Just a word of warning from California
By Loverbear
@Loverbear (4918)
United States
December 30, 2010 2:12am CST
As some of you may have noticed, I haven't done much on the lot. I finished classes on December 14th, and should have been on the Lot, except for this stupid virus I picked up just before Thanksgiving.
That's where the warning comes in. I know quite a few people around my area and northwards that have picked up what seems to be a simple cold. It starts with a simple slightly sore throat. Don't be fooled! I had the sore throat that lasted for a couple of days, then the headache and runny nose. I figured that it was a cold. By Thanksgiving I was really sick with a fever, runny nose, headache and sore ribs and sore back. It cleared up for about a week then hit again even harder. It ended up being pneumonia! I have been fighting it for more than a month. It went into my lungs rapidly and the stuff that I coughed up and blew out my nose was horrible!!! I found myself very weak and spent most of the week before Christmas and the past couple of days in bed. I am finally feeling a bit better and my energy levels are returning.
Why am I warning you? If your mucus from your "cold" gets to be awful looking and you ache in the head, ribs and back area you should get to the doctor asap! Everyone around me that has gotten the virus has been put on antibiotics, I wasn't able to get on them because of the fact that the weather has been so horrible and I couldn't get to town to see the doctor. Otherwise I would have gone into the ER...as my doctor said yesterday I would have been hospitalized immediately; especially since I am asthmatic.
Please take care of yourselves. If you're going out shopping keep hand sanitizer handy. Keep a kleenex or handkerchief handy to cover your mouth and nose if you're around people that are ill. Make sure you eat properly and get plenty of rest. I assure you that you don't want to get this virus!!!! It turns to pneumonia so quickly and sneakily that it is a total surprise to you. Also if you have had a pneumonia shot don't get a sense of false security. I had the shot and got pneumonia anyhow. Again, please take care of yourselves!
2 people like this
4 responses
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
30 Dec 10
I am not in California, but I know that viruses can travel pretty quickly, especially since people have visited relatives over the holidays. This is good to know, because my oldest son has had something for over three weeks now, too long for a simple cold. Problem is, his insurance doesn't start until the beginning of the year, so I hope he can hang on until then.
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
30 Dec 10
It sounds like my virus. Make sure he drinks plenty of fluids, including OJ or apple juice. I ended up having to sleep with cough drops wedged between my lips and gums so I could get some sleep. If he's conjested use Vics on him. I carry one of the Vic's inhalers so I could breathe. (It is twice as bad for an asthmatic like me!) I also found that plenty of chicken soup helped a LOT! I wasn't as fortunate as others, I wasn't able to get to the doctor for antibiotics. I also swollowed a lot of vitamin c, though some people argue that it really isn't that effective.
I am so sorry that your son has the virus. I hope he can get better quickly. It just ain't fun being sick during the holidays!
I hope you have a Happy Happy New Year and all your wishes and dreams come true. My big wish was to pass the classes I took last semester, and not only did I pass them but got an "A" in one and a "B" in the other. 
1 person likes this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
31 Dec 10
He drinks lots of both kinds of juices, I think the big problem is, he is a terrible eater, eats very little veggies..Though he does like chicken soup and had eaten all the cans we had; guess I need to pick up more.
May you also have a Happy and Healthy New Year and G♥d Bless you.
And Congrats on your grades...
And Congrats on your grades...
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
30 Dec 10
Good morning, sorry to hear u have been so sick. Glad u are feeling better. There is alot of sickness around here, So far so good w/me, thank heavens.Happy NEW year.
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
30 Dec 10
I am so relieved to know that you're okay! I have been worried about my MyLot friends getting this virus. It is so horrible. About the time you figure that you're over it, you relapse. If you do too much you relapse. It's really the pits. I keep relapsing because either I do too much or go out in public and someone passes it back to me. I did too much yesterday and had a minor relapse...simply because true to my nature when I get pi$$ed I work my tail off. Well I tackled cleaning the family room and started on the work room and this morning I am coughing stuff like crazy. Dumb me!!! 
I am going to "try" to be good and take it easy...plus I am going to call the doctor and see if they can get me in tomorrow to see if I can get something to help me knock the virus.
Take extra special care of yourself for me. I wish you a very very Happy New Year, may all your wishes and dreams come true and the year is bright and filled with wonderfulness for you. Love and Hugs, Toni
I am going to "try" to be good and take it easy...plus I am going to call the doctor and see if they can get me in tomorrow to see if I can get something to help me knock the virus.
