My main problem [...]]]> I’m trying not to disappear but being sick is such a PITA and I’m not getting better as quickly as I would like and I don’t like whiners. I seem to have started all of you on this path of my dengue and post dengue experiences so I’ll keep on.

My main problem now is lack of energy, lack of breath, and leg cramps as side effects from some of the medicine. I returned to the doctor yesterday, completely wiped out. I had stopped taking several of the prescriptions because they seemed to be causing me to get leg cramps at night. I’ve had problems with that before and the pain is so intense that I’m terrified of them. I was mentally wondering what I would do if my life depended on taking something that I knew would give me cramps, I’m still not sure. Without the steroid inhaler, I wasn’t breathing very well. I felt so bad that I thought my oxygen levels must be really down again. The headache is my constant companion, the extreme exhaustion as well.

On top of this, some really good friends that we haven’t seen in two years were in town for a short while and I wanted to spend time with them. I tried, I wasn’t a lot of fun but I really pushed myself to stay up and go places. They were wonderful and came here to the house a lot and just sat around with me and were happy to continue on their own when I ran out of steam.

So, I was pretty down when I returned to the doctor on Monday. I admitted everything I had stopped taking and told him why. I also admitted my huge fear of the cramps and the pain. He was great, he told me that there are other options for medication and we would find the right ones together. He tested and examined me again and I was relieved to find out that my oxygen levels were not back down where they had been. My blood pressure is pretty low but since mine is usually low it isn’t too bad.

He spent a lot of time with me talking about when I use the inhalers, telling me to change and use them in the afternoon so the highest level of medication is available at night and in the mornings, my worst times. He changed my medication, he reassured me, he had his assistant go over the procedure for using the inhalers several times, making sure I got it. While I’ve had these things for years I don’t think anyone has ever really gone step by step with me in their use. By the time Mimi and I left, I could feel the effect of using one of the new ones and could walk and breathe much better. Going over, I was so dizzy and out of breath that Mimi had walked with me, I was grateful as I was afraid I’d fall.

There are some up sides to this, and I’ve been looking hard for them. One thing, all of my doctor and treatment visits are only in Spanish. I’ve added some medical terms to my meagre vocabulary. The Spanish word of the week is los calambres or cramps. I had to look that one up last week as espasmo which I originally used was causing confusion. I also can now pronounce oxígeno easily, it used to tie my tongue in knots.

Oh, did I mention the red raccoon eyes I got from the potassium? That was merely irritating and funny. One of the anti-cramp medications I got last week was potassium and about an hour after I took it, while I was sitting at the RV park talking to our friends, my eyelids, eyes and cheeks turned bright red. I couldn’t see it and my friends asked me about it as I was leaving but I just shrugged since I didn’t know what they were talking about. I got to the doctor and he asked me about my eyes, again I was just confused and there were no mirrors. When I got home I realized what they were talking about and how weird I looked. I stopped taking that med too. Yesterday the doctor told me I could half the amount but I should take it for about 5 days because many of these medications reduce the amount of potassium in my blood, thus cramps. I can live with rabid raccoon eyes if it keeps the cramps at bay. When I mentioned that I was eating a banana a day, he said that wasn’t enough and that if I wanted to get more potassium from food I should also eat a whole tomato, a glass of orange juice and some kiwi. That is exactly the recommendation that Manuela our housekeeper in Akumal had given me when I told her about my last couple weeks. Folk wisdom is pretty good in many cases.

Sunday night, a friend and commenter from my blog arrived from Alaska to get some dental work done. She’s been great too with my lack of energy and was fine with me taking her to get our feet smoothed instead of walking around looking at sights. They had the most wonderful recording of the Ave Maria on the stereo and I think getting a foot massage and listening to that was the highlight of my week. Your priorities sure change when you get old and I’m feeling really old this week.

© Jonna for blah...blah...blah... Ginger!, 2012. | Permalink | 14 comments | Post tags: dengue, sick

When Sheila dropped the lab results off last night, I couldn’t figure out what they meant. There wasn’t a line that said anything like “dengue: si o no”. My leucocitos are low normal, my monocitos are high and my plaquetas are very low, everything else was normal. So, today I went off [...]]]>

Dinnertime

When Sheila dropped the lab results off last night, I couldn’t figure out what they meant. There wasn’t a line that said anything like “dengue: si o no”. My leucocitos are low normal, my monocitos are high and my plaquetas are very low, everything else was normal. So, today I went off with my test results to the free doctor at the Ahorro pharmacy I usually use. I explained, she read the results, she said it is generally leucocitos and plaquetas that are indicative of dengue and from the looks of my test, I have it. She wants me to go for the same test again tomorrow and if the plaquetas have not gone up, or if they have gone down further, I should go to my doctor. If they get too low, I would need blood. She did a short exam, blood pressure, temperature, lungs and heart and all was fine. The good news is that she said since I’ve had this for 5 days, it should be over in 3 more days. I’m ready for that.

