Allergies, Sinus Infections, and a Life Changing Remedy

I tend to think that when you get sick, your body will take care of itself. Sometimes I'm right, and sometimes I need to learn to lean on the benefits of modern medicine. One semester at OSU I was feeling like crud and after 2 months I finally decided to go to the doctor. Turns out I had bronchitis. It was not my proudest semester in the GPA department and I could have really done myself a favor by making a $7 trip to the on campus "Voo Doo" doctor.

Usually once  or twice a year I get a sinus infection. I would probably get more but I usually can detect one coming and I drown it in Vitamin C. A week and a half ago I failed. That ever familiar tickle in the back of the throat got me. I felt like total crud. I also knew that the little girl next door had strep and we had spent two days before with her parents at my birthday party. I had a wedding coming the following weekend so out of the interest of others I needed to go make sure that I wasn't contagious. We conveniently have nice urgent care about half a mile away. I'd say you could walk there but when I think about it, those who need urgent care typically aren't in the condition to pass on transportation.

Turns out I didn't have strep (Yes! Can still go to the wedding!) but the ever common Sinusitis. Of course he gave me a bunch of pills. I hate taking antibiotics. I put them and going through the xray scanner at the airport in the same category. I know there's a lot of data out there that says that it's not a big deal but it still makes me uncomfortable. Truth be told, I don't take the flu shot either. I think it's going to GIVE me the flu. I also think that I'm young and strong enough that if I came by the flu under natural conditions I think I would probably survive it.  If you're a person with actual medical training and I am making you crazy, I apologize. This may feel to you like it feels to me when people say that climate change isn't real or is caused by "natural cycles." Hand to forehead.

If you don't have Sinusitis like me, this yo-yo weather and copious amount of rain might be giving you allergy troubles. It's actually even bothering Pistol. I had to take him to the vet because he kept scratching his ears like crazy. The bill wasn't awesome. But he's our kid and I guess you do anything for your kid.

Over a week later and I am still not feeling great. I have so much pressure in the front of my head and after working for a few hours on the computer I have been having to take a break for several hours. I don't have time to take breaks because I have a deadline for a paper coming up. Eek!

I was reading a blog several years ago and I believe it my sorority sister Elle who wrote it. Either Elle or Kathryn, but I think it was Elle. She wrote about this contraption called a Neti Pot.

She explained how it worked (much better than I am about to) and I didn't know that it was for me. Until I couldn't breathe and I couldn't sleep and I was miserable about a year ago. Then I was ready to give it a whirl.  So if you have nasal congestion you go to Walgreens and buy this little pot. It comes with 60 saline packets and at the rate I am going that's going to be nearly a lifetime supply. You fill the little pot with water and the saline packet. Then you put it up to your nose and lean your head over the sink. I find that you wait until your spouse is out of the room. I think it puts a damper on the romance.  You have to breathe through your mouth or you get a sensation that is akin to being in the ocean and getting water up your nose. It's no good. Anyway, you do this and water comes out the other side of your nose and with it goes all kinds of gunk that was making your life miserable. Then you breathe the sweet scent of oxygen. Because you can breathe again. 

Now I probably wouldn't do this in the work bathroom either. Maybe you work in a really cool place. I work at a school and the bathroom makes me lose all hope for humanity. I don't want to be part of the problem. Or risk contracting something else by staying in there any longer than I have to. So my back up which I am sure is far less natural and overall good for you is a vapor inhaler. You're only supposed to do it once every four hours or so which indicates to me that it's probably not that good for you. 

But if you're in a pinch, this sucker works. 

So if you're feeling like crud, I hope I've helped you out. We can't be our best selves when we feel like crud. Unless our best selves is cuddling with our dog and watching Harry Potter. When I think about it, maybe that is my best self. I'd also like to breathe while I do it though. 

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