Thursday, April 28, 2022

Catching up

 I'm home sick today. After almost two weeks of dealing with shortness of breath, a dry cough, chills, and a general feeling of being unwell, I called the doctor Tuesday afternoon and made an appointment for yesterday. 

I was pretty sure I didn't have Covid, because I'd taken two at-home tests that were negative. The doctor confirmed that it wasn't that (thank goodness) but just as I expected it was an exacerbation of seasonal allergies that led to an exacerbation of asthma. He also thought I might have the beginning of a bacterial infection in my lungs. I came home with prescriptions for prednisone, antibiotics, a new inhaler, a nasal spray, and a note excusing me from work for the rest of yesterday afternoon and today. 

One thing the doctor noticed worries me a little. My blood pressure was very high, particularly the bottom number. This was very unusual. He didn't seem too worried about it, given that I'd been feeling so bad and struggling to get good deep breaths, but it bears watching. One thing I didn't tell the doctor is that when I left work the hour before, I was very angry and upset. The office women were being horribly rude to me (they were mad they'd have to cover my desk and the front door while I was gone). Normally I can shrug off their toxic behavior, but when I'm not feeling well physically that becomes harder to do. On Tuesday when I first made the appointment and let everyone know I'd have to leave for a couple of hours, the principal overheard one of them going off on me about it and he was pissed. He called me at home that night and told me he intended to address their nasty attitudes. He said, "You work way too hard to be treated that way." Apparently he hadn't had time yet (yesterday morning) to talk to them, and when it was time for me to leave for the appointment they were incredibly rude about it. I was in tears when I left, and plenty mad, too. I'm so glad the doctor told me not to go back to work afterwards and to take today off too! Let them suffer for treating me like dirt! Hopefully by the time I go back on Friday the principal will have addressed the problem with them. In any case, I wonder if getting so emotionally upset had anything to do with my crazy high blood pressure reading? Gregg thinks it's definitely possible. When I'm not feeling so physically poor I should be able to ignore them and let it go, like usual. I don't expect things to change much, but I've gotten very good (most of the time) at shrugging it off.

I made a mistake in taking the first dose of prednisone with dinner last night. I probably didn't get over 3 or 4 hours of (broken) sleep. I'll be taking today's dose as soon as I eat breakfast! I already feel a good bit better despite the lack of sleep--prednisone is like a miracle drug for me. My eczema clears up, my allergies dry up, and I feel much better, fast, whenever I take it. I've decided to get a referral to an allergist and to talk to them about getting a full range of allergy testing and starting allergy shots. We'll see how that works out.

I meant to post last week as my spring break was winding down. They had the plant and flower festival at the farmer's market, and I went out and bought three blueberry shrubs to plant over by my raised garden bed. I got two of the variety "Premier" and one of "Pink Lemonade". The Pink Lemonade is supposed to get pink berries instead of blue, and they're supposed to be twice as sweet as the blues. We shall see! My little quarter-acre "homestead" (Haha) is coming along nicely. Even the crabapple tree I planted in front is finally, finally getting some tiny new leaves. It was a bare stick for so long I was beginning to despair that it was really alive and not merely dormant! The fig tree I planted is growing nicely. I expect by next year I should get a few figs from it. In summer garden news, I've been getting loads of lettuce and radishes, the carrots are almost ready to harvest, my tomato and pepper seedlings are ready to be planted out, the potato vines are sprawling all over the place, and my cucumbers and snow peas are finally sprouting. My gardening brings me a lot of joy.

One last thing of note from last week. On Saturday Marla and Martina came over for a couple of hours. I almost canceled because I wasn't feeling too hot, but I really wanted to see them. Marla brought little Carsen with her, too! That child is growing up fast! She'll be four next month and she's got that crazy little kid energy. Between her and the puppy chasing each other through the house, George trying to stay out of the way, and Marco getting excited and wanting to be in the middle of everything, it was like a circus over here for a little while!


