Seattle / Being Sick / Veggies

[GuardianAngel 1]

It's been a while since I started a topic in VJ, tonight since I couldn't sleep because of my sickness I decided to make one.

For the first week of my life in Seattle WA, it was perfect. I love the weather where its so cold even if the sun is shining, bouncing on your head, love the way streets are organized, less traffic and most of all, I love the neighborhood, it looks like the one I had in Cebu, less jeepney and population, of course.

After few days of merry making, came the unexpected stuff, GETTING SICK. I was just surprised one morning when I woke up sick and my throat aching pervasively. I figured it was tonsillitis so I constantly took ibuprofen just to ease the pain out. My fiance has just started working so we couldn't go to the doctor for the "amox prescription." Right now I am just taking ibuprofen and benadryl along with sore throat candies.. and what not?! Oh well.. I really hope it will finally go away at the end of the week. Its so damn hard to swallow specially when I'm craving for food thats kinda hard to chew.

In so far as the food is concerned, it's really making me hard to adjust because I haven't eaten vegetables my entire life since birth. I just grew up eating fruits rather than vegies. I tried eating it at one point but shiz it's really the taste that I couldn't take. My fiance on the other hand, loves to eat asparagus, sweet onions, broccoli and the like.. this is where we insanely become incompatible. However, there are food that we love to eat without much problem - ice cream, fries, burger, adobo just to name a few. . .

Curious how most people here are able to work the relationship out despite the hindrances in terms of food, money, etc.. Feel free to share.

Edited February 18, 2010 by GuardianAngel

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Sorry you are not feeling well. I usually take ibuprofen, along with drinking lots of hot green tea when I've got a sore throat.

My wife and I also started out with really different tastes in food, and it was a bit stressful when she first arrived here, but now after 3 years, we're a bit more accepting of each others taste. One thing that I think helped is that I love Filipino food, so right away, I was taking my wife to the local asian markets so she could prepare the foods she was more accustomed to. Then we'd try to different places to eat out and she gradually developed a taste for Mexican food (I could eat it everyday and not get tired of it). One thing she insisted in the beginning - having a Coke with almost every meal. We eventually switched to Coke Zero and then fairly recently, cut back on any soda, except when eating out. We also recently bought brown Jasmine rice and surprisingly, both my wife and 9 yr. old stepson liked it.

My wife still tends to be really picky about what she'll eat, but when we do go out to eat now, we have a list of restaurants she likes...Japanese noodles, Mexican, Indian, Chinese, Greek, and anything buffet. When eating veggies at home, she likes broccoli, baby bok choy (pechay?), kangkong, asparagus, cabbage, green beans.

[ravenbow 0]

sorry to hear your not feeling well..my thoughts to you is to get your sore throat checked out though..I am a nurse and my thoughts to you is get a strep test..not to scare you or anything but if left untreated, it could get very serious..i know you may not have insurance and it would be a little bit of a burden to you, but its worth getting looked at..I hope you feel better, and enjoy your new life..but please go to a clinic and have them treat you..good luck..

[Bernie C 24]

Its very common when moving to a different climate to have such sore throats. My fiancee is also experiening this. She is from the South of Vietnam.

Our home uses forced air heat and the air is very dry. This can lend to sore throats for us and especially to those like you who are not used to the dry air. Same thing can happen if you live in a home with hot water heat. There are a few things you can do. One option is to get a humidifier. If you dont want the expense you can put out some pans of water in various locations in the home (that is the old school method from many years ago). Keep hydrated by drinking plenty of water. I always keep a stock of "throat candy" too. I like cherry eucalyptus.

As far as adjusting to veggies - take it slow. Its difficult to change to much too fast, you might end up with upset stomach or diahrea. We found a nice little asian food store and have been cooking lots of Vietnamese food. No reason not to keep eating lots of fruits (although some may be a bit different than from your home).

Lots of challenges to adjusting, just try to take it easy and go slow.

Good luck and Best Wishes

[PhiLandShiR 18]

sorry to hear your not feeling well..my thoughts to you is to get your sore throat checked out though..I am a nurse and my thoughts to you is get a strep test..not to scare you or anything but if left untreated, it could get very serious..i know you may not have insurance and it would be a little bit of a burden to you, but its worth getting looked at..I hope you feel better, and enjoy your new life..but please go to a clinic and have them treat you..good luck..

I agree with Raven on this. Get that sore throat checked!! I am sure there are public health clinics that would charge little or nothing.

Strep is not a pretty thing if left untreated.

