La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
I’m supposed to do lab work and see the doctor once a month, but she’s on vacation beginning Thursday, so she moved things a week sooner this month. Here’s the scoop: There wasn’t enough change in my test results, so my medication dosage has been increased slightly. There’s nothing unusual or surprising about that. My fatigue is a not very common side effect of my membranous nephropathy. But it does happen. I’m the one who once took Nyquil (“the nighttime, sniffling, sneezing, aching, coughing, stuffy-head, fever, so you can rest medicine”) and was awake the entire night. It turns out it can “rarely” cause hyperactivity and irritability. Yay me.
Today hasn’t been bad at all. This condition often goes into “spontaneous remission” after 6 months. The nephrologist didn’t want to leave me with uncontrolled dangerous symptoms for that much time, so started treatment early (two months ago). There’s still a possibility of spontaneous remission, but the current treatment usually takes a year or more. So, I’m comfortable with my treatment and hope for a good outcome.
Five-year-old Maria is here from Madrid this week with her parents, our friends Cristina and Alfonso. We met for coffee and second-breakfast Monday morning and that made the sun shine even brighter. We went to Mesón Salvador for dinner Monday night (of course, a pleasure), and Cristina met us again for coffee this morning (while Alfonso and María got their beauty sleep — which is obviously working for them). However, Maria is already one of those people you don’t want to be around when they first wake up. What a grouch!
They’re now at the beach on this hot (feels like 36C/96F) day. The humidity has been low (currently 29%), but the hot dry air burns when you breathe. Many people have spent the day in the sea. Sea temperature today is 26C/80F); that’s even warm enough for me. We used to keep our pool in Palm Springs heated in winter to 30C/86F. We’re longing for those Mediterranean breezes, but they’re some days away. Thursday is supposed to bring much more comfortable temperatures.
Isabel was here today and although the poor cats love her, they are traumatized by her activity level. I guess they’re just not used to someone cleaning. I don’t know why.
On our way back from the medical centre in Benalmádena, we passed an awful traffic jam on Fuengirola’s streets. Thankfully, it was in the opposite direction because traffic was at a dead stop. There must have been an accident on the highway. There’s also a traffic jam on the Mediterranean Sea, but that’s so much more manageable.
Se supone que debo hacerme análisis de laboratorio y ver al médico una vez al mes, pero ella está de vacaciones a partir del jueves, así que adelantó las cosas una semana este mes. Aquí está la primicia: no hubo suficientes cambios en los resultados de mis pruebas, así que aumentaron ligeramente la dosis de mi medicamento. No hay nada inusual o sorprendente en eso. Mi fatiga no es un efecto secundario muy común de mi nefropatia membranosa. Pero sucede. Soy la que una vez tomó Nyquil (“el medicamento nocturno para moquear, estornudar, tener dolor, toser, tener la cabeza congestionada y fiebre, para que puedas descansar”) y estuve despierto toda la noche. Resulta que “raramente” puede causar hiperactividad e irritabilidad. ¡Bien por mí!
Hoy no ha sido nada malo. Esta condición a menudo entra en “remisión espontánea” después de 6 meses. La nefróloga no quería dejarme con síntomas descontrolados durante tanto tiempo, así que comenzó el tratamiento temprano (hace dos meses). Todavía existe la posibilidad de una remisión espontánea, pero el tratamiento actual suele durar un año o más. Así que me siento cómoda con mi tratamiento y espero un buen resultado.
María, de cinco años, está aquí desde Madrid esta semana con sus padres, nuestros amigos Cristina y Alfonso. Nos reunimos para tomar un café y un segundo desayuno el lunes por la mañana y eso hizo que el sol brillara aún más. Fuimos a cenar al Mesón Salvador el lunes por la noche (por supuesto, un placer), y Cristina se reunió con nosotros nuevamente para tomar un café esta mañana (mientras Alfonso y María dormían bien, lo que obviamente les está funcionando). Sin embargo, María ya es una de esas personas con las que no quieres estar cerca cuando se despiertan por primera vez. ¡Qué gruñona!
