Hoping you feel better soon. Stay hydrated.

My husband and I talk all of the time about buying property in France or Italy when we retire. I don't know if we will, but we are going to look and see if it is feasible. You are living the dream we want to one day and I can only imagine how hard it is to leave kids and grand kids. But we only get this one chance.

I applaud you for living your dream and can't wait for my turn. Try to relax and enjoy. If you decide later to come home, at least you had the courage to try it and won't live with any regrets.

sarge, I didn't know that you were already in Italy..I don't come to the lounge too often therefore I must have missed your previous post.

Don't give up your dreams is only natural to feel lost, confused especially when you are ill.

Don't forget that the pharmacist can also be your friend if your symptoms are not life threatening, the pharmacist hands there are not tied as is the norm here in the US and is allowed to help his customer more with their symptoms.

Drink chamomille tea for upset stomach.In Europe even babies that have colitis or other stomach problems are given the tea to make them feel better.

Remember that tomorrow is another day(domani e un altro giorno) and everything will look different.
I hope that you feel better,
AnnaMaria

PS, steve, I am certain that sarge will do what is best for her ...

Buona sera friends.

First, let me put at ease concerns for dehydration. I come from a family of med professionals, so I am quite aware how easily that might have happened. Thankfully, the actual diarreah part of this ended after 48 hours and several doses of imodium.

The nausea, however, continues intermittently. I felt reaaly good last night, but then stayed up too late watching tornado coverage. (Alas, the next pull for going home to North Texas- as that system has moved south to possibly threaten my kids/grandkids today/tonight.)

So I awoke again feeling nauseus. Managed a few bites of Rice Krispies and 2 bites of croissant. Back to bed for 3 hrs.

Nephew and I walked to Santa Croce, stopping for lunch. I managed a half cup of veg broth. :( We spent some time there and nephew decided he wanted to climb dome of Duomo.

On way back to there, we chose different street and, lo and behold, found a terrific (albeit very expensive) gourmet grocery! PEANUT BUTTER!!! I dont care that I paid €6.75 for 12 ounces. It was worth every cent. :)

This store had every luscious thing- all kinds of pestos, sauces, dry pastas, many American brands and cereals (alas, no Maltomeal), even Campbells soups, American liquors etc. If you will be spending any time in Florence, and you will be cooking- don't miss this store! All kinds of spices, condiments. Loved shis store.

It is Pegna dal 1860. Via della Studio, 26r. On a little side street behind the Duomo.

@Klondike- your generous offer brought tears to my eyes. Grazie mille, friend. Please know that whether I end up in Rome or Teaxs, you and yours are welcome welcomeanytime and I hope we can meet one day over a great meal! I am humbled.

Stevewith, I do appreciate the information. (I am having to reply on my Kindle, as now my laptop appears to be on the fritz. :( ) I had the misfortune in 2007 to get my feet tangled up w a young policeman in Rome, following the Pope's audience. An ambulance ride and two different hospital visits(including xrays and eye doctor) later, they refused payment anywhere. Just asked to see my passport.

Time for a nap. Again, my sincere thanks to you all.

{{{ sarge }}}

I hope you feel back to normal soon. **==

oops, supposed to be a @};- not a subliminal msg.

Sarge, you are a brave soul. I am so impressed with your willingness to share this experience. I am keeping you in my thoughts!

Hoping you are better and following your journey.

Good day all. We have arrived at our apartment in Trastavere. The sun was out when we arrived about noon. It was beautiful.

Now, of course, there is a raging thunderstorm. But it's ok. The apartment is terrific. We rented from Rental In Rome. The apartment is the "Inn Trastavere Balcony Apartment".

It is two bed/two bath. Large and has a beautiful terrace that overlooks Viale di Trastavere and the tram tracks. :) But there is still a lot of green and it is a 30-second walk to the tram stop. :) (It's just across the street.)

I am having a cup of tea whilst the nephew looks for food. He insisted he wanted to go to the McDonald's around the block, but I tried to talk him out of it. Sigh... American youth. What are you going to do? I hope he decided on the ham/cheese sandwhich we saw down the street.

We will head out after the lightning stops and pick up a few groceries. Then, hopefully, the rain will end and we can go to town. :)

I am feeling better, but extremely tired. Could not eat this morning, but feeling hungry now. Hope nephew comes back with requested cornetti soon.

Re going home- I'm afraid it is still on the table and high on the list. I am struggling mentally right now to stay the 3 weeks for which I've paid for this apartment. My inclination is to go home with my nephew in one week.

