Cold 2018 was a gift from my niece. She's 3 and can't help it, and my immune system is not what it used to be; apparently it now only attacks vital organs and can't ward off anything else. A sore throat greeted me on Tuesday morning, eight days ago. Every day since has been a downward spiral into cement-filled sinuses, throat on fire, weak days and sleepless nights, inability to speak clearly or swallow, and persistent hacking and wheezing. Today is the first day I haven't vomited from coughing so hard, so that's good.
I'm worried the Cold has migrated to my chest. My suspicions worsened during a routine visit to my allergist today, when my peak flow test failed to meet the minimum requirement after a number of earnest tries. My air flow is down 25 percent from an already pathetic normal. It would not even pass muster if I was a 5-foot-tall, 85-year-old woman.
To top that off, despite careful handling of things, liberal use of antiseptic spray, and hacking myself to fitful sleeps alone in the downstairs bedroom, Beat finally caught the Cold. And he is annoyed. He tells me I can't travel to see my family in the winter anymore, since this is the third or fourth time I've carried a virus home from Utah. I think he's joking ... mostly.
I wonder how long I'll be down. The productive coughing and probable lung congestion has prompted an abundance of caution ... the last thing I need in my life is another bout of bronchitis. Meanwhile, I ventured to the gym (with a lot of hand sanitizer and cleaning spray), and burst through my best weight-lifting session ever. It's probably all of that pent-up energy from not exercising, but I'm full of superstition these days, and convinced that December is an "up month." Back when I was struggling through October, I soothed myself with promises that December would come, I'd break my Strava PRs again, and all would be right in the world ... for a month or so, but that's better than nothing. Now I have to waste this imaginary peak fitness on a respiratory infection, and that sucks. Why couldn't you wreak your havoc in October, stupid Cold? (Oh, that's right, I was sick in Utah back then, too.)
Anyway, I don't have any adventures to write about. But after a week of silence I start to get antsy, so I'll post about outdoor things that have been on my mind.
• What am I going to do this coming March? I want to plan a winter adventure, but for whatever reason I've been dragging my feet, unable to get excited about the few ideas I've had. Writing retreat in Nome? No, I can't find a place to stay. Winter in Iceland? No, I'm not entirely interested in the logistics or expense of solo international travel at this time. Bike tour in the Utah desert? No, if I'm going to drag my bike through soft sand, I'd rather just drag my bike through soft snow in Alaska. So bike tour in Alaska? That seems appealing right now ... aim to retrace my failed 2015 trip along the coast, except start in Nome and ride to Unalakleet with a possible return trip if time and weather permits. The Norton Sound is the most awful, beautiful, terrifying, utterly compelling segment of the Iditarod Trail. A large part of me yearns to greet my best frenemy, The North Wind. And if that goes well, maybe I can consider untrod ground, like the Arctic, for a future endeavor.
• Beat got into the 2019 Hardrock 100 this week. Yay! German and Australian friends are flying in for the race, so I'm looking forward to hosting a big altitude acclimation party in July. Lottery season generates such existential angst in the running community that it's become entertaining in its own right. The Hardrock lottery is so convoluted that it's not worth describing, but if it's your first time applying, your chance of being drawn for a spot is about 1 in 220. According to the National Safety Council, a person has a similar chance of dying from a fall in their lifetime (1 in 218.)
Five years ago, I actually managed to beat the Hardrock odds (and I'm guessing a fall is also how I'll die.) I applied to Hardrock just once with a single qualifying race. I got in. That I already planned to participate in the Race Across South Africa that summer prompted much angst — I only applied in the first place to garner more tickets for future lotteries. I remember being annoyed at how many congratulations I received on my Facebook page — more than I ever saw for any of my Iditarod completions, including setting a record for the ride to Nome. Just for squeaking through a race lottery! Ultimately I gave up my spot, to which many of those same Facebook friends expressed bafflement ... (I suppose I should have skipped a once-in-a-lifetime adventure in South Africa to plod 100 miles of Colorado trails that are open to the public at all times.) Anyway, I no longer feel compelled to race Hardrock. I mean, I had my chance. The fact that I suspect I'll eventually die in a fall may also influence this trend toward mountain race apathy.
• Did I mention before that I made it through the White Mountains 100 lottery? I did! Wheee. I've wrestled back and forth on whether to race on bike or foot. Since I don't think I'll improve my bike speed all that much during these sickly winter months, and since I am still holding out for the perfect hundred-mile run, I'm leaning toward foot. If I start the race within days of completing a potential 500-mile bike tour along the wind-blasted Alaska coast, I'm sure to be in excellent running condition.
• Beat and I are heading back to Fairbanks for Christmas. There was some angst in planning this trip. We set our sights on eight days in the White Mountains (broken into two sled-dragging trips of three and five days), but had our cabin reservations cancelled due to a glitch in the booking policy. So while I was riding around the White Rim over Thanksgiving, Beat was waking up at 2 a.m. every night to book another cabin. We managed to weave the trip back together, and I am so excited. Sure, we do this every year, but it only continues to get better. Five full off-the-grid days in a place still free of most of the machinations of modern life, a place where ice crystals create music in the air and frosted trees reflect the ruby light of winter's midday, is as close to heaven as I have experienced. (And also hell, especially if the wind-blasted Alaska coast is this place.)
• I miss fat biking. It was probably an error to join the "Front Range Fattys" group. Now every day I see photos of people riding their fat bikes in Colorado, enjoying the sunshine and beautifully packed singletrack, and read the latest conditions reports for local trails. I'm so jonesing for a ride that it will be a small miracle if I can keep my phlegmy lungs away from Rollins Pass this weekend.
