I Will Survive!

 

Pat and Glenn relaxing by Glenn's pool in Cathedral City, California February 17, 2025

Thank God Almighty I think I will actually survive my cold!

I woke up this morning and felt almost normal.

This past week has been one helluva journey!

I have never had an illness like this before.

No sore throat or fever that I could detect but I was terribly congested. 

Almost no energy, could barely move. 

I have a lot of my energy back now!

Oh this feels good. Now I can begin living again.

I have to admit that for a day or two this past week I just wanted to die. I had enough of this illness, the latest Chinese virus (which I absolutely believe)! 

I have a lot to do today to catch up. 

Oh isn't it glorious to have my life back again?

Sick Day

 Yesterday was a sick day for me. 

Ever wonder what a stay at home full time caregiver does when he (or she) is sick? 

Do they take a day off? 

Call into work and tell the boss they can't come in because they're sick? 

What we do here at Casa Tipton-Kelly is spend most of the day in bed.

My "illness" was the usual runny nose. I don't know what causes it. Could be allergies. Usually I can catch it in time by taking my allergy pills. Yesterday that didn't work. 

After I got up in the morning and got Bill up and gave him is medications and breakfast I went right back to bed with my runny nose and achy body.

I drifted in and out of sleep until lunchtime. I wasn't too hungry, a sure sign that I was sick. Usually my appetite is very good. Yesterday was chicken soup day and boy did that soup ever taste good. My body said "Thank you! Thank you!" when I finished that can of Progresso Chicken Noodle soup. I was going to make my cabbage veggie hamburger soup but I just didn't have the energy to peel all those veggies. That soup is easy to make once you slice up the onion and prepare the carrots and celery. I'll make that soup today with my exclusive Tipton Potato Salad (I make the absolute best potato salad!)

Usually when I lie down when I get these runny nose attacks, my nose straightens itself out. Not yesterday. All day my nose drainage became progressively worse. After lunch I went to bed again. Didn't wake up until 5 PM. Time to feed Bill and give him his medications again. 

After putting Bill to bed I went into my cozy home office and called my friend Don McK. on FaceTime.  Still my nose was running like an open spigot. No getting away from it. I FaceTimed Pat and told him I was going to bed early, which I did. I didn't even have my usual evening snack. No appetite for it. 

I went to bed around 10:30. Usually I don't go to bed until twelve or one o'clock. Early to bed last time and late getting up this morning to give Bill his every third day shower. And my nose isn't running now.

Time to make some Tipton Potato Salad and Hamburger Cabbage soup. 

Have a great day everyone!

Still Suffering

Have I passed my kidney stone? I really can't tell. My stomach is still sore but that may be because of my infected bladder.

I just got back from my local VA Outpatient 
Clinic. I called them yesterday with an emergency request for more pain killers. The  Emergency Room over the weekend only gave me twelve painkillers (a generic Percot pill). I was in a panic because I used the last pill from the Emergency Room yesterday. Thank goodness the VA came through for me. 

Folks, the worst thing about passing a kidney stone is the pain. And each time is different. 

I began feeling something was going on early last week but I willfully ignored the signs of kidney stones and bladder infection.

I could no longer ignore this extremely painful process which is why I ended up in the Emergency Room.

So here is the update on my situation. I called my urologist's office to make an appointment. They told me since I was "passing a kidney stone" then couldn't see me until NEXT MONTH!  I was stunned. I called back just to make sure and I was told I have to pass that kidney stone first. Why don't I just die while I'm at it?

Passing a kidney stone, I've seen this movie before.For most of the weekend I've been in bed all day, sleeping.  Then Sunday night I woke up and felt NO PAIN.  I actually felt normal, which is a wonderful feeling when you've been banging your head against the wall for so long. 

The pain in my left side has moved down. I haven't seen any kidney stone in my pee but it could be a small as a grain of salt.  Something that small cause so much pain?  Oh sure. I can't seen too much in my urine anyway with the the blood.  The most blood I've ever had during one of these episodes. One thing though, I'm not in excruciating pain, which is often the case with a kidney stone passing.  I was Saturday night, big time. The kind of pain where you say "Lord take me, I'm ready to go!"

