One Adventure After Another ...

[arianna]

Just not the sort that anyone really wants.

Some of you may have read in aly's LJ that I've had car trouble. My not yet five year old Hyundai Elantra with only sixty thousand miles, suddenly and very swiftly overheated on Saturday (we don't yet know why) and then very quickly died in the left turn lane of a busy intersection. I knew I should let it be, but didn't want to be a traffic hazard, so got the car started and drove around the corner to pull over -- it died before I got against the curb but at least I was out of traffic flow.

I don't have a cell phone.

Fortunately, it was noon on Christmas Eve with lots and lots of traffic. Sooooooo many very cute young men stopped to offer assistance (definitely the way to meet men) and one let me call AAA and Aly on my phone. Aly came to meet me, and eventually the car was towed to a AAA approved garage.

Monday morning, they did a diagnostic ($100) and discovered insufficient compression pressure for the car to start, which means the whole top of the engine needs to be 'reengineered'. Once that's done, then the original problem that caused all this will be found, hopefully. Starting estimate is three to five days of work and a minimum of $2000 cost.

Aly, being a wonderful person, decided to do some checking on my behalf, and discovered that Hyundai won't pay anything under the warranty if they don't do the repairs! Soooo, Aly gave me the numbers and, after being shunted around about four times, I finally was able to arrange for Hyundai to tow the car to their dealership service bay on Monday afternoon. (For those who don't know me, this kind of administrative detail and hassle kinda drives me crazy.)

They spent all day Tuesday trying to get clearance first from Hyundai America, Hyundai International, and finally Hyundai Canada, to do the warranty repairs. So far, they haven't got an answer and the car is just sitting there. As noted above, it will take an estimated five days to do the work once they start. And nobody knows when that will be. Being smack dab in the middle of a holiday week doesn't help.

I suspect I'll be lingering longer here at the coast than I'd originally planned. On the plus side, Aly and I are having a good time but because of all this didn't do all we wanted to do yesterday and today, so maybe will still have time later on. Aly was my terrific chauffeur for a few days, but yesterday I got a loner from the dealership -- a humongous SUV that I can hardly get into or reach the pedals. (Such fun being a short person). They'll let me know if they get any other loner vehicles ie a normal car, later in the week.

As if that wasn't excitement enough, it's just after 4 AM and I just got back from the hospital! Just as I was going to bed, as in lights out, trying to sleep, my eyes started to itch, then my ear canals, then nose and gums, which started to swell a bit, then itching all over the body, severe nausea, shivering, feeling ghastly. Decided this was not good. Got up and got dressed because I didn't want to be alone in the hotel room in case things went from bad to worse. Went out to the desk, and after about ten minutes as all symptoms worsened, got directions to the closest hospital and headed out into the night.

Was whisked into Emergency when I got there, IV started with four different meds and normal saline chaser -- by the time I got there, I had massive welts all over my body, palms were itching, shivering was terrible, etc ... they came close to giving me epinephryne. After two or three hours (time blurs when you're having such a great time, right?), I was once again back to what passes as normal and drove myself back to the hotel, with prescriptions for prednisone and over the counter anti allergy meds. The scary thing is that I have NO idea what caused this as I had no new foods or meds. It's all fodder for the writer's mill but, even so, I really do not want to go through all this again!!!!

Oh, but I should mention the upside: four really gorgeous youngish male nurses took turns helping me, so another great way to meet very nice guys.

::sighs heavily:: Wish I was forty years younger .... ;)

Comments

[bluewolf458.livejournal.com]

Oh, Marilyn! Could the bad reaction be caused by stress over the car thing? And it sounds like the car repair problem is Head Office, which figures. (At that sort of price for a repair, I'd be looking at what they'd give me on the car for a trade-in and buying another one, even something like a 2-3-year-old.) Helluva time of year for all that hassle! - Well, *no* time is good, but over Christmas-New Year, when so many places are off... Fingers crossed that you get some sort of satisfaction - like a warranty repair - soon. And if you don't? Tell them that you'll be spreading the word via your many internet friends that Hyundai is a car to avoid!

[vamysteryfan.livejournal.com]

I am so sorry you are having such trouble. Thank heavens for nice looking helpful young men! I hope you and ALy can still manage to have some fun together.

Here;s hoping the car repairs won't be too dreadful!

[wneleh.livejournal.com]

Not the good kind of adventures, no.

My mom had an out-of-the-blue allergic reaction once, which she ultimately attributed to too much preservative on the batch of raisins in her normal breakfast cereal, fwiw.

