Bitten

Was trying to weed to throw stuff into the yard-waste pick-up and unfortunately discovered a yellow jacket nest.  Or perhaps I should say, they discovered me. Pissed off (them, not me.) I got bit once or twice; the one that I slapped left a blood mark and swelling. Unbelievable how much it hurts. I don't even know how to describe it, intense stinging perhaps? Waiting for the nurse to call me back about what I should do. I've never been bitten by one before. I once had a wasp crawl up my pant leg and sting me, but that was the last time. I was maybe 10.  I'm trying to keep an ice pack on it. I'm paranoid that I'm going to have an allergic reaction so I imagine my tongue is swelling. I hope it's just my imagination. I'm not actually allergic to anything (well, there are foods that freak out my immune system, but not in a life-threatening kinda way.)

Okay, nurse called back. I feel kinda sick, but I think that's because I need to eat something. I'm waiting for the baking soda to neutralize the venom first, she said 20 minutes...I'm typing with just one hand, the bite(s) are in the crook of my left elbow. I'm just gonna keep singing myself now, listen for raspiness. I'm still paying off those earlier ER visits, I don't want to go. I don't even think anyone's home.  I should probably put a warning sign up.  The nest is in the ground, under a brick. Later.

On the bright side, gives my immune system something else to do. Been over three hours and I can still swallow, so I guess I can try to sleep. Nothing I've done has deadened the pain, but the swelling has gone down.

Friday

Oh, so off the sugar wagon, but haven't had alcohol in about a week, and didn't actually drink much of what I had a week ago as I had just left the emergency room (after lying around there for a few hours and taking prednisone and benedryl to calm a possible allergic reaction to who knows what) and I stopped somewhere to eat as it had been 22 hours since I'd eaten, and ordered a drink without thinking.  At any rate, decided that alcohol and the pill were a bad mix, so didn't really drink it.  People keep leaving sweets in the lobby. You'd think that would slow down after the holidays, but it hasn't. There have been a lot of birthdays this month.

My throat is supposedly not an infection, and it feels okay in the morning, but by the time I go home, it's killing me.  I lie around and try not to move. Supposed to use Afrin and Flo-nase, but haven't yet, I had to wait to get paid. Voice starts in a week.  Should do an elimination diet, I suppose, but lack the will-power right now.  I still want coconut pudding, I just need to make it.

falling down

Oh, how far I've fallen off the wagon.  I think I might try again for Lent, it's a longer period of time, but I seem to have had more will-power for it in the past.  It's more the sugar than the alcohol, people keep offering sweets and I keep accepting, plus my throat has been killing me for the past week (will go see someone today) and I've been drinking hot beverages (some sweet, most not) left and right to try to get some relief.  (Had a wonderful lavendar mocha last Saturday from place that makes it's own syrups...later that day I went to an apothecary and the man in front of me was buying herbs to make his own bitters.  The two remind me of each other, the bottles with varying colored liquid extractions or with herbs still in them.  I never know what I would do with them, but they excite me. They're cool.) I just ate a peppermint to counteract the coffee-breath.  I didn't bring any toothpaste with me today.  I'm somewhat afraid of how the doctor is going to see, the pain is pretty far down.  A strep diagnosis would be a relief, however, I don't think that's what it is, it's only in one spot.  I have a voice class (singing) starting up soon, and I don't want this to be a reason to not be able to take it.  I have been wanting to take this class for a couple of years, but lacked the courage and or the money when it's been offered before.  It terrifies me, but I want to be a better singer, and you have to take risks to get better at things. As has been said, "doing what you've always done, gets you what you've always gotten."  Peace, L