So you know what the other problem is don't you? Not to gross out my more sensitive readers, but I haven't taken a good poop since last Friday morning. I usually go twice or more a day! TMI?  That's the downside of painkillers, they do back you up.  And folks, I'm pretty well backed up. Of course I haven't eaten that much either. I'm on a Kidney Stone Diet. HA!

Folks, I'm so anxious to get back to normal. Thank goodness my co-worker Don W. filled in for me last night at the hotel. Believe me folks, you wouldn't want to encounter me in the state I'm in, if you were checking into the hotel last night.  

Oh, I forgot to mention. How lucky are we here to have missed this Major Winter Snowstorm?  I drove the thirteen miles (one way) to Georgetown this morning in the high winds and rain to pick up my prescription. Well worth it folks!

Chicken Soup, Gingera Ale and Plenty of Rest

Best flu remedy ever - chicken soup!

The old home remedies really do work folks. In addition to my incapacity with my injured leg, I had a bad cold.  This one was the flu.  So much for my flu vaccine.  Last year was the only year that I didn't catch the flu.  Each year I get the flu vaccine and each year (except for last year) I get the flu.  

The ONLY soda for flu upset stomach - Schweeps doesn't work

Well, the fever broke last night.  I'm losing track of time here but yesterday (or was it the day before yesterday?) I was in bed all day and all night sleeping off and on.  I was exhausted and feeling terrible.  Not just because of my leg but because of . . . . yes . . . you guess it although I was in self-denial . . . I had the flu.  

I can always tell the signs of the flu.  For one thing I ache all over, I don't have an appetite, I feel like I have to constantly urinate and I have "that cough."  You know the kind, that hurts and brings up the yellow-green mucus. I apologize if I'm grossing anyone out. 

The overall feeling is of one you just want to lie down and die.  

Time for Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup and Canada Dry Ginger Ale.  Sure salt ladened soup and sugar ladened soda but hey, that's what works for me when I have a bad cold or flu (I have a hard time distinguishing the difference between the two).   I knew I was really sick when I didn't have the taste for my usual late night Key Lime pie with strawberries for dessert.

Instead of sleeping all day yesterday I laid in bed with my injured leg horizontal and binged watched five "Judge Judy" episodes I had on my DVR recordings.  I had lunch of chicken soup and my hummus wrap (which, again I didn't have an appetite for, thus how I knew I was sick), then took my usual afternoon nap in my sunny, solar warmed bedroom.  I have the best bedroom for convalescing bar none.

Convalescing with Judge Judy and Bert 

Waking up, at four PM, I struggled out of bed (that's all I do with this injured leg is struggle and envy people who can walk around on two legs). and spent some time with Bill.  I prepared a light dinner (chicken soup again) and then back to bed.  More "Judge Judy" then "Millionaire Matchmaker" with Patti Stanger (don't be judging . . . . . I LOVE that show).   

Patti Stanger - my guilty pleasure

Eleven o'clock rolls around and I'm off to Dreamland again but not before taking a swig of Niquil.  

I wake up at 2 AM and I am soaked.  My flannel sheets are soaked, my T-shirt is soaked and my tight-whities are soaked.  And . . . . could it be?  I actually felt human again.  Still sick mind you, sick had a bum leg that I'm struggling with but I actually felt like I had a reason to live.

I went back to bed but this morning I had to wash everything.  Sheets and myself.  With this bum leg I only take a shower every three days (don't judge) because it is such a struggle.  Thank goodness I can take my leg brace off and wash my blue and purple leg, unlike when I had a hip to ankle leg cast in 1962 on my right leg that I couldn't take off for six weeks and my leg stunk to high Heaven when the doctor broke of my leg cast.

I knew I had made progress with my flu when I coughed up some big pieces of greenish yellow phlegm this morning.  Imagine that stuff in your lungs.  No wonder people die from the flu.  

