in a pool of sweat with even my hair wet. I was so shaky but after Bruce helped me into dry clothes I fell back asleep. When I next awoke, I took my temperature and it was crazy low, as in 96 degrees or lower. Things were not going in the right direction at all.

When Dr. P took one look at me he ordered bloodwork and a chest x-ray. By now Patti had called Bruce and he arrived in time for the news. My white blood count, thanks to Bruce having the info from Saturday, had gone from 17K to 26K and the pneumonia was worse instead of better. Deciding that Winter Park Advent was our best chance of getting seen quickly, Bruce drove us there and just in the nick of time. 

They put us in a huge room, treating us with kindness and efficiency as I was just about in septic shock. As luck would have it, we did not even wait a minute before being taken to a room. Then, once stabilized, there was an open room upstairs for me where I would spend the next seven days with a very unappealing view from my bed.

Once I was able to get up and move around, it was even worse!

There is lots more to say but to tell you the truth, I am worn out for now. I am finally home and doing very little. We were told that it takes weeks to recover, and who are we to question said wisdom?

The hospital stay will be the subject of my next post when I feel up to it which I very much hope will be sooner rather than later!

your friend,

Gail

Two Days in Bed

The timing could not be any worse, but what did I expect? It is February, so that means there is a good chance I will be sick like I was last year at about the very same time.

This time it was not worth an ambulance ride, however, I did arrive at Dr. Parillo's office yesterday morning just after 7, hoping to be seen by someone. Antibiotics to the rescue! One of the days I spent curled in a ball with a fever, body aches, and what felt like a knife in my throat; the other, after convincing myself the antibiotic would work immediately, I read a novel, and was it ever a good one...The Good Earth, by Pearl Buck. For some reason, after buying it at a garage sale last year, it ended up in my nightstand beside my bed, which is where I discovered it, and because I'd never read it before, I began and could not stop. What a storyteller, and in spite of it being written in 1931, the themes are every bit as relevant today as they were back then. So, being sick was not a total loss. I'm up today, insisting to myself that I will be better because I MUST be better!

What you really want to know about is, how Maureen is doing? Sadly, I have not seen her since Friday night, however, Bruce went late Sunday morning and brought back a good report. I took another one of her in the physical therapy room during my last visit, where they are putting her to work!

She is now able to, with the aid of a walker and a physical therapist by her side, walk back to her room which is a massive improvement over last week at this time! The bandage came off after seven days and her first visit to the outside world will be to see the orthopedic doctor tomorrow.

While she's been in the rehab center, Bruce, Pam and I, have been working to make her home both more pleasant and safe. Maureen's fairy godmother is sending funds for new things, like a comfortable chair, and a new mattress. She is so good to Maureen, however, she tells me that she may have more funds than Maureen, Maureen has more wit and charm so their forty year friendship is beneficial to both. Nice.

A week ago Sunday morning, when I first visited Maureen in the daylight, I noticed a lot of vultures flying overhead. I mean a whole lot of them. The specks in the great big beautiful sky are but a few of them.

I learned from one of the staff that there is some sort of garbage facility nearby, thus their constant presence. Friday night as I was leaving they were still flying around.

Speaking of birds, they have been plentiful in the last few weeks. In fact, as I lay in bed on Sunday they kept me entertained out my window. Red winged blackbirds come in droves. There are about seven or eight, mostly on the ground in this shot.

And the finches...oh my are they cute little birds! I heard from Matt who said he had a whole flock of goldfinches that look nothing like our goldfinches. Naturally, I was jealous.

Out front, where the feeder is on a pole in the ground, they vie for space, whereas in the side yard, they wait their turn in the oak tree.

Once I am out and about again, I not only need to fill the feeders, but I intend to look for a cardinal nest somewhere in the bushes. They, too, have been hanging around a lot.

I wonder why sometimes their crest is up, and sometimes down?

If you live anywhere near downtown, and if you like to eat out, you may have heard of Maxine's on Shine Street. You may very well have wondered just who is Maxine. Well, here she is in the red glasses with Catherine during her birthday celebration last week.

