March 28, 2005
Oxygen Is Highly Overrated
(Tuesday update re doctor's visit below, Dear Readers.)
I used to think my blog was adequately entertaining, at least to knitters, until Dreaming of Danzan Ravjaa came along. Now I shake my fist impotently toward the heavens and ask, How can I hope to compete with divinely and karmically predestined hook-ups with Ministers of Defense, linguistic scholars, poets, lamas, artists, ex-ambassadors, and descendants of Genghis Khan? I take some comfort, however, in knowing that, unlike Der Cuzz, I am warm. Hah, Cuzz! And neener, neener. And a loud Bronx cheer to you from the boring but Genghis-Khan-free suburbs of Seattle.
Had both an awful and a wonderful weekend.
Awful because I learned the hard way that a lack of oxygen can put a crimp in your day. Don’t know whazzup; the cold and all of its attendant symptoms are long gone but the lungs just seem to have quietly gone on strike, never to be heard from again. Perhaps it’s time to cut back on the stogies...
Wonderful because Saturday night, The Mysterious K decided she had had enough of my pitiful, wan, oxygen-challenged self lying alone in my bed at home so, despite my protestations, she did the knight(ess) in shining armor thing—drove over to my house, bundled me up, took me back to her house, put me on the couch under a soft blanket and with my head on a down pillow, catapulted the dog onto my stomach, and shoved a hot cup of honey lemon tea into my hands—and there I, the dog, and the magically endless cup of tea stayed for pretty much the next 36 hours. How do I tell you, dear friends, what a gift it was to be able to just let go, to hunker down under my blanket, and trust implicitly that my partner would take care of me? In a relationship, moments like that are priceless—even if she did hand me things with a pair of cooking tongs and wash her hands with an antiseptic product every time I so much as twitched.
(Unfortunately, however, honey lemon tea is not quite the panacea we had hoped for and I have no more oxygen now than I had three days ago. A trip to the doctor seems to be in order. Do you think the doc will cover me with a blanket, put a dog on my lap, and serve me tea?)
(Tuesday Update: Apparently oxygen is indeed overrated. Doc says my lungs, heart and throat are fine and that I do not have the asthmaplagueamoniaitis diagnosed by my Dear Readers. I may have some kinda virus, but he advises that I wait it out--which I don't really get but whatevuh. More honey lemon tea, anyone?
BTW, if you want to read something funny by a person who has had a real problem (gory details: she severed two tendons in her hand with the help of a wall, a wine glass and a nasty fall), see Lorette's funny entry about what it's like to live life with only one functioning hand.)
In the meantime, some Dulaan photos to share with you, Dear Readers. First, these offerings from Brigade member Sheri Roy:
Secondly, hard-hearted Frankie continues to refuse to be a Dulaan model, so we resorted again to her stand-in, the bear. Here, Bear models a pair of Kool-Aid-dyed mittens knit by my friend June, and the coral-colored Cascade 220 hat I knit from a pattern in my new “Hats On!” book. (A gold star to anyone who can suss out from the subtle signs what kind of computer TMK uses.)
Lastly, a close-up of the kid-sized and therefore way-too-small-for-me cabled hat perched on my head a few seconds before it sproinked off like a rubberband:
Hmm, I diagnose you as having bronchitis. Let's see how close I am, eh? :) Hope the trip to the doc helps and your story about TMK is soooooo sweet, I have to forgive the tongs and antiseptic. You are a lucky woman, Mizz Ryan.:) L
Posted by: Lisa in Oregon on March 28, 2005 12:10 PMI'd think bronchitis, too, Lisa but there are no other symptoms. Just a slight tightness in the chest and throat and the occasional half-gasp, half-cough. That's it. Poop.
And, yeah, she took pretty darn good care of me, didn't she?
Posted by: Ryan on March 28, 2005 12:15 PMI think walking pneumonia. (is this a contest, by the way?) You can be jealous of Tom's blog, I'm jealous of your TMK - though I think my little boy is only a year or two away of being capable of attention like that. It's not the same as from an SO, unfortunately.
I saw those mittens happening! and I was inspired by June's socks to work on Traveler's socks for myself - I've only had to frog and start over 5 times (because of distractions from the afore-mentioned young son, phooey).
I hope you go to the doctor today, lungs are nothin' to fool with! I predict the doctor will make you wait in a cold room with a very thin cotton drape that leaves most of you uncovered.
Posted by: Patti on March 28, 2005 12:25 PMYep, unfortunately pneumonia. Only we would be "sick" enough to start betting on one's illness. I hope you feel better soon, Dearie! And definitely the doctor visit is in order on that one. Hmmmm, on that computer question, let me get back to ya, k? But why the hell is that desk and adjoining area so damn pristine and clean? I'm pissed.
Posted by: Norma on March 28, 2005 12:46 PMYep - pneumonia. Myria had nearly identical symptoms last January. Please Ryan, get thy behind to a physician? Breathing isn't something you can or should try to cut down on and your skin doesn't take well to blue tones.
Posted by: Robbyn on March 28, 2005 12:56 PMTo the doctor ye must go! Onward!
Posted by: Rebecca on March 28, 2005 01:08 PMDear Sweet Ryan,
You should be on your way to the doctor now. Too many years of lung problems have taught me that you need to take care of this now.
Also the hat that matches the Kool-Aid mittens is finished. I used the Ear Cozy pattern that MaryB showed us. This is a great Fiber Trend pattern - much fun to do.
