Small Talk: The Prayer Closet

[SunnyBeBe]

On 1/16/2024 at 6:30 AM, Salacious Kitty said:

Anyone have any remedies for a nasty cold? Theraflu and Nyquil aren't working. My head is so stuffed up that I haven't slept well for days. My sinuses are running like a sieve, and yesterday I developed a dry cough. 

I guess the good news is that it isn't covid. Still sick as a dog, though, and I am a shitty patient. 😕

It sounds like what I had the week after New Year’s.  Terrible sneezing, nose pouring water…literally dripping, sore throat and dry cough.  It came on slow and got worse everyday.  Lasted a full week!  Anyway, the only thing that helped was liquid Claritin.  I took a child’s dose, due to my Type 1 diabetes, but it really helped calm my head down.  Oh, you’ll need tissues with aloe. Nose gets sore with all the wiping. I tested negative for covid.   Hope yours isn’t so bad.  Hope you feel better. 💐🧸🤞 

[Salacious Kitty]

1 hour ago, SunnyBeBe said:

It sounds like what I had the week after New Year’s.  Terrible sneezing, nose pouring water…literally dripping, sore throat and dry cough.  It came on slow and got worse everyday.  Lasted a full week!  Anyway, the only thing that helped was liquid Claritin.  I took a child’s dose, due to my Type 1 diabetes, but it really helped calm my head down.  Oh, you’ll need tissues with aloe. Nose gets sore with all the wiping. I tested negative for covid.   Hope yours isn’t so bad.  Hope you feel better. 💐🧸🤞 

I should buy stock in Kleenex. 😃

[sixlets]

If you are coughing, try Delsym.  It's OTC, has a generic, and it can be found at Target, Walmart, Walgreens, and CVS.  It helped with my pneumonia many moons ago, and it helped with some of my last sinus infections.

My FIL told Mr.Six his remedy last year was Mucinex, Delsym, and Gatorade.  A little scientific, but a little wacky with the Gatorade.  Feel better soon!!

[Salacious Kitty]

Alka Seltzer has an extra potent concoction that both dried up my sinuses and knocked me out this afternoon. And this is their daytime formula. Thankfully, the cough has pretty much subsided. I was paranoid about getting bronchitis. 

My wish is for a good night's sleep. Nyquil only works for about 4 hours. 

[SunnyBeBe]

One bright spot is that I just met a milestone on my weight loss/fitness journey of losing 60 pounds!  I have a little more to go, but am at a good spot. I’ve recovered from that dreadful cold and feel awesome. 🥳I’m back in the gym and working on my beach bod. Ha! Lol Oh, I’m not taking injectables, not that there’s anything wrong with that. Just thought I’d not use them, unless I had to and apparently I didn’t have to. 😋

[oliviabenson]

3 hours ago, SunnyBeBe said:

One bright spot is that I just met a milestone on my weight loss/fitness journey of losing 60 pounds!  I have a little more to go, but am at a good spot. I’ve recovered from that dreadful cold and feel awesome. 🥳I’m back in the gym and working on my beach bod. Ha! Lol Oh, I’m not taking injectables, not that there’s anything wrong with that. Just thought I’d not use them, unless I had to and apparently I didn’t have to. 😋

Congratulations!!! Losing is hard! Pat yourself on the back!

[Scarlett45]

14 hours ago, Salacious Kitty said:

Alka Seltzer has an extra potent concoction that both dried up my sinuses and knocked me out this afternoon. And this is their daytime formula. Thankfully, the cough has pretty much subsided. I was paranoid about getting bronchitis. 

My wish is for a good night's sleep. Nyquil only works for about 4 hours. 

I live and die by those alka seltzer tablets you dissolve in water- severe cold and flu makes you feel human again speedy quick!

[Salacious Kitty]

2 minutes ago, Scarlett45 said:

I live and die by those alka seltzer tablets you dissolve in water- severe cold and flu makes you feel human again speedy quick!

Can you tell I never get sick? 😂

Still home today, but I think I can make a go of it tomorrow. 

[Scarlett45]

2 minutes ago, Salacious Kitty said:

Can you tell I never get sick? 😂

Still home today, but I think I can make a go of it tomorrow. 

I caught something nasty on the plane back from Vegas and was down for the count for two days. But I fully admit I am a big ass baby who doesn’t do discomfort well. 

[Salacious Kitty]

Just now, Scarlett45 said:

I caught something nasty on the plane back from Vegas and was down for the count for two days. But I fully admit I am a big ass baby who doesn’t do discomfort well. 

