Strawberries from Greece...

 

Spring has arrived and with it the first strawberries from Greece. I had eaten these chemical bombs before without any problems, but apparently some time has passed during which the chemical industry has made a tiger leap and I got a migraine that lasted for several days from those strawberries.

The picture shows strawberry tarts with vanilla whipped cream.

Go Blue. How we went to Urgent Care. And to CVS.

Dear loyal reader, my first experience with the medical system in the country that has been built up on healthcare, lawyers and tax advisors, deserves a separate post.

Around lunchtime Scott started to have some stomach aches and while in the beginning he was accusing last night pizza and today's McDonalds' breakfast, in few hours it was clear that those two are not causing this kind of pain. All possible medicals had been consumed or shipped to Estonia, so we only had the choice of chamomile, peppermint and pure vodka. I started with chamomile tea and followed with strong peppermint tea. Neither was much help. By 6pm the pain was so strong that we went to the closest Urgent Care.

In the first cabinet we were sent to, the girl, constantly touching her mask, measured the temperature and asked questions about weight and exercise. From there we went to the next cabinet to wait. Few minutes later rasta-dude called Patrick came in, who immediately rolled his seat between Scott's legs and asked some questions about the stomach ache. Scott assumed that he has diverticulitis, which would not be the first time and asked for some painkiller. Considering that the patient didn't have US health insurance, he could choose whether he wants the IV (quicker, but more expensive) or shot (slower, but cheaper). Before prescribing antibiotics, they inquired, if the patient would like to have some tests taken, for example blood or urine. The patient didn't really want either, but to exclude kidney stones they did take urine test. The chosen shot was done by a lady, who had nicely covered her hair under hijab, but left the mask home.

The shot started to slowly kick in and meanwhile the rasta-dude popped in again to consult, which treatment the patient would prefer. Considering that in less than 48 hours we had to board the plane and still had few things left to do, the patient wanted some antibiotics and also a stronger painkiller to get through the next few days, like Vicodin. Turned out that the rasta-guy can't prescribe Vicodin for it being a too strong of a drug, but after a short consultation with the owner of the clinic the later agreed to prescribe two days dose of Norco. They handed us the Norco prescription on paper and sent the antibiotics one directly to the CVS. Fast and efficient - walk in, tell them what you diagnosed yourself with, pay and walk out with a handful of prescriptions.

So we did pay the bill and drove to CVS. Scott remained in the car until I quickly run in and get the drugs. Oh, well, guess again. There were three counters in the prescription area:
Consultation - empty
Drop Off - empty
Pick Up - one pharmacist and one customer

Since I only needed to pick up the pills, I naturally went to wait in the "Pick Up" lane. Turned out to be not the greatest idea. After 10 minutes of waiting it was my turn only to find out that until I have dropped off my prescription in the "Drop Off" counter so that they can prepare my medicine, there's nothing to be picked up. Alright, I walked to the mentioned counter and waited. In 5 minutes a young guy came, took the prescription and after clicking the keyboard for a while he told me that he doesn't have authority to deal with this kind of drug. More senior pharmacist should be with me shortly. Only 10 more minutes passed and the senior pharmacist was working with the prescription. She typed on the keyboard, took few phone calls and told me that they can't sell me the drug. Apparently, since it's too strong of a drug, they can't accept this prescription from a regular clinic and they shouldn't have issued it in the first place. Anyway, she refused to do anything with it. With the antibiotics they need 15 minutes and they'll call my name, once ready to be picked up.

Since there wasn't anything for me to do in CVS for the 15 minutes, I went back to the car and gave Scott the report of the current stand. Scott called the CVS as well as the clinic, but max he managed to get, was a new prescription for a milder painkiller.

I returned to the CVS and already 45 minutes after I first entered it, I had two of the three drugs!