She's loved the big aquarium since she was a baby. Gregg keeps telling Marla she needs a tank of her own. To which Marla responds, "And is Uncle Gregg coming to take care of it for us?" :)


This next picture was typical of the visit!


I don't know about Carsen, but Poppy was worn out when they left.


Marco loved every minute of the chaos.


George was a very good boy, as usual. He's been so patient with Poppy, and he's always glad to see Martina and Marla and even little Carsen. Here he is saying goodbye to Carsen when her daddy came to pick her up. After she left, we all had wine and adult conversation.



40 comments:

  1. I hope the principal does speak to your coworkers and doesn't just let it slide.

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    1. I don't have a whole lot of confidence that he will, Debra. He's a nice man and he means well, but it's almost certain he's not coming back next year and I think he'll do the bare minimum to get by before he leaves.

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  2. Hope you are feeling better. Glad you got a bit of time off to recover. Your coworkers are terrible and I hope the principal straightens them out.
    Your health is so important. I think seeing an allergist is a good idea.
    I hope your work in the garden brings you calm and lots of produce!

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    1. Thank you Ellen! As to my coworkers, only two or three of them are terrible. Everyone else is wonderful and a pleasure to work with. That makes the awful ones easier to stand.

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  3. Your principal is doing a crap job. You are being bullied in the work place and the principal is in charge of the staff that works at the school. I'm so angry for you. And I'm so sorry you have to work with people that haven't yet ascended from their adolescence. I hope you start to feel better, but glad that you get some time off. Take care! -Jenn

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    1. They really are the nastiest kind of bullies. I take some small comfort in the fact that I'm not the only one they try to bully and harass. Several other staff members (and those are just the ones I know about!) have complained about them, too.

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  4. I wish those horrid co-workers would just move on to other jobs because obviously, they are not making the world a better place where they are now. Marla is a darling girl! I love all of these pictures so much.

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    1. I've outlasted other bullies at other jobs before. I keep reminding myself that this (these) too shall pass. I also remind myself that truly happy people don't act like this, not that I feel much compassion for them. In fact, I think part of the reason they dislike me is that I'm a generally happy person with a good life and a cheerful disposition. It seems to provoke the ire of bullies when they see someone with the happiness that they obviously lack.

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  5. I hope you feel better soon.

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    1. Thanks Sue! The prednisone is working its magic and I feel a lot better today.

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  6. My blood pressure's usually high when I see my Dr., white coat syndrome. Also, you'll need to get netting to cover the blueberries when they start, otherwise the birds will eat them all.

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    1. The birds probably will be a problem, with the blueberries and the figs, too. It's too early to worry about it right now, though!

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  7. That last photo with George somehow shows what a GOOD DOG he is. I read this post while at the allergy clinic getting my maintenance shot. If you decide to go for it just remember to be patient. It took me over a year to feel a difference.

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    1. Susan, your comment on another post of mine is the reason I started to think about allergy shots--thank you! I realize it takes a long time to feel any benefits from them, but it would be worth it if I could avoid getting this sick from allergies sometime in the future.

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  8. That is terrible that the women think it's OK to be mean. Although I hope the principal deals with it, I also hope that it doesn't make the situation worse. Bullies can be sneaky, unfortunately. Glad that you're getting better and that the meds are working.

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    1. One of the bullies didn't act like this prior to the other one getting hired at our school. Now they've teamed up and the first one's behavior has gone steadily downhill ever since. It's like being IN middle school instead of WORKING in a middle school!

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  9. What a heartwarming visit and photos in the midst of the misery. Hope you’re feeling better quickly and I wish those “children” you’ve been obligated to work with would get fired.

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    1. Things are going to be very different at our school next year. I'm 95% certain we'll have a new principal, for one thing. If they keep up some of their antics with a new administration, they might end up getting fired, but chances are good they'll behave better if they're held accountable.