Same! 😀

[GeeGolly]

My husband and I had our first known bout with covid right after Christmas. Its still lingering a bit. Beware that this strain of covid tends to be picked up by tests later than is typical. It took 3 tests, days apart, for it to show up for me. It took my husband four tests. He wouldn't even have taken the 4th test had he not woke up with both his eyes looking like the worst case of pink eye ever.

We're fully vaxxed/boosted and this still sucked. And like I said we both have some lingering symptoms some 15+ days later.

[Salacious Kitty]

I'm starting to feel a little better today (actually doing laundry now), but I will take another test just in case. However, I am pretty confident that this is just a nasty cold. 

[SunnyBeBe]

32 minutes ago, GeeGolly said:

My husband and I had our first known bout with covid right after Christmas. Its still lingering a bit. Beware that this strain of covid tends to be picked up by tests later than is typical. It took 3 tests, days apart, for it to show up for me. It took my husband four tests. He wouldn't even have taken the 4th test had he not woke up with both his eyes looking like the worst case of pink eye ever.

We're fully vaxxed/boosted and this still sucked. And like I said we both have some lingering symptoms some 15+ days later.

Wow, maybe I tested too early.  Hmmmm…..What were your symptoms?

Edited January 18 by SunnyBeBe

[SunnyBeBe]

3 hours ago, oliviabenson said:

Congratulations!!! Losing is hard! Pat yourself on the back!

Thanks a lot!  I’m pretty happy. I just bought a new outfit and it felt so comfortable.  It was just a casual sweater and pants, but just gave me a little boost. I walked through a lobby, caught my image in a mirror and had to do a double take….who’s that?  Lol. It feels good.  

[GeeGolly]

1 hour ago, SunnyBeBe said:

Wow, maybe I tested too early.  Hmmmm…..What were your symptoms?

My symptoms started with feeling tired with an irritated throat, then a day when I felt like I was hit by a Mack Truck. 99.9 fever, aches, chills, a nose that was like a faucet for days and a post nasal drip cough. And just a general feeling of feeling like shit.

Edited January 18 by GeeGolly

[Salacious Kitty]

Covid test was negative. I banished Mr. Kitty to the spare bedroom for the duration. So far, so good. 

[GeeGolly]

https://www.kqed.org/news/11972313/negative-covid-test-incubation-period?fbclid=IwAR37Jq9Y3UG10jfFWShlxeM5ONg8RFq78PjNVgPOPHA4pur1z4J6RdaWf70

[CalicoKitty]

20 hours ago, Scarlett45 said:

I live and die by those alka seltzer tablets you dissolve in water- severe cold and flu makes you feel human again speedy quick!

My allergist recommends whisky for a cough.  Seriously.  Whisky and water.  Too bad I don't like whisky.  For congestion, I do pour some vodka in a mug of boiling water and breath the steam.  That really works.  I learned that trick from the Respiratory Therapists at the hospital.  They carry vodka on their treatment carts.

Edited January 19 by CalicoKitty

[SunnyBeBe]

2 hours ago, GeeGolly said:

My symptoms started with feeling tired with an irritated throat, then a day when I felt like I was hit by a Mack Truck. 99.9 fever, aches, chills, a nose that was like a faucet for days and a post nasal drip cough. And just a general feeling of feeling like shit.

Omg! That sounds very familiar.  Perhaps, I should have taken another covid test.  That article recommends 3 tests. Oh well. I guess I have my answer now. I’m getting more tests. 

Edited January 18 by SunnyBeBe

[crazy8s]

1 hour ago, CalicoKitty said:

My allergist recommends whisky for a cough.  Seriously.  Whisky and water.  Too bad a don't like whisky. 

Oh my mom gave us some kind of whisky, honey and lemon concoction for coughs when we were kids. She either didn't give us very much, or we didn't suffer from coughs much. The same pint of whiskey lasted all through our childhood. The only alcohol that was ever in our house. 😂

Edited January 19 by crazy8s

[oliviabenson]

4 minutes ago, crazy8s said:

Oh my mom gave us some kind of whisky, honey and lemon concoction for coughs when we were kids. She either didn't give us very much, or we didn't suffer from coughs much. The same pint of whiskey lasted all through our childhood. The only alcohol that was ever in our house. 😂

My mom rubbed vodka on my gums when I was teething… she said I slept very well haha. Have 2 college degrees so that tiny bit of alcohol did not cause any lasting effects.

[oliviabenson]

No snow stuck it’s mostly melted. Happy Friday everyone!

