That Was the Week That Wasn't

MoonScape - That Was the Week That Wasn't

e_moon60

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[Dec. 31st, 2012|05:21 pm]

[	Tags	\|	sick	]
[	Current Mood	\|	sick	]

(No, that ugly header image of sort of grayish beat-up buildings wasn't my idea.)

This week wasn't in the plan.   I wasn't feeling too great earlier, but Christmas afternoon, I got sicker and sicker and by Tuesday morning was definitely really sick.   Fever, chills, a throat you could have used for a blast furnace, and increasingly strange noises coming from my chest.   So much for increasing the bike ride distances to 4 miles/day last week. I completely lost my voice for several days, thanks to the throat pain. I couldn't sleep but in very brief 15 minute snatches (and not enough of them) so spent hours lying still and reminding myself that this sort of thing never lasts forever.

Still having fever spikes (not as high today, yay) and though the fiery throat now allows swallowing that doesn't feel like a hot coal going down, it's been replaced by violent spasms of coughing and even more interesting sounds in my chest. This morning's most striking was a sort of siren...wailing up, wailing down, three or four repetitions per breath. Whee-oooo-whee-ooo-whee-ooo.   The afternoon's (so far) was a deep organ tone, the kind that's almost below hearing but shakes everything gently. There are, however, quiet breathing spaces between the sound effects.

The resident doctor allowed me to know that I had a fine case of viral bronchitis and the duration of both the initial illness and the "tail" of coughing would depend on which virus it was.    Being voiceless at that time, I did not say what I was thinking, which was "I don't care which foraminiferous virus this is, [rude words of choice] I just want it GONE." I am now better enough to complain (like about the header image...why does LJ insist on imposing images up there when what I want is plain. dark. blue??? Since I can't choose to put up one of my own photos...)     Presumably, the time from "well enough to complain" to "well enough to get up and do useful work and ride miles on the bike" is shorter than the time from the onset of this thing to "well enough to complain." I certainly hope so.   The October illness went by so fast it spoiled me. 48 hours and I was almost well; 72 and I was on the bike churning out distance.

This was not the week that was planned. I had a lot of work to do between Christmas and New Year's, and none of it has been touched. Maybe tomorrow I'll be able to type at speed with no more than normal mistakes (I'm typing this slooooowly and having to retype at least every third word.)

So I hope everyone reading this had a wonderfully healthy week between Christmas and New Years, and a great set of holidays (whichever ones you celebrate) and that you have a happy and healthy 2013.

Link

Comments:

From:

msminlr
2012-12-31 11:33 pm (UTC)

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Something that sounds very similar in its symptoms to your illness hit our family after the Big Family Christmas Meal last weekend. Not everybody came down with it, but them as did were well and truly DOWN. My 88-yr-old M-I-L's 90-year-old sister landed in the hospital with her dose of it. Everyone is improving, now; though voices are still froggish. Stay in, stay warm, drink comforting liquids. For some reason, when I have a throat like you describe having, orange juice is the most comfortable thing to swallow. YMMV, of course.

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From:

e_moon60
2013-01-01 03:27 am (UTC)

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The most comfortable thing for me to swallow was very small bites of pumpkin pie. Smooth, cool, nothing acidic at all. Not sure that would always have worked, but it did, followed by (days later, because I ate it in slivers) butterscotch and then chocolate pudding, the cooked kind.

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From:

fair_witness
2012-12-31 11:46 pm (UTC)

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Ugh. Hope you feel better, Elizabeth!

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From:

e_moon60
2013-01-01 03:28 am (UTC)

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Me, too. I am somewhat better this evening, but not well yet. Fever in the afternoon, more coughing fits. (Hint: no matter how good it smells, do NOT attempt even a few pieces of popcorn with a cough-triggering throat.)

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From:

controuble
2013-01-01 12:34 am (UTC)

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Wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year and hope you continue to improve rapidly.

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From:

e_moon60
2013-01-01 03:28 am (UTC)

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Thanks!

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From:

jon_d_r
2013-01-01 12:49 am (UTC)

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I hope you have a healthy and prosperous New Year!

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From:

e_moon60
2013-01-01 03:30 am (UTC)

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Thank you, and the same to you.

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From:

klwilliams
2013-01-01 02:33 am (UTC)

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I'm always sick these days, but I got some other illness earlier this month that set me back so much that I didn't manage to get my family's present wrapped and mailed. That's what I'm going to work on tonight. (But I did write a story and send *it* out before the deadline. Priorities, you know.)

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From:

e_moon60
2013-01-01 03:28 am (UTC)

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Your priorities are in order, clearly. I hope your family understands.

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From:

gifted
2013-01-01 02:50 am (UTC)

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I hope you feel much better soon, Elizabeth. Happy new year, may you and yours have a great one.

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From:

e_moon60
2013-01-01 03:30 am (UTC)

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Thank you! I am sure I'll recover, though being an impatient sort, it won't be quick enough (four days ago might have been quick enough ) And my best wishes for your new year, too.

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From:

gifted
2013-01-01 04:21 am (UTC)

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Thanks!

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From:

abwarwick
2013-01-01 02:18 pm (UTC)

virus, 2013, etc.

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So sorry to hear about the viral illness -- those are Horrible. Rest & liquids are a great help (and Vitamin C), as are sunlight and fresh air. Hoping by the time you read this you are feeling a lot better.

Happy New Year!

Thank you for writing so many wonderful books.

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From:

e_moon60
2013-01-02 12:38 am (UTC)

Re: virus, 2013, etc.

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Rest and liquids were taken. Sunlight was absent and fresh air was cold and dank.

Thanks for liking my books!

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From:

kk1raven
2013-01-01 02:43 pm (UTC)

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That sounds much worse than the miserable cold I had for the two weeks before Christmas. I hope the rest of your recovery goes quickly.

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From:

mrs_redboots
2013-01-01 03:30 pm (UTC)

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Happy New Year. My husband had something like it and although he is better now, he is still coughing nicely. Hope you feel better soon. Honey helps the cough, by the way.

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From:

EClaireMcLean
2013-01-01 03:37 pm (UTC)

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Hope you are just better and better. New Year's wishes for more rain, long bike rides, healthy self and friends, and unexpected delights.

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From:

amusingmuse
2013-01-02 03:13 am (UTC)

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I hope you get better soon. I've had something nasty like that which lasted over a month and either gave me cracked ribs or pleurisy. Horrible pain when just breathing, eek. o_O So I know it's not fun at all and hope it's over soon for you!

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