Sunday, September 25, 2011

Me Versus My Sinus Infection II

I was sick for the third time this year. The first two times were in March and the Fourth Of July weekend. I suspect I got sick with RSV or Respiratory Syncytial Virus again. Fortunately, this sickness lasted one week. The key factors were I remained calm, I was focused, I learned my mistakes in March, and I let my body recovered my sickness without medications. I didn’t take vitamin C and drank green tea. Here’s the timeline:

Mon Sep 19. I woke up in the early morning with a sore throat. I took a sore throat lozenge and went back to sleep.

Tue Sep 20. I still had a sore throat. I felt fatigued. The night time was colder than I thought—unseasonably cold that surprised me. The days were hot and the nights were cold that continued throughout the week.

I failed to realize the colder nights. I believed if I kept warm at night, my sickness could have been a sore throat. I actually had a sore throat only sickness two weeks ago that lasted two days.

I drank Coke for lunch and dinner all this week.

Wed Sep 21. Runny nose. I went to sleep needing two pillows to raise my head. I wore a long sleeve and pants pajamas instead of a t-shirt and shorts.

Thur Sep 22. Congestion and plugged up nose. I lost my voice. I had trouble sleeping last night I woke up at 1pm. Sore throat completely gone. I drank a cup of Trader Joe’s Hot Cocoa before bed tonight.

Fri Sep 23. Morning coughing. I felt cold in the morning. Today was the last day temperatures remained hot. The house was too warm even at night time because the air condition was off the entire day and the house wasn’t getting enough nighttime cold air; moreover, the daytime temperatures remained in the high 80s for a long time. I got a bloody nose when I went to sleep.

I had trouble sleeping as the night continued. Post nasal dripping caused me to cough; fortunately the coughing was minimal. I feared the coughing intensified in the days ahead. I browsed the web on my smartphone Googling RSV. One website suggested I use a humidifier. I went to the bathroom and turned on the humidifier. I immediately fell asleep in minutes.

Sat Sep 24. Best sleep ever the night before. Felt much better. Temperatures were the coolest of the week. Congestion and stuffy nose improved. I felt more energized.

Currently. Stopped drinking coke. I still have mucus dripping down my throat and I still need to blow my stuffy nose. Recovery continues at a faster pace compared to past sicknesses.

A Body Weakness

One of my body weaknesses is a large difference in daily temperature range. My body responds poorly to a temperature range, say, between 60 and 90 degrees. A temperature range between 50 and 70 degrees is good.

A Preventable RSV

My latest RSV sickness was preventable. I thought about the moments and circumstances I could have done to lower my chances of getting RSP. Here we go:

Expired cranberry juice. I believe food and drinks must be consumed before the due date. The cranberry juice I drank Fri Sep 16-Sun Sep 18 expired two weeks ago. Probability I got sick from this is 1%.

What the hell is this hot weather?!? I went to Gilroy on Sat Sep 17. The weather was hotter than we expected, and it was dry and muggy. The sun was burning my skin I needed sunscreen on my arms immediately. Probability is 20%.

I was hungry about 15 minutes in Gilroy. I didn’t eat a candy bar in the cooler inside the trunk. Probability is 5%.

Always say yes to a drink with my meal. I ate a quick lunch and didn’t drink water while eating before leaving to Gilroy. I drank water afterwards. I should have drank something with my quick lunch. Probability is 5%.

I repeat. Always say yes to a drink with my meal. I ate a sandwich at Erik’s Deli Cafe without ordering a drink in Gilroy. I drank alien cat’s ice tea that was over-steeped. Probability is 5%.

Moreover, I should have ordered a meal deal, a full lunch. I should not have cheap out.

Too little, too late? There was an extended time period we didn’t drink water; although we were indoors most of the time shopping. We finally got bottle water at a Starbucks. Probability is 5%.

The draft inside the stores. I remember studying at Clark Library at SJSU at the third floor under a draft in Fall Semester 1994. I got sick the next day I had to skip classes.

I was under a draft inside a store. I might have caught a virus or something airborne. Probability is 25%.

For the third time, a drink with your meal. I always drink soda when I eat pizza because I got sick eating a pizza without soda in February 1998. We ate at Fresh Choice for dinner. I didn’t order a soda. I ate four pieces of pizza. Probability is 10%.

I could have purchased a can of soda in a gas station leaving Gilroy.

It’s simply in the air. I read a few friends on their Facebook updates they were sick. Probability is 15%.

Bacterial. I could have gotten a bacterial infection somewhere and somehow. Probability is 20%.

I hate Montreal Steak seasoning. Questionable seasonings my mom used to cook steaks on Sun Sep 18. Probability is 1%.

Cookies. I purchased Japanese cookies that were individually wrapped. Probability is 5%.

Going Forward

Avoid sitting under drafts, eat and drink when I’m hungry, and don’t cheap out my meals.

Side note: I was in Los Angeles when I got sick during Fourth Of July weekend. On the night before we went home, we ate dinner at a Korean BBQ. We ate yogurt afterwards. On the day we drove home, I felt much better. Was it the yogurt that helped me feel better? I was told yogurt after a big meal helps digestion. Maybe the yogurt helped me more than digestion. On the other hand, in the hotel room, I slept on a bed, I adjusted the vents blowing air away from everyone, and there were less people in the room. In the end, I really don’t know the answer.

The Personal Side Of Me Finding Raymond Mar

No comments: