Painting by Lillian Westcott HaleIt's not a death rattle. Not even pneumonia. Not even anything that would lead me to take a pill (phew!). Just got back from doc-in-the-box and am happy to discover that that rattle in my chest is plain, old-fashioned croup, just like little kids get. The doctor, who was charming, had an "aha" moment, grabbed a kleenex box from the examining table, and said "I'm going to write the solution down here". He scribbled on the back of the box, then said "first -a little quiz! Do you have a heater in your bedroom? " Well yes, but we never turn it on. "Do you sleep with the window open?" Well, yes, whenever I can be sure it won't rain in. His face lit up with a huge grin as he revealed what he had written on the back of the box: "sleeping in a too-cold bedroom!" Bingo. His prescription? Warm up the room. Keep a thermos of hot liquid nearby at all times. Take hot baths and showers and inhale the steam. Stay warm. Don't breathe in cold air. Rest.
Hmmmmm... This I can handle. I just cleared my calendar for the day, made a pot of green tea, turned up the thermostat. Now where is that wonderful book I've been longing to get lost in? Picture me with the big grin now!
Painting by Lillian Westcott Hale
5 comments:
Hope you feel better soon. Your plan sounds perfect. We sleep with the window open even when the temps are near freezing, and no heat in the room. I wonder what in that combination creates the condition for croup? I'm going to have to do a little research. Be well.
sounds like a perfect sick day plan. with PGE bills the way they are these days, I have a hard time turning on the heat even when it's very cold. I'll have to give that one some thought.
RD and TD,
Yes, I really prefer to sleep in a cold room myself. I think I got chilled last week, remember waking up in the night cold - unusual for me. I'm not wanting to switch to a heated room. Feels stuffy. Had a lovely day, reading a very interesting book - Savage Beauty, a biography of Edna St. Vincent Millay. Still croupy, but it will pass! Thanks for the good thoughts.
I never have my bedroom heater on when I sleep. A feather duvet is enough. If extra warmth is needed I pull the sheet and duvet right over my head. Very cosy. To date, suffocation has not been a problem. Warm wishes for a speedy recovery Sigrid.
You should take up smoking immediately. What a sad loser to have an ailment and not have even smoked. Sexy young confident women smoke, risk-taking is sexy, and women who've smoked since the age of 13 and who are now 26 have more healthy fit lives than you. You prude!
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