Ahora están en la playa en este día caluroso (la sensación térmica es de 36°C/96 F). La humedad ha sido baja (actualmente 29%), pero el aire caliente y seco quema al respirar. Mucha gente ha pasado el día en el mar. La temperatura del mar hoy es de 26°C/80°F); eso es lo suficientemente cálido incluso para mí. En invierno, solíamos mantener la piscina de Palm Springs climatizada a 30 °C/86 °F. Estamos deseando que llegue la brisa mediterránea, pero faltan unos días. Se supone que el jueves traerá temperaturas mucho más agradables.
Isabel estuvo aquí hoy y, aunque los pobres gatos la adoran, están traumatizados por su nivel de actividad. Supongo que simplemente están demasiado acostumbrados a que alguien limpie. No sé por qué.
De vuelta del centro médico de Benalmádena, pasamos por un atasco terrible en las calles de Fuengirola. Afortunadamente, era en sentido contrario porque el tráfico estaba totalmente parado. Debió haber habido un accidente en la autopista. También hay un atasco en el mar Mediterráneo, pero eso es mucho más manejable.
• Atasco de tráfico al otro lado de la calle.
• Necesitamos pensar más en el fondo.
• Dudo estaba fascinado con la pila de ropa. Desearía que él lavara y doblara.
• Hoy tuvimos un excelente almuerzo en la cafetería del centro médico y vimos a esta experta en moda. Ojalá hubiera podido compartirlo desde el frente. Supongo que podría haber preguntado. El cabello de arriba estaba un poco torcido y parecía hecho de fieltro. Bien por ella. Su compañero mucho más joven tampoco estaba mal. Nada torcido.
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I say throw the fashion maven overboard and get to the real star of that picture, the hunky man sitting; man spread!!!!!!!
And the looks that child gives, have me on edge. I’m not sure I would want to baby sit her. IM sure she is sweet and what a cutie, but I’m getting some major Omen vibes!!!! Im not ready to be the Lee Remick LMAO!!!!
My immediate thought was “Oh, my gawd – it’s Drew Barrymore in Firestarter!” Jx
Jon:
Fortunately, there’s no evil in María (that we know of).
Mistress Borghese:
Maria is very emotive. And, sometimes, if looks could kill! But she’s a sweetheart and unbelievably bright.
I’m at the oh it’s only going to get up to 90F today stage. Yippie! Grouchy or not, Maria is still beautiful. I wouldn’t have noticed the background in your photo if you hadn’t pointed it out. Truely! Honest! Wishing you the very best, Scoot.
Deedles:
María was all smiles this morning. Phew! She is beautiful… and a sweetheart. Every year, we have one of the waiters take a photo of us outside after dinner and we pose in the same direction with those ugly storefronts in the background. But I think I’m the only one who really cares.
Maria is adorable! Now I know if I want to be trendy I should wear a mop on my head.
Love,
Janie
janiejunebug:
SG saw that woman while I was waiting for the doctor. I missed her but he described her to me. When she entered the cafeteria, I knew immediately. Wow!
Oh Michi….you look really really good in that photo. Who noticed the background with you smiling there.
JSSW:
Thanks! But I don’t feel like I look very good. Ugh!
A great group photo — and the background is just fine! It’s not like you were in front of a porno shop or a strip joint or something.
Debra:
Well, except for María, the porn shop or strip joint would have been more interesting.
Hi, it’s 30 plus degrees here. I go swimming in the lake in the morning and spend the rest of the day indoors in front of a fan, windows and doors shut. I will never understand why people move further south to higher temperatures and take off all their clothes, sit in the sun and burn, baby burn. We know of people who go to Turkey for example for summer holidays … with children…why would you do that? It’s really, really hot here (Switzerland) July and August. We’ve spent the last 2 months indoors from the heat. Here people go up to the mountains to escape the heat. Just saying.
Karen:
30+ is awful there! Here, people from further up in Andalusia come down to the coast to escape the extreme heat. 32 at the beach is easier to take than 42 in Sevilla.