It was quite a group, including a Scottish woman, (Catherine), a Frenchwoman, a German woman, and a couple from Switzerland. You may have guessed that they have all become friends through Cheryle and David's airbnb adventures of which there are plenty! The couple sitting next to me had only just arrived from Seattle but they came along to experience the "real" Orlando. A good time was had by all.

This may not be my most exciting post, however, I figured you might be looking for an update so I've done my best to provide one. Soon, very soon, I hope the posts will again be both more frequent and more interesting!

recovering,

Gail

p.s. I neglected to mention that my darling has had a sore throat for the longest time now, at one point completely losing his voice. Unlike me, he never gets sick! What is going on around here??

p.p.s. Don't feel bad I was in bed on Valentine's Day--every day is VD around here!

Visiting a Foreign Country

At least that is what it felt like to me. My mode of transportation? An ambulance.

Do your very best not to have to visit an emergency room anytime soon because that is exactly what it feels like. Mind you, I did not plan to make the trip, however, it was out of my hands.

Sunday, maybe around 2 in the afternoon, my stomach began hurting--not horrible, just a little ache in my belly. The day was beautiful, the crowds plentiful. While chatting with a Scottish/Canadian woman about the weather where she lives in Canada, I began sweating profusely and told her I did not feel well. I sat in my chair for a moment, however, I could tell I was going to pass out so, I'm sure, much to her surprise, I laid myself down on the cool concrete in the back of my tent, with the fallen oak leaves as my pillow. Vaguely I remember some young ladies asking if I needed help, and I begged them to take me to the bathroom at the nearby World of Beer. Getting me to my feet, they did what they could...

My recollection of the next part is shaky at best, but somehow our young policeman got involved, I kept begging to be taken to the bathroom, and the next thing I know I'm once again on the ground vomiting. Meanwhile Eduardo, the policeman, has called an ambulance and a whole scad of fireman are lifting me onto a stretcher, asking me questions, including if I knew who the President was. Answering yes, they insisted I say his name, which is a silly recollection I know. I also remember people kept saying "food poisoning." If only it were that simple.

Once at the hospital I was finally allowed to get into the bathroom and it was not pretty. After being in the hallway for a short time I was wheeled into room 18, just across from the station where I could see what was going on. It was then that I realized things in healthcare have dramatically changed. As in, there is no care. Yes, they poke and prod you, but behind all of that there is no feeling of compassion whatsoever. Computer screens line the oval desk, and for most of my 17 hours in the emergency room, the nurses had their faces glued to screens.

Remembering the scene at the market when total strangers came to my aid, during every one of my trips to the bathroom, which were extremely difficult carrying an IV bag, and multiple wires hanging off of me, not ONE person came to my aid. Fortunately, Bruce arrived to help, after getting a call from Dina, my closest market neighbor now that Jim and Kathy are gone.

Then too, apparently all that computer work is not helping much as I had to relate my story to multiple people who could just as easily have read it, or so I presume. The business office girl was sweet though when asking for our money.

I had a nurse on the day shift who told me her name, yet never once came back to check on me. There are various techs whose job is a mystery. Plus there are nearly more men working as nurses, as there are women, which is also quite foreign to me. But what, as a former health care worker is most foreign to me, is the lack of compassion, something I cannot for the life of me understand.

Because of a former hospital stay that left me with a very bad taste in my mouth, I had no interest in staying even one more minute than necessary to stabilize my condition. One bright spot was a darling resident named Matt, who was probably near our own Matthew's age, who was sweet and understanding. He gave us options about tests. On the other hand, he painted the bleakest picture to sway our decision! After the CT scan he told Bruce and I that if left untreated by IV antibiotics, severe colitis, which is what the scan showed, could lead to a perforated bowel which no one would sign up for if given the opportunity.