 

[BetyBee]

My super control freak oldest sister (the executor of Mom's will and trust) is being impossible. I think she's making poor decisions. I don't really care about stuff or even inheritance that much, but she's doing everything in the slowest, most un-wise way imo and she keeps claiming that what she wants is "Mom's wishes". We haven't seen anything in writing and she keeps wanting to hold in person meetings, with her typed up agenda and wants to control what we can talk about. She also wants to exclude spouses from these meetings (except for hers). I think she's being ridiculous. I'm very unhappy. She put off the memorial for over a month, for example. It makes the good-bye that much harder.😢

[Scarlett45]

30 minutes ago, BetyBee said:

My super control freak oldest sister (the executor of Mom's will and trust) is being impossible. I think she's making poor decisions. I don't really care about stuff or even inheritance that much, but she's doing everything in the slowest, most un-wise way imo and she keeps claiming that what she wants is "Mom's wishes". We haven't seen anything in writing and she keeps wanting to hold in person meetings, with her typed up agenda and wants to control what we can talk about. She also wants to exclude spouses from these meetings (except for hers). I think she's being ridiculous. I'm very unhappy. She put off the memorial for over a month, for example. It makes the good-bye that much harder.😢

I’m sorry BetyBee. I dont have any advice (I don’t think you were asking for any), only that I acknowledge it sucks. Especially at such an emotional time. 

[Scarlett45]

It's a cold day here in Chicago-land, but I no longer feel as if the air wants to kill me. This cold snap should be over by Monday, and my oldest friend in the world (we met in Kindergarten over a picture of a bunny) is coming home to visit for the first time in 4.5yrs (she lives in Taiwan) and staying with me for 3 weeks.

 

Update on my Mom- she is weak and tired, but she is 100% herself. She admits she is angry and upset this has happened to her, but she promises she won't be like Grandfather and just give up. She prefers the food at rehab than the hospital, and has started going through her phone following up with all her friends (a good sign emotionally). We are still dealing with the logistics of her dialysis care, but I am pleased that her spirit is returning. L (who takes care of my sister some weekend days) has lost a client and has more availability, so I may extend her hours on a more permanent basis for more coverage.

On my end, I am still tired, I was asked to go to the black tie opening night charity event for the Chicago Auto show, (beginning of February) and for the first time in my life, the idea made me so tired. To have to rent something, extend caregiver hours, uber or park at the event space, omg no. I was gracious in declining, but I want to just REST until it's time for Morocco so I can enjoy my vacation in peace. But I am no longer "exhausted" or emotionally drained. I am deeply grieving the loss of my freedom, I knew these years were coming, and I did all I knew to do to hold onto my freedom as long as I possibly could, but those days are done and I must accept (I think I am accepting but it sucks) But I have my space, and my pets, and work is going really well. (we had a bit of a lull in between closing out 2023 and starting 2024 so at least I wasnt stressed about work with my Mom's health in decline)

This is (cue up Circle of Life from the Lion King).

 

Speaking of pets, yesterday was me and Cosmo's 3yrs Anniversary. He came to me THREE years ago, so much has happened, but I am so thankful for him. I told my Godmother I would take good care of him, and I am trying. He is 11 now, he has arthritis, but I am managing it and he seems to be enjoying life with me.

 

 

[oliviabenson]

2 hours ago, BetyBee said:

My super control freak oldest sister (the executor of Mom's will and trust) is being impossible. I think she's making poor decisions. I don't really care about stuff or even inheritance that much, but she's doing everything in the slowest, most un-wise way imo and she keeps claiming that what she wants is "Mom's wishes". We haven't seen anything in writing and she keeps wanting to hold in person meetings, with her typed up agenda and wants to control what we can talk about. She also wants to exclude spouses from these meetings (except for hers). I think she's being ridiculous. I'm very unhappy. She put off the memorial for over a month, for example. It makes the good-bye that much harder.😢

I’m so sorry you have to deal with several difficult relatives while going through the grief. Hang in there hugs to you.

[oliviabenson]

21 degrees feels like 9. I’m so tired of going to the laundromat! So much more stuff to wash in the winter! 

[Scarlett45]

9 minutes ago, oliviabenson said:

21 degrees feels like 9. I’m so tired of going to the laundromat! So much more stuff to wash in the winter! 

Yes. I mean you wear layers so your outer layers don’t get as dirty (given I wear leggings under my pants, my pants have stayed clean), but you wear more clothing, and polyester keeps you warm but stinks to high heaven after one wear! I understand. 
 

Add in the nasty salt getting all over you. Ugh!
 

 

[oliviabenson]

Very true!

[Ancaster]

I have long Covid.  It sucks.

One of the most difficult things is that pretty much the only people who "get it" (ie, understand what it's like) are other sufferers.  Even medical professionals have dismissed it.

