Food poisoning is the suck.
Both Mark and I have food poisoning.
We just got back from a walk-in clinic because neither of our doctors could squeeze us in, and because the ER was turning away people who were not "critical", telling them to go to walk-in clinics for all non-serious issues.
When I explained our symptoms, they said it was non-critical, and to go to a walk-in clinic.
So we did.
A few days ago, I think it was Friday, Mark and I had some frozen chicken things for lunch, maybe I didn't cook them thoroughly or something, but within a few hours of eating them, we both started having some pretty major stomach upset.
I thought it would go away, we both were eating Tums and drinking Pepto to try and feel better, but it just wasn't working.
So the doctor at the walk-in clinic gave us both some anti-vomiting and diarrhea medicine, told us to try and stay hydrated, to drink clear fluids, water, gatorade once we could handle that, ginger ale if we could handle that, so while waiting for the medicine at the pharmacy, I grabbed some ginger ale and some gatorade.
We came home, took the meds, drank a little bit, and now Mark is taking a nap, trying to get some sleep because the both of us had been up all night taking turns in the bathroom.
I thought that it may be the flu at first, or a virus, but the doc asked us if we had eaten anything right before we started having the symptoms.
I told him what we ate, and that they didn't taste like they normally do, it was those Barber chicken things, the broccoli and cheese ones, and I thought I cooked them long enough, they looked done, but I guess they weren't.
It will be nice to get some sleep tonight without having to run to the bathroom every 10 minutes like we've been doing all weekend long, it's totally been the suck.
I really hope that Mark is feeling a least a little bit better by tomorrow morning, he has his follow-up with the back doctor at 9:30am if our ride doesn't cancel on us like what has happened to us 3 times now.
I've had to cancel 3 appointments because people said they'd give us a ride, and then on the day of, they either no-showed or called to tell me that they couldn't.
It really sucks having to rely on other people for rides to the doctors.
Comments
Here is my educated guess as to what happened - being that you said it tasted different than usual...
I suspect that somewhere along the line, the product was NOT kept frozen and allowed to thaw. And I don't mean the time it took for you to buy it at Publix, get it home, and put it in your freezer. I'm thinking that it happened BEFORE it got to Publix.
The *danger zone* for perishable foods is between 40-140 degrees F. Left in the danger zone for four hours or more will create a good breeding ground for all sorts of germies that can make you sick.
So even if it got re-frozen, cold doesn't kill these bacteria, only heat does. So it could be possible that it didn't quite get hot enough in the middle to kill anything in there, even though it looked done.
I recommend that you get and use an instant-read thermometer. That's really the only way you can be 100% sure that your meat is cooked all the way through. If you don't have one, I can send you one if you'd like, I know I have more than one sitting around; I have one that I always kept at home, and a second & third one that's probably still in my knife kit from culinary school. Let me know.
I'm assuming that Sebastian did not get sick because he was at school and ate lunch there? Anyhoo, hope you and Mark feel better!
Posted by: Christine | October 27, 2009 7:07 PM
Food poisoning is the absolute worst. But I'd actually encourage you to look at what you ate the day before. Most cases of food poisoning don't start for 24 hours. I hope you're feeling better though.
Posted by: The Constant Complainer | October 28, 2009 5:58 PM