Cold @ MindSay

Just about a month ago I posted this blog where I talked about how sick I have been since quitting smoking. In that post I said, "I sure hope this isn't going to get increasingly worse since we're now passing into the winter months." Turns out, I probably shouldn't have tempted fate like that.....

I have been seriously sick for the past eight days. Seriously sick. Not just "I have a cold" sick but running a fever, chills, dizziness, too weak to get out of bed kind of sick. Very little fun as it turns out. I did, while laid up in bed, visit the CDC's website relating to H1N1 out of morbid curiosity and this is what I found.

Symptoms include:

Fever* - ???
Cough - Check
Sore throat - Check
Runny or stuffy nose - Check
Body aches - Check
Headache - Check
Chills - Check
Fatigue - Check
Sometimes diarrhea or vomiting - Check (at least to the first part)
 *not everyone with H1N1 gets a fever

As to the fever, I may have had one. I never checked it but I was feeling warm and combined with the chills.....who knows?

So, I am not at all hypochondriacal and I am not assuming that I had H1N1 but I guess I am not ruling it out either. I didn't go to a doctor (no health insurance and since I didn't work for a week and don't get sick pay.....you do the math) and I don't believe in self-diagnosis. There are just too many variables. But I could tell that this was more than the common cold and since I did have ALL the symptoms. Yeesh.

Well, I am back at work today. I do not have a fever and many symptoms have subsided. The stuffy head and the cough are persistent. Also the fatigue. I get worn out by going to the bathroom. But I need to get back to life and so I am trying for a "mind over matter" thing here. I'll let you know how it works out.

For those of you keeping score at home, this is now the SIXTH illness I've had since quitting smoking; which is eight months ago--today. Happy Anniversary to me!

And in other housekeeping:

My little buddy, Dylan, turns 2 years old today. Happy Birthday Dylan!



He's the little blond guy with the fauxhawk. That's his sister Jaysa and my nephew Simon also pictured.

In other news, Eastwick was canceled this week. They will be showing the original 13 and then no more Paul Gross for me. Sad.

And I just found this story online. Is that cool or what? Returning books from 51 years ago? Who would bother? And actually figuring out what the fine would be? I thought that was a cute story. Even though library systems max fines out at a certain point and just charge you the replacement cost for the book....no $745 fines. But still a very cute story.

Okay, I think that catches everything up. I'll try to keep up but my days are pretty much comprised of: sleep, take medicine, sleep, watch tv, sleep, take more medicine, sleep. Who wants to read about that?