And so I stayed in room 18 throughout the night as there were no beds available. With the aid of a pain pill, I slept off and on in spite of being on a stretcher. At least my night nurse was good, not especially sweet, but competent. Around 5 in the morning they asked for a sample, which sadly I was able to provide and the next thing I know it is 7 and Bruce is arriving, his clothes covered by a protective gown. It turns out I have C diff. The severe kind.

Shortly thereafter, a girl arrived with a stretcher, which she proceeded to, with great fanfare, clean with bleach wipes in front of us. It was then that I was moved to a room, and another nurse, with not an ounce of caring, asked me all over again what had happened. It was all I could do to be civil! A doctor arrived, giving me a treatment plan which consists of a liquid diet, and a VERY nasty tasting pill to be taken three times a day for two weeks! If I could tolerate the pill, I could go home, and so we did just that. What most amazed me was that one minute everyone is wearing a yellow gown around me, and the next we are making our way downstairs as if nothing had happened.

The hospital is big and fancy, with a beautiful lobby, which is all well and good, but where is the beauty of the workers? It feels as if you are in a restaurant with servers bringing you all sorts of dishes you don't want, not like a place of healing, or health care, for that matter.

Surprised I'm blogging? Me too, but I wanted to get this down while it was still fresh in my memory.

A bright spot is now I have some beautiful flowers to gaze at while lying in bed, the tulips from Matt and Tom, and the orchid arrangement from Dave and Michelle.

And, of course, my darling Bruce, who thankfully was not scheduled to travel this week. :)

How long will it be before I am better? Don't know just yet but if the power of positive thinking helps at all, it won't be long!

Today Might Just Be the Day...

...that my fever finally breaks for good.

The week began promising, with lovely weather, and an early morning bike ride for me on Monday. Every now and again I seem to get a feeling, and that days hunch was one of those--perhaps I'll see the eagle, even though it has been months. Sure enough, pulling up to the house on the lake where I've spotted him, (or her?), I was rewarded. It's just too bad the pine tree is probably 100 feet or so tall! In any case, I waited to see what would happen. Before long, he took off.

Before leaving the house I noticed I was having a dry cough, something I attributed to sinus drainage or allergies. Not that that is common for me, but what else could it be?

I also saw a pretty cardinal on a pile of branches:

As well this is the time of the year when the African Irises are at their finest.

I did my five miles, coughing all the way.

I was to meet the ladies for bridge at 12, so after doing a few things around the house, I drove over to Winter Park. While we played, I kept coughing, apologizing several times. Finally I told them I needed to leave as I could not hold the coughs in.

Finally getting home around 4:30 in the afternoon, I told Bruce I was just not feeling well. About an hour later I wondered if something was wrong, so I dug out the thermometer and sure enough I had a low grade fever, nothing major, 99.6, just enough to make me feel not myself. I felt so bad that I went to bed at 7, sleeping for the next twelve hours!

And the truth is, I've been in bed pretty much all week, getting up again today for the morning hoping for the best. When I haven't been either sleeping, coughing, or blowing my nose, I've been reading, as in three books. Yep, that's right. I haven't done that in a long time for sure!

There was a television show that I never watched, only heard about, " American Horror Story", or something like that. I kept thinking that would have been an apt title for "The Grapes of Wrath." Rarely do I re-read books, however, I've been on a John Steinbeck kick of late, and that, of course, is the penultimate JS book. I pity poor English teachers trying to teach the novel these days as it is dense with both plot, characterization, imagery, and philosophy. I cannot picture kids paying that close of attention--I hope I am wrong. I'd finished "Of Mice and Men" the previous week, and I'll say this much, John Steinbeck knew how to stick an ending! Oh my!

I also read "The Reluctant Restaurateur," a book Ray and Jane purchased for me following the delicious luncheon we enjoyed at Langar Hall. Eventually,  when I'm up to it, I'll tell you more about that delightful experience.

Finally I finished "Nine Inches," by Tom Perrotta, a wickedly good book of short stories. He, of "Election" fame.

Throughout the week my fever has gone as high as 101.6 to a low of 99.6, pretty much just enough to know things are not right with your body. So, it seems as if my stomach now wants to get into the sick action--back to bed I go.