Take extra special care of yourself for me. I wish you a very very Happy New Year, may all your wishes and dreams come true and the year is bright and filled with wonderfulness for you. Love and Hugs, Toni1 person likes this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
1 Jan 11
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!Ihope u soon feel better. Sorry u have had such a hard time. U better take care of yourself, u know noone's going to do that but u. I hope 2011 is a great year for u in every way. Love & hugs to u to, jo
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
30 Dec 10
Hi Loverbear~ So sorry to hear that you were so sick. And
getting pneumonia is the worst and it does take a long time
to get rid of it. I've had Bronchial Pneumonia more than once.
I was also sick right before Christmas. First my bf had what
seemed to be the flu. Then I got something slightly different,
but we both had fevers and were really sick for over a week.
I still wasn't 100% better by Christmas so I didn't even cook.
You need to take care of yourself and keep hydrated and rest!
There isn't much else you can do at this point. I hope that
you feel better really soon. Opal
Opal@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
30 Dec 10
I am doing much better. I can't work as hard as I usually do right now, but at least I am not coughing and blowing my nose. (Last week I really wanted to remove my nose and lose it! 
) I am making sure that I am staying out of crowds and am close to home right now. I'm not anxious to have a recurrence of the virus.
Bill (my boyfriend) was such a doll. He made sure I had plenty of fluids (which I was constantly consuming anyhow. As soon as my throat got sore I started drinking water, OJ, and apple juice) and tried to get me to eat. Then he gave me my wonderful Christmas gift. Most women expect girly gifts. Bill got me a three tiered tool chest. It stands five feet tall by three feet wide. I'm thrilled! While I was up and sitting I would move some of my beads and teddy bear supplies into it. He got it for me at Harbor Freight for $139.00, it's usually $300! I love it so much I'm going to get another one for my sewing stuff. The drawers were even lined with rubber matting which I didn't expect. The rest of our Christmas is going to happen in February so that we have a pleasant time. Bill is supposed to have a stone removed from his bladder and he wants me to feel 100% before we celebrate. Right now I'm at about 75%.
What really blew me away was Willy (the cat) stayed right with me and is still staying right by my side making sure that I am okay. Of course the rest of the furry kids kept an eye on me, but Willy was the most concerned.
Just make sure that you take care of yourself Opal. I hate to think of any of the MyLotters getting this virus!
) I am making sure that I am staying out of crowds and am close to home right now. I'm not anxious to have a recurrence of the virus.
Bill (my boyfriend) was such a doll. He made sure I had plenty of fluids (which I was constantly consuming anyhow. As soon as my throat got sore I started drinking water, OJ, and apple juice) and tried to get me to eat. Then he gave me my wonderful Christmas gift. Most women expect girly gifts. Bill got me a three tiered tool chest. It stands five feet tall by three feet wide. I'm thrilled! While I was up and sitting I would move some of my beads and teddy bear supplies into it. He got it for me at Harbor Freight for $139.00, it's usually $300! I love it so much I'm going to get another one for my sewing stuff. The drawers were even lined with rubber matting which I didn't expect. The rest of our Christmas is going to happen in February so that we have a pleasant time. Bill is supposed to have a stone removed from his bladder and he wants me to feel 100% before we celebrate. Right now I'm at about 75%.
What really blew me away was Willy (the cat) stayed right with me and is still staying right by my side making sure that I am okay. Of course the rest of the furry kids kept an eye on me, but Willy was the most concerned.
Just make sure that you take care of yourself Opal. I hate to think of any of the MyLotters getting this virus! 
@SickFooDino (108)
• United States
30 Dec 10
Damn, thanks for sharing.
I stay here in California and I'm always going out.
Yes its pretty cold here and the weather sucks,
rains pretty hard at times.
But Yeah Good Thing I Havent Got A Cold.
Ill Keep In Mind Keeping My Hands Clean And Sanitized.
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
30 Dec 10
I am so happy to pass on the warning in hopes that it will keep someone else from getting sick. I have to agree that the weather sucks right about now. We had a week of pouring rain which in one way was wonderful as we really needed it to help fill the lake that I live by, but it brought out the cold and the other ugly stuff from winter.
Also, as much as I hate to say it, keep it in mind when you're around little children. They are great at passing along viruses. I love children but they do have a tendency to pass on colds and other viruses. Of course some adults aren't great about keeping their germs to themselves. I caught a cold from a guy that was suffering from a cold and coughing... I now insist on anyone who is sick to cover their mouth and nose with either a surgical mask or a bandana so I don't catch what they have.
Where are you in California? I'm on the Central Coast, around the San Simion area (where Hearst Castle is.)