well, its been awhile again...I haven't been myself since July-August probably and I didn't feel like writing any.
The Dixie Classic Fair was fun though,but I got very tired that day.. That it how its been . I get so tired doing anything and stomach problems too. I was glad when my Doctor appointment finally arrived over a week ago now. All my blood work came back with great results. No thyroid problems or Liver problems and I'm not perimenopausal either... Cholesterol levels were great as were blood count, etc.. so, Dr. said it sounded like depression. All the stress from this year...Yes, worry is a sin..I don't handle it very well and I give it to God, but I always manage to pull it back..Not what you're supposed to do...so now I'm back on my Zoloft after being off it for well over two years..Starting to feel like me again. Last friday at the West/Reynolds game I had the best time. My friend I haven't seen in a long while, Trace' Cave Cunduff came. and wonders of all we saw John Sherrill too! We haven't seen him in years! Long years! LOL He has not changed a bit! He's still John! haha.. we had a great time picking and carrying on..just like the old days again! I knew I was gonna be okay then..
I can almost pinpoint a time when I really felt lowest...The day we got that Certified letter from our mortgage co..I had to sign for it and my heart sank...I prayed so hard while opening that letter, and called James crying my eyes out...That was hard, as I have written before. I just kept praying though, and I knew God would answer in His time, but I was being honest with Him and asking Him to hurry up. :)  Not what you're supposed to do either, but He knows me and we are all human and live in this imperfect world.
Meanwhile its been getting cooler and having crisp nights. There have been some Indian Summer days though. I was able to not turn our heat on for almost 2 whole weeks.
Then Monday came. I was working at home on Quickbooks trying to get it straight for Biogreen. I get a call and answer it. It's Lynn. She's been helping us deal with our mortgage co..She said"They are sending you a package out Fed Ex and you should get it tomorrow.. Your interest rate dropped to 6.375% and your new payments are like $848.00"... My skin started prickling and I cried... I felt relief wash over me.. She didnt know the rest of the details..we'd find out from the letter.. I stayed home again on Tuesday and worked on Quickbooks again,finishing it....James came home for lunch like he always does...I see the Fed Ex truck back into the driveway... James goes to meet him and signs for the letter... we sit together and open it. I read it...
"James, it says that this is for the next 365 months!"  Oh my! Here come the pricklings again!!! We look at each other.. "So this is the new payment for the rest of the loan?" "Yes!!" Hallaluha!!  after trying 3 times with them to get this Loan Mod, we get it and it's great! we didnt know if it would be just 6 months as most are or a year, but the life of the Loan!! That was such a blessing !!! A burden lifted!! I thanked God all the rest of that day and still am....
another prayer was answered too on Tuesday. Ariana was able to trade her Jeep and her $2500 for a 2002 Saturn! It only had about 75000 miles on it. Her jeep broke down over a week ago and it was a pain trying to get her to College and picked up and to work and me to work.... it was a mess but we did it.. and she had to buy the $84 dollar part and Jeff fixed the jeep for her, but it still needed a battery...she'd go somewhere and have to get a jump to start it... Not good..plus it was eating gas and ate oil like crazy too. She had to put 3 quarts in every two weeks or so.. she did cry though...The jeep was her first car... She didn't really want to give it up, but she knew it was for the best. Now she 'll have a good car when she goes to UNCC in a year or so..
and Morgan. He had to buy a new car too. Late September his old car starting acting up and stalling out on him, so James looked around here and found him a "97 Grand Am with only about 65000 miles on it.. and Morgan could afford it. he just had to borrow $1300 from Grandma to do it and he'll pay her back in Jan. when he gets his financial aid $ again. It cost him $2800.00. Both of the kids cars are white now! That is odd! I wont know who is who until I can see the whole car coming in!! LOL
So many blessings this week..... I am feeling better on my medicine and getting things done now that got neglected over the summer...Whew..now on to the next problem..figuring out how to pay our taxes of $1800.00!!! since we inherited that 7 acres of land, our property taxes went up...big time!! 
We signed the papers from the Mortgage co. and Fed ex'd them back all on the same day...we should hear soon about when payment is due and all that... 
There's still the matter of Christmas too. I told James we could not afford to buy for everyone this year... We will get the small ones something, and try to figure out how and what to do for Morgan and Ariana... I just want us to be together...I don't need one thing! After all what is Christmas all about anyway? -The Birth of our Lord and Saviour!!!! When you realize that, nothing else matters. Enjoy the season of Love!
Thanksgiving coming soon! Time to Thank the Lord for all our blessings! But we should thank Him on a daily basis... He does so much for us..look for the small things and the big things..There's always something! I remind myself of that daily...

Hey Mindsay.

To be completely honest with you guys, I really don't want to blog today. I've been sick since Sunday night, and I  just feel all around crappy.  Thankfully I don't have the flu, but I do have the most severe cold I have ever had in my life. Not cool, rhinovirus, not cool. I think I'm going to try to go to class tomorrow (for the first time this week, ugh).  I have a 4-5 page paper due in my one class that I've only written one page of, so hopefully I can get the rest of that done tonight. Michael's had this cold as well, but I think his immune system is fighting it off a little better.  He seems to be feeling better today than I am. My head is still full of disgusting green mucus.  TMI? Probably. Anyway, enough whining about my pitiful state, I'm a fucking baby when I'm sick. The point is, I feel obligated to fully participate in the Mindsay Reunion Tour, so here I am.

