There are people and there are people when it comes to getting a cold. Some are toughening it out. Some take a cold like a pro. Some cry in the corner if they have a mild flu. Some act like they have Ebola. Usually, and B.C. (before Corona), when I had a cold, I would bring my son to school, go to work, avoid close contact with colleagues, take tons of Vitamin C, B, D, do laundry, go shopping, meal-prep for the next few days, and prepare dinner. For some reason, things just kept going and I was usually fine after one day of rest thanks to my amazing immune system.
I would also lay in bed and rest for a couple of hours when I really feel horrible but this rarely happened (knock on wood). So, that time, last year in November, I caught a cold like never before. And guess what? It was NOT Covid. I got Covid in April and it felt like a cold with a bit more coughing (glad I quit smoking). But this monster of a cold hit me right after I came back from visiting my parents in Germany. And it knocked me off my feet. It was a cold mixed with hilarious amounts of please-take-care-of-me-and-feel-so-sorry-for-me dramatics. I needed constant attention and care, I was vocal about my concerns about not pulling through, and any ache or pain was a reason to stay in bed. Does this sound familiar? Below are my stages through the worst cold I have ever had. Obviously, with a grain of sarcasm, irony, and exaggeration because this is just me.
- The pain was unbearable. I talk about sore muscles! You could never imagine the way MY MUSCLES ACHE! Nobody’s muscles EVER ached that way!
- The Dramatic Moans Begin. You can hear me loud and clear from the other side of the house. The moans, groans, and whining are a symphony of drama.
- I Swear that I am Burning Up. If I had to check if I have a fever one more time, I might go insane.
- My Speaking Ability Gets Compromised. The raspy voice set in early on and progressed rapidly. Thankfully, someone loved me and made lemon/ginger/honey tea.
- The Nose Gets Extra Sensitive. All that nose blowing sure irritated my delicate skin even though I had a year-supply on soft tissues. Try to find the ones with moisturising lotion or my nose might just fall off! Get those stupid soft tissues in a huge bulk.
- The Demands Multiply. Sick me is massively needy. I couldn’t reach the remote that was one meter away from me, and I did decide I want that homemade chicken soup after my friend had finally sat down on the couch. Don’t you dare give me a bell to ring, because I will sure overuse it!
- At the Pharmacy. Pharmacy list that someone needed to get for me: Cough drops, daytime and nighttime cold medicine, tea, anything and everything herbal, and nose spray. Actually, everything they sell in there. Just in case.
- Paralysis May Set In. At some point, muscle aches may turn to paralysis. I said, “Ugh, I can’t move!” It took me forever to get my blood flowing by walking from the couch to the bed.
- I Insisted that I am Dying. As if the dramatisation hasn’t been enough at this point, at the height of the cold, I swore I am dying. But I was surprised how quickly I came back to life when my friend said he will meet me for a kitchen session and the white wine is chilled.
This is the time when we all should take extra care of ourselves. Curl and cosy up inside, drink tea, eat warm soups, read, watch good movies, and light a candle while the snow begins to fall down silently covering the world in white.
Stay healthy, peepz.
