If we were having coffee, I’d tell you this should have been a routine week: Line Dancing, Portuguese lessons and Physio. Except it wasn’t. I’d been experiencing a nagging pain under my ribs on my right side for nigh on a week. I hoped it would go away. It didn’t. By Thursday evening, Mr Piglet took control and insisted we cancel lunch with friends on Friday and go to A & E (Accident and Emergency) at Alvor Private Hospital. Hence, why no Foodie Friday post.
After a restless night thanks to my imagination in overdrive, we arrived at the hospital early, saw the Triage nurse, and waited a short time before I saw a doctor, who sent me for tests: CT scan, bloodworks and a urine test. Incidentally, have you ever tried to pee a midstream sample into a small container while shaking like a leaf? Men, you have NO idea.
Three hours later, after being injected with iodine for the CT scan (which I was not happy with) and despite the results showing all clear re liver, kidneys and gall bladder or hernia, etc., the doctor was still none the wiser. Her conclusion: It was probably muscular. WT#?Muscular? Had I been performing acrobatics in my sleep?
I am still in pain, but will now wait for my appointment with the gastroenterologist, when I will receive the results of my colonoscopy and endoscopy.
RANT ALERT: COVER YOUR MOUTH WHEN YOU COUGH, YOU INCONSIDERATE MUPPET!!!!!
As an aside. While queuing for the CTT scan, we were shown into a waiting room so crowded it was bursting at the seams. One man seated near us coughed his germs freely into the air, making no attempt to cover his mouth. I glanced at Mr Piglet, who looked terrified as he has a low immune system. I gave him an N95 mask and donned one myself. Glared at the germite man and muttered obscenities about him under my breath. I sent Mr. P away to find a cafe.
I spoke to the doctor about it and her reply… ‘That’s why I wear a mask,’ she said, shaking her head in despair. ‘Some people cough in my face as I examine them.’
Why are SOME people so socially ignorant and selfish when they have a cough or cold?
Now I’m off to check out more weekend coffee shares over at Natalie’s Blog
Piglet in Portugal 
Goodness! I hope that 1) you’re already feeling some relief and 2) you’ve gotten some answers!
I’m right there with you about outwardly coughing! I had issues with it before but you’d think people would’ve learned a thing or two from the pandemic! I’m immune compromised as well so it’s really pisses me off. Ugh.
Hope your week is moving forward much smoother than last!
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Hi Melissa, sadly some people have forgotten the horrors of the pandemic and the hygene practices to try and keep us all safe.
As for the pain yes, have finally gotten some answers.
And my week … yep, from starting out so bad it took a definite upturn
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I am so sorry you are having to go through this. Have a search on Earthclinic.com for help. I am forever holding my breath when I pass rude coughers on the street.
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Hi Lana, thanks for the recommendation, I will take a look. As for rude coughers I wish I had the courage to carry spray of some kind so I could squirt them.
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Try Deep Heat. Not illegal to carry on you.
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Oh no. I hope your pain goes soon and that it’s just one of life’s little blips and nothing too serious.
The cougher: I am with you on this, that’s just awful. Some people are so ignorant it’s unbelievable.
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Thanks, Sarsm. I also hope the pain goes away soon as it is continuous.
the cougher: I must learn something in Portuguese to tell these germites to cover their mouth!
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Darn, I’m sorry about that worrying pain. Did you do some crazy move at line dancing that could’ve caused it? Ugh, to the cougher – YUCK! COVER your stupid mouth. I hope neither of you catch anything. It is good the CT scan turned up no problems with your organs, I hope that’s a little relief.
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Hi Tracy, our line dancing is rather sedate as we are all seniors :) So no twizzles etc. I still have my fingers crossed nothing is brewing germ wise.
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Yeah, the coughing at other people is so rude. I hate that! I teach all the kindergarten kids in my class how to cough into the bend of their arm, it is vey rare that they learn that at home …
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Good you are teaching the children, Maria!
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I’ve had a pain under my right rib cage for over seven years, Carole. Sometimes it’s better and sometimes worse. It’s most often worse at night. Pressure to the area relieves the pain. Going braless makes it worse. I’ve had exhaustive blood work and scans and have seen numerous specialists with no positive results for any investigations. The final conclusion was slipping rib syndrome, for which there’s no cure, only management. There’s a surgery offered for it here in the USA, but no guarantees for success, so I’m not doing that at my age. I hope neither of you get sick as a result of that contact. Good on you for carrying masks with you. There are so many nasty bugs this flu season that I’ve opted to stay home from many activities that include crowds. Take good care.
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Hi Terry, OMG I have just looked up slipping rib syndrome and I am hoping that it is not that. I see my physio for the last session in my course of physio tomorrow (will not be doing anything so will quizz her) when the pain starts it takes my breath away. Sitting at a desk makes it worse. Heat helps it.
I confess I am coming to the end of my tether re pain.
As for bugs, we have an excellent group of friends that if we are ill we don’t circulate. But some situations are unavoidable. I ma hoping our flu and COVID jabs will offer some proetection but not sure how long they last.
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Hope you are feeling better.
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Thanks, Barbara. Fingers crossed.
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Hope you feel better soon. We can do weird things, think nothing of it and our body is like WTF?? And it becomes so sore. And yes trust me, as I nurse, I’ve seen more than my share of inconsiderate patients.
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Bernie, respect to you guys for working under such conditions. I am a people watcher and it never ceases to amaze me whether at the farmacy, in a supermarket, doctors or wherever that some people can be so thoughtless.
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Sorry to hear about the pain under your ribs and the situation in the waiting room. I hope you’re feeling better soon. Thank you for your weekend coffee share.
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Thanks, Natalie. Hopefully it will subside soon.
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