Jean Scott's Frugal Vegas

No, I didn’t die – but for the last few weeks I thought that this bug-that-is-going-around (whatever name they give it) was trying to kill me! When I was talking about the swine flu in my September 11 entry, I didn’t realize that I would still be talking about it on October 16. Wow – this bug can be one nasty enemy. I tried to fight it by using my usual technique of iron mental determination – ignore it and it will go away. It didn’t. 

Fortunately, however, when I finally used some good sense and went back to the doctor, she figured that I probably have a shot immune system and developed a secondary bacterial infection. Hurrah – not much you can do about viruses but now I can take a pill! So I am on a strong antibiotic and hopefully will soon be good as new – or as “new” as a 70-year-old lady can be!!!! 

So, within a few days, I plan to be back blogging more regularly and giving more gambling hints that will help you keep and/or put more money in your pocket! 

Thanx to all of you who wrote, concerned about my absence. I feel very loved and that is very healing!

Back in my September 11 entry I wrote about my battle – and then Brad’s – with flu-like symptoms since early in that month. I never got tested to see if I had the swine flu since my symptoms weren’t severe and I figured I’d feel better in a week or so.  Brad did have more severe symptoms in the beginning and, since he has heart problems, his doctor did test him. We were a little surprised at the results. The nasal swabs came back negative for swine flu, but the throat culture they took came back positive for a staph infection. He was put on antibiotics and in another week or so, he had seemed to regain his strength and was able to go about his normal routine. 

On the other hand, although I mostly got over some of the initial symptoms quickly – sore throat, achy body – some of the other symptoms have remained, now 5 weeks later, including eye problems, chest discomfort, cough. The most debilitating problem, however, has been constant severe fatigue that doesn’t respond to rest. 

You might ask what all this has to do with gambling and/or Las Vegas?  

Perhaps not as much as the subjects I usually cover here. Or –  perhaps more so. I’m not an extremist about anything or a perpetual worrywart, but I do think casinos can be a definite threat this winter in the war against the swine flu. For one thing, a place where groups of people congregate is always a hotbed for viruses.   Another problem is that the recession has caused casinos to cut their workforce numbers, including those that clean. I have noticed a definite decline in the general cleanliness in many casinos – dirty bathrooms, grubby machines. 

There is another issue if the swine flu becomes extremely widespread. Casinos are not “necessary” businesses. Would health departments ever shut them down during an epidemic? Or, might some casinos have to shut down if there are not enough healthy employees to run them? 

I guess this whole subject has captured my attention more because I have been dealing with it personally for over a month. Actually I didn’t connect some of my long-lasting symptoms with the swine flu. I have struggled off and on with fibromyalgia for over 30 years and it can have some of the same symptoms, especially extreme fatigue. However, results of all my Googling point to the opinion that I am probably still fighting the swine flu. 

Some people I talk to say they are afraid to get the swine flu vaccine. I think I am in the camp that says you should be afraid not to get it!

Brad and I have been fighting flu symptoms for a week. First time I noticed anything wrong, I was sitting at a video poker machine with a game that required the JoB strategy, one I have played for almost twenty years and I can practically play in my sleep. Suddenly, I am seeing five cards and I have no idea what I am supposed to do with them. I concentrate really hard and it comes to me – I should hold the pair. I play for about 10 minutes, concentrating hard on each hand, hoping I won't make a silly mistake.   Finally I tell Brad, who is sitting beside me, “I know I am getting Alzheimer’s – I just can’t think. And besides I am getting a terrible sore throat. I want to go home.” 

When I got home, I was feeling really lousy – but I figured I was just having one of my sinus infection episodes. I get these every once in awhile so I took some sinus medicine and went to bed. The next day I was achy and feeling exhausted so continued to rest.  

My doctor sister happened to call and I told her my symptoms and she said it sounded like I had “what was going around – the swine flu.” My daughter called within the hour and was telling me about my granddaughter, Kaitlynn, being down with the swine flu – that it was going around her high school and many students were out. 

Hummmmm……what had I been doing on the previous few days. Back to begin another year as a volunteer in a kindergarten in the school down the street. Twenty-three little ones with the usual number of coughs, grubby hands, and runny noses. I guess it was inevitable. 

I Googled “swine flu” and found there were 38 million references, but I picked a few and found these possible symptoms:  high-grade fever, chills, muscle aches, headaches, sore throat, dry cough, vomiting, diarrhea, and confusion. No one has all of the symptoms, usually just two or three and they last on average 3 or 4 days and most swine flu cases are mild.   You can’t positively diagnose swine flu without a lab test but they are assuming that if you have some of these symptoms you probably have it since it is “going around” and it is too early for the regular flu season. I just heard on the local news that there was a sudden jump in the number of swine flu cases here in Vegas – 300 reported in the last few days. 

On the 3^rd day I was feeling much better and we were happy that I must have had a mild case and I hadn’t given whatever I had to Brad. I worried about his getting the swine flu because most of the deaths reported from it were because of “underlying medical problems.” 

Well, our happiness about the situation didn’t last very long. A couple of days later Brad got very sick very suddenly in the middle of the night, spiking a high temperature. Unfortunately we happened to be in a hotel in Laughlin at the time so decided to wait it out. And the next morning he said he felt fine – had sweated out whatever bug or virus had attacked him. However, by the next evening he was running a fever again and feeling achy and exhausted so we drove back to Vegas the next day and saw the doctor today. 

At the doctor’s office they took a throat culture for strep and nasal swabs for the swine flu, but by the time the results are back, hopefully he will be well. But if he would have any further complications, they would know better how to treat him. 

They say, like for the regular flu, that the tiredness and cough may linger for a couple of weeks after the other symptoms are gone. Seems like the wisest plan of action for us now is to continue with lots of liquids, Tylenol, and a sensible rest schedule.