Since I was out and about, I went to the San Benito mercado to get some fish food. It’s much cheaper there and the fishies were almost out. I wasn’t on my game though, I bought some flowers and the deal was for half a dozen for $20p and she only gave me 5 stalks. Then I went to the regular grocery store in search of something that would look appealing to me to eat. I think I’ve had a bagel and a bowl of cereal in the last 3 days. While I was in Superama, it began to pour rain with thunder and lightening. This is not really the time of year for this kind of storm. The lights were flickering and the rain was beating the corrugated roof so hard it was impossible to hear. As I was coming down the escalator to the parking garage, I looked across the street and there was a guy up on the roof between a bunch of rebar towers and some other high metal objects. I was thinking that wasn’t a great place to be during a thunderstorm when lightning flashed and the thunder boomed right on top of it. The worker glanced up through the downpour, crossed himself and went on about his job. That’s a lot of faith.

Itty Bitty the 3 legged kitty

One thing I was really happy about is that even though I was feeling horrible, I got up Saturday morning and got the jeep to the upholstery shop. I’d made a deal with them to put new zippers on the windows and sew and patch the places on the canvas top that were ripped. I got up again that afternoon and took a cab up there and picked it up. They did a really good job, it cost the equivalent of $150us and I think the top will last at least a couple more years. The best part though, is that I had windows to close while I was driving home in the deluge.

The Teenagers, Mancha and Ocho

I don’t have the energy to mop up the water in the hall that blew in during the storm and I haven’t even gone upstairs to see how much water came in the bedroom since all the doors were open. Whatever, it’s just water and everything is rock or concrete. This is the only house I’ve ever lived in that I don’t have to worry about water. Not worrying about water or fire, that’s a very nice feeling for a homeowner.

**see how cleverly I snuck in pictures of all the cats without making those who hate reading about my pets suffer?

© Jonna for blah...blah...blah... Ginger!, 2012. | Permalink | 17 comments | Post tags: dengue

See the coastline between 2am Thurs and 2pm Thurs? That’s about where our condo is on the coast in Akumal. Rina is bearing down on it, either a cat 2 or cat 3 by the time she hits. We are directly opposite the southern end of the island of Cozumel.

No, I’m [...]]]>

See the coastline between 2am Thurs and 2pm Thurs? That’s about where our condo is on the coast in Akumal. Rina is bearing down on it, either a cat 2 or cat 3 by the time she hits. We are directly opposite the southern end of the island of Cozumel.

No, I’m not thinking of driving over for the event. I’ll watch from over here and only go over if there is a lot of damage afterwards. It’s been raining over there for a couple weeks already and yesterday the lady who takes care of our place told us that there are 2 leaks in the roof. At this point, they aren’t going to get fixed before Rina arrives so I’m considering them hurricane damage. Maybe we can get a new stove out of this too. One can hope. No hay mal que por bien no venga.

© Jonna for blah...blah...blah... Ginger!, 2011. | Permalink | 8 comments | Post tags: hurricanes, Rina

This is the weather that I moved to the tropics for, hot sunny days and cool nights. The rains are in their stride now, they are coming at the right time, late enough that the sun doesn’t come back and create humidity. Every day starts out sunny and hot with a few puffy, [...]]]>

This is the weather that I moved to the tropics for, hot sunny days and cool nights. The rains are in their stride now, they are coming at the right time, late enough that the sun doesn’t come back and create humidity. Every day starts out sunny and hot with a few puffy, white clouds on the horizon. Around 5pm black clouds form in the north and the east and the wind picks up and the thunder crashes.

I’m still a bit afraid of the thunder and lightning. I didn’t grow up around this kind of thunder storm and when it cracks overhead and shakes the floor I’m about ready to crawl under the furniture with the dogs and cats. This afternoon it was right overhead, all the animals were under something and I was trying to act nonchalant. I unplugged the computers just in case but we only had a small flicker in the lights. The main complaint I have is that the thunder set off about 3 car alarms within a couple of blocks of my house and they are still going off hours later. I like to open up the ground floor to let the fresh air sweep through but that means I’m listening to car alarms. I think it is just part of living in a city, for me it beats the boredom and isolation of the boondocks. As soon as the lightning stops though, I’m going off to the super and hoping they are turned off when I get back.

