Laryngitis
Laryngitis -inflammation of the larynx, typically resulting in huskiness or loss of the voice, harsh breathing, and a painful cough. The most common cause of laryngitis is a virus. Other types of infection (rare) are bacterial or fungal. Some inhaled medications can be a risk factor for laryngitis. Poor vocal hygiene can lead to laryngitis or inflammation of the vocal folds.
After just recovering from mechanical laryngitis from my ear infection, BOTH me and my wife came down with a pathogen based form of laryngitis that struck us simultaneously Thursday evening of last week as I had mentioned in my previous post.
It was rough. Friday AND Saturday we were both basically out of commission.
Sunday was a bit better. I ate (did not eat Saturday, just slept).
The one hard thing about pathogen based laryngitis is that it results in developing yellowish phlegm. And, for me, this nasal and laryngeal phlegm routinely induces coughing spasms in me as it collect in my pharynx/back of tongue region when I lay down. So last night (Sunday into Monday), I was waking up every 1/2 hour, coughing violently until I got out the little bit of phlegm that was tickling the back of my pharynx/tongue region. I would then fall back asleep until it happened again.... and again.
I had FORGOTTEN what this felt like, as I had not had any sort of pathogen based upper respiratory infection since... hell.... before the Covid Pandemic occurred, I believe.
And, even though it was stupid of me, my mind started to go to some really dark places, having me feel and imagine every bit of my age. Even though it was not logical, I started to worry that I would not get well, worried that, oh... I do not want to even try to write all the horrors I thought of. I was being a big baby about the whole thing, but I did feel scared.... even though I do not admit that other than here.
PipeTobacco
3 Comments:
Professor, can you push through the "dark places" by relishing each new day as a fresh and wonderful gift? On the dark side, there's no guarantee that you will even live to see tomorrow. But, on the brighter side, you could live to 104 as a pipe-smoker, as did Jaques Barzun, or to 100 as did Jerome Bruner, or to 97 as did Bertrand Russell. So, wouldn't it be fair to say that the wisest step to take is to make sure that you are living your today as fully as you can, not paralyzing yourself with worry, and not delaying any opportunity to do good to yourself and to others. Optimize the quality of your life, and the quantity will become a secondary concern. I'm guessing that your 92-year-old compatriot at the Retirees Cigar Group isn't living in fear of his cigars... just as you shouldn't live in fear of your pipes. Shun them or embrace them, for whatever valid reasons, but if those reasons are "quality of life" reasons rather than "fear of death" reasons you should be fine, whichever way that takes you.
As a practical matter, though, I wonder whether you've ever stumbled across one horror-reducing step I've found to be helpful when I have one of those ailments that makes me fear that I can't quite breathe properly. I have a couple of huge wedge-shaped pillows, and if I sleep with my chest on one of them I know that everything is draining down such that while I may be miserable I'm at least not worrying that I'll suffocate or choke.
Also, your laryngitis makes me wonder all the more whether you would be well-served by finding some kind of amplification system to help with your "big voice" lecturing, to remove unnecessary strain. Even if the university won't provide it for you, some kind of portable microphone/speaker combination could spare your vocal cords a lot of strain and might be a worthwhile investment in your peace of mind (and peace of mind of voice). I hope you're fully back to comfortable big-voice in time for tomorrow's lectures, Professor!
When I got that nearly month long cold that went into my sinuses and ears in October, I felt like I was never going to get better. I dreaded going to bed where I wouldn't be able to sleep, my nose would stuff up, my ears would make funny noises--it was depressing. I hope your wife and you are on the mend!
Sounds absolutely miserable, and then nighttime thoughts can be very upsetting. Let's hope that the worst is over. Well, it can't get worse, can it?
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