Friday, April 03, 2009

A visit to the doctor and the Swedish detective

Another relatively short blog today. And one obsessed by illness. Sorry, but that's really all I'm doing at the moment - being ill. Had a really bad night last night and only managed about one hour's sleep as my ears were so painful from the nasty catarrh thing. Coughing was rough too. So as I've now not eaten anything worth the naming of it since Tuesday morning, I rang up the doctor first thing and made an appointment. I just got worried, I think, as usually I get rid of these attacks in a couple of days and I'm now on my fourth day.

Anyway, Lord H took me to the surgery, and the good news is my lungs, ears and throat are okay. It's just the catarrh problem we need to kick back (which I knew, I suppose). So I now have a box of antihistamine tablets (which I haven't taken before) as the doctor hopes that might get me through the worst of it over the next few days. And he told me not to worry about the food thing and to keep drinking. Really, I just want to be well enough for the Sunday reading, and of course I'm supposed to be on conference next week. Honestly the surgery pharmacist greeted me like an old friend when I popped my head round the door - which was brave of her really, seeing as I haven't dared to wash my hair (ears, people, ears!) and I hadn't been arsed to put any make-up on. Well, these days, I'm there often enough - maybe I'm her best customer. I also bought some Complan (a meal substitute for people who can't eat) and have had a mug of that once at home. So I'm less worried about morphing into some kind of super-being who doesn't actually need food, or sleep, now - and at least I've had some vitamins.

However, one good thing about today is I have had the odd bout of sneezing - any catarrh/sinus sufferers out there will know how wonderful that can be! - which gives me some hope. And I've had another hour's sleep on the sofa, though of course it took me a while to get back on an even keel after the bad move of actually lying down, sigh ...

Meanwhile, I've read my first of the Henning Mankell Wallander books (of the four we have - well, Lord H is very fond of them) - this is the original one called Faceless Killers. It's strangely addictive and quirkily written. There's a lot of telling rather than showing, but somehow here that doesn't matter. It's very ... um ... Swedish. Other things that Lord H has noted as possibly being very Swedish is the constant mentions of the weather. And goodness me, what a lot of mentions there are. The man is obsessed with snow, and the possibility of it. Wallander also thinks a lot and has a lot of headaches, as well as carrying out a lot of his investigations in the dark. Well, it is Sweden after all. I enjoyed it. It's perfect reading for when you're ill. I'm onto my next one in the series now.

Today's nice things:

1. Making a decision to go to the doctor
2. Getting a new pill
3. Sneezing
4. Complan
5. Books.

Anne Brooke
Anne's website - hoping for another bout of sleep and sneezing, soon please God

7 comments:

Jackie Luben said...

Poor you, Anne. It sounds dreadful. Hope you're better soon.

Anne Brooke said...

I know!! Mind you, it does mean I'm getting through my reading pile about 4 times as fast as normal!!

Axxx

Unknown said...

Do hope you feel better soon, chest infections can really linger (I had a bad one last year that took a lot of meds to shift it).

You need the sofa, a blanket, a pile of good books and Lord H to mop your brow and bring you plenty of cuppas...

Jilly said...

Hope you feel better soon, Anne. I'm glad the British aren't the only ones obsessed with the weather! I really must look out for the Wallender series as just about everyone I know who loves crime fictions loves them.

Anne Brooke said...

Thanks, both! Yes, I'm whipping through my Wallanders, as it were ...

Axxx

litlove said...

I'm so sorry to read about how poorly you've been! Poor you! I really hope you feel much, much better soon (and I bet you do, too). Glad you got yourself checked out at the doctors - when things drag on that way they do become upsetting.

Take care and have lots of virtual hugs because the brilliant thing about the blogworld is no fear of contagion!

Litlove xxx

Anne Brooke said...

Thanks, LL! It's slow, I think, but I might be getting there a little more today.

:))

Axxx