Tag Archives: flu

Test Time

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Mom and me in the 1990s.
My mom and me in the 1990s.

I’ve been sick for a week now. Some days I feel like it’s behind me, then today I woke up feeling worse. I’m not sure if it’s a cold, flu (I did get a flu shot) or Covid.

Then I had a scary feeling today thinking about last year.

A year ago, I got a call from my brother that mom had tested positive for Covid. She was in an assisted living facility near Seattle, close to where my brother lives. But she was asymptomatic.

By New Year’s Day we lost her. Without symptoms, she died in her sleep. I wrote about that and a shared a children’s story I wrote about her HERE.

I decided I needed to test for Covid, although I’m not sure what I’d do differently if I have it — or if it’s the common cold. At least I’d know. And thinking back to a year ago, I felt scared. And sad.

I tested negative. Next weekend, we have guests coming from Santa Barbara to surprise my husband for his birthday. I’m throwing a small birthday party for him with three couples from our neighborhood, our friends we were supposed to spend Christmas with — and our surprise guests.

I have to be well. So, I’ll continue with rest, fluids, vitamins and other remedies that are suggested.

When I have a day like today, where I feel like I’m relapsing, my body must be telling me that I tried to do too much.

This is my last post of 2023. Last year was very stressful with losing my mom and my daughter-in-law’s diagnosis with Stage 3C colon cancer. I’m praying for a better 2024 and good health for everyone.

What were you doing one year ago before New Year’s?

What’s your favorite cold remedy?

Down and Out

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bowl with chicken noodle soup and parsley
Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

I woke up Friday morning at 3 a.m. with a horrific sore throat. I blamed it on the cold weather and sleeping with the heater on.

I’ve had three days of living on Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup. Talk about comfort food. It takes me back to my childhood when I ate it every day for several years.

I use my Neil Med sinus rinse, breathe steam from a pot of boiling water with a towel over my head — and take a handful of vitamins including C, D, zinc, oregano oil, a multi-vitamin for women over 50 and others. I thought I had allergies with post nasal drip, but now it’s spawned into chills, fatigue, cough and sore throat.

What I hadn’t been doing was staying in bed. As of Sunday morning I’m in bed. I’m writing this from the comfort of fluffy pillows and my favorite quilt. I have several friends who said they’ve been sick and it took a few days rest and sleep to get better.

I haven’t been sick for years like this. It’s not fun!

What are your home remedies when you get sick? What vitamins do you think help?

About those COVID tests

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I saw this rainbow on my morning walk yesterday.

I want to take a COVID test. I don’t have terrible symptoms, I just don’t feel great. I’ve stayed away from my husband for a week. His symptoms are gone except for a cough. I’d like to know if I’ve got a mild case of COVID, or if I’ve got a cold or flu. Maybe it’s nothing. But I’d like to know.

Here’s the problem. I ordered the tests from the government. I’ve heard they will ship in 12 days? I looked at Amazon and the only test that I can get before February — costs $89.

I’ve looked online for COVID testing at CVS and everywhere within 20 miles of me. There are no appointments available for a week.

So what do I do?

Rest, eat my chicken soup, take handfuls of vitamins and wait.

Frustrating.

Have you tried to get a COVID test at a pharmacy, doctor’s office or one delivered to your home? Are you finding them unavailable too? Or were you able to get tested right away?