I am home from work today with strep throat. Who gets that? I haven't had it since I was a kid, and this experience is just awful. I can eat with the help of painkillers, but I only technically have the use of half of my throat. The doctor looked down there and didn't even try to mask her surprise, "Holy... wow," she said, "Yeah, this is bad."
I started the antibiotics yesterday evening, so I was really hoping to start feeling better by this morning. No luck. Painkillers it is.
Still sick here. Sicker than I was on Monday. And sicker than I was on Tuesday, which was already sicker than Monday. So I broke down and got the antibiotics today. I will be both pissed and grateful if I feel better tomorrow.
So mad that I have to spend my vacation sick.
So, so mad.
I left work early yesterday and have been home sick today. I had a fever, and am just ridiculously incapable of being functional with a fever. I always say, having a cold, sore throat, whatever -- no problem. As soon as I get a fever, though, it's over.
I was on the fence this morning about whether I should really take the sick day. Something about me hates to do so. Not sure what that's about. In the end, though, I felt rotten enough that it seemed merited. I took Teo to day care, came home, watched some "Project Runway" and then fell asleep. When I woke up, it was five pm.
I spent the ENTIRE day in bed. Asleep.
Amazing.
I think my body just completely shut down, so I am glad I listened to it when I needed to. I still feel pretty crappy, but we'll see if I feel any better after another good sleep. It's 9.30 now, and I think I will probably be back in bed within another half hour.
I just watched "Sicko" the other day, so the awesomeness of French health care has been at the forefront of my mind. Granted, the carpeting/paint job/aesthetics of the offices and hospitals here leave something to be desired, but overall the health care system here is pretty kickass.
As you know, yesterday Mateo got his vaccines. He was unhappy, and today he was even more so. I did lots and lots of breastfeeding because he was very fussy at the boob. In the end, I spent a long time feeding him but I don't think he was eating all that much. Mainly, I think he needed the normal amount of food but an extra amount of sleep, and because he is such a catnapper, this was rather exceptional.
At 14:30, he was deep in a full-scale nap, and I thought I might indulge as well. I had been feeling super tired all day, and plus I had a major headache because I have gone back to clenching my teeth at night (not good). We went to bed together and I didn't fall asleep for another hour or so, my headache was getting in the way.
By the time I woke up at 17:00, I was feverish and weak, so I took my temp. 37,6°C. Not terrible, but not good either. I started feeling progressively worse, and opted to take my temp again. 38°C. Then 38.1°C. Definetly not a good sign. I am almost never sick like this, and it really seemed to have come out of the blue.
As I am the sole caregiver of the little dude, I really didn't want to risk geting any sicker. I looked up the number for SOS Medicins -- a service in France where the doctors come to your house. My left breast was hurting me and I was concerned I might have the early symptoms of Mastitis. When I read on a website that a breastfeeding mother who feels like she has the flu most likely has Mastitis, I decided to call.
The doctor showed up about ten minutes later, and 40 euros after that I had my diagnosis: I was right.
I am so glad I didn't wait, but I am also so glad France has SOS Medicins. I couldn't imagine myself navigating the subway with the baby in order to get to a hospital; I can hardly hold him up right now. Honestly, I think I would have waited until tomorrow or the next day, suffering through the illness telling myself it would pass. It's also a good thing I had read about Aimee's experience with Mastitis, because I had it somewhat in the back of my mind all along.
The Boy is coming over tonight and I am going to make him be my slave until Mateo goes down for the night -- pick up prescription, dinner, etc. I should be feeling better in about 48 hours, according to the doctor -- Mateo has been super sweet and not all that demanding since he woke up from his nap, so maybe he senses something. I hope it lasts, at least until I get some strength back in my arms.
I have to do my 6/7-week post-partum visit, just to be sure all is well. I'm not really concerned, but I figure I should get it done. I CANNOT FIND A SINGLE GYNECOLOGIST that I can see. It's August, it's Paris, and they're gone. Or they're going, and are all booked until then. AAARRRRRGGGGHHHH.
Sometimes France is just so frustrating.
So I guess it will be more like a ten-week checkup for me.
I'm still feeling all rickety-rockity but am certainly in far better spirits than a few days ago. One things that always amazes me: other people. They can be so good for the soul. All of your comments and emails, and even a few phone calls from friends who read this site -- they were just so nice and reassuring. Thanks for that.
Last night, we all went out for Beccarah's bachelorette party. Thankfully, none of the girls in the crew were into the the typical body-shots-and-embarrasing-tasks type of bachelorette party, so the five of us opted to treat ourselves to an evening at the hammam. Some hot rocks, a steam room, a sauna, a pool, a body rub, and a massage. The whole experience was awesome, even if the ladies running the place were psychotic. Picture yourself - butt naked - getting agressively scrubbed down by a woman in pair of ratty shorts and an even rattier bra, as she commands: "Flip." "Sit." "Up." There was no smiling or laughing involved, and a minimum of words, as well. Because of their shortness and our new-ness, we didn't quite understand the sequence of events, and were repeatedly publicly shamed accordingly. So be it. Otherwise, the evening taught me two things: a) treating your body right can help soothe the mind by extension and b) I need to do some personal pampering on a regular occasion. It costs a little bit of cash, but I think it's worth it. The hammams are a reasonably inexpensive route to take, and I think they're the perfect solution.
I came home to the best night's sleep I have had in a week, and I think, more than anything, that was the most beneficial aspect of the adventure.
Tomorrow: Beccarah will say her "I do's" (or whatever they're called here) at 10.45 am!