[t-verano.livejournal.com]

Eeesh. Wishing you well with your car -- and getting a better loaner car, which hopefully you won't need too long since your car will be fixed faster than you think, and covered under warranty ::eyes dealership firmly:: -- and having no more allergic reactions! {{hugs you}}

[snailbones.livejournal.com]

Oh sweetie! I'm so sorry - I already had my fingers crossed for the car not being too bad, but yikes! At least you're surrounded by helpful lads *g*

I hope the car woes aren't too terrible (re-crosses fingers and toes) - oh, and my own tale of sudden allergic reaction was a combination of stress and sleeping in a bed with sheets that had been laundered with a detergent I'm obviously not compatible with - yay for a week of swollen face *g*

[lit-gal.livejournal.com]

I'm so very sorry. That is not the kind of adventure to have. I hope you can start having the fun kind of adventures to make up for all this.

[starwatcher]

.
Good God! The car is bad enough -- pfft! Hyundai is supposed to be a reliable brand -- but that allergic reaction! I sure hope it doesn't ever happen again, cute young male nurses or not.

Wish I was forty years younger ....

OTOH, you could wish for the cute male nurse to be forty years older, single, and a not-so-closeted fandom aficionado... *g*
.

[laurie-ky.livejournal.com]

Jeez. Is it pick on Marilyn week or what? That allergic reaction sounds dangerous. Maybe some cleaner they used in the hotel room?

I had an Elentra, my daughter has it now, but we haven't had any trouble like that with it, (It's probably over 120,000 miles by now) but I'll tell her to watch for that problem. If it does it, it wouldn't be worth fixing and it was a rebuilt car to begin with so warranties don't apply.

Good luck and stay healthy,

Laurie

[fluterbev.livejournal.com]

Yikes, it all sounds awful. I hope your allergic reaction doesn't recur - it's hard to avoid stuff when you don't know what caused it! And Hyundai sound like they haven't got any sort of coordination for eventualities like this. Wishing you all the best, and glad at least that you get to spend time with Aly! xxx

[aerianya.livejournal.com]

Yikes what a week. We'll just believe everything will straighten out and you'll have had an(hopefully not too expensive) adventure.

[patk.livejournal.com]

Oh my, the problems with your car are bad enough but the allergic reaction is the real kicker.

Since you didn't eat or drink something unusual, could it have been something you touched or - more likely since the reaction was a full body one - something you *breathed*?

I seriously hope that you never get a repetition of that.

God, woman!

[alyburns.livejournal.com]

The bright spot is: close hospital, cute nurses, and now if *anything* like that happens again, you'll know immediately and can do what needs to be done right away! *shit fire and brimstone* as my mum used to say - but when you get this much, this fast, then you get cool breezes, refreshing water, and diamonds floating down upon you....

*plans on being nearby when the diamonds start falling*

[caarianna.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, I bought this car just before the crash and the value of it dropped like a stone in the following two years. Soooo, still owe way too much on it to get anything on a trade in but the payments are manageable. Syl's son has advised me that this is a common problem with Hyundai's so I'm looking into that (but it also means they'll probably do the full repair without a peep -- hope so anyway).

Don't think the allergy attack was due to stress -- was too fast and all encompassing. I'll not use the nasal spray for stuffiness, or eat anymore nuts, until I get a new allergy test in Canada in the spring.

[caarianna.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Aly and I have been having fun! Great Christmas, that's for sure, and heading out to dinner again tonight. Have plans for the next four days that we're really looking forward to!

[caarianna.livejournal.com]

You know, that's a possibility. I had some trail mix before going to bed that is filled with raisins. I'll keep that in mind as a possible culpit!

[caarianna.livejournal.com]

Well, they still haven't gotten the go ahead from the Corporate group in Canada. So, even the most hopeful time estimate would have them working on it all day Monday. More likely, I'll be here for another week, at least.

Yep, hard to take. Seventy something gorgeous weather in southern California and having more time to hang out with Aly. Life is sooooo rough. ::grins::

Thanks for the good wishes, though. I really, really hope the warranty will apply.

[caarianna.livejournal.com]

I think the room, bed, etc is okay. When I came back last night/early morning, I returned to bed and have had no problems. So it's something I've ingested just before bedtime. Won't know for sure until I have new allergy tests in Canada next spring.

Feel fine today, though. Alas, still no word from Canada re: car warranty so the car continues to sit on the lot....

[caarianna.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the good wishes. In truth, it's been a pretty good visit except for these 'anomalies'. Been having a great time with aly and we have activities lined up for the next four days that we're looking forward to.

