Aaarrgggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhh

[Mrs C.]

The South-East here has had draconian hose pipe ban last summer! Nobody would have planted a new lawn in the spring - anticipating a dried yellow tragedy by summer. Lawns are definitely a source of worry now - and it's no longer de rigeur to ban every weed!

A programme on tv last week informed us that flash flooding in towns and cities is possibly caused by people gettig rid of lawns and gardens and having low-maintenance paved areas, as water runs off into the antiquated sewer system rather than soaking in - seems we just can`t win!!

[icomefromalanddownunder]

I've had a dose of giardia, which I would not wish on anyone.

What's this? A water-borne disease!!


Munch

Yup - and a particularly unsavoury one.

We had eaten dinner at my sister-in-laws the day before symptoms began, and I thought that she had given me fat poisoning (roast, roast and roast, dripping in grease).

After a week of explosive bowel movement and sulphurous belches the skin on my face was so dehydrated that it began to fall off, so I thought that I had better visit a GP. I told him that I had the symptoms for a week, but I saw him write in my notes that I had had d&v for two days

'I need a stool sample, and as its Saturday the lab will be closing at 1pm, so can you take it there yourself'. 'No probs Doc', except, of course, once the bowels were required to move they refused, but only temporarily. Sample delivered to lab just as doors were being locked.

First thing on Monday morning the GP rang me, apologising profusely for thinking that I had been exagerrating my symptoms, telling me that I had giardia (little protozoan things that go through a stage which looks like little monkey faces under the microscope), and needed to get back to him immediately to pick up some medication.

The medication was 3 tablets which had to be taken all at the same time. Now, my body was just about turning inside-out as it was, and the thought of upsetting it further by adding pharmaceuticals just didn't appeal, so I didn't take the pills for a further 3 days. By which time I had gone through the 'I'm scared I'm going to die' stage, and was rapidly approaching 'I'm scared I'm not going to die', so down went the pills, and they worked almost immediately - just like magic

Bet you're glad you asked Munch

Love

Caroline

[sejintenej]

{description of particularly nasty intestinal (?) complaint}

The medication was 3 tablets which had to be taken all at the same time. Now, my body was just about turning inside-out as it was, and the thought of upsetting it further by adding pharmaceuticals just didn't appeal, so I didn't take the pills for a further 3 days. By which time I had gone through the 'I'm scared I'm going to die' stage, and was rapidly approaching 'I'm scared I'm not going to die', so down went the pills, and they worked almost immediately - just like magic

On holiday in Brazil (paid for by an employer) my wife got a bug despite every precaution; terrible dehydration - she couldn't even speak, lips glued together ....... all in 12 hours. Ancient wizened doctor came to the hotel and prescribed two injections strictly between 11 1/2 and 12 1/2 hours apart; he gave the first one and gave me the second phial. The next morning she was far better but a slight problem - we had a flight to catch. No problem in Brazil - go to a chemist shop at the airport, he takes a sealed syringe and (separate) sealed needle and wipes off the shelf, then go in the back room and he administered the second shot. He then got some pliers and ceremonially broke the needle in front of us. Cost - minimal - the three items used and about 20 pence labour. No more problems.

[Angela Woodford]

Of course I'm glad I asked Caroline - I'm sure every Forumite is horrified - you must have felt terrible. I hope you haven't lost too much weight. Dehydration would have made you feel ghastly anyway. Please take care, I'm so hoping you feel better.

I feel very impressed by this Brazilian system! Imagine coming to your hotel at minimal cost! And such an obliging pharmacist. Very glad the treatment worked for you. Flying home from Brazil whilst feeling at death's door... not too wonderful.

I've only had one experience of a foreign doctor. We'd arrived at a french gite - three little children - after a long drive at sunset which had flashed into my eyes between the trees lining the endless road. Migraine!
A French doctor was summoned. He returned with a giant box of some drug to be given i/m, huge syringes, very large needles and an awful lot of suppositories (mais naturellement). A ferocious nurse arrived twice a day to give them!