But I will see how the struggle goes next couple of days.

Thanks, friends, for the support!

Hopefully things will go better and better for you. Good luck and enjoy Roome. I am jealous about Trastevere. We were never able to make it over there in March.

What ever you decide will be the right decision.

Just a suggestion, if returning is best, use the three weeks you have booked as a vacation in your beloved Italy.

I hope you can get checked by a doctor. Bog standard food poisoning doesn't usually last this long. Your symptoms sound somewhat like giardia which is picked up from contaminated food or water. It is highly treatable and often resolves itself but can need antibiotics.

Thinking about you.

sarge56, we just returned from spending over a week in Rome (our 75,000th visit), during which time we slept 3 nights in Trastevere (at the somewhat funky, but very charmingly-managed Hotel Cisterna, and then at the amazingly beautiful Hotel Santa Maria di Trastevere, where I want to move in and stay forever!) We usually stay near the Piazza Navona at a place on Via dei Coronari, which we love...but we really, really, really fell in love with Trastevere -- even on weekend evenings when it's packed with wealthy hipsters strutting around on their hours-long passeggiatta.

No matter what you do, please find the time in the morning (before the crowds arrive) to go and just SIT in the Piazza Santa Maria. You don't even have to buy anything (though if your stomach can handle it, the orange juice is as good as it looks, even if it is "trite")...you can just sit on the steps of the fountain in front of the church...I guarantee you relaxing, peaceful moments.

Whatever you ultimately decide to do is FINE. I am in awe of your ability to be so honest about your feelings. On our recent European trip, we visited a city that I did not like at all -- one that everybody and their uncle raves about. I had a hard time admitting my feelings to myself, let alone to the whole world! You are ahead of the game, imo. I am thinking of you.

Sarge, I'm glad that you have finally arrived in Rome. If course your health is top priority - can the US embassy - or the agency who rented you the apartment - recommend an english-speaking doctor?

Please contact the American Embassy in Rome. They will have a list of English-speaking doctors there. Make an appointment to find out what is causing your symptoms.

That said, I think you should stay through the end of your rental term. That way you can relax by yourself and figure out what is best for yourself. If you decide to return to the US at least you can still enjoy time in Italy knowing you be leaving at the end of it.

Hi again,

I am happy to hear that you are feeling stronger, but so sorry that the nausea is lingering. I know it's hard to even begin to enjoy a place without being able to savor its smells and tastes and food! I really hope you find the right solution to this -- pharmacy or doctor or just the right meds.

I do hope that you still don't make any decisions this week. I hope you wait until you are stronger.

The thing about that "emotional brick" is that one can never really be prepared for it until it happens in your skin; until then, it's just an intellectual exercise. I also thought I would be prepared for the isolation and loneliness of living abroad because, when I moved here, I had lived 18 years of my 54 abroad (due to my father's work, school, and my assignments). I was an expatriate by birth and by inclination; oh, and of course, I just wanted to live in Germany SO BADLY that naturally there would be no problem. heheheheee. Famous last words.

There is no way to describe that emotional brick or even to avoid it. It will come; I think it is inevitable.

But the thing is, it passes.

I know you're a strong woman and have done some amazing things, Sarge, because of your history in the Marines. I'm just hoping that you can wait a bit more before you decide your place right now is back in the US.

Best wishes,

s

Thanks, everyone. I truly appreciate the support, advice and kind words.

I felt so good yesterday afternoon. Went out with my nephew; we took the tram to Torre Argentina. Enjoyed the kitties then went on to the piazza north of Navona to pick up our Roma Passes. From there, we did Navona and St. Agnes (I love this church). Then we walked over to the Piazza della Rotunda and did the Pantheon.

From there, we walked to Santa Maria sopra Minerva and spent about 1/2 hour there.

I was feeling pretty good and we decided to stop at a little café across from the Torre Argentina (actually, something like Trattoria de Torre Argentina!). I had pasta with cacio e pepe and it was very good. I was so happy to have an appetite! It was so light on the cacio and pepe, that I thought I'd be fine. There was no sauce, to speak of! A little cheese, a little pepper.

Just after we hopped into the café, the skies opened up. So, though we had umbrellas, we still got pretty wet getting back to the tram. Home and worn, but happy and feeling good.

This morning, I felt fine, too. We decided to go out and get a few groceries. As soon as I walked out the front door- stomach went crazy and I had to run back in to apt. Yep- that intestinal thing obviously not completely gone. (NOW, mind you, I have not had THAT problem since day 2 of this [last Friday].) All of a sudden, it's back. :(

Unfortunately, after a dose of Imodium, I thought I was ready to give it another go, only to have to run out of the grocery story and, literally, leave my nephew holding the bag.