I just really hope that the warranty will cover the repairs because that's a heavy hit this time of year. Well, anytime, actually.

[caarianna.livejournal.com]

LOL, yes, I need to wish for a cutie in my own generation. One who likes to go out for dinner, enjoys the theatre and is looking for a travel companion for whom he wants to pay all expenses! And carry the heavy bags. ::grins;:

Feeling okay today. Got the prescriptions filled. Just wish Canada would reply re: warranty so work could start on the car.

[caarianna.livejournal.com]

LOL, yes, it's a last ditch effort by the Fates to get all the bad karma used up before New Years! Next year should be really great!!!!!

Apparently, 2000 to 2006 Elantras are known for overheating and blowing the engine (who knew?) but mine is a 2007 -- could be the leading edge of trouble continuing into that year's model. If so, I daresay the warranty will be applied with no quibbling. ::fingers crossed)

[caarianna.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's been great getting together with Aly, and we have plans for the next four/five days that we're both really looking forward to!

Until I get the new allergy testing in Canada when I go home next spring, I'll be avoiding the nasal spray for stuffiness, the new nail strengthener stuff that I put on just before I went to bed, trail mix that I munched over the evening, and chocolate covered peanut candy (in case it's chocolate or peanuts) -- well, all chocolate and all peanuts, unless sitting directly outside an Emergency entrance!

[caarianna.livejournal.com]

Yep, really praying the warranty will apply.

It's been a good time with Aly, and we've got lots of fun stuff lined up for the next several days, so I'm sure these are just 'unfortunate glitches' in an otherwise great holiday.

Take care of that pneumonia!

[caarianna.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've been wondering if it's the nasal spray I took just before bed (have used it before but it could be an accumulated reaction) or the new nail strengthener I applied before bedtime (then rubbed my face, noticing the scent was very strong). Most like one of those two. Nothing in the room, as I've been fine in here since. Hope it's not chocolate, peanuts or trail mix, though it wuold be just like my body to enthusiastically aid my weight loss efforts by ensuring I can never eat a couple of my fav foods again! ;)

Re: God, woman!

[caarianna.livejournal.com]

Oh, diamonds, yes, I could go for that kind of luck. ::grins;: wary of cool breezes though -- I'm loving the weather we're having now. :)

See you later, sweetie!

[caarianna.livejournal.com]

By the way, haven't heard from you in ages! Send me an email and tell me how you're doing!

My email now is haymarilyn7 at gmail.com

[bluewolf458.livejournal.com]

At the same time... I hate all the hassle that goes with something like that! You have to stick your toes in and not give it to the persuasive guff, aimed at getting you to abrogate your rights, that seems to be a prerequisite of getting a position in Management.

[caarianna.livejournal.com]

No, it's not 'management' per se. It's the 'reasonable' face of greed, cheating the masses for the profit of the few, and we see it in play everywhere now in the western world.

The best managers do the opposite. They safeguard the workers, even cherish them, standing between them and those who would damage them, working to get barriers out of their way, so they can do the best they can. People who are afraid or resentful can hardly do their best work or serve the interests of the company and their customers/clients/citizens effectively.

[marizilda.livejournal.com]

Yes many problems, but the important thing is that you are now well.
Being in good health and a friend as Aly, you face any problems that arise: )

Good luck : )

Hugs

[caarianna.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Mari, and you're so right that it's about being clear about priorities and grateful for what's good.

[bluewolf458.livejournal.com]

Ah, now - I differentiate quite strongly between management (all the things you say) and Management, the greedy face of business, the ones who want to 'look good' by cheating buyers, cutting necessary corners, etc, in order to show a profit... and expect an obscenely inflated salary for it.

[kat-rowe.livejournal.com]

my lord, you really have had a crazy week! *pets you* that sounds awful despite the eye-candy (any of the doctors look like Blair, by chance? ;p )

if you haven't already noted down everything you ate and took the day of the reaction, definitely do so in case it happens again. my mom had issues with shellfish and quickly learned that almost any authentic asian food was off limits because most of them use fish sauces, etc even when they don't have fish as actual ingredients. took like three trips to the emergency room to realize she hadn't developed a new allergy just a worsening of an existing one

you weren't stung that day, were you? those allergies can come out of NOWHERE

good luck getting the car thing sorted. that kind of things is SUCH a royal pain to take care of and i can't believe a car that young is having so many issues *glares at shoddy craftsmanship*

*hugs you and hopes it all gets resolved*

here's hoping the new year is an improvement on the old