The children were enchanted. They staked out the garden into three areas to defend/attack each other with the water filled discarded syringes. For three days it went on, crushing pain in head - sick - screams of laughter from garden - repeat ad nauseam.

The treatment cost a lot, but luckily we'd got insurance. Another day wasted while we located a French social services building to claim back some funds.

But the children had had a brilliant time.

Love

Munch

[englishangel]

While pregnant with No 1 son I drove to a gite in the Loire Valley for a holiday and on the second day I put my back out. We gave it a week but it was no better and as husband had only passed his test the day before we left england we were sans driver.

We invoked the AA Five star insurance which we had taken out on booking before I knew I was pregnant and they directed us to a lovely doctor who asked me 'how young are you?'

We were transported home by ambulance, ferry (in a cabin) and ambulance. (with a dozen bottles of wine under the blankets on my stretcher!) In the days before you could bring back as much as you liked.

[sejintenej]

A programme on tv last week informed us that flash flooding in towns and cities is possibly caused by people gettig rid of lawns and gardens and having low-maintenance paved areas, as water runs off into the antiquated sewer system rather than soaking in - seems we just can`t win!!

I didn't see that one but I had heard it before - trees are even better at preventing flash flooding.

It is not only paved areas - very dry grass or earth does not allow water to permeate down quickly so the water runs off along the surface so they also can help cause flash flooding.

[Angela Woodford]

Doing gravel or bark chippings can be a solution - but not underlaid with black plastic! And you can rake the gravel into meaningful Zen designs.

Love

Munch

[Liz Jay]

Hi Munch and other gardeners

Found my way onto this section now goody goody.....

We have eight dogs (all bitches) and have long given up on the idea of a beautiful garden, much of it is necessarily paved/cobbled/gravelled - 'twould break a gardener's heart.

We have a small patch of "lawn" which struggles bravely back to life each year then returns to a rugby pitch quagmire all winter long.

I have seriously considered investing in some artificial grass - the garden in the Big Brother House type which to me looked fairly realistic.

Any thoughts? It's quite expensive, on a par with a good quality carpet!!

[Mrs C.]

A programme on tv last week informed us that flash flooding in towns and cities is possibly caused by people gettig rid of lawns and gardens and having low-maintenance paved areas, as water runs off into the antiquated sewer system rather than soaking in - seems we just can`t win!!

I didn't see that one but I had heard it before - trees are even better at preventing flash flooding.

It is not only paved areas - very dry grass or earth does not allow water to permeate down quickly so the water runs off along the surface so they also can help cause flash flooding.

therefore we should be allowed to water the garden in dry periods??!!

[englishangel]

It is not only paved areas - very dry grass or earth does not allow water to permeate down quickly so the water runs off along the surface so they also can help cause flash flooding.

Hence " the wrong type of rain" that torrential stuff we get after a dry spell which just runs straight off. a gentle English drizzle is much better.

[J.R.]

A programme on tv last week informed us that flash flooding in towns and cities is possibly caused by people gettig rid of lawns and gardens and having low-maintenance paved areas, as water runs off into the antiquated sewer system rather than soaking in - seems we just can`t win!!

I didn't see that one but I had heard it before - trees are even better at preventing flash flooding.

It is not only paved areas - very dry grass or earth does not allow water to permeate down quickly so the water runs off along the surface so they also can help cause flash flooding.

therefore we should be allowed to water the garden in dry periods??!!

Ooooops !

[sejintenej]

I didn't see that one but I had heard it before - trees are even better at preventing flash flooding.

It is not only paved areas - very dry grass or earth does not allow water to permeate down quickly so the water runs off along the surface so they also can help cause flash flooding.

therefore we should be allowed to water the garden in dry periods??!!

Ooooops !

Mrs C is quite right, though it would need a lot of water every day!