I'm still weak and need plenty of bed rest.  I sent Bill to the store this morning for some food.  This is the first time he's ever done that and he was nervous.  Only four things; 73% hamburger, frozen Famous Fries, one red onion and a dozen eggs.  He had to take an old bag of Famous Fries.  What takes me ten minutes took him over an hour to get but he was successful.  He said "They have that stuff spread all out over the store!" And he said he had the hardest time finding a red onion.  I said "Did you look in the vegetable section?"  He doesn't know a vegetable section.  Folks, I'm not kidding you, Bill is helpless and clueless on the household side of things here.  He's great at handyman activities but cooking, shopping, paying the bills, and running a household?  You're looking at it right here . . . . moi!~.  Do you know the fifty some years we've been together Bill has only cooked one meal for me? And it was a disaster.  But then I wouldn't know how to put up a backsplash either so I guess the household chores all even out.  

Well folks, I have to get now.  I've told you how uncomfortable it is to sit at my computer with my left leg extended whilst I type my ruminations. 

Better…..I Think

Dinner last night

Last night I had my first solid food except for that half an omelet I had for breakfast.  I had a small bowl of Panera potato soup and some pita crackers.  I had no lunch.  I didn't miss lunch. 

After talking to my Canadian friend on FaceTime I took his advice and watched "The Spanish Prisoner" on my Netflix DVD rental.  A strange movie with very low production values but it did engage me for a while and take my mind off of my health woes.  

I went to bed shortly thereafter, sans a dessert which I usually have before I go to bed.  However, I did take a couple swigs of my Canada Dry ginger ale which seems to help my stomach settle.

I had a great night's sleep and awoke to clean sheets (thank God!) 

I actually awoke with an appetite for my regular breakfast of Great Value bran flakes

 
(Walmart) cereal with almond milk and a banana.  I got about 2/3 rd's through it and started to feel "gaggy" again.  I gave Bill the rest of the banana.

I retreated to my home office as is my usual routine after breakfast, to catch up on my e-mail.  I had a visit yesterday from a local Democratic candidate for state district representative and a field worker.  They asked if I could cover a district here where I live.  I agreed.  All I have to do is introduce myself to the Democrat registered voters my neighborhood and urge them to vote.  Like most of you, I hate to knock on the doors of strangers but one must do what one must do to at least help to prevent some of these extreme Tea Party types from gaining office.  This should be easy for me because most of the people I'm to contact are on my Walk Route back in Oyster Rocks.  It won't be like they haven't seen me before.  Now they'll know who I am, one of those annoying people who will be bothering them.  Oh well, I hope my health is up to it.

My Democratic Walking Tools (except for the doily) 

I'm going to finish this post then lie down awhile again. I'm feeling nauseous again.  Hate to be a downer folks but you know me, I tell it like it is.

I'll be back later, hopefully when I'm back to 100% again. I hope that is tomorrow because I go back to work then. Always something.

Pooh Bear

"Whoops! Leakage!"

When I woke up this morning from a very restful night of sleep, I felt wet all on my backside.  I went out to Bill and showed him how much I "sweated."  He took one look and said "That's not sweat, you pooped (he used a different word - four letter word that begins with "s" and ends with "t") yourself.  Shocked (and embarrassed) I rushed into my bathroom and saw a huge light brown stain on my underwear and bottom of my T-shirt.  Yes folks, I had "poohed" myself while sleeping.  Now folks, that's how sick I was.

At first I couldn't remember the last time I did that but then later on this morning I did remember.  It was when I was in the Army in 1960.  It was summertime (hot) and a Friday.  I was to participate in a battalion parade (we soldiers all marching past the colonel of the battalion presenting our colors). I was feeling very nauseous.  I knew I had eaten lunch on a metal tray that had some dried soap suds on it.  Don't ask me why I did that, one just didn't turn in a metal tray at the Army mess hall and ask for a clean one. 


Anyway, while marching I was feeling more and more nauseous until I couldn't put one foot in front of another.  Plus, I was afraid of throwing up all over the back of the soldier marching in front of me. I fell out of formation and collapsed under a nearby tree.  I was convinced that the Army MP's were going to arrest me and put me in the stockade.  Of course nothing of the sort happen and once I got my bearings somewhat, I struggled back to the barracks to collapse on my bunk.