Hope you start feeling better and get that elephant to move off your chest. At least that is always how it feels to me.
June
ok hun.. I agree with the pneumonia.. but as a person who's had it several times.. I can tell you that without help it can EASILY become bronchitus on top of that. so high thee to a physician!
feel better soon ok?
Posted by: anj on March 28, 2005 01:24 PMTo all: You have no idea how much the idea of this'all being a contest is tickling my funny bone! Let's play "What's Wrong With Ryan's Lungs!"
Norma, TMK will thank you to the end of her days for noticing how clean her desk area is. This should make you feel better: (A) She had only JUST cleaned her office and was just as amazed by its cleanliness as you are and (B) that is only one of her desks and only one of her computers. The other work area, which is the more heavily used, was a mite more cluttered--although it too had just been organized and would probably tick you off equally as much...
Posted by: Ryan on March 28, 2005 01:31 PMAnd to everyone...Ryan is on her way to the doctor as I type. Thank you for your pushing. It's very hard to get her to go to the doctor sometimes. (And I can only nag so much!)
TMK
Posted by: The Mysterious K on March 28, 2005 01:55 PMKudo to you, TMK, for doing the right thing and lavishing attention on her! And I don't blame you one bit for the tongs and antiseptic wash...not after working in a hospital for 5 years.......
Posted by: kim on March 28, 2005 02:50 PMRyan, I hope you're well and feeling better soon. Be sure to do whatever the doctor tells ya.
Posted by: Fran on March 28, 2005 02:58 PMHuh. My money was on Bubonic Plague, caught from the marmot I gave her for her birthday.
Thanx for the plug, cuz. It's getting deeper every day here. Tune in tomorrow for tales of a friend's daughter who's recorded hip-hop updates of Danzan Ravjaa's folk songs!
Posted by: Cuzzin Tom on March 28, 2005 05:27 PMOh my poor Blog Mistress! I do hope you get better soon and I have to agree with the New-Moan-Ya diagnosis. I am awfully glad you decided to take yourself off to the doctor. But don't you dare wait until Wednesday to tell us how you are! Besides, we have to see if we guessed correctly.
Oh, and Norma? If it makes you feel any better, TMK's desktop pissed me off too. The only way I have a clean spot on my desk is if I take my laptop off of it.Even then, clean is a relative term...
Hope everyone has a great day!!
Posted by: Stalker Angie on March 28, 2005 05:34 PMAsthma, my dear, asthma. Better living through chemistry, to wit, the albuteral inhaler. Not breathing is a bummer, I've tried it and I don't like it. The shortterm solution is - TMK turns all the hot water on in the bath, closes the door, waits five minutes, puts YOU in the bath, closes the door and waits until you either feel better or the hot water runs out. Then she opens the door and hands you a towel because baby you will be WET.
Posted by: Kim on March 28, 2005 05:44 PMAsthmatic bronchitis. How's THAT for prevaricating? And I AM a doctor, so I'm not making this up. And he/she won't possibly take as good care of you as your loved one will.
Posted by: Lorette on March 28, 2005 07:35 PMHoping to get a Tuesday post as now we're all worried about you . . .
Posted by: Patti on March 29, 2005 07:50 AMI am completely overjoyed by the diagnosis, Blog Mistress! I would never want you to be ill in any manner. But still a part of me wants to scream "He's a frickin quack!!! Do not listen to the man!"
Anyone else for a second opinion on this? Not being able to breathe isn't something (to me anyway) that you just frickin wait out! Dumb ass doctor. Grumble grumble grumble.....
Posted by: Stalker Angie on March 29, 2005 10:32 AMwell I'm with stalker angie.. i say a second opinion might be needed. my aunt went to 3 docs before they found out what was wrong with her lunngs.. and I would rather you know sooner than later.
but I also agree with the hot misty air idea. give that a try too.
Posted by: anj on March 29, 2005 11:10 AMRyan - I had similar symptoms and was diagnosed with Pleurisy. Which was something I hadn't heard of, but was making the rounds around here...
Posted by: melissa on March 29, 2005 11:15 AMI'm with Stalker Angie and Anj. I'm not a big doctor fan, but there are certain maladies that are not to be taken lightly. I third the hot misty air motion, too. There is available a most wonderful device to have in your closet for times like these: A Kaz (well, now Vicks, I think -- they bought them out, maybe) personal steam inhaler. They are available at a lot of chain drug stores and Wal-Mart, and they are a godsend. I just Googled and found this at Walgreen's, made by Homedics, and a good price. It's the same idea. I tell ya, we swear by them in our family. Even when you think you're going to die with bronchitis or a sinus infection and you think nothing else is going to work, it's a simple thing, but it's amazing.
http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jhtml?CATID=100083&id=prod19789
Posted by: Norma on March 29, 2005 11:33 AMboy we sure sound like a bunch of morticias and gomez' but it just means we love you.
Posted by: anj on March 29, 2005 12:32 PMWe'd like to know if you're feeling better. So we can figure out what specialist to send you to or not.
Posted by: Patti on March 29, 2005 05:14 PMHey Ryan. Feel Better.
When I have some unidentified lung thing( though i do have asthma, but when inhalor doen't help much)
The best thing i have found is to boil, boil mind you not sttep, mint tea for a few minutes, let it cool a bit. Then sit with you head over the pot and a towel over your head, a sort of minty steam thing which really helps. And your skin also comes out looking fab:)