It is perfect sleeping weather, cool and languid nights with the smell of flowers hanging in the air. The last few nights we haven’t even turned on the floor fan. I don’t need a blanket yet, but I thought about it a couple times. Soon, too soon for me, we’ll have to get out the blankets.

Hiding from the thunder

© Jonna for blah...blah...blah... Ginger!, 2011. | Permalink | 8 comments | Post tags: summer weather, thunder storms

So… there is a free spay and neuter clinic this weekend put together by Planned Pethood (the absolute best vet clinic in the city) along with Evolución and the City of Mérida. Planned Pethood and Evolución are great partners, it is the city’s involvement that makes it tricky. It’s important though that these [...]]]>

So… there is a free spay and neuter clinic this weekend put together by Planned Pethood (the absolute best vet clinic in the city) along with Evolución and the City of Mérida. Planned Pethood and Evolución are great partners, it is the city’s involvement that makes it tricky. It’s important though that these relationships thrive and the hope is that bonds will form that will benefit everyone in the city.

Mimi is doing her thing in the recovery room and helping with organizing the volunteers. We had a volunteer meeting here last night, actually two meetings back to back. One in Spanish and one in English. It was well attended in both languages and I was impressed with both the turnout and the enthusiasm.

This clinic is just two days and will be held in one of the poorer colonias in the south of the city. The Spanish speaking volunteers have done a lot of work in canvasing the neighborhood, talking to people, letting them know what is available and where. The English volunteers have done support work and will be equally involved working at the clinic. The vets are all local and are putting their time and efforts to making this a more livable city for people and animals.

Several times last night people would ask me about some detail and I had to respond that I was just the catering staff, I had no idea about the rest. I fully support MImi in the work she does and all of the people who put in time working with the animals of the city. I just don’t do well at the actual clinics. You probably have guessed that I just want to bring them all home. I’m really good at staying detached when humans are suffering but I have more of a problem with animals. Somewhere in my cop’s brain I can tell myself that humans have a choice, it is a lot harder with children and really tough with animals. So, I provide tea and cookies and smiles and most importantly, Mimi.

© Jonna for blah...blah...blah... Ginger!, 2011. | Permalink | One comment | Post tags: evolucion, planned pethood, vet clinics

Summer in the tropics is lush and liquid and languorous. So, mostly that’s what I’ve been lately… a lush, liquid and languorous. The social schedule still seems to be busy, I thought I remembered that it slowed down in the summer. We’ve been to several birthday parties, [...]]]>

Kathe and Colm on her birthday

Summer in the tropics is lush and liquid and languorous. So, mostly that’s what I’ve been lately… a lush, liquid and languorous. The social schedule still seems to be busy, I thought I remembered that it slowed down in the summer. We’ve been to several birthday parties, art openings, and new house celebrations.

Patti on her birthday

I have my morning Tai Chi routines, you didn’t know that about me? My first stop on getting up, which as previously mentioned rarely happens during the single digit part of the morning, is a water based tai chi. What that means is that my first stop in the morning is the pool, it’s my pre-coffee wakeup. In order to dive in the pool first I walk in with the net scoop and do these graceful swirls catching all the leaves and berries and bugs that have fallen in. This season that is a lot. It’s bat season, the banyan fig on the wall next door is full of ripe berries that the bats love. The berries drop by the hundreds every hour into the pool, the bats swoop around at night eating berries and flying suicide missions through the terrace. I have this idea that as they are zooming through the terrace their little radar guns pick up the far wall and all their neurons start screaming “left, left, left” and then they empty their waste tanks so they can make that hard left turn. The wall starts looking like a paint ball exercise and unless you stay on top of the cleanup it hardens into something that does not come off without the underlying paint.

Marimar and Mimi at Hennessy's

Anyway, after the water tai chi, I dive in and swim around admiring my garden until I feel alert enough to make coffee. Before I can open the door to the kitchen from the terrace though, I do the land based tai chi. This is done with one of those electric racquets that give a very satisfying zzzzt! when they fry flying mosquitoes. The mozzies hang out in front of the kitchen door like abandoned cats, so I stand there with my racket on kill and do some more graceful swinging swoops accompanied by that zzzzzt! and the smell of burning bugs. Now I’m really awake and ready for coffee.

