Conversations with my Vagus Nerve

So. For the last week, I have been sick. It started Monday really, though I wasn't that bad until Tuesday or Wednesday.  I was utterly miserable there for a few days. And then it was just the coughing.  Constantly.. Endlessly. Repeatedly coughing. So much it made me gag, and grow dizzy.

I have done my usual research to avoid going to the doctor, because if I can fix this myself it makes me better than the doctors, and I have decided that I do not have whooping cough, or bronchitis, or pneumonia. I have a cough. Which is triggered by a stimulated vagus nerve. I have tried -everything- to get this cough under control. I thought it was being caused by congestion .. but I am not coughing up anything, and I can .. when the tickle in the back of my throat doesn't cause another coughing fit .. take deep breaths unhindered as far as I can tell. I don't -feel- congested. So it can't be congestion.

The only symptom is the nigh-constant tickle at the back of my throat. And I do mean constant. It feels like I have hairs growing in my throat.  Yes, a very gross mental image, but that's what it feels like. No amount of coughing, gargling, clearing my throat or hacking so violently it makes my arms tingle has ejected the phantom hairs, so I can only conclude they are not really there.

My husband has threatened with the Husbandly Glare of Doom that if I'm not 'better' by tonight, I must hie myself to the doctor; that is to say to the Urgent Care facility.  A trip which we cannot afford, and I really do not wish to take. It took three days of serious agony when my Eustachian tubes were locked closed for me to go about a year and a half ago. We're talking agony. While the frequent barking sound in the house is annoying as anything .. and the feeling of hair growing in my throat is not the most pleasant thing either .. I'm fairly certain I'm neither turning into a dog nor growing hair in my throat. My chin, sure. But not inside my throat.

So. Vagus nerve. Enough already, okay? You've had your fun. I'm sure the constant sneezing is what sent you into this tizzy, but you do not need to repay the favor this way. You don't need to repay the favor at all, really.  I'm sorry I irritated you. Can we be friends again? I would like to sleep, and to not be forced into a visit to the Doc-in-a-Box.

PS: I'm out of underwear to wear thanks to the the coughing. It sucks getting old. How about you do my laundry for me, so I can rest?

Happy Solstice!

I think, once my darling husband gets home, I'm going to ask him to help me move the bookshelf upstanrs down to my room, and move the dreser that's in my office upstairs. Then we'll have more room for little incidental stuff like towels and stuff that really need a home up in the bedroom since we don't have a single freaking linen closet - note to self, next house must have linen closets - and I will have more room for things like books and yarn and won't have them in piles on the floor anymore. Sounds good, doesn't it?

It's also a nice way to get my altar changed for the season, since I still have winter's altar set up from two winters ago. And perhaps making it easier to change my altar .. which is only devotional anyway and not a real working altar .. might encourage me to actually do so, and thus encourage me to actually perform said devotions. And stuff.

My legs are still botheirng me at night. but at this point I'm unsure how much of it is RLS and how much of it is my poor legs saying 'oh my god will you -please- give us a day off to rest!'. I did find that rubbing muscle rub on them helped. I was at least able to go back to sleep. Which in this house is a very good thing. An overtired Tania is a grouchy, hard to live with, Tania

*flailing Kermit arms*

Yaaaaay! James got his account back. That makes me inordinately happy. =) He's waiting to hear from a 'Specialist' about having Shinzui un-deleted. I expect, considering the circumstances, that won't be a problem. But he's already said he plans to make a warrior Zui, anyway.

We've started going to the gym. Planet Fitness, which has a really good deal. $20 a month, with guest priviledges. Which means Brandon can go with me for no charge. Jason already has a membership, but he goes in Gastonia. I slept well for the first time in a week, lastnight. I'm going to start taking iron pills too, to try and prevent or alleviate the RLS, but I think the working out might help also.

As I've mentioned, I've been having some issues with sleeping. I don't seem to be able to stay asleep, and sometimes just can't sleep at all. Combined with this, I seem to be having some RLS issues.

I'm trying to regulate it by altering my diet a bit, getting it more balanced. But if that doesn't work, these tips from a newsletter I get might help me a little. Of course, that means finding some of these essential oils, but in this day and age, that won't be terribly difficult.

Rx for: Fatigue

Essential oil Rosemary

How to Mix two drops of rosemary with two drops of olive oil (called a “carrier” oil) in the palm of your hand. Using the fingers of your opposite hand, rub the oils in your palm in a clockwise motion (like swirling a glass of wine to open the flavor, this releases the aroma). Close your eyes. Using the index fingers, rub the oil combination in a circular motion onto your temples, along the hairline and at the nape of your neck until it is absorbed. Sit with your eyes closed for three to five minutes, taking deep breaths.


Rx for: Stress

Essential oil Cedarwood

How to Place two to four drops in the palm of your hand. Cup your hand over your nose, close your eyes and breathe deeply for two minutes.


Rx for: Anxiety

Essential oil Ylang-ylang

How to Combine two to four drops of ylang-ylang with two to four drops of olive oil in the palm of your hand. Rub your hands together, and then rub your palms over your chest and heart center. Breathe for three to five minutes


Rx for: Bad mood

Essential oil Tangerine

How to Need a pick-me-up? Combine two to four drops of tangerine oil with two to four drops of olive oil in the palm of your hand. Rub your hands together and massage the oils onto the bottoms of your feet. “When you place essential oil onto the feet — and you can do this with any of them — it enters every cell in the body within 21 minutes,” Bluth says.


Rx for: Headache

Essential oil Peppermint

How to Place two to four drops of the oil on the index fingers. Being careful to stay away from the eyes, rub your fingertips along the hairline, forehead, temples and nape of the neck. Take three to five minutes to inhale it with your eyes closed. “Peppermint is a powerful headache remedy because it blocks the pain receptors,” Bluth says.


Rx for: Trouble sleeping

Essential oil Roman chamomile

How to Put three drops of the oil on a cotton ball, and place it next to your pillow before you hit the hay. You can also combine two to four drops of the oil with olive oil and rub it on your shoulders, stomach and the bottoms of your feet before bed.


Rx for: Muscle soreness

Essential oil Basil and peppermint combination

How to Combine 1/4 cup of Epsom Salt with two drops of basil oil and two drops of peppermint oil. Let it sit for two to five minutes while you prepare a warm bath. Pour the salt and oil combination into the water and take a soothing soak.


Rx for: Sadness

Essential oil Geranium

How to Fill a pot with water and bring it to just about boiling on the stove. Either take the pot directly to a table or pour the water into a glass bowl. Place one or two drops of geranium oil into the water. Using a bath towel, cover your head over the bowl with your face at least six inches away from the water, creating a tent effect that traps the aromatic steam. Breathe deeply until the water stops steaming.


Rx for: Trouble relaxing

Essential oil Lavender

How to Create a warm compress by placing two to four drops of the oil on a washcloth soaked with warm water. Lie on the ground with your legs up the wall, and drape the washcloth over your forehead. Stay in this position with your eyes closed for three to five minutes.


Rx for: Upset stomach

Essential oil Ginger

How to Combine two to four drops of ginger oil with olive oil in the palm of your hand. Rub your hands together, then gently massage your belly. Another technique: Place two to four drops of ginger oil on a warm washcloth. Create a sandwich effect by placing a dry towel over your stomach, the warm washcloth over that, and another dry towel on top. Lie comfortably for three to five minutes.