I had one of the worst weeks of the flu in a long time. Not COVID, Sars, or RSV. It went into my chest. I’m susceptible because I have asthma among other health challenges. I coughed so hard that I pulled muscles. I was in so much pain from a high fever, I didn’t think I would weather this storm.

I wondered what I could learn from this experience. I am finite. I’m not impervious to those little bugs, viruses, bacteria, and even the stuff that lives in my body to help me achieve some kind of healthy balance. I support and cheer on the stuff in me that can help me fight things. As much as I try to avoid or prevent illness and strengthen myself to weather these episodes well, I’m not perfect. I’m still going to get something. It’s part of life.

So yes, I drank black and green tea with honey. Used honey and pink salt as a substitute for throat lozenges. Because I have so many allergies and adverse reactions, I can’t take OTC concoctions. I create my own. I took ibuprofen at night to help me sleep.

I drank organic chicken broth when I couldn’t eat. I made chicken soup 3 ways, gradually eating a little more meat. I finally was able to eat a frittata with vegetables I had in the fridge.

Urgent care ruled out pneumonia and infection. I needed a nebulizer treatment to breathe easier and raise my oxygen level. Now I’m on steroids and the first prescription cough suppressant I have taken in years.

I even tried creative visualization, telling my body to get those Pac-Man gobblers out to eat all of the bad germs. I imagine Super Mario jumping up and down on my nemesis. I imagine my elite task force gaining control of major territory.

I started to feel better but was weak from not eating enough. It’s just a week of my life. A small portion of a lifetime.

So why did it feel so depressing? We think we can take a pill and get over it. Just push through. We even pride ourselves in not taking sick days. That’s really not healthy.

So the POV on the other side of this bout is not to overreact. I kept telling myself to just take care of myself as best I can and get help when needed.

Like every challenge in life, we can fight it and make it worse or accept it. Say a prayer. Call a friend. Read a book. Binge watch a show. Give in. Do something around the house when you feel like it.

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I could come out of this depressed by my humanity by considering myself a failure. How am I talking to myself? What are the words I carry into today and tomorrow? I reframe. I survived. I am okay. I’ll get better every day. I have done this before and triumphed. I hope it will make me stronger.

I didn’t fly through it. But the week flew by quickly!

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