To Hell and Campylobacter

         On Wednesday, October 24^th, I set out on my first big international adventure by myself! I was pretty nervous about this. I left Mildenhall at 8:00am via the free bus on base that to London-Heathrow airport, for free, to start my 20 hour journey home for my best friend’s wedding. Upon arriving at Heathrow airport I about crapped my pants because it hit me that I was about to navigate this huge international airport by myself. I had no idea where I was, all I knew was that I needed terminal one. I luckily found the building, after stalking a guy from the bus, and ended up talking to the guy. Turns out he is a middle school science teacher and his wife is a dentist at Lakenheath, they had just gotten married and moved to England two months ago and he was flying to Chicago via United Airlines…small world! I don’t remember his name, but at least I had someone to help me find my airline and get checked in. We arrived at Heathrow around 10 am and his flight was at 12:00 while mine was at 3:30. We parted ways and I headed to get some lunch after getting checked in. Once I killed time eating some lunch I headed through security and had my mind blown because no one was taking off their shoes, luckily I noticed this or else I would’ve definitely stuck out as an American. I got through security and was randomly selected for more security (now I know how my brother-in-law Josh feels). I did some shopping for snacks (which they ask for your boarding pass when you buy something there, who knew?) and then wrote a rocking awesome MOH speech until I found out what gate I was supposed to go to. I got on the flight and it wasn’t even all the way full, what luck! Everything was going great until after I ate the dinner on this flight, then it all went downhill. 

My transportation to the airport

A map of Heathrow airport, doesnt look too hard to navigate, right?!

        We had been flying for about four hours (but it felt like eternity in the tiny little economy seats with zero leg room) and we had about four hours left to fly when I started to feel really hot. I turned my air on full blast and convinced myself it was all okay. I then started to feel sick at my stomach and decided it was probably nerves and made myself walk around a bit. I went to the bathroom a few times, even got an air sick bag just in case, but  I kept getting hot and cold, hot and cold, finally with and hour and half left I asked one of the flight attendants if there was somewhere I could lay down as I was feeling nauseous. She showed me three seats in the center of the very back of the plane and I grabbed my stuff, excited to lie down. I started to feel a bit better and even drank a sprite. We landed early, in what felt like the bumpiest, slowest, and worst landing ever. I was proud that I had kept myself from getting sick, but I had to lie back down because they were taking forever to open the door after we landed. Once people started to move I grabbed my backpack and stood up, feeling really hot again…this was it, I couldn’t talk myself out of it, it was going to happen, I could feel it… I started walking off the plane and got to about business first class (the one before first class) when I felt the vomit coming up (sorry to be graphic) I tried the bathroom door, locked (or in my panic I couldn’t figure it out) crap…I’m screwed…mind over matter, mind over matter, walking through first class is a blur, but I did it, I made it, as soon as I stepped off the plane I turned to the right a bit and it came. Yup, I was that girl throwing up on the outside of an aircraft and listening to people walking behind me going…eww gross. Well sorry people, at least its outside and you don’t have to smell it. The flight attendants were real helpful, they even gave me a packet of toiletries you get in first class, and yeah I beat the system, the luxury of first class for an economy ticket price. They let me into the bathroom to clean up a bit and I heard people outside concerned about the puke on the outside of the air craft because they had to use the plane again and they needed water stat….again sorry people it was either there or all over your seats in first class. As I was crying the flight attendants said don’t worry, you will never see us again, that made me feel great and they had a wheel chair ready to take me to customs. 

Sum's up my feelings about being wheel chaired through customs

        I really ticked off the US border patrol because by the time I was wheeled there everyone had gone. (Cool no lines!!) Out of the ten men standing there no one jumped to help me, they just rudely said “where did you come from?” Clearly dude, I am 23 years old and in a wheel chair, not having the best day and I don’t need your attitude. (Side note-you want some nice friendly border patrol come to the UK, everyone is nice, unlike the US where everyone is mean). Anyway, he asked me the standard questions then rudely said, “You look nothing like your passport picture”…translation, “you look like crap”. I said, “Yeah well, I was tan there, I have cut my bangs, and I just threw up, but yes I do clean up nicely, “glared at him and walked away. I ran into the flight attendants that I was “never supposed to see again,” they were upset that they didn’t continue to wheel chair me to my gate. Anyway, somehow I found my bag, it made it onto the next plane, and I took the tram, went through security, and found my gate. I also called AT&T to set up my American phone when I couldn’t get ahold of my husband who was staying at our cottage with no internet or cell phone service; it was also 1 am England time. I called my mom and my sister, no answer. Luckily I had their numbers memorized as my phone only had the numbers on my British SIM card. So I called again, luckily my sister realized something was probably wrong and called me right back. All I could say in between sobs was something’s wrong. I got sick. She was very calm and got me to calm down, I didn’t want to get sick again on the next plane but I also didn’t want to be stuck in Chicago. I made a series of phone calls, got some medicine, sipped water, lost my fleece, lost my boarding pass, and changed gates all in the span of an hour and a half. I finally made it onto the plane and luckily it was only an hour of actual flight time and I made it safe and sound to Springfield, where I was greeted by my mom, two best friends and their significant others, with signs and everything! It made me truly smile for the first time in 15 hours as well as cry…again!

Best Friends Ever!!

        I made it to my mom’s house, showered and went to bed, hoping it was just a bunch of nerves that made me sick and that I would wake up all better. Around 2 am I called my mom on her cell phone because I was burning up, she brought me a cold wash cloth and thermometer (moms are great) and my temperature was 103.9…ahhh! I slept most of the morning on Thursday, keeping a 103.7 to 103.9 fever. My mom came to get me during her lunch break to take me to urgent care because we thought I had the flu and I wanted drugs ASAP so I could get better for my best friend’s wedding. This is the point in which I really wished I had listened to all those insurance briefings people gave me at Vance about going to urgent care/the hospital, but at the time I thought when would I ever need that? I never get that sick! Luckily, they were able to get our insurance information pulled up even though I gave them multiple combinations of numbers that never equaled my husband’s SSN, they were the right numbers, I just couldn’t get the order down, and I blame the fever. Anyway, they made me wear a mask and did flu test. It took about an hour to get the results back, and that was the worst hour of my life in the waiting room. They called me back and I was so convinced I had the flu that I was ready to get my meds and go. I was working with a nurse at first and she said a physician’s assistant would be with me shortly, I knew this wasn’t good. My flu test came back negative, and since my fever was so high they wanted to give me fluids and run some tests….WHAT??? An IV?? I have never had one of those. They made me put on a hospital gown, drew blood and gave me an IV. My mom had to go back to class so I was completely alone, all I wanted was my husband. They ordered a chest x-ray to see if it was pneumonia, so again I got a wheel chair ride, in a hospital gown, wheeling around an IV…real attractive moment. I had asked Anna to try and contact Sam and he had decided to go to London to see his parents off, so he finally found out that things weren’t going great for me and I got a note from the secretaries at the urgent care to call my husband, FINALLY!! A number I could call and talk to Sam! It was so good to hear his voice! The chest x-ray came back normal but my white blood cell count was double the normal range. So the physician assistant said I was fighting a bacterial infection and there wasn’t any more she could do and she sent me on my way….WHAT??? NO ANTIBIOTICS…come on people I have an awesome bachelorette party that I planned with a new dress and boots tonight and a wedding that I came across the ocean for in TWO DAYS! Well, needless to say, I went back to bed and was pretty lifeless on Thursday night, I missed the bachelorette party and the limo (which I thought would be awesome to have at a bachelorette party plus I have never ridden in one, so with the help of the other girls we surprised Stephanie with it).

My pity party and attempt at getting an IV picture, I had to do something to pass the time

My cute new boots! My husband is the best!

           My fever was down on Friday, but I started having more awful symptoms you don’t want details about, but I was in the bathroom more than I was in bed. I was visited by the lovely bride and groom themselves as they delivered me sprite! How sweet! I should’ve gone back to the doctor, per my sister’s orders, but I didn’t. Friday night my fever spiked again to almost 104, I really didn’t want to have to go to the ER…those places scare me. Anyway, I started to have blood in my stool (sorry I know it’s gross) so at 11pm I decided I should probably go to the emergency room. Stephanie (the bride and my best friend) wanted to take me to the ER but I refused to let her, not the night before her wedding, but that is how true of a friend she is. Anyway, I got more fluids and more tests taken at the ER, I was there until about 5am and I was “going to the bathroom” about six times per hour….MISERABLE, but I finally left there with some antibiotics, oh and the gay nurse gave me a shot in my butt…right after he told me all about his partner and how his partner is a teacher, again not my finest moment in life. After being discharged from the hospital I had to do the hardest thing ever, text my best friend and tell her I would not be able to be a part of her special day because I had food poisoning. Sam and I had Thai Food the night before I left, I ate the duck with rice, and while we thought we were having a romantic date night…I was being poisoned. 