Have your Hubby get a humidifier for your bedroom, that will also help a lot!.

-phil

[ellmvl 1]

I am surprise that I didn't get sick ever since I got here right on time the winter started...thank God! It's weird that my husband has been sick for few times already this winter...so i guess it depends on how strong you keep your immune system. I am not taking any vitamins but I make sure I always get enough sleep and drink plenty of water. It helps! I hope you get well soon

Funny how you mentioned about the veggies, co'z I am not a fan of it either. I sometimes eat veggies but always with a meat. My husband knows what I call the salad = grass lol. I am lucky that my husband likes filipino food, since I am the one who cook in the house, there is nothing he can do but eat whatever i prepare. The only thing he doesn't like are the bones, like when I cook chicken adobo...I make slices that are purely meat for him and some slices have bones for me (my fav). When we dine out, so far there are only few restaurant that we can both agree to go to...mcdo, any pizza place, emperor's wok (chinese) and applebee's. I don't like greek or mexican food. Basically, I can eat most of their food here but I gotta have rice at least once a day or else i wont ever get full. LOL

When it comes to money, my husband is the only one working right now so money is kinda tight for us plus I am pregnant, so go figure. He let me have his paycheck and do the budgeting since he's not good at it (he admit it). I bet you we will be eating chips and fast food everyday if he will be the one holding the money. lol Good thing my mom has taught me how to be frugal since I was a kid...she let me go to the market alone and cook dinner at the age of 9, so i pretty much know how to spend money wisely. Of course, it is important that you discuss with your husband where and how you gonna spend the money even if you're the one in-charge of it.

Edited February 18, 2010 by ellmvl

[cjthel 0]

You will get used to it - embracing his way of life. I had two kids with me that are so no no with vegetables before they arrived here. Now, after two years, they have no language problem and loves almost all veggies... you name it! Be it onions, garlic, asparagus, brocolli, cauliflower and even peppers. It will take time but you will get used to it. Just be open to new things, it won't hurt you but you are giving your fiance a hard time. Just think of it as " I love him & I will be spending my life with him"... enough said...

[GuardianAngel 1]

Talking about veggies, then again, its something that I have outgrown, something that I have hated since birth. It's not like a hobby that I have forgotten in a long long time so it would be a walk in the park if I'll decide to doing it again. Believe me, I have been trying but its just so hard to swallow it.

Before I arrived, we already agreed on money matters. Most of his money will be spent for the wedding while my money was spent for my plane ticket and the rest of the K1 visa expenses from the visa application til I had my CFO seminar. He pretty much understands that its the only way we have right now because I still have yet to expedite my EAD.

I have been researching on possible doctors that we can go to. If you have a name in mind, please let me know. Thank you guys! /hug

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I have been researching on possible doctors that we can go to. If you have a name in mind, please let me know. Thank you guys! /hug

Look for a local community health clinic near where you live. Most of them are walk-in clinics that charge on a sliding scale based on you ability to pay. CVS pharmacies also have minute clinics, but be prepared to pay as much $60 for a visit.

[John&Juvy 36]

I am surprise that I didn't get sick ever since I got here right on time the winter started...thank God! It's weird that my husband has been sick for few times already this winter...so i guess it depends on how strong you keep your immune system. I am not taking any vitamins but I make sure I always get enough sleep and drink plenty of water. It helps! I hope you get well soon

Funny how you mentioned about the veggies, co'z I am not a fan of it either. I sometimes eat veggies but always with a meat. My husband knows what I call the salad = grass lol. I am lucky that my husband likes filipino food, since I am the one who cook in the house, there is nothing he can do but eat whatever i prepare. The only thing he doesn't like are the bones, like when I cook chicken adobo...I make slices that are purely meat for him and some slices have bones for me (my fav). When we dine out, so far there are only few restaurant that we can both agree to go to...mcdo, any pizza place, emperor's wok (chinese) and applebee's. I don't like greek or mexican food. Basically, I can eat most of their food here but I gotta have rice at least once a day or else i wont ever get full. LOL

When it comes to money, my husband is the only one working right now so money is kinda tight for us plus I am pregnant, so go figure. He let me have his paycheck and do the budgeting since he's not good at it (he admit it). I bet you we will be eating chips and fast food everyday if he will be the one holding the money. lol Good thing my mom has taught me how to be frugal since I was a kid...she let me go to the market alone and cook dinner at the age of 9, so i pretty much know how to spend money wisely. Of course, it is important that you discuss with your husband where and how you gonna spend the money even if you're the one in-charge of it.