Gaili of all Trades

Losing the normalcy. I think, that's how I would describe the current situation. Nothing that used to be taken for granted, normal and daily, is it not anymore. And I'm not talking about not being able to travel or that the economy is f*cked up or we can't go to H&M anymore. I don't think Netflix is human right. But what I do consider human right to go outside. And it's not the newly found sports enthusiast in me talking, but I've always preferred walking over taking the bus or just walks, hikes. I've always sort of disliked sports - I can still remember how much I hated the dodge ball in school and how until this day I'm not able to climb the rope to the ceiling or do a somersault or cartwheel. But 3,5 years ago, when I moved to Munich I started to run. Which has become a habit now. Mostly 2-4 times a week with the exception of October, when it happened 5 times a week. And now my only option to go for a run is early morning, in the hope that all the people walking dogs or pushing baby carriages are still asleep. Where did all of them suddenly come from? Where did they keep their dogs and babies until now? Merely few weeks ago I could run whatever time I wanted to and saw one dog, if even. Now, during my 35-minute morning run I see around 6 baby carriers and 8 dogs. The later it gets, the higher the number. Also, most of them don't understand the rule of two meters.

We are still trying to go for a walk once a day. Usually around 8-9pm to see as little people as possible. And it still feels like trespassing. Our usual long leisurely walks have turned into speedy nordic walks (just without sticks), where the route is decided on every street corner and the street with least people will be chosen. And it's not until we're back home that I can breathe out again. It would be a great deal better, if the rest of the people would also keep the two meters distance and not saunter around with Saku six pack in hand in the MIDDLE of the sidewalk! And then there are the kids with scooters and bikes. A little older ones (so like 10yrs maybe) hang around in groups and do their tricks and the younger ones are just escaping their parents, who are not the least worried about the kids getting too close to other people.

Considering all that I should adjust my daily step goal. At the moment instead of the usual 11.000 steps 800 seem like a decent challenge.

Once all of this crap started, most of the people were saying that "Your grandparents went to the war and you tell me that you can't spend two weeks in your home, on your couch with Netflix and wifi to save the world?" Well, as of today, the two weeks are over, can I return to the regular life? And as a side note - during those two weeks there are still people, who have not understood the difference between quarantine and isolation. It seems like most of them have recently returned from trips or are having some symptoms, because according to their social media, they are all quarantined. Although isolation and 2-meter distance should be enough for them. And frustratingly big number of people are still in guarantine...

And suddenly everyone is a world famous virologist. All those who used to be politicians or real estate lawyers. Now they all know for sure that the virus doesn't reach beyond 2, 3,5 and 6 meters. Or it sticks to the surface for 72 hours, a week or 17 days. There have been miraculous recovering among MMS consumers and according to them everyone in Estonian Health Organisation should be fired and way more competent Jacks and Janes put in place.

I was putting on some make-up yesterday morning (some mascara and eyebrows that is) and felt myself like a decent muslim woman, getting herself all fancy just to stay home and please the husband. Didn't bother with any jewellery tho.

I ordered a package from Apollo to be delivered to the first floor Smartpost lockers. Since I didn't pay attention to their text that those lockers are full and they'll bring my package to the second floor lockers, a few hours later that's exactly what they did. Just so nobody would think that I'm trying to split the hair here, because how far can the second floor be from the first one, I'd like to point out that from the first floor one I can collect my stuff until 11pm, but to the second floor one the access will be closed at 9pm and currently I have no desire to go into a shopping centre that early. Anyway, I called Smartpost and asked to bring my package to the first floor lockers:
Girl from Smartpost: It's already been delivered to the locker, we can't bring it somewhere else.
Me: Yes, but unfortunately I can't pick it up there, because I don't go to the shopping centre before 9pm.
Girl from Smartpost: The we have to contact the company.
Me: Which company?
Girl from Smartpost: The seller, Apollo.
Silence in my end, because it's difficult to talk when you're speechless.
Girl from Smartpost: We will contact Apollo then.
Me: Ok.
Girl from Smartpost: But it will all take more time. Once they confirm it, we can pick up the package from the second floor, bring it to our warehouse and once there is an available locker on the first floor, we can deliver it. At the moment they become available very slowly, because people are not picking up their stuff and extend the storage.
Since I was in no hurry, I kindly approved the process. All the while not being able to understand, why now, when online shopping has been skyrocketing, they even allow extending. I'd say it would be more reasonable to bring those overdue items to their warehouse and not delay new shippings.