Alas, he finished the shopping and I am here at the computer instead of enjoying Rome. I have an email in to my doctor to see if he can guide me. I also just put away a yogurt, hoping the good bugs will help defeat the bad. :)

Nephew has a good map and I've sent him to the Forum and Colosseum. Since it is a really easy route from the Torre Argentina, he should be able to get there without getting lost.

I've taught him the fine art of asking Italians for directions. (K- Don't pick someone holding a guidebook. haha)

We bought eggs, milk and bread at store. I'm hoping I can handle French toast for dinner. We have tickets tomorrow for Vatican Museums and then a Scavi tour after. I must be well for tomorrow!

I want to say, finally, that I have vascillated all day about staying the full length of time. This morning, 8am, some workers started a construction project on the apt below us. :( That didn't help. And it has been cloudy/raining all day. That doesn't help either!

It is supposed to be sunny tomorrow and I pray it will be. I need that! ;)

Grazie, friends. Buona sera!

PS If any Fodorites are in Rome the next two weeks, do let's try to meet up for a meal or drinks!

I hope you feel better soon!

Is there a reason why you just dont go to the doctors in Italy - you have been given information on how to do it and the people you rented the apartment through must be able to help...surely it would be better to know what is wrong (food poisening doesnt last this long I dont think) and then you could hopefully get some medicine and get better more quickly...??

buona sera, sarge.

glad to see that you have picked up a bit of the lingo but sorry that your gut is still giving you problems. that's one hell of a bug you've picked up.

praying for sun and good health for you.

Thinking of you and hoping your illness passes . . . because I want to hear details of the REAL adventure. Hope you're feeing better tomorrow.

I'm enjoying the report. You're pretty cool to be doing this. Basingstoke had computer failure and you have food failure. Europe isn't easy but it must be very pretty.

Hang in there! This too shall pass and soon you will be better and forgetting you wanted to return to the US. Sending you many good wishes and looking forward to reading about your adventures.

http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/giardia/gen_info/faqs.html

I am a reired day care center director and what you are describing sounds very similar to the giardiasis that I occasionally saw in children at my center. Look at my link to see if it matches your symptoms. If you do have this, there are medicines that will help you feel much better quickly.

One time when I went to Rome, I sprained my back on the first day of a twelve day vacation. We were staying at a convent and the sisters took me to the emergency room where I received very good care. Later they asked a doctor who was also staying at the convent to check me. It was not a fun vacation, but after nine days, I was able to go to breakfast for the first time. When the sisters saw me, they all applauded!

I hope you will soon receive treatment that will help you recover quickly. Rome is such an interesting place.

The best of luck to you in feeling better very soon.

saraho,

I thought giardia as well as it mimics "normal" food poisoning but lingers and lingers. My husband had it while we were house-hunting in France, doctors in France and UK both treated it as regular upset until he saw a doctor in Lancaster who had practiced in Africa.

As soon as he had the right drugs, he was better in days. The doctor said it was not that common in Europe but did exist and his people hard who don't have a tolerance for the bug.

not "his" meant hits

Not to hijack, but this seems like a good place for today's travel health tip: A problem with giardiasis or other intestinal parasites is that use of antidiarrheals can actually impair the body's attempts to flush out the bug.
Standard treatment is oral metronidazole (Flagyl brand in the US) or tinidazole (US brand name Tindamax) which has the advantage of being a single dose treatment for giardia, three days for other amoebic parasites.

LucyV, I hope you're not a weirdo freak because I just reserved a room for Dw and me at the hotel Santa Maria in Trastevere for 3 nights in September based on your recommendation. It looks nice and has bikes. Sarge, if you decide to stay maybe we could meet in rome for coffee or oral metronidazole.

How insulting, Santimonica! What gives you any hint that LucyV is a "weirdo freak"? She has been on this Forum for a number of years and her many contributions have been accurate and helpful.

nuke, think it was meant as a joke.

Why, yes. It was meant as a joke. Although there have been hints from time to time.

Snort!

Just wanted to add my recommendation that you check for giardia. I've been unfortunate enough to have it a few times both in Europe and here in the U.S., and it does match your description of symptoms. Within two days of taking the meds, I am usually up and running - and not to the bathroom! Anyway, buona fortuna and hope the rest of your stay goes much better!