Maybe, if I'm lucky, tomorrow might just be the day...

The Birds

Last week I really, really tried to keep going, however, most of the days I sure didn't feel myself. Getting up Saturday morning, my eyes were stinging, and I still had little energy, but pack the car I did and drove out to Winter Garden. God bless Dana's son, Cole, for putting up a tent over my display because, if not, I would have been hard pressed to make it. Fortunately, the day was worth it as far as sales were concerned.

Once home, I felt pretty worn out, however, we had agreed to go to a party at Steve and Barb's condo in Lake Nona at 6, and I did not want to disappoint our friends. Barb's boss's 18 year old son died in his sleep last week, obviously, quite the blow to the entire department. She is a good friend, helping in any way she could, meaning cooking for the party was not in the cards. She bought these gorgeous desserts from Whole Foods:

Little Missy here, did not feel like trying a one of them. I did not even finish my wine, which is really saying something.

Around 8:30, with glazed eyes, I whispered to Bruce, "I just can't stay any longer." Making apologies, we drove home, I took some aspirin, and was asleep in minutes. Waking up Sunday morning, Bruce suggested I stay home and rest which turned out to be a good plan. While he worked in the garage, I lay in bed, finishing a silly travel book called, "Queen of the Road." Mostly it was enjoyable, however, after a time, I did get a little tired with her Jewish American Princess shtick.

So, what pray tell does my title have to do with the above? Hold your horses, I'm getting there!

As you've probably figured out, if you've been reading this blog for long, I'm not a good sitter. I'm also not great at multi-tasking, however, if the activities are simple enough, I can sometimes accomplish two things at once. Feeling puny,  I planned on watching as much of The Masters as possible. Because the couch now abuts the main living room window, guess what I can see out said window? Birds in the beautiful blue bird bath! Of course, there is the window, screen, and mullions to deal with, but none of those stopped me from taking a few shots when the occasion arose.

When I was 10 years old, Alfred Hitchock's film, The Birds came out. My memory is fuzzy on whether I saw it at the long-closed, Vogue theater on Colonial Drive, however, what I do recall is how scary it was. So scary, in fact, that many people my age do not like birds because of that film. Once the children were around that same age, our library began carrying movies to rent, and I could not wait for them to see "The Birds," however, to their tastes, it was not scary at all--as I recall one of them thought it was silly. Oh well--so much for sharing childhood favorites with your children! Anyway, as you well know, I am fascinated by birds, both their appearance and behavior. Plus, their eye colors--so interesting. I like all kinds of birds, but if pressed, I'd have to say songbirds are my favorite. Can you believe that there are over--get this--10,000 bird species in the world??? I've probably seen about 30!

The brown thrashers are back:

Forgive the quality--see above. Wonder why their eyes are yellow?

Doves galore:

That pretty little blue ring around the dark black eye is so nice.

Out front, again through the window, the finch are starting to multiply:

Someone just told me about seeing finches with blue coloring--I sure hope they find their way here!

Then there is the always the under-appreciated female cardinal:

Enough already Gail! Sorry, can't help it!

Last week, on a trip to Wal Mart, I stopped to see the peacocks, and boy howdy were there a bunch of them!

Also last week, I went to sign our income tax forms at Olga's house.

Long ago, she and David lived together. I'll always be grateful to Olga for suggesting Dave take a teller job at Sun Trust while he was in school. He began working there a few days a week, rising to his current job as a Wealth Manager, with an office on Park Avenue. If you're from here, you know that sounds like an awesome gig. We always got along well, and since I already knew her, once I had my little business going, I needed some help with my taxes. Enter, Olga, CPA. We owe this year, mostly because my sales were stronger in 2012, however, not much.

One of the primary reasons I want to get better is our trip this week. Don't ask me any details because they are still sketchy, however, I did get a book from the library on North Florida and will pack it, making up the trip as we go along. Or, at this moment that's what I'm thinking. With my muddled brain, who knows where we'll end up!

Finally, if you are SICK of bird pictures, just say so, will you?