[oliviabenson]

22 hours ago, Scarlett45 said:

Yes. I mean you wear layers so your outer layers don’t get as dirty (given I wear leggings under my pants, my pants have stayed clean), but you wear more clothing, and polyester keeps you warm but stinks to high heaven after one wear! I understand. 
 

Add in the nasty salt getting all over you. Ugh!
 

 

I wear cotton leggings. Crotch rot smell is real ya all haha.

[BetyBee]

Is anyone here familiar with Dr. Ramani Durvasula? She's an expert on narcissism and I'm finding her YT videos fascinating!

[SunnyBeBe]

23 hours ago, Ancaster said:

I have long Covid.  It sucks.

One of the most difficult things is that pretty much the only people who "get it" (ie, understand what it's like) are other sufferers.  Even medical professionals have dismissed it.

Amen!  I have it too!  Still struggling since September 2023, though some struggle for years.  Praying for news of treatments. It’s unreal. I had no idea until I was diagnosed.  All of my doctors are on board, but don’t know how to treat it. 

Edited January 22 by SunnyBeBe

[zoomama]

On 1/20/2024 at 5:43 PM, Ancaster said:

I have long Covid.  It sucks.

One of the most difficult things is that pretty much the only people who "get it" (ie, understand what it's like) are other sufferers.  Even medical professionals have dismissed it.

would appreciate some info on how you were diangnosed, symptoms etc. a gal at church has been sick (read that as a 'death cough') since last summer when she got covid. she is and has been  under medical care and has mentioned possibly long covid but is still being tested to rule out other reasons.

[SunnyBeBe]

1 hour ago, zoomama said:

would appreciate some info on how you were diangnosed, symptoms etc. a gal at church has been sick (read that as a 'death cough') since last summer when she got covid. she is and has been  under medical care and has mentioned possibly long covid but is still being tested to rule out other reasons.

I hope your church friend improves.  It’s often a slow recovery for those with LC. One of my neighbors has lung issues.  She recovered from covid, wasn’t hospitalized, but still can’t shake it.  She’s been under medical care ever since and it’s been over a year ago.  She gets very weak and it’s really changed her life. There is a long list of ailments ranging from lung issues, fatigue, headaches,  memory and neurological problems, etc.  My issues include smell/taste disorder which is fairly common and was diagnosed by ENT. There are some centers for post covid syndrome or Long Covid (LC).  There are some online support groups that are helpful too.  

[Ancaster]

17 hours ago, zoomama said:

would appreciate some info on how you were diangnosed, symptoms etc. a gal at church has been sick (read that as a 'death cough') since last summer when she got covid. she is and has been  under medical care and has mentioned possibly long covid but is still being tested to rule out other reasons.

 

15 hours ago, SunnyBeBe said:

I hope your church friend improves.  It’s often a slow recovery for those with LC. One of my neighbors has lung issues.  She recovered from covid, wasn’t hospitalized, but still can’t shake it.  She’s been under medical care ever since and it’s been over a year ago.  She gets very weak and it’s really changed her life. There is a long list of ailments ranging from lung issues, fatigue, headaches,  memory and neurological problems, etc.  My issues include smell/taste disorder which is fairly common and was diagnosed by ENT. There are some centers for post covid syndrome or Long Covid (LC).  There are some online support groups that are helpful too.  

I would say my main issues are fatigue, persistent cough, and short-term memory loss.

I never, thankfully, had the taste/smell issues, for which I'm truly thankful.

I found a doctor through persistence basically - asking whomever I could for a recommendation.  The wait time for my first appointment was 6 months!  My follow up one is in 3.  The poor guy is so over-scheduled they don't even bother asking if you're interested in a cancelation.  

When I saw him, I was so overwhelmed to be listened to by someone who understood that I cried.  

 

[crazy8s]

2 hours ago, Ancaster said:

When I saw him, I was so overwhelmed to be listened to by someone who understood that I cried. 

That is always such a relief. To find someone who not only hears, but also understands, makes you feel less alone on the journey. Glad you found someone.

[Ancaster]

1 hour ago, crazy8s said:

That is always such a relief. To find someone who not only hears, but also understands, makes you feel less alone on the journey. Glad you found someone.

Thank you so much for your empathy.*  I feel that you perhaps might have been both a giver and receiver of similar kindness and generosity?

*  And for everyone else's here too; it does mean such a lot. 