Ft. Devens, Mass. - the old German prison or war barracks that was where I lived for four month in 1964

I was exhausted.  I awoke a few hours later and saw that I had "poohed" myself (a dark brown liquid, no "Tootsie Rolls") all over my pants and the mattress underneath me.  Oh crap (although that wasn't the word I used, see previous reference).  Well, that weekend I spent recovering from what food poisoning or soapy metal tray my body was rebelling against.  I hid that poohed stained mattress on an empty bunk, hoping no one would notice.  A few weeks later though, while we were kept in the barracks one of my Army buddies pulled down that mattress and saw the stain and said "Who "poohed"(used that four letter word again begins with "s" and ends with "t") on this f__cking mattress!" Of course I would never tell but never one to hide a poker face, I quickly exited the barracks.

Me (on the left) - my buddies Bill A. and Dick E. never knew it was ME who "poohed" on that mattress - I can just imagine the ribbing I would have gotten if they did know

So now here we are forty-four years later and I had another accident. Man oh man.  Thankfully the only thing I "ate" yesterday was two small bottles of Canada Dry ginger ale.  I don't think I had any "substance" left in me after that diarrhea festival I had yesterday.  

Breakfast this morning - I haven't thrown this up……yet

This morning I went out with Bill and had my first solid food.  We had breakfast at Nectar in Lewes.  My usual, a vegetarian omelet with sweet potato fries, and toast with a "Detox" juice.  I could finish the whole thing but it was good to get something solid down my throat after my involuntary fast yesterday.  Oh, by the way, I did lose six pounds.  What a way to lose weight, eh?

"There! Much better!"

Sick

Washed out Ron

Last night when I went to bed I was very nauseous.  VERY, so nauseous that I couldn't go to sleep.  I don't remember the last time that I was this sick.

I finally got to a fitful sleep around 3 am only to be awaken with a "rush"….. I had to vomit.  Yes folks, I upchucked big time.  Even though I knelt at my toilet I managed to blow out my triple berry smoothie on the sides of the toilet bowl, the floor around the toilet and even on my lower legs and feet.  Not a pretty sight folks.

I tried to go back to bed only to get up again and blow out more of that purple Barney dinosaur smoothie.  How much did I drink anyway?

I gag just looking at this photo of Barney

Of course I also had the diarrhea.  Coming out both ends folks. Sorry for the grossness but that's what was happening with your longtime blogger here.  

I was so weak. I haven't eaten anything since last night.  I did drink a small Canada Dry ginger ale which helps to settle my stomach.  I'm working on my second bottle now.  

I drink the little bottle folks, no cans for me

I slept all day.  ALL DAY.  I'm still tired and weak but I feel like I've turned the corner but I still can't even contemplate eating anything for fear I'll throw that up too.

I think the culprit s some Mexican food I had in the freezer.  It tasted funny when I ate it. That's why I only had one.  When something liked his happens I think "What's different"?  This is the only think I could think of.

This "party in my mouth" didn't sit well with my stomach

I really should eat something right now but I'm afraid I'll just throw it up again.  

Hey folks, I have a new appreciated for my friends and acquaintances who are going through medical maladies right now.  This isn't fun, to say the least.

I just want to get back to normal.

"Do these glasses make me look fat?"

Arising From The Dead

A "Toon" picture I took of myself at work during the height of my COLD
Not a pretty picture

How do you like that for a catchy title?  Got your attention, right?

Folks that's how I feel now; like I've arisen from the dead.  Regular followers of this blog (and you know who you are) know that I've been absent from the blogosphere for a couple of days. About three days to be precise which is very unusual for me.  

So where have I been?  Mostly sleeping, trying to shake this Zombie Cold.  Wednesday I slept all day.  Thursday I slept all day.  Today, I arose from the dead.  