It is a wonderful time of the year. I love the nights, warm and sultry and smelling of flowers. I love the thunder and lightning and the heavy rains, especially now that we don’t flood. I love sleeping without even the sheet, with the whole room the exact perfect temperature. Afternoons are a bit hot, I admit it. They are good for napping though, in the hammock under the fan in a wet bathing suit. It’s starting to sound like I sleep a lot isn’t it? That’s part of summer too. I love the cold fruit, the fruit waters and salads. I’ve got a new favorite drink I make, cucumber and ginger blended with a couple liters of water and a little sugar and lime juice. It’s perfect on a hot afternoon.

I just have to move a cat to get to the blender.

© Jonna for blah...blah...blah... Ginger!, 2011. | Permalink | 6 comments | Post tags: bats, parties, tropical summers

Last night we were a few [...]]]> I want to be really clear that I LOVE electricity! Really!  Any comments I may have made during my long life about going back to nature or living off the land – forget those.  I am a fan of things that whirr and beep and blow cool air.

Last night we were a few blocks away playing our monthly poker game when the lights went out.  I was about done anyway so I gave Mimi my chips and went home to check things out.  I was kind of hoping that it was a small outage and by the time I got up to our block all would be light.  No.   In fact, after an hour of darkness and candles and very high humidity, I called back to the poker game only to discover that their lights came back on in 10 minutes.  How nice.   Not ours.  Ours did not come back until late this afternoon, 18 or 20 hours later.

In the meantime, it was a hot and sultry night.  A tropical wave came through this afternoon with deluges of rain and thunder over our heads so loud the rock walls were shaking and all the dogs and cats were fighting for space under the chairs.  It did cool it off though, that was nice.  I was determined not to spend another night without fans, lights, tv or mainly, internet.  When we got up this morning, the big ‘oh shit’ was that we had no way to grind the coffee beans and none that were already ground, because we are snotty coffee drinkers like that.  Also, no internet which is part of the drinking coffee in the morning ritual.  We went off to Café Boheme and had both coffee and internet, a definite upswing in the mood department.

I kept muttering that it was situations like this for which the gods invented American Express and that I was not going to spend another dark, hot night but rather would be happily ensconced in some tasteless but cool hotel room with running wifi and cable tv.   The critters would have to stick it out here and just be glad there was dry food.  Did I mention that in the interests of saving the food in the refri we hadn’t opened it or the freezer for a day.  No cold drinks to soothe the heat.  No food either.

The electric company had been on a big cherry picker working on the lines at the corner this morning but when the lightning and thunder started right overhead, they wisely came down and drove away.  The street flooded, the ponds overflowed, the jeep which was parked out on the street because we have an electric garage door opener, it got pretty wet through its screen windows.   As it got later in the day, I grabbed our spare set of a NOB friend’s house keys and drove through axle deep water to see how it was there.  They had no power either.  The Hyatt was looking better and better.  I have this sneaking feeling that some people knew that this power outage was at least possible.  Why? …because the hotel at the corner had a huge generator that looked rented parked out in front since last night keeping their place cool and lit up.  Also loud, very, very loud.

Suddenly, about 5pm, shouts were heard up and down the street and we had power again.  Oh lovely fans, blowing cool air, oh wonderful internets, how I love you.

I was so delirious with delight that I immediately decided to start cleaning up the kitchen from the day before.  We were not sure how long this would go on and didn’t want to waste water washing dishes.  I was clearly not thinking too well, lack of electricity can do that, because I decided that the dishwasher smelled kind of musty and the thing to do was to squirt a whole bunch of Dawn dishwashing liquid in there and turn it on.  Heh!  I have this vague feeling that this is not the first time I’ve done this but the other time I must have been a mere child and I didn’t put it together.  I didn’t put it together with our favorite teenage halloween prank either, which was dumping the same fluid in a huge fountain on State Street in Santa Barbara.  It had about the same effect in my kitchen.

So, for the rest of this evening I was using all of the household apparatus available, which included mops, towels, rags, sponges, buckets. Also a few aquarium supplies like clear tubing and even some medical equipment (a syringe) because sucking soapy water through an aquarium tube is not good. I drained the dishwasher 4 or 5 times, including the reserve well. I wiped it down, I mopped the huge amount of soapy foam that came oozing out the sides and bottom. I siphoned the soapy water in the bottom out onto the terrace, several times. I ran it at least 5 or 6 times through various cycles. I think I have most of the soap out now. Also, my mop smells really good. So does the dishwasher, so we should just call this a win.

© Jonna for blah...blah...blah... Ginger!, 2011. | Permalink | 21 comments | Post tags: electricity