And I also have a package coming via Omniva. I got a paper notification that I can pick it up in their post office in Kristiine. In the light of the current situation the post office is open Mon to Fri from 10am to 6pm and on Sat from 10am to 3pm. Also known as the time, when I definitely won't be visiting the shopping center. And I can't also see any possibility to keep 2 meters distance there. So I asked them to reroute it to the lockers. Omniva informed me that under current circumstances it will take more time than usual, but will be done. So, now I'm waiting.

And actually we should be in Georgia right now. Hiking in the mountains around Khutaisi and eat all the gourmet there. Honestly, if we would have been able to get there, considering the current situation, we would have stayed there until the crap is over. Seems more reasonable than on the western front. But instead we are enjoying the beautiful sunny spring through the window and make plans, what time would be the best to go out to see as few people as possible. Dear reader, can you recall when it was the last time that we had such a nice sunny spring?

How I went to the dentist and what you can learn from it

To start in the beginning, I need to start with beginning of July when over night I got two gum infections. Since the left side pushed the infection quickly to the right side, I (naively) expected the right side to sort it out soon too and in few days I could continue my life as I know it. After eating painkillers for a week I went to emergency room. For 26 euros I got rinsing with the same mouth water that I was using already anyway and a bit of painkiller that was placed between gum and tooth. All that didn't change the situation more than just leaving me without 26 euros. So I called to most of dentist offices in Tallinn to find one that is not on holidays in July and where I could get an appointment before September. Found one. Basically the same procedure, but since they also took a panorama, I left that place with 45 euros less. By the end of the second week the pain started to decrease and I didn't have to take my carry-on to the drugstore anymore to bring the painkillers home. Fast forward three weeks and the gum infection was back, this time straight by the lower right wisdom tooth. I decided to go for the antibiotics. To think back a little, it must have been my first antibiotics in the last 20 years. Or even more, because I can't recall taking or not taking them in the school. At the same time I decided it was a good idea to have the mentioned wisdom tooth removed. Because I had consulted Dr. Google and turned out that the doctors don't remove the wisdom tooth, if there's the gum infection. So, I made an appointment in the face and jaw surgical center. So far so good. But I talked to my dentist about the plan and decided that removing the tooth doesn't fit my plans and changed the tooth removing appointment into consulting appointment. So, we'd have time to discuss and plan it and then find a suitable time in autumn to pull the little bastard out. As said, went to my consultancy appointment on Wednesday and before I realized, I was shown my tooth without a mirror. Although it might have been somewhat confusing in the doc's office, there was no more confusion after looking in the mirror at home. The cheek without the tooth was way bigger than the cheek with the tooth was and without the tooth it hurt much more than with the tooth.

Got a prescription for another antibiotics and an extra strong painkiller from the doc. The painkiller was something to take once a day and was supposed to work its miracles for 24 hours. And I got the advise to take it before the anesthetic started to disappear and then next day based on need. Bought both of them right after leaving the dentist and since I thought that I can feel my tongue again, I also took the first painkiller. Anesthetic left, pain stepped in. That 24 hour painkiller didn't kill the pain at all. I consulted Dr Google again, whether I can mix and match different painkillers and compliment the strong one with the over-the-counter ibuprofen. Google was a bit hesitant, but kindly informed me that the given painkiller was analog for Vioxx. Vioxx itself was banned in US after being on the market for 5 years, because it caused inconveniently lot of sudden deaths. And the mentioned analog didn't get approval from the drug committee in the first place. They must have sold all the already produced packages to the east block here. Threw the rest of the 6 pills away and called the medical line to get a second opinion. I found out that there is not much point to take ibuprofen, because it's from the same family, but I can eat some paracetamol. I had to pay drugstore a visit, because my medical box at home consisted mainly of ibuprofen based painkillers. Paracetamol worked and I slept through most of the night. By morning, the missing tooth used more space than yesterday.

Sincerely
Your Hamster