In Which I Am Full Of Croup

I have The Croup. Technically, the Doctor said it was parainfluenza, or the adult croup, which crops up every other year. If your child has the croup, I want to let you know what he/she is is feeling. He/she is BORED. Freaking BORED.  I'm timing my coughs now like labor pains.

This from WebMD:

An episode, or attack, of croup often occurs at night.  Because the coughing can occur suddenly and sound severe, the attacks can frighten both you and your child. To help manage your child's episode of croup:

• Keep calm. An episode of severe coughing and breathing difficulty from croup can be unsettling or frightening.

Yes, it is. Gary feels he must scream at me so I can understand his fear.

• Use soothing and comforting techniques. If your child becomes upset and anxious, croup symptoms may get worse. For example, crying can make breathing more difficult. Provide comfort by holding or rocking your child. You may also be able to distract your child by reading a book, working a puzzle, or watching television.

Well, this inner child is not being held or rocked. The S_________s treat the sick like pariah. I have been watching the senate confirmation hearings on television; I found that very soothing.

• Create moist air. Go with your child into the bathroom, shut the door, and turn on all the hot water faