12/31/10

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh... choo.

I am sick.

Okay, that sounds a bit odd, I suppose, since you know that I am really, seriously, terminally ill.

But the fact is that I sort of compartmentalize the cancer stuff as much as possible, when it comes to dealing with the ucky symptoms - I don't think of it as being sick per se, I think of it as a process involving unpleasant but inevitable challenges that crop up so that I can find ways of living around them.

That's different from being sick.

I used to get sick at the drop of a hat, at least once a month.  But since the cancer diagnosis, I've been stuffing myself full of vitamins and herbs (Vitamin D3, people... get tested and make sure it's in the upper end of the 'normal range'), and taking a medication that regulates (in my case, up-regulates) the immune system**.  If you ignore the bone pain and the stuff that glows in my scans, I've been remarkably healthy for the last couple years.

Since I can't ignore the bone pain, I really resent anything that makes things worse.  I figure I should be immune to the everyday sort of viral and bacterial nonsense.  Don't look at me, I gave at the office.

So now, for the first time in the two years since my diagnosis, I have a real live Bug.  Coughing, raspy voice, throat that feels like it's being stabbed by knives, red raw nose, the whole ten yards.  

Darn it!!  

To make matters worse, the immune system medication and narcotics cancel each other out - so I can't take cough/cold/flu medications, because the stupid cough suppressants are pretty much all some form of narcotic or other.  So I just have to live with the symptoms until it feels like going away on its own.

Darn it, darn it!!!!

So much for ringing in the New Year.  I'm coughing it in.

Christmas is definitely over.  Bah.  Humbug.


**I'm taking other medications, too, but those don't affect the immune system, or the cold medications available to normal people.

4 comments:

The Violet Hoarder said...

Oh dear, colds are not the way to ring in the new year--especially without the effects of narcotics. I had two baddies in November and December and chicken soup and honey/lemon tea (as hokey as they sound)really helped. Sleep as much as you can. Gargle with very strong salt water (amazingly effective),steam if you can, and try cough drops that have ecylptus or menthol or herbs. Oh, and softly moaning every once in a while helps you get anything you need in a flash--trashy magazines, chocolate, a pat on the head, breakfast in bed, etc. I bet your two men are great caretakers!

Delighted Hands said...

I am down with the same BUG...I figure I am getting it out of the way for 2011; does that work for you?! Happy New Year!

Nancy K. said...

Well, that sucks! Can you even suck on cough drops? I LOVE my Luden's honey licorice cough drops. Not that they have much effect on the cough, but they taste good and I feel like a little girl again...

You're in my prayers, dear girl!

mrspao said...

Hug xxx