Day 79: Down with coughing

Just a short note for Saturday. I was ill the whole day with a terrible cough and wheezing all day and all night. I did not sleep on Friday night nor again on Saturday night. I spent the night in a chair in the living room, keeping myself sitting to stop the drainage from filling my lungs. I have pulled all my chest and stomach muscles from coughing so hard. I am rightly miserable. The cough is finally slowing.

I stayed up and watched, binging Avatar: The Last Airbender. This live-action version of the cartoon takes the material seriously and makes an enjoyable show with special effects worthy of any significant production like Lord of the Rings. It is kids’ stuff. Literally, all the main characters are played by actors playing teenagers. I recommend it if you like the animated version or the movie.

I did not leave the house except to get the mail and spent the day napping and coughing. Usually, I would sleep for about an hour sitting in the chair in the living room, and then I would have a coughing jag that woke me. This would repeat over and over. Makes for an uncomfortable day and is boring.

I made a steel-cut oatmeal and mixed it with some brown sugar and walnuts to make it taste better. I did not make coffee as a hot, bitter liquid was not the best choice. I ordered food delivered Chinese-style, hot and sour soup, lotus root, salt and pepper calamari, and chicken with cashews. Just a small amount. The spicy soup made me feel better. I did find the last of the ginger tea sent to me by Michelle V, and I had that.

Aside: Lotus root, sliced, is a favorite of mine. It is a cross in taste between a potato and a carrot. The texture is like a bamboo shoot. I do not find it often and was happy to see it on the menu.

I continued to be bored, coughing, napping, and coughing again. I watched two episodes of The Last Airbender and then tried to rest. It was something to do.

A new problem started; my throat was unhappy, and I was having the experience of my breathing failing, but there was no truth to it. I am experiencing some chemo issues where you think you are choking. Damn. I have to not panic and let things calm down.

I will head to Ready Care this Sunday morning and have them look at me. I suspect the answer will be more rest and more hot soup.

So, dear readers, I will try to get better today by resting and likely resting on Monday, too. I have a Sunday meeting after church, but I will wear a mask and make it short.

Thanks for reading!