• Ok, that's enough rambling. What are your best home remedies for beating an epic Cold? I don't think the pharmacy will sell me any more Sudafed.
Steam saunas with lots of eucalyptus...till your core body temp gets high enough to simulate a "fever," which we all know kills virus and bacterial body invaders. For lack of a sauna, I use the Hot Springs here in Ouray to raise core temps...which isn't as effective, I think due to the lack of eucalyptus. Caution: Drink lots of water to prevent dehydration and flush out the "bad guys." Lastly, try to visualize sweating out the cold. Believe that it is working :) Not a cure, but it shorten a 7 day cold into a 2 or 3 day cold.
ReplyDeleteFor what it's worth,
Box Canyon Mark
We tried sauna with eucalyptus tonight. I've been avoiding sauna because I didn't want to further weaken my immune system, but now I just want to clear out crud with whatever methods might work. I felt great afterward! It was short-lived, but I'll likely continue this.
DeleteI'm already on day 9, so the "shorten" ship has sailed.
Hey Jill, so sorry to hear about your cold...they are indeed QUITE miserable. I know you probably get swamped with home remedies and such, but I have to tell you about GSE (Grapefruit Seed Extract liquid concentrate). It's a liquid in a small bottle (10oz or a smaller 4oz) that comes out in drops. You can also get it in capsules, but I think the drops are the BOMB! It was mentioned to me a few years ago when I came down with a cold. Basicly when you get the slightest THOUGHT that you might be catching a cold (I always get the sore throat first) you take 10 drops morning and night (I even up that to a 3rd dose sometime during the day). Since I bought my first bottle (at a healthfood or vitamin store) neither my wife nor I have ever had a full blown cold...this stuff I swear knocks it down before it gets a grip. I have a 4oz bottle at home and carry the 2oz when I travel (it can go as a carry on)...when I know I'm flying somewhere (on a tube chock full of sick people all breathing the same air) I start drops once a day a day or 2 before I travel, and continue a day or 2 after. All I can say is that I'm a believer...it's a miracle in a bottle! It's made by NutriBiotic, the bottle is white with red text and a red cap (well, more magenta like than red). I've heard various ways to take it, but I personally just open my mouth and count 10 drops hitting my tongue...it's bittersweet but actually kind'a grows on you. Others here in the office mix it in water or orange juice, the sky is the limit, as long as you take it. Normally I'd be hesitant to toss this 'advice' out there, but you sound miserable, and I can personally attest that this stuff works...half my office has it now and we rarely have someone come in sick for more than a day or 2 as even if the cold gets a 'small' grip, it's knocked out much faster than normal. Hoping you feel better.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip. I used to just sail through cold and flu season with nary a sick day. The handful of times I did get sick, I really got sick (although never tested, I'm fairly confident I did have the swine flu in January 2010.) My immunity seems to have shifted in the past few years, so I'm interested in experimenting more with preventative measures.
Deleteoops...up near the top I mistyped the bottle sizes...(supposed to be a 4oz or a smaller 2 oz).
ReplyDeleteAlways good to dream up fun trips when you can't go anywhere. Don't forget to think about Iceland next summer. I'm thinking more about it. We can discuss soon!
ReplyDeleteI have flat-out refused to go visit my sister, who has three little kids, when I'm training for anything. Kids are basically glorified disease vectors:) Possibly too late for your cold this time, but supplementing with glutathione at the onset of a cold (don't regularly supplement with it or you'll negatively affect endogenous production of it) has been shown to improve immune function. I did spot a recent article that discusses glutathione and autoimmune diseases--- haven't read it yet but it might be of interest to you? https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/19393193/
ReplyDeleteThis is interesting information, thank you! I clicked on the link and did a small amount of googling, and I'm intrigued. I already take L-glutamine and selenium supplements, because these are supposed to help combat the negative effects of thyroid autoimmunity — seems like those are all connected. Worth more research.
DeleteOh and I think there is also research on zinc supplementation shortening the duration of a cold, but I haven't looked into it properly.
ReplyDeleteOnce it's in your lungs, it's gonna run its course, not much you can do. Rest, and steamy, hot baths or showers.
ReplyDeleteI fear this is the case. Possibly I could have tipped the scales in my favor with more care last week, but it seems now I'll just have to ride it out.
DeleteAntibiotics, rest, hydration. That's as much as you can so.
ReplyDeleteWow, Jill, you are such a ratings hound. Look at how you try to draw people in with your opening line: "I don't actually have anything to write about in this post." Ha! Seriously, though, I hope you get better soon!
ReplyDeleteGinger - especially Ginger Lemon tea. Herbal remedy teas including Throat Coat, Cold Remedy and Echinacea Plus from Traditional Medicinals or similar. Zinc lozenges. And of course good old Canadian Cold-FX which can work both preventatively and once in full infection. Rum or Single Malt at night. Or hot rum toddy if you prefer. Everything will still suck, but hopefully less and for a shorter time. Surprisingly I find Canadian winter air also helps kill germs. Good luck Jill.
ReplyDeleteHa ha. Thanks for the suggestions. I'm going to see my doctor this afternoon, now that the two-week mark has come and the lung congestion seems to be settling in for a long haul. I'm beginning to feel concerned that I won't be well in time for the Christmas trip.
DeleteOne more thing I'll add (and then I'll shut up about it)...and this is for Beat: GSE (that I mentioned above) seems to work more as a preventative. As soon as either my wife or I feel ANY symptoms of a cold coming on we BOTH start the drops. Since we found about it we've never transferred a fledgling cold to each other (and typically the cold never gets a good foothold and is totally gone in days). Which is why we both take it before any travel (and if it's a short trip we take it for the duration). OK. Done. I now take you back to your normally scheduled blog comments.
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