[Notabug]

Many of the larger medical centers now have entire units devoted to the evaluation and treatment of long COVID.  They're also doing ongoing research as this particular disease has been around for less than 5 years and it's going to take a while to get a handle on it.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/departments/respiratory/depts/covid-19-recovery

Edited January 23 by Notabug

[BetyBee]

oops!

Edited January 23 by BetyBee

[EtheltoTillie]

On 12/27/2023 at 11:25 AM, BetyBee said:

Thank you to all for the kind words regarding the loss of my Mother. I think I learned where the expression "heartbroken" comes from. When I learned of her passing, my actual heart felt like it was literally breaking! I had to sit down and take deep breaths.

People have been so kind and I really appreciate it. We're going to have a memorial service at the end of January. There's a lot to do to get her house ready to sell and to find a place for my brother (who lived with her) to live. The taxes are too high for him to remain there. Anyway, there's a lot to go through in her house full of memories. I worry about my brother being alone there after so many years of caring for her. I'm really thankful that Mom was able to stay in her home until the very end. That was what she wanted. She touched so many lives in her 93 years of life. She really had a wonderful life, like George Bailey!

Catching up late here,Betybe. Hope you are doing well. Many condolences. 

[EtheltoTillie]

On 1/3/2024 at 12:31 PM, Jeeves said:

Good morning friends! I've come here to the Prayer Closet with a confession. The last day or so I've watched episodes of a few trashy old British TV docu-series on YouTube. One was about "spendaholics." 

Another series is called "Benefits Britain" and I think aired in 2014. It was derided as "poverty p*rn" by some people at the time. Obviously, the choice of subjects and editing in any documentary is up to the producers and reflects whatever slant they want to use on the subject. The episodes I watched followed three or four people drawing benefits (welfare) in different places within the UK. Some of the subjects were shown as doing their best to cope in hard times, others were crass lazy entitled jerks, and almost every one of them smoked cigarettes like it was 1955. Ugh.

A few episodes were enough, but I did learn of an episode with a title that cracked me up: "Benefits Special: 18 Kids and Claiming." ("Claiming" seems to be used in the UK as shorthand for "collecting benefits," i.e., government assistance of various kinds.) I couldn't find a link to it online but I also heard a promo in one of the videos for a show called "26 kids and claiming." Yikes. I've now watched more footage of free-spenders, hoarders, and people floundering around in the UK benefits system, than I ever should have. I'm stepping away from the computer. 

I have watched a few of those benefits porn shows when visiting the UK.  Jaw dropping. I would watch them if they were available in the US.  Are you in the UK?  
ETA. Oh I see you say YouTube. I will look for some. They don’t show them on Britbox LOL. 

Edited January 24 by EtheltoTillie

[EtheltoTillie]

On 1/20/2024 at 1:23 PM, oliviabenson said:

21 degrees feels like 9. I’m so tired of going to the laundromat! So much more stuff to wash in the winter! 

It’s been so cold in NYC for days that ice isn’t fully going away and it’s slippery.  Be careful walking. 

[oliviabenson]

Is Reddit down for anyone else???

[EtheltoTillie]

2 minutes ago, oliviabenson said:

Is Reddit down for anyone else???

The web version seems to be working, but the app seems to be down.

Correction:  All versions down

[oliviabenson]

17 minutes ago, EtheltoTillie said:

The web version seems to be working, but the app seems to be down.

Correction:  All versions down

Yeah still down. 

[Absolom]

It's working for me.

[EtheltoTillie]

Seems like Reddit must have just restarted.  I got a notification on my Apple watch of a posting. 

[oliviabenson]

14 hours ago, EtheltoTillie said:

It’s been so cold in NYC for days that ice isn’t fully going away and it’s slippery.  Be careful walking. 

It’s all melted! I was walking so slowly when it’s snows. 

15 hours ago, EtheltoTillie said:

I have watched a few of those benefits porn shows when visiting the UK.  Jaw dropping. I would watch them if they were available in the US.  Are you in the UK?  
ETA. Oh I see you say YouTube. I will look for some. They don’t show them on Britbox LOL. 

Benefits porn shows??? What is that?

[EtheltoTillie]

8 minutes ago, oliviabenson said:

It’s all melted! I was walking so slowly when it’s snows. 

Benefits porn shows??? What is that?

1)  Finally the snow melted because of the rain and it got warmer.  Yay.

2) Benefits porn shows:  As was described by previous poster, they would have a show about people who lived on welfare benefits and they would go into excruciating detail about their daily lives so people could gawk.  It was frankly astonished such a thing could be shown.  There were other shows about people trying to collect debts. 

Here's an article from the Guardian about a show I watched on a trip to the UK in 2014. 

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/12/benefits-street-poverty-porn-british-fury