The lovely ER nurse left a huge bruise on my arm from the IV

       Saturday, wedding day, I was bed ridden again and super depressed that I was missing this wedding. I cried a few times, but I was too dehydrated to form real tears. I have never been this sick in my entire life. I am a firm believer in everything happens for a reason and God has a purpose, but I was at an absolute loss, why God? Why out of all the times in the world did I have to get sick on the week of my best friend’s wedding? I may never know the answer to that question, but I was heartbroken and I know Stephanie was too and I hated letting her down and being the reason her perfect day wasn’t fully perfect. The only reason I can think of is that I was home, had I gotten sick at any other time I wouldn’t have been in Springfield, I would’ve been on an air mattress and Sam was flying everyday so I would’ve been even more alone. However, I am still a bit angry with God and myself for getting sick and missing every part of the wedding. 

Easier said than done

        Things started to be better for me on Sunday; I actually ate a little bit and showered. Stephanie and Nathan came by before heading home to Texas and I put my dress on, as did Stephanie, so we could do some MOH and Bride pictures! Also, our third bestie, Anna, did read my speech at the reception, so I was there in spirit on Saturday night! The ten minute photo shoot took all my energy and it was back to the couch for me after they left. Slowly, but surely I was able to regain my strength and started feeling better. I missed my flight home (which happened to be on hurricane day, so that was probably a good thing…or yes even a GOD thing…maybe that is why I got sick) and I stayed an extra week to get my strength back. I got to see my sweet niece, Hazel, for a bit on Wednesday night in her Halloween costume. Anna brought me dinner on Thursday night and we watched the CMA awards! Anna took me to the doctor on Friday, we had lunch and even did some shopping, and then I took a nap that afternoon. Erin came over Friday night and we watched a movie, I think I even started wearing make-up again that day and doing my hair, oh it felt great to be human again! Saturday I went to coffee with Sarah, Hazel, Becky and Cathy and did a bit of shopping with them and wore my cute new boots, finally! Sunday, I went to church and then rested most of the day and Monday, after lunch with Anna and packing, I left that night…I was ready to go home to my boys!

MOH duties

I got to bustle her dress!

Our niece Hazel with her candy bar from my mom

A pretty princess!

Sam got internet so we could talk via skype! It was wonderful!

My mom enjoyed seeing this little guy! We keep telling her she may get a "return to sender" package if he acts up

        My flight back to England was much better than the flight to the states. My flight from Springfield was about forty-five minutes late taking off. When we landed in Chicago I was looking for my next gate when over the intercom I heard, “Final boarding call for flight 938 with service to London-Heathrow, all ticketed passengers must be on board now.” I ran to the gate and barely made it! Whew! I am also very out of shape as my running left me winded. Luckily, I upgraded my ticket (thanks to a wonderful husband) to Economy plus…I had about 3 extra inches of leg space than regular Economy…it was so worth the $89. I watched some movies and slept a little on the plane, I didn’t eat their food, but I was so happy to make it back to England with minor problems!! Hopefully, that is the last international flight I have to take by myself for a while!! Since being home I have been great, a little jet lagged for a few days, but I am happy to report I made a full recovery and Sam was glad to have me back because he got to eat real food again! I have to admit it was bit lonely coming back, because Sam had long flights and days where he would be gone from 7am until 12am, but I took up some crafting and cooking to pass the time, and thankfully we had internet!

I walked out of customs to my lovely husband holding a card with my name on it, so he blended in with all the other random people holding up signs! He also had a gift bag for me, he is the best and I think he was super excited to have me home!

Thanks for reading!

Love,

Amanda

Side bar- My husband usually titles all my posts after I read them to him, his title for this one was "Shit's and Giggles" but I didnt want to use a cuss word in my blog title, so to hell and campylobacter was his second option, he just wanted his creativity credited and recognized!