A last thought: When I was sick in Rome a few years ago, I consulted the American Embassy, and was given a list of doctors for all kinds of problems and medical emergencies. Might be an excellent place to start if you are looking for an English-speaking doctor.

Sarge56: Seamus' post is pretty important (if it is indeed giardia - which was my initial thought as well). Imodium may not be the best thing to take until you have an actual diagnosis.

Thanks friends for the info. It seems I'm over the hump! No issues today!

We did have a strange, but lucky, freaky kind of day. :)

We had 12:30 reservation for Vatican museums. We got up, I fixed American-style French toast. We ate and headed out the door at 11:15.

We waited 15 minutes for tram and nothing came. Suddenly, we saw people start leaving. The girl behind us told us there was a transit strike. :( "OH, no" I thought.

But then, I remembered we were standing only a few hundred feet from the Stazione Trastavere train station- surely we could find a cab there.

Well, when I turned around to step down and cross the street, a cab pulled up and stopped at the red light. I yelled, "Taxi"? and he shook his head yes, he was free! Unbelievable serendipity! We got to the museum by 12:15!

So, the next bit of luck came when we were leaving the Sistine. We had a Scavi tour and did not want to go all the way back to the museum entrances. We very successfully walked out with a large tour group, to exit at St. Peter's. :)

As we are waiting for the Scavi to start, some other in the group tell us that the strike is on all day, save between 5 and 6pm. They will run between then, but stop again at 6pm.

I'm also telling my nephew what a wonderful guide I had the second time I'd been on the Scavi. And then... yes- she shows up to head our group today! :)

When we got done at Scavi, we headed out for a bite (now around 4:30pm). We stopped at a place called the Nova Caffe (right on the same street to St. Peter's). My cousin and I often stopped in here for sweets on our last visit.

Well, the food was really good, but you have to be careful about this kind of place. E13 for a large bowl of soup and E14 for a large pizza. Not terrible. But then the bill came and we found out the service fee was E7+, the one small bottle of Coke my nephew had- E7.50!!! And E5 for the large bottle of still water. Ridiculous. E50 total. This doesn't happen very often to me where I get sucked in. Just be careful! (The prices of the food was on the menu...but not the drinks!!!)

Anyway, we knew we had a short window for transport. It was now 5:20 when we left the café. We headed over to the longotevere to try to catch a 280 or 23 bus to the tram stop at Belli. When the 64 came along, I thought I read that it stopped at the Torre Argentina, so I said we could hop that and pick up the Tram #8 there.

So, we boarded and the bus turned west at the next light. I started to get anxious. After two stops, I was like, "Well, we can ride the full circuit, if nothing else.. or look to see if we see something familiar."

Much to my surprise, the 3rd stop was the Stazione San Pietro! So, off the bus we hopped and found the train going to Trastevere was due on track 2. We made it in time and considered ourselves terribly lucky! We got off in Trastevere at 5:55. :)

(Oh, and I knew we'd make it. I found a 1-cent Euro on the stairs of the San Pietro train station. My brother leaves me pennies when I'm in need. :) It is his son I am with today!)

So, all in all, a good day. It was sunny all day, but dang was it cold! What is up with this crazy weather pattern?

Well, we are off to Pompeii tomorrow if the strike is over. So, I'll report back in then.

Buona notte, friends!

what a great day, sarge, and how funny that [almost] everything worked. we stayed very near the Stazione San Pietro and it proved very useful when we went to Ostia Antica.

have a great time in Pompeii.

Well, it's only fair that your luck turn after those tough days.

Piu buona fortuna a voi!

Hope you continue to improve! You are a veteran in so many ways. You seem to know Rome pretty well, so really hoping you can conyinue to enjoy!

So glad things seem to be turning around for you. Sunny thoughts ☀

>>>We got off in Trastevere at 5:55.<<<

It seems the travel window was a bit longer according to the Embassy.

**(May 21, 2013) – 24–Hour Transportation Strike on Friday, May 24, 2013 in Rome, Italy
A 24-hour transportation strike has been called by the unions for this Friday 24 May.
The strike will affect Metro, buses, trams, and all other local transport (Roma-Lido, Termini-Giardinetti, and Roma-Viterbo). All runs will stop from 08:30 and resume from 17:00-20:00.**

Here's your list of upcoming strikes.

http://www.mit.gov.it/mit/site.php?p=scioperi

>>>Well, we are off to Pompeii tomorrow if the strike is over.<<<

Trenitalia is still running 2 for 1 on Saturday and have just extended it until mid Sept.

http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...008916f90aRCRD