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Borrego Springs, CA

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

I made it back home

Thanks to my son, Daniel, you know that I encountered some difficulties this past week.  Tonight I’m only going to cover two parts of my time in Rochester.  After an uneventful 300 miles drive down on Thursday, it looked like the weekend was going to turn out just as planned.  Little did I know!

I had made an appointment a couple of weeks ago to get my teeth cleaned and checked at the dentist I frequent when I’m in the area.  Piece of cake, right?  Well, it turns out that if you’ve had a total hip replacement, you have to take antibiotics before having anything done to your teeth.  My surgeon never mentioned this, but I vaguely remember it being mentioned in the booklet I was given about  hip replacements.  So, the dentist had me take four Amoxicillin capsules right there before the cleaning began.

That went along just fine until a big truck wiped out the electrical wires crossing the road in front of the office.  Luckily, the technician was done with the cleaning, but the dentist couldn’t check my teeth over since it was so dark.  They said they would call me when the power came back on so I could finish the check-up.  (I should have recognized this as a warning that things would continue to go wrong.)  In the meantime, I met Robyn and the grandgirls, and my long time friend, Susan at a local restaurant for lunch.  I ordered the quesadilla appetizer for my lunch.  It was so large, I shared some with Susan.

After returning to the dentist’s office to get the report that my teeth were just fine, I headed over to my son Andy’s house for visiting, and a cookout when Dan joined us after his work.  That never happened for me.  Along about 3:30, I became violently ill.  I won’t go into all the details, but suffice it to say I felt like Mount Vesuvius from one end, and Mount St. Helen’s from the other.  Daniel wolfed down his burger so he could take me home, where I spent almost the next 48 hours ensconced in the bathroom.  I thought I was going to die, but I was afraid I wouldn’t.

If things hadn’t quit by noon on Sunday, we were prepared to take me to the emergency room.  It was that bad.  All of the rest of the kids and grandkids came over on Saturday to Dan’s, but I barely got to see them.  I thought for sure that I had food poisoning from the quesadilla.  However, after checking with Susan on Monday, I found out that she didn’t get sick at all.  That left me to believe it was the dose of antibiotics that the dentist gave me that caused an adverse reaction.  I suppose I’ll never know the true cause, but I don’t think I want to try Amoxicillin again. 

I was supposed to head back to Tamarac on Monday, but I was in no condition to drive 300 miles.  A two mile drive to the local Hy-Vee grocery store did me in. 

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Then, as Dan posted, my laptop fried itself.  There it is in pieces in the foreground of the left picture.  We ordered a new laptop from Amazon, and Dan spent last night getting it ready for me.  It’s a pain to start everything like Picasa and Live Writer over again, but he got things going for me in a few hours.  It would have taken me days, and this evening I’m still struggling to get things back in those two programs the way I like them.  I’m thinking I may be emailing our Guru, Rick, in the next couple of days if I become too frustrated.  Confused smile

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Through all of this, Emma was in heaven.  She spent the week living and playing with Buddy and Georgie; Dan’s two dogs.  Georgie, in the middle, is as hyper as she is.  They got along quite well most of the time, but having three of them blasting through the house was a bit much for me at times.  Thankfully, Dan has a fenced yard with the house he is renting.  Tonight’s pictures are the only ones I took all week, so you can imagine how under the weather I was.  I can’t remember the last time I only took four pictures in a week!

_MG_9194

                                                                             THE END!!

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

47 comments:

  1. How awful--so sorry your vacation turned out so poorly! Glad to hear you are feeling better!

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  2. LOL - one of your best "ends" ever. Glad to hear you are better.

    Amoxicillin (or any antibiotic) can do that to you. They were probably 500 mg. per capsule. That's 2 Grams = a lot, enough to cause the diarrhea in some people.

    But the vomiting? Makes me think you may have picked up a bacterial bug 12 - 48 hours before. Is your refrigerator cool enough?

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  3. What a disaster! Glad that you had family around to help you through it all and especially glad to hear that you're feeling better now. Happy that you're back home without further problems.

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  4. Sounds like a bad bug or something...good to hear you are feeling better and made it back. Good thing you were with your son:)

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  5. Judy, so very sorry you had a rough time of it. You know, it could have been the antibiotics. Before my surgery last year, I had to take large doses of two different antibiotics during the 24 hours preceding my surgery. I had a similar reaction and ended up in the ER about 12 hours prior to surgery time. Seems they have boosted the dosage amount of preprocedure antibiotics from that of a few years ago. Some of us just can't tolerate that much at once. Okay, I'm rambling. So glad you're feeling better!

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  6. So glad u are feeling better n sorry for messed up 'vacation'.

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  7. I sure hope you don't have to deal with Windows 8. Trust me, that is probably worse then your 48 hours over the toilet. So sorry for all your troubles. God must want you to NEVER stop working at a refuge.

