Hypersensitive Me

Yeah, right

2012 — hereby dubbed The Year of the Draggin’ — has sucked so far. Beset by one health drawback after another, I’ve really found it difficult getting my new garden plan underway. I just haven’t felt up to it, using my weekends instead for laying low, chilling out, and getting better … The worse part about all this is that posting on this blog has been affected.  An avid blog-reader myself, I hate when my favorite bloggers post only sporadically. Well, this week’s issue began last weekend, ironically  just when I finally felt like I was getting my oomph back after working both days in the garden. It began with a dry tickle; then became a full-on cough; progressed straight to an annoying hack, and then, by Wednesday, became an unrelenting lung-rattling bark. Checked out of work, saw my doctor. After three hours, and exams and tests for both pneumonia and asthma, was told I had allergies so severe both ears and sinuses were involved and as a bonus I had bronchitis. I’ve always had allergies but nothing this bad, something my doc attributes to the whimsical weather conditions this winter. Makes sense to me; since last Christmas we’ve had nothing but climactic mood swingin’. The solution: 9 new meds of various types, some prescription, some OTC, none of them free. Helpfully, a handout and advice for dealing with the problem was gratis, but what advice! …

Because allergies are, by definition, a hypersensitivity to common environmental substances, it was suggested I do the following to prevent symptoms: use a mask and goggles while working in the garden, stay indoors during high-pollen seasons, keep away from dust and mold and — dun-DUN-dun — steer clear of furry or feathery pets! Well, just reading these guidelines was cough provoking … When gardening I hate wearing gloves, even while rasslin’ with the prickliest of succulents; the idea of a mask and goggles is cause for eye-rolling And, how could I possibly spurn the tail-wigglin’ advances of our furry apple-headed familiars, Frito and Inky?!  I’m feeling better (finally) and the cough’s tapering off; last night I almost slept through … so, I promise to take the pills, use the inhaler and spray the nasal mist, but all bets are off as far as the other tactics go. I also pledge to try and post more … RR’s never had more followers or daily readers (many of them international!) and I thank you all for being there even when I haven’t.