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  10. I'm sorry to hear you are sick. Allergies can be awful and even worse if you have asthma as you do. Tom grew up in South Carolina and was always sick when the pine pollen was heavy. Stress and sickness can both affect your blood pressure but I would sure get it checked again after you are feeling better. Most pharmacies will check it for you. I sure hope the principal speaks to those rude women. Remember, eventually karma always catches up with people like them! I hope you feel better fast!

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    1. Thank you Bonnie. The pine and then the grass pollen have been very high for the past month or so. I was frightened at my blood pressure reading. I only remember that the bottom number was over 100 and the nurse gasped a little when she saw it. I've never had an issue with my blood pressure except the slightest elevation when I was in pain a couple of times, but I will surely be getting it checked again very soon.

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  11. Spikes of blood pressure can be normal, your GP needs to look for trends have you a monitor? If so take it a few times a day and write down what you were doing at time…resting standing sitting etc

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    1. Thanks John. I don't have a monitor, but I have access to the school nurse, so I can have it checked as often as I like at work. Not that work is the best place to take a reading! lol

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  12. Hope you are feeling better by now. The tank looks lovely - I am not surprised it was admired.

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  13. Oh my gosh...that look on George's face. What a patient good boy he is. All puppies need a kid around from time to time, just to wear them out!

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  14. PS: I am anxious to hear what happens when you go back to school.

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    1. I went back today.....and our principal got fired. CRAZY day.

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  15. I hope something happens to correct your coworkers. It truly is not good to be treated rudely.

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    1. See my comment to Debby. Our school is in an uproar.

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  16. Good to know there is this "miracle drug" for you, Jennifer! Combined with a bit of rest, I hope you are much better now. And the weekend is almost here, too :-)

    Love that shot of Carsen - so telling! To be honest, it would drive me nuts, but I was a very lively child myself so I can relate to it.

    Those bullies at your school are awful, but as you say, you are not the only one to have complained about them and I guess things will change with a new principal. I believe Gregg is right that it was you being upset about them that made your blood pressure so high.

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    1. Things are bound to be shaken up at my job now. Major changes are afoot.

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  17. It's hard to believe the bitchiness of some of your work colleagues. What is wrong with these people? It's good that the principal actually witnessed some of their nastiness and though it is difficult to do, I think he should give them warnings as to their future conduct. at work.

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    1. Unfortunately my principal is no longer my principal. He got fired today, and fired in such a way as to humiliate him as much as possible. It was a truly awful day. Everyone was crying and we have no idea what to expect next week. It was a terrible day.

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  18. I can't believe how big Carsen is! I remember her being a tiny infant!

    Your co-workers sound like a real problem. I can't believe they'd react so selfishly because you're ill. Definitely not a very collegial attitude, and I imagine that might well have had something to do with your blood pressure.

    I'm glad your crabapple still only has tiny leaves. The one down the hill from us -- a new street tree -- also has very small leaves and I've been worried it might be dying!

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    1. There's been a whole lot of toxic behavior and behind the scenes upheaval at my school that I knew nothing about. This terrible year can't end soon enough.

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  19. I would have adored visiting your animal-filled house as a child, (I'd still love it!) I used to love going to my dentist just because he had a small algae-filled fish tank in his waiting room. The treatment you receive from a few members of the office staff is considered harassment. Your principal needs to intervene immediately- it's his job. You should begin to document these incidents if you haven't already. I'm sure your high blood pressure reading was related to work stress. Feel better soon.

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    1. See my above comments... it's no longer his job. I'm afraid the work stress has only just begun. The four weeks between now and the end of the year are going to be hard.

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  20. Oh dear! That does indeed sound like a hard four weeks ahead. Hopefully, whoever is going to replace your former principal will know how to handle things, and make a better job of it. You and the other hard-working staff at your school and, last but not least, the students, have all deserved a healthy and happy work environment.

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