Luckily for you guys, I think today is a John Mayer kinda day.  His winter tour was officially announced last night, and I will soon be acquiring tickets to his March 8th show in Austin Texas!  Unfortunately, he's way too big name to consider playing in crappy New Mexico, so I'll venture to Texas for him.  The first time I ever saw him was actually right here in Las Cruces at the Pan Am center on the NMSU campus, which is like a mile from my apartment.  *sigh*, those were the days. 

There are only 13 days until his newest album, Battle Studies, drops!  I still haven't heard of any leaks as of yet, has anyone else? (eh commntyblackman ???)  I preordered it from the JM site because along with it came a code that enables me to buy my concert tickets before they go on sale to the general public.  Unfortunately that means that I won't be getting it until a few days after the 17th, so I'm REALLY hoping for a leak. If not, I may just have to break down and buy a copy on the 17th anyway, then give it to somebody. There's nothing like sharing a little JM love though, right? I'm sure my sister would appreciate a copy. 

I gotta say guys, I'm still the pee-my-pants-at-mention-of-John's-name-fan-girl I've been since I was 16, and I really don't see that changing anytime soon.  And you know, maybe there are better artists out there.  But there is no one whose music means more to me. Period.

Today is such a wonderful warm but day but I have a really rotten cold. That's soo mean.

 Outside, it's bright, and sunny...I'm sitting on my window listening to Tom Waits,

looking for a new layout and everything could be so nice, despite my cold ;)

 I'm having to take my mom's fever tablets, which are working. I'll have to take
one it in a bit. My throat is so sore and dry and my nose feels as though it's just going to explode. 

 But maybe it's a definate sign that autumn is almost here!

 

And... as if a cold isn't worse enough, our apartment  has been infested with some nasty 

daddy-long-legs- the night before last I had to kill one in the kitchen, then that night I was woken up
at 05:50am by another huge one banging against my window - so I grabbed a
magazine ready to kill it, but it flew behind my DVD's on the shelf.

I decided that I'd better go to the kitchen, and when I walked out, another
one dive-bombed me! I think they're getting me back for killing the other one
*OMFG*

 But I think they're all dying now, thankfully

I HATE daddy-long-legs... *flees*

 

 

Cold sores are caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 (HSV-1). This virus lies dormant for the most part of its life but when it gets triggered it attacks the sensitive parts of the face. There is not a lot that is more embarrassing than having a big open cold sore on your lip.

There is no limit for this virus; it can attack continuously any number of times. If you are facing a cold sore for the first time then you need to consult your doctor for advice. One common method to make the virus dormant is to use DMSO (Di methyl Sulf oxide). Dimethylsulfoxide is a very powerful medication for cold Sores as it kills the cells which cause the sore. The cold sore dies when these cells are killed and the virus becomes weak and dormant. Dimethylsulfoxide liquid has the ability to permeate living tissue. This gel is available in various concentrations. Generally it is recommended to use 70% concentrate cream (do contact your doctor about exact guidance). Results also have shown that people using DMSO had a quicker recovery than non users. It is a potentially safe liquid and it is useful for recurrent herpes.

DMSO medication can be used in conjunction with other medications such as oral acyclovir. It is generally recommended that DMSO be used on alternate days or every other day. Please read the DMSO disclaimer and also take advice of your doctor before using these products.

Visible blisters due to this virus last for 9 – 12 days and after this period the virus enters into a remission period. There are two types of herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2. Type 1 herpes simplex virus attacks the body parts above the waistline and type 2 virus attacks the body parts below the waistline.

There are anti viral medications and tropical treatments for this virus. There are also reported cases of cure from alternate medicines. During a visible viral attack one should take adequate care of not transmitting this disease to others.

Additional Resources:
Cold Sore Remedy
Cold Sore Cure
Cold Sore Remedies
Cold Sore Treatment
How to Get Rid Of Cold Sores
Get Rid Of Cold Sores
Get Rid Of Cold Sores Fast