I was snoozed out this morning about 10:00 when Ava started barking. I was too out of it to investigate, and in any case she didn’t seem particularly alarmed. I drifted back under. There must have been a knock on the door, but I missed it.
Next thing I knew a little voice called from discreetly outside my bedroom: “Claire? Claire? It’s J. Are you alright?”
Neighbor J and her daughter had read yesterday’s blog post, in which I said I was thinking about asking her to check in if I wasn’t feeling better today. And there they were. Her daughter E was outside with Ava and J decided to come in when I didn’t respond to her knock.
She has a key to my house for any odd circumstances, and while I’ve never thought about how it would feel to find her in my living room, when it happened it was most welcome.
I sat up and invited her into the bedroom. “No. As a matter of fact, I’m not alright. I’m glad you came.”
“I’m sorry for just walking in …”
“No. No, please feel free to do that any time you think something might be wrong.”
“And you do the same for me.”
I refused her offers of water or tea. I keep gallons of emergency water by the bed, and had no appetite for tea. Anyhow, I’m mobile enough (though woozy and wobbly) to fetch small items around the house. But she brought me some protein snacks. I’ve eaten almost nothing in three days, and all of it carbs; I thought protein might help, which it did for a while.
Then J did the really big thing and took Ava to Furrydoc’s to board for a few days. She made the arrangements, gathered food and Ava’s blankie, and quietly took off to the vet’s. I don’t have to worry about walkies I’m not well enough to manage or boring poor Ava to death with my inactivity. Definitely a big thing.
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I deeply appreciate all your good wishes and suggestions (especially the ones involving alcohol, though I’m too much a wuss to drink when I’m sick). Whatever this thing is — flu, bad cold, bronchitis (it has symptoms of all three) — it’s hit me unusually hard. As Sara wrote in comments, its most overwhelming symptom is rapidly sapping every last bit of energy and not giving it back in a hurry. I feel somewhat better — until I stand up and walk to the bathroom or kitchen. Then I realize I need to sit down with my head between my legs before heading back to bed.
I’m less achy today, but the cough is worse and I’ll be taking you up on the honey and lemon, if not on the whiskey or rum enhancement.
But I tell you … even though I generally dislike being fussed over when I’m sick, this thing has from the beginning made me want Mommy and Vicks Vap-O-Rub. It’s hit so hard that I’ve been scared at times with its intensity. Knowing a pair of good neighbors was looking out for me and will take charge if things get worse is a great comfort.
Thank you all — and especially J and E.
It really makes me feel better to know you have people who care near by.
It seems the older I get when I do pick up a bug it is harder to get rid of.
Hope to hear about more improvement soon.
Man, bad enough to make you want Vap-O-rub, and NOT alcohol?! I think it’s time to call a witch doctor! It might not be any more effective, but you’ll enjoy the show and the dancing!
When you can stand it, I like Mullien in tea or oil form to help keep my lungs clear.
Much love, Clair.
Sounds like you need a visit from Furrydoc to give you a little medical help. I hope you’re better real soon!
Yes, thank you J and E for watching out for our Claire.
What kent said, J and E and Furrydoc.
Sounds like you got that truck-runned-over-me feeling. Not fun. Take your time, make sure you’re well.
A worsening cough is worrisome. It could mean things are finally breaking loose, which is good, or an infection taking a deeper hold. If you continue to feel better then hopefully you’re getting better. But if your cough continues to worsen, you might seriously consider seeing someone about this especially if you continue to be bedridden. A good nurse practitioner, if you can find one, would be an excellent option. Waiting too long to do anything didn’t work for Jim Henson, so please be careful. If anyone else in your area is experiencing similar problems, you might at least be able to get some idea of what to expect from this.
What an uplifting story in the middle of a trying situation, Dozing mid-morning, to be awakened by a trusted neighbor bringing needed help, unasked. Strikes me that such support manifests after one has done the work, built the friendships. Glad you’re being well looked after. May your recovery be brief and full.
Mullein, Pleurisy Root, or Grindelia will all help with lung congestion. If you’re having trouble eating or drinking, then grindelia would probably be the easiest one to take. It’s available as a tincture, just add a few drops to your water.
I wish I was close enough to help! Feel better soon!!!!
PS: Thank you J and E!!!!
Here’s hoping that the last couple of days’ rest has you well on the mend, Claire!
Please consider lots of Vitamin C, Many grams per day, but ideally in the neutralized form, Sodium Ascorbate. You can dissolve Ascorbic Acid tablets in water and add about half baking soda to neutralize. When I get a touch of illness, I dissolve 30 grams of C in a quart of water and drink it through the day. A couple of days and I am fine. The research which Dr. Thomas Levy has done confirms the efficacy of Vitamin C. His website has excellent information. http://www.peakenergy.com
Claire, I hope you start feeling better soon.
But remember, you’ve had lung problems before, and they may be susceptible, especially after all the remodeling that’s been done, and the wet PNW weather. Don’t wait too long to get treatment, perhaps another doctor, a “second opinion”, from the first one you saw.
Dear Claire,
I’m glad you had the foresight to make that arrangement with a trusted friend/neighbor. More of us should follow that example. It’s a good idea.
Now with Ava in trusted hands, please focus on just getting better. If there’s anything we, your fans and readers can do, just let us know.
Wishing you a speedy recovery!
Perhaps you should consider getting the pneumonia vax’s when you are well again.They appear to be pretty safe.Older peeps and pneumonia are a bad combination.Vax’s aren’t my favorite things but sometimes you have to do things you don’t normally do.Be sure to consider the risk to benefits,this seems like a good risk?
Thank you all. Yes, it’s been a godsend having Neighbor J and her daughter on my side. Even though I haven’t called on them much, just knowing they’re there is a great comfort — as is knowing that Her Royal Highness Princess Ava Prettypaws is getting appropriate treatment from Furrydoc.
Addressing a few specifics:
John and Shel — I’ve had both pneumonia vaccines (I’m not anti-vax; just pro-informed consent). They seem to prevent a lot of things I wouldn’t normally think of as pneumonia; I hope they prevent real pneumonia, too.
Pat — You’re right about my lungs — and this unfavorable climate. They’ve had problems since that childhood case of whooping cough, but only in the last few years have they really become a concern. I’m getting over the present mess now, but I think in the next few months I’ll go to a different local doc and get a referral to a respiratory specialist who can do do spirometry testing.
Grant — Vitamin C; yes indeed. I’m already taking it, but the more I learn the more I realize the form of it can make all the difference.
Chocolate has been found to work better than cough syrup! http://www.fox29.com/news/study-chocolate-might-be-better-for-your-cough-than-cough-syrup
If the Vitamin C you have is the ascorbic acid form, you can easily convert it to Sodium Ascorbate by adding about a gram of baking soda per 2 grams of ascorbic acid. Crush and dissolve if in tablet form and then add the baking soda. You get lots of fizz as it neutralizes, and what remains is sodium ascorbate. Very easy on the system and the only form which can be IVed. I have taken as much as 30 grams a day that way and all that happened was that my cold went away in a couple of days. Normally colds and coughs used to hang on for a couple of weeks. Another healing system is drops of 35% food grade Hydrogen Peroxide in water. Somehow it stimulates the body to make more to combat infections.