again?

Well, I was right to worry. We went to a Christmas party last Friday night where I was in close proximity to about 50 other people--we all had a great time!--but within the traditional incubation period of 48 hours, by Sunday night my sinuses were draining so much that once again I couldn't leave the Kleenex box. Almost immediately I could feel lung involvement--wheezing and expectoration.

I thought that I might out wait this one as well, but that was not happening. I couldn't handle the sinus pain generated by my CPAP machine use. I slept very little that night. By Monday morning I was dealing with heavy mucus and in quite a bit of pain. So, I am now two days into a full course (7 days) of amoxycillin at 1000 mgs twice a day. At this point my body is grateful. But I am sleeping extra hours during the day and still sleeping most of the night.

I thought that perhaps I was being hubristic  when I harbored the possibility that the autumnal gombu wouldn't get me twice as it has before. But note that the first paragraph of my last post certainly entertains the idea that it could well happen.

While it would appear that I am self-diagnosing as well as self-medicating only the latter is uncontested. I had permission on these upper respiratory things that it they didn't clear up I was to not wait but act. I have done so. Heavy green mucus directed the act. The antibiotic  appears to be working. Hold that thought.

It's all good and that's scary

Last post I worried about whether I would weather (har har: whither do I wander) an autumnal cold. I did. And it was without any antibiotics. It was pretty much gone in a week. And,  as yet, it has not returned. However, the advent of some post-nasal drip that is irritating my throat is ominous. Our humidifier has ceased to function well and new filters are on order. Until then it is difficult to raise the humidity in our bedroom, given the almost continuous running of the gas furnace for this place.

We are in full blown winter mode here in N Utah. There has been little snow, yet the ground is covered. The famed Utah powder is in little evidence; however, the ski resorts now almost all make their own snow. But the skiers know the difference. When the skies clear it has been quite cold such as  in the single digits with highs in the 20s. When it snows the temps rise to the mid-30s and it almost feels balmy. There is early evidence of forthcoming winter inversions with all the pollutants trapped in the valley (where we now live). Oh, to be already in AZ. 

Yet there is optimism: often the jet stream starts to dive south by January and stays there through spring. Most of the snow in this area occurs from January through March. When snow happens here the storms clear out the pollution. But this doesn't change the  fact that when one needs to take out the garbage and the recycling one must fully dress for the occasion. Since we have no garage we can't store the detritus in a couple cans. It must be trundled to a dumpster which is slightly farther than where our cars reside under a carport. Speaking of which we now get into freezing cold autos for the first time in 23 years. We really miss (oh, boohoo) our prior heated garage. What a luxury that was! Now we understand the utility of heated seats. But we persevere.

An AZ appearance depends on construction progress. On that score we are maybe a month away. The cabinets are going in; the tiling is almost complete. We need carpet, drapes, appliances, some lighting, some plumbing stuff, and counter tops and that's about it. Then I need to defeat the female nesting instinct--good luck with that!--and see whether we can get moved fairly quickly.  So, the end is in sight.

Touch wood, we are healthy and happy.

Merry Christmas, faithful followers and a great ano nuevo.