Elusive Health

I’m sick. And tired, but that’s a side effect of being sick.

This time it’s just a cold, and a mild cold, at that. Or maybe it’s mild because I was persuaded to start taking tablets containing vitamins B & C & zinc the day the symptoms went from ‘mildly yucky’ to ‘definitely sick’. And I’ve been pushing a LOT of fluids through my system. It means a lot of trips to the ‘little room’, but believe me, it’s worth it.

I’ve known for a long time that pushing fluids when you have a cold really does help you feel better. I have a friend who calls it “drowning the nasty germs”. I try to drink a gallon of fluid a day, in an attempt to keep my body moisturized, even if I’m not sick. Then when I do get sick, I try for two gallons.

The common advice given for treating colds is to rest and push fluids. I’m willing, but I haven’t figured out how to continue drinking (like a fish) when I’m sleeping. With enough fluids, I can get through the day only mildly impaired, then I retire for a good night’s sleep. All those hours of being asleep, not drinking, and I wake up definitely sick. I don’t want to get up, let alone get myself some juice, tea or whatever. But I know I have to, so I do, and an hour later, I am starting to feel human again.

I wish somebody would invent a way for me to continue drinking while I’m sleeping, so I wouldn’t have those awful mornings to wake up to while I’m fighting off a cold.