    Hope that is the last of your bad luck. I get to work at Red Rock Lakes NWR next summer. Still need fall and winter jobs.

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  8. You know, Judy, there's some kind of stomach "bug" sickening people in 8 states, maybe even in Minnesota. Might want to check into that. Sorry to hear everything came out dismally in the end.

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  9. Yeaaaa, you're better!!! I'm so glad you are home and back to normal. That sounds perfectly awful! I can't imagine the Rx making you that ill. I'd call the dentist and ask him if that is a possible cause of your illness because you'll be wanting to pre-medicate every time you have your teeth cleaned or any invasive dental work done.

    I've had open heart surgery, so I always have to pre-medicate before going to the dentist, too. When I lived in Placerville, there was a dentist that didn't require it, and one of his patients died or became very ill or something. I don't remember the whole story, but it was enough for me to always 'fess up and get the meds. My current San Diego dentist gave me a prescription that will last a few years. My dosage has actually decreased from when I started, but it is still a megadose.

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  10. Glad you are doing better! I am sure most of us need not see any pictures of most of your trip:) Sounds awful-glad it is all behind you, so to speak:))

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  11. Scary stuff! glad you're okay ... love the dogs ... I'm a bottom connoisseur but that's your baby's bottom and well, I'll just look at the dogs.

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  12. I'm glad you're feeling a bit better. It's good you had family there to take care of both you and Emma, not to mention to get your new computer ready for you. Bet your son loves that last picture!! :)

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  13. Glad you back on your feet. Now get your strength back.

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  14. Great to hear you are on the mend. So sorry your vacation was more bust than boom. Hopefully you will be back to normal within a few more days and back on that John Deere.

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  15. Holy Schlamoly..and we thought we had a bad week..Girlfriend, we are sooooo glad you are on the mend...People do not realize what a simple dental appt. can do to you...Lots can happen when the start cleaning your teeth and the bacteria are released..Glad you are back among the living.

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  16. Wow, not a good week for you. Glad to hear your on the better side of thar ordeal. Sounds like at least Emma had a good week, just like a bunch of young cousins getting together to visit. Stay healthy please we missed your blogging. Becki

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  17. I feel so bad for you that your family time weekend was ruined. I'm glad you're on the mend, and hope you can have another get together before you head south!!

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  18. Welcome back - that sounds like a real trial. So glad you are feeling better. Hope you contact that dentist and see if he can shed any light on your illness. You need to know for next time. Your "The End" is a classic - best one yet!!

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  19. Wow. I can identify with YOU on this ailment. Had it last winter and I"m convinced I've been resurrected because there's no possible way I could have lived through it!

    My sympathies.

    Emjay

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  20. If you shaed a meal and only 1 got sick highly unlikely it was the food. years ago my sister in law and I shared some bad crab rangoon and both got violently ill just like, hands and knees crawling to the bathroom not knowing which end to put on johnny. could have been bad reaction to the amoxicilin, next time just to be on safe side ask for a different drug. I have been given prednisone many times for my frequents bouts with pneumonia, this last developed a severe reaction to it. Glad you are better that wasnt fun for you, but thankfully you had family to watch over you.

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  21. So glad to hear from you again. I'm glad you were family though when it happened. I can't offer any ideas on what it could be. The only time something like that happened to me was when Jim and I went out to dinner on the day we got married. Both of us got violently ill. Not fun. And we never went back to that restaurant. That end picture is great. Hopefully they wore out Emma for you a little bit.

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  22. I'm SO glad you survived to tell the story! :)

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  23. Thanks, Judy, you've given me one more reason to avoid going to the Dentist!! For that, if you have any trouble at all with your new computer, just email me and I'm sure we'll be able to get you setup just like your old computer!

    Glad to hear you're on the road to recovery after that nasty episode.

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  24. Glad you are better and you and Emma got home safe.

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  25. Judy, you were missed! So pleased that you are feeling better.

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  26. So glad you are feeling better..... Know the visit was a bust but next time you will make up for it .... I don't think I could handle a mega dose of medication like that, talk about a precaution ....... That is tough to handle ...... I am with the others, check with the dentist regarding that med for future dental work .....oh well,
    too much advice after all that suffering ..... Stay well ...Your son looks like a very nice guy..... What is with you, Judy .....all the men in your family end up being nurses on the spot ....you are soooooooo lucky !!!!
    All the best !!!

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  27. I'm sorry you had such a rough few days, but at least you had some family to take care of you and Emma.

    I had to replace a computer twice in about a years time (first new computer died) and I went through getting it all set up. It was definitely a pain. Then I made the mistake of changing my google and yahoo passwords and screwed it up all over again! I see you still have the little smiley faces on your blog. Mine went away at the last upgrade and I haven't been able to get them back since. This is all I have :(

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  28. Glad to hear you have recovered. Continue to take it easy for a while ... it will take a while to feel 100% normal.