Hoooraaayyyy !!! LOL. Atleast I know that I'm not the only one hate veggies lol. Husband asked me the other day if what I was eating before when I was still in philippines if I dont eat veggies that much, specially if I was in province with my parents before. Told him FISH.... Fresh fish that my father just caught it from the middle of the ocean an hour before we grilled it and native chickens that my mother just cut head off 30 mins before we cooked it . That if when I was with my parents house in province. But when I was in City at work somewhere in Luzon.... I think what usually I ate... Jollibee's, junk foods, Breads and etc's. Once in awhile ate veggies there but only little and I really had to shovel it into my throat and close my eyes lol.

Now I think I eat or ate veggies every other day atleast coz of hubby, and he always convincing me that veggies is not a poison and not gonna die eating it LOL.

Luckily... I'm not that easy to get sick. But boy...... My BP is really low.... But yeah.... I'm working with my veggies now. Help my diet and health healthy.

P.S

I miss the land of the Philippines now so much..

[Psoas10 17]

Oh wow the OP does not like fresh gulay. Hmm no pinakbet, bittermelon, kayote, talong, betchay and malunguy. We get that fresh here and the chickens are fresh here too,hehe. I like some gulay, but I am not a salad type of person though. I do like the Filipino dishes that have gulay in them though.

Edited February 20, 2010 by Psoas10

[GuardianOne 0]

Look for a local community health clinic near where you live. Most of them are walk-in clinics that charge on a sliding scale based on you ability to pay. CVS pharmacies also have minute clinics, but be prepared to pay as much $60 for a visit.

We went to one yesterday. It was only $28 for the visit + meds. She felt better instantly after taking some antibiotics, but still has some work to go.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

We went to one yesterday. It was only $28 for the visit + meds. She felt better instantly after taking some antibiotics, but still has some work to go.

Glad to hear she's feeling better and that it didn't cost an arm and a leg.

When you two cook, use a lot of garlic.

[GuardianAngel 1]

We were lucky to have been given a slot at the country doctor's clinic as suggested by my mother-in-law to be. We were surprised to be accommodated without further ado specially so knowing that I just arrived in the US on a fiance visa. The staff took our word for it and gladly assigned a physician to see me. The Doctor treated me well and was very accommodating, in fact, we talked about issues not relating to strep throat at all.

I am beginning to feel okay and I can talk well now. I am hoping to feel normal at the end of this week, hopefully.

Thank you guys

Edited February 21, 2010 by GuardianAngel

[Marzy 1]

Yes, foods were one of issues in our marriage. My husband drove me on any restaurants to try their foods I may like, but we ended up arguing. Long short story, I was extremely upset seeing frozen crabs,lobsters,fish(at Filipino market), but vegetables weren't an issues because I love them. We would fight over foods because I lived on Belgian waffle for 3 months.. One day, my MIL educated me to try new foods because waffle isn't healthy to have everyday. Anyway, I used to refuse eating seafood like lobster if I didn't see it alive. Therefore, my husband was always taking me on restaurants that have live lobsters and crabs. When I realized how expensive to get a food I just fancy, I taught myself to accept reality that I'm not in Philippines where I used to have cheap fresh crabs, lobsters, and fishes. Now, I'm almost 3 years in United States, I do well with foods but I'm still slender. According to my husband, I'm a lot easier now. In contrast, he doesn't care if I tell him I don't want to eat foods with butter, oily.. These foods can flip my stomach even I smell them.

My memorable moment in San Diego. On Sept. 1-3 2008, my husband and I had trip in San Diego. We were both starving. He took me at one of Filipino restaurants. That Filipino restaurant's foods disgusted my taste when I glared at them. So, I asked my husband if we can find different places. He took me at Chowking, and Jolibee. Yikes, I can smell the oil where we were. I was ready to throw up, so we left. Afterward, he drove us in downtown at floating restaurant, and waited 30 minutes to get in their restaurant. I browsed through their menu which I found nothing but French fries I would want to eat. The fish I had was stinky or stayed in fridge for quiet long. I told my husband I didn't like it. He instantly enraged at me.. He was really angry at me. I felt really upset that time. "If I knew you wanted fries, I could just take you Del Taco for that!" He said. Finally, I can laugh to myself being stupid or childish. I always smile when I remember this memories I had with him.

However, you can help yourself. I hope, you don't give him a hard time like I did to my husband. I'm

Edited February 21, 2010 by Fresgal