Great group photo. What good looking friends you have!
I’m glad your health situation is stable and that you’re content with your treatment. Count me in as another person who’s twitchy all night, creepy feelings, after one of those drowse inducing meds. We’re such delicate souls.
That was me. Boud.
Boud:
My mother claimed to be the actual princess from The Princess and the Pea. Alfonso and Cristina are as wonderful as they are beautiful. María, too. We’re so lucky.
Gray Haired’s man friend had quite the man spread ….
Sounds like the medical news is somewhat stable and your doctor seems on the ball which I’m sure is a relief!
Love The Boys under glass and that devilish look on Maria’s face.
Bob:
Yes, that was some major manspreading. But he did have a bandage wrapped around his right leg, so the position may have been a result of that. He sure was pretty! María is a joy.
My son isn’t pleasant most of the time when he wakes up
Unless I hand him a tablet.
Adam:
You do what you must!
Somewhere in that sentence about Thursday (“… is supposed to bring much more comfortable temperatures”) I saw the word, “cupcake”… “Thursday… cupcake…”. Ha! My mind is getting away from me. I quickly re-read and was glad about your upcoming more comfortable temperatures (though I am bummed that I won’t get to see photos of cupcakes).
Keep on healing 🙂
Judy C:
Now all I want is a cupcake! We can easily find muffins. Cupcakes, too, but I’ll have to work a little harder.
You may have a truth-in-advertising case against Nyquil.
Kirk:
When I read the packaging the next day, I think it said, “May cause sleeplessness in some people.” What the!?! I was SO frustrated.
Medusa in leopard skin? Oh my.
Walt the Fourth:
And why is it always animal prints?
Reading Janie’s comment, it does look like a mop on her head! I have the same reaction with NyQuil. It hypes me up, as does any sinus type of med. When I read your first paragraph, I looked up membranous nephropathy online before I continued reading your post. And then when I got to the second paragraph, it was along the same lines as what I was reading. I hope that you see continued recovery. That photo of the five of you is great!
Michael:
I laughed at the mop-on-her-head description. So accurate. My doctor is much more encouraging than what I read online. So I limit my reading. I’d love to have more casual photos of the 5 of us, but we’re always happy to have an annual record of our reunion. They make us happy!
What a gorgeous group of people! I swear- you are all so beautiful. And Maria- well, that child knows what’s going on. No one’s getting anything past her.
I am constantly gobsmacked at how blue your water and sky are.
I think it’s called a “paradoxical reaction” when you experience the exact opposite of what a drug is supposed to do. My mother reacted like that to Benadryl which knocks most people out.
Ms. Moon
Ms. Moonsigh:
I can’t even take Tylenol (normal strength) unless I have time for a nap. One would think, with all the drugs in my past, I wouldn’t have such a low tolerance. María is a fire cracker!
Ms. Moon:
Oh, your assessments are so generous. Yes, we’re all gorgeous here…
The sky is again vivid blue today. I like the paradoxical reaction. I’m a paradox!
Well, let’s keep our fingers crossed for spontaneous remission! I’m laughing at Mistress Borghese’s comments above. Maria DOES have a bit of a Damien thing going on. And yes, the leopard-woman’s youthful companion definitely steals the show! That’s quite a bit of thigh he’s flashing.
Steve:
Yes, spontaneous remission would be amazing! And, yes, María does have the look of Damien about her. Youthful companion was the total package.
You seem to be handling your health issues well. Global warming is a bitch. And while I’m not much for fashion, I did notice the man spreading in that last picture.
Frank:
I have my good attitude days and my bad attitude days. I try not to burden you with my especially bad attitude days, which are improving. The man spreader was quite well put together.
I am glad to hear you are doing well, and hoping you continue to improve. I to was looking past the curly dreads to the other side of the table. You could have closely examined the bandage.
David:
I was really looking past the mop top, as well. A very pleasant view.
Cats cannot be dependent upon to do laundry; it is not in their job description.
Urspo:
Have you ever SEEN a cat’s job description? It’s simply a list of all the things they will NOT do.