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  29. So glad that you are feeling better. Allergic reactions to drugs are no fun. And I am sure you will remember this drug in the future. Sorry your trip didn't work out as planned; but that's life sometimes, right? Safe travels back home.

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  30. So glad you're better! I think I'd avoid amoxicillin like the plague in the future!

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  31. Marti got the same reaction from an antibiotic she took for a gum infection. Of course, we had just headed out on a 725 mile car trip up to see our kids in PA and NJ. That's a trip to remember. One we should have driven the MH instead of the car so we'd have had a bathroom with us all the way.

    At least you didn't die from it, unlike your laptop. How nice to have your very own IT guy. I know Rick is always ready to help, too, but he likes to put unflattering pictures of you on his blog. Ask me how I know this... :cD

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  32. Judy, I am so sorry you had an awful time with your tummy and the laptop fried!!! NOoooo!!!
    When I read "the dentist made me take all 4" I thought: ON NO, NOT GOOD!!!
    Good luck rebuilding the software on the new 'puter!
    Kathy

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  33. Paul had hip replacement. His doctor recommended that he call his dentist once he got out of the hospital and ask him to write a prescription. We were so happy he recommended this. The dentist wrote the prescription, and Paul was able to take it the night before he went to his appointment.

    Setting up a new computer is extremely time consuming. Hopefully, you were able to recover most of your information.

    The End photo looks like Dan is ready to hike the football to the quarterback who is surrounded by two running backs.

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  34. I am so glad to hear you are better and things are improving. Your experience sounds awful. Hope you let the dentist know about that reaction. Loved The End - too cute.

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  35. really glad you're feeling better Judy.. Antibiotics can do strange things to us so be very careful in the future... Remember to write this on your allergic to meds list

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  36. I'm not happy with your dentist. Four Amoxicillan sounds like way too many to me. And taking them right there in the office is not good anyway. You are supposed to take them in advance so they are already working when the blood starts to flow in your mouth since the reason for taking them is to prevent any bacteria in your mouth from entering your bloodstream. I take them for sinus infections but I sure wouldn't take four of them all at once.

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  37. Sounds like you are regaining your strength and how wonderful to have a computer tech to help you out. Can you recommend a laptop. We hope to do some rv..ing in a few months and I will need one..Thank you!

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  38. Well. That was quite an experience. Hopefully, one never to be repeated. then your computer dies on you. Double bummer. You are lucky to have a son like Dan to do all that computer work and configuration.

    Glad to have you back.

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  39. What a terrible experience for you. Glad to hear it is nearly over. Thanks for the pictures of Dan the rescue man. He even took care of Emma. Not sure that last picture is the way to show your thanks. :-)

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  40. Wow, what a rough few days you have experienced. It sure was fortunate, however, you were near some family. Take good care of yourself. I have missed reading your blog and glad your sense of humor remains. "The End" was great.

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  41. I'm so glad to hear you are doing better Judy, having anything to do with a stomach virus and I panic. When I read you were ill I could just feel it myself. I think I would have headed to the ER if I were you. The last time I had such a horrible stomach disaster Art took me and they started an IV gave me anti nausea drugs and oh boy did I feel better. I know you will be weak for days. Thank you for identifying the Osprey I had no idea. Like I told Karen I am sure learning alot by doing this blog thanks to you experts. Take care.

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  42. Judy, sorry to read this..OUCH ! is right... I too have to take Amoxi, before having any dental work but never have had that reaction...but also sounds like you did pick up a bug beside.. Take care and praying that all this will pass ...and the laptop ...well, that's another bugger..Windows 8 is a pain in the butt !...God Bless

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  43. Oh my. Somehow I thought you were going to be gone for a couple of weeks so I haven't checked on you! Well this trip sure didn't turn out like you hoped. That's all horrible! I never heard that you have to take antibiotics in order to get your teeth cleaned if you've had hip replacement. I've heard of other things similar though. Sad. Glad you're feeling better and glad you were with family for all this. Sorry it was just such an ordeal though.

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  44. Ack! I'm so sorry! Was it antibiotic-induced ... uh ... something bad? Glad you could still find "The End" funny for our sakes!

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  45. Sorry to hear about your troubles. It could be the amoxycillin, although that's usually an easy one to take. I also need to take 4 of them an hour before dental work because I have a stent implant. Not all dentists do it though.

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  46. Wow, happy you are okay. I've had a couple of bouts of food poisoning that have made me feel the same way--afraid I WASN'T going to die. Glad you are okay. I'd look into whether tha amoxicillin could cause a gi upset like that. Did you take it on an upset stomach? Something I was surprised to hear is that a "part" of food such as a chicken breast can be bad, but not another. We had grilled chicken on the BBQ years ago--four of us. I was the only one who got violently ill. Again, glad you are okay.

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