And on the 7th day, she rested less

Tuesday, April 21, 2009 at 1:24 pm (Smile Lines, Writing by Ear)
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Not to belabor the “oh poor me, I’m so sick” thread, but GEEZ — this latest cold/flu/virus thing has been just horrible.

Today, Day 7, I feel semi-human again (that means I only still have a clogged ear, a less-sore throat, and lingering laryngitis from coughing up bits of lung). I thought nothing could top last year’s episode, but this year’s double-whammy (5-day bout of misery, 7-day halfhearted recuperation, then 7-days-and-counting relapse) has been something other-worldly. Complete with conjunctivitis (pinkeye) of all things.

I so wanted to be dipped in an antibiotic bath (or at least get some in pill form), but haven’t had anything but OTC meds (save the eye drops prescribed  for the pinkeye, though that was probably viral in origin as well). Intellectually, I know antibiotics do nothing for viruses, but emotionally, I needed to think there was something to kill the invaders — my immune system sure wasn’t doing it. I tried a few of the “natural remedies”… gargling with saltwater, drinking apple cider vinegar and honey in water, steaming my head over a bowl of boiling water…to no avail. The only thing that actually felt good was drinking lemon juice and honey in hot water when even tea was more than I could stomach.

So what’s the deal? Have the viruses gotten that much stronger or have I gotten that much weaker? Before last year, I could count on one hand the times in my life I’d had anything even remotely like this. Now I’ll be worrying I’ll never have a “normal” cold again. Also, I thought the body built up immunity — that once you had a certain virus, your body could fight it off next time (I think I gleaned this from an episode of House — probably incorrectly. Or maybe it only works for chicken pox. Or maybe all these viruses I’ve gotten are different. Or maybe I have no idea what I’m talking about.) And all this despite taking a handful of supplements daily, eating pretty well, and exercising regularly.

Forget giant sunglasses and clunky plastic clogs. I think these young ladies have the right idea — imagine how much illness we could prevent if this were the next fashion fad. Maybe I should lead the trend.

maskphoto

Sickness comes on horseback but goes away on foot.
~ A proverb

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Toast, ginger ale, and BBC America

Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 10:30 am (Writing by Ear)
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I relapsed into cold/flu miserableness two days ago. Today marks 2 weeks since the whole thing started. In that time, I’ve:

  • Consumed more toast and “green tea”  ginger ale than I have in the last 2 years
  • Discovered, for the first time, BBC America’s quirky daytime programming, featuring: people who try to find treasures amid the Trash in the Attic (if only); people who try to find bargains at a flea market and resell them for a profit at auction (they almost never do); two plucky British ladies who clean up the filthiest houses you have ever seen and can’t believe people would live there let alone allow it to be filmed; a hotelier who goes into troubled inns and B & B’s and helps the owners turn them around (very interesting — who hasn’t thought about running a B&B?), and the invariably foul-mouthed chef, Gordon Ramsay, who, in two different programs, tries to turn around failing restaurants and runs his own restaurant (“The F Word”), training newbies in the process.
  • Dosed myself, at various times, with 6 different OTC meds
  • Gone through 2 boxes of lotion-infused tissue — and counting
  • Missed at least 4 days work (it’s times like these I’m especially glad I don’t have to report to a real office)
  • Infected my husband, who perhaps reinfected me?

I’m sure this too shall pass. But until it does, I’m one miserable wench. And my house is a wreck — maybe I’ll have to rethink the British cleaning ladies. (Is it better to die of embarrassment or dirt?)

Spring is not the best of seasons.
Cold and flu are two good reasons;
wind and rain and other sorrow,
warm today and cold tomorrow.
Whoever said Spring was romantic?
The word that best applies is frantic!
~ Author unknown

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