This cold came on just as I was about to begin an "enhanced" work schedule at the hotel last weekend into New Year's.  In past years when I've felt a cold coming on, I've been lucky that the worst of the cold occurred during my time off.  I wasn't so lucky this time.  The full brunt of this cold hit me Sunday night.  I literally lost my voice.  Not a good thing when one works at the front desk of a hotel.  The most I could get out was a squeak.  Plus, I felt LOUSY.  Not so much with the runny nose and coughing, but just TIRED and ACHY all over.  

I struggled through Monday, New Year's Eve.  I could talk but I sounded like Lurch of the Adams Family.  Anyone who knows me knows that I have a delightful, boyish tone to my voice.  THAT voice was nowhere to be found New Year's Eve.

New Year's day I continued to slog through the day with my Lurch Voice.  One caller really gave me a workout asking me to describe every room in the hotel then once I did that she wanted to do it all over again.  Hey, I like talking but this was painful.  I had to decline.  She said she would call in the morning.

Wednesday I got relief.  I got up for a breakfast of Walmart Multigrain cereal (taste like dust but has a load of vitamins) and a banana.  Then back to BED THE WHOLE DAY.

I got up for lunch with was just chicken soup then back to bed.  Popcorn and Canada Dry Ginger Ale for dinner (don't ask, this works for me).  

I repeated this procedure on Thursday.  Now phlegm that was coating my vocal cords was beginning to break up.  I was coughing up the Hulk (same color green).  TMI?  Just telling it like it is.  

What I was coughing up

This morning when I woke up I actually felt half way human again and I had my voice back, albeit with a lesbian like hoarseness.  Actually, I think I sort of sounded sexy.  

I'm still feeling blah, not my usual ornery self.  I've lost about five pounds.  What a way to lose weight.  I wouldn't recommend it.  

I figure by the time I go back to work on Sunday I'll be back to the Old Ron and have my youthful, Philly Twang voice back.  

My annual cold has come and gone.  

Soon to return!

Laid Low

Where I will be in a few minutes - my bed resting before I go to work tonight

Still struggling here with this Zombie Cold folks.  I got through my shift at the hotel last night, without too much wheezing and sneezing. Under normal circumstances I would call in sick but these are not normal circumstances.  Just my luck this Zombie Cold  is hitting me at the end of the year.

I was hesitant to do another post about my cold but I just can't think of anything else.  I'm pretty sure this is the flu because I ache all over.  When I woke up this morning in my bed I could hardly move, every joint in my body ached.  Well, every one but one.  

Bill drove me down to the Rehoboth Walmart earlier this morning.  I loaded up on Cold Eaze, chicken soup, and Zicam.  I don't know if these cold remedies are really helping me or just prolonging my misery.

Hey folks, sorry to be such a wet rag with this constant complaining.  I can't wait until I'm up to snuff again.  I work tonight and tomorrow night.

  Happy New Year!

Me, on the floor, New Year's Eve - 1963

Still a Sick Puppy

Yep, still a sick puppy here, albeit a very old sick puppy.

Chicken soup (Campbell's) - Cold Remedy

I'm still trying to shake this cold/flu. I think it is the flu because my whole body aches and I just feel lousy.  I have a dry cough and am lightheaded (more than usual).  

I managed to get through my shift at the hotel last night with minimal sneezing and wheezing.  Of course I didn't look too good but it's hard to tell the difference when one is looking good or not at 71 years of age.  Yes, yes; there I go with the "old man" stuff again but hey, it is what it is.  I'm no spring chicken and when these colds (or flues) come a visiting me, it's harder and harder (now stop that!) to shake them off.  When I was younger, I just ignored colds and such.  Not now folks, my annual visit from the cold and flu demons slow Old Ron down a bit and this time is no exception.

Chicken Soup With Crackers - Dinner tonight - Yum!

Yesterday I loaded up on Zicam, the zinc cold remedy and that really seemed to help.  Today I had chicken soup for lunch and for dinner.  Yep, that's all....chicken soup; what a way to go on a diet.  I did want to lose about five lbs. of blub around my middle but not this way.  

Tonight I'm going to also take Vicks NyQuil before I go to bed so I won't wake up with a mouth that feels like a platoon of soldiers walked through it with muddy combat boots. NyQuil seemed to help out my friend Lar, who I am pretty sure gave me this cold while we were having our daily FaceTime chat a few days ago. 

What's going to get me through the night tonight

As I said, I'm pretty sure I have the flu which I seem to get every year regardless of whether or not I get a flu shot.  Maybe next year I'll forgo the flu shot.  Hmmmm....let me think about that.  Maybe not.  If I forego my annual VA administered flu shot I'll probably end up with the cold to beat all colds.  Best not take a chance.  

I did get a break at work.  I was supposed to work tomorrow during the day but my co-worker offered to work for me.  This gives me a chance to take another two hour afternoon nap.  That's what I did yesterday which gave me enough rest to get through the night.  However, I do have to go to work tomorrow night and then Monday and Tuesday.  But, another break, I won't have to fill in for my other co-worker on Wednesday; he will take his shift back.  For a while there they had me working six days in a row.  Me, a part-time (two nights a week) hotel front desk clerk.  Ask me the last time I worked a month (four weeks in a row) only two nights a week.  If your answer is "not in the last year" you would be right.  So much for "part-time" work.  Let's just say I'm a substitute front desk clerk, that would be a more accurate job description for old decrepit Ron.

Me sitting on the porch at Brandywine Senior Living where my friends Bob and Jim reside now - don't I look "at home?"

Ron's Sick!

Me at Brandywine Hospital April 14, 2002 after a kidney stone attack (with my Mom)

Hey folks!  I'm feeling a bit under the weather.  I feel my annual cold coming on.  I think I caught it yesterday from my FaceTime friend Larry.  He was sneezing and wheezing and coughing the whole time I was talking to him yesterday on FaceTime.  I just KNEW I would catch his cold!

My Friend Lar spreading his germs to me yesterday during out FaceTime session

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to have some chicken soup for lunch and take my afternoon nap.  

I'll be back when I'm feeling up to my usual ornery self.  Hang in there.

I Have a Cold

I was doing pretty good this year.  Only a few hefty sneezes over the past few months expelling the cold/flu germ. Ah yes, I WAS doing so well.

Last week I was visiting a friend who returned from his home in Altoona, PA.  He has many nieces and nephews.  They have children.  They have colds.  He gets a cold.  I got the cold.

I rarely get colds or the flu.  Last year was the first time I got a cold so bad that I had to go to the doctor.  I literally feared for my life. I couldn't breath.  As the days went by I wasn't getting better.  When I could no longer keep food down, I had Bill drag me to my doctor.  She said I came just in time because one of my lungs was filled up with fluid (why I was having trouble breathing) and the other lung was on it's way.  I had Walking pneumonia.  She prescribed an anti-biotic and with a few more day's bed rest I was on my way to recovery.

Where did I get that cold from?  A co-worker, who has children, who had colds.  When I was working with her she was sniffing and sneezing and wheezing.  After I returned from work she told me she had lost twenty pounds and also suffered from pneumonia.  Thanks kids!

I notice that I only get bad colds when I'm around people who are around kids.  Once I left my job at the bank and stopped traveling the commuter train to Philadelphia which was full of dads sneezing from their kid contacted colds, my cold catching day stopped.  They only picked up when I began working at a hotel (the Hampton Inn in Lionville, PA this time) and one of my co-workers had a little Princess who always seemed to have a cold which she passed on to her mom who passed it on to me.

Cold carriers and spreaders - the little Darlins!
(photo is of MY COUSINS so don't get your panties in a twist)

So here I am in Gayberry, Delaware sans children.  But ah, they got me anyway,  through my friend with the nieces and nephews in Altoona, PA.

If you're reading this my friend (he has given me STRICT instructions to NEVER print his name in my blog) from Altoona, I'm not blaming you but I hope you'll understand that the next time I visit it won't be right after you visit the nieces and nephews.  Nothing personal but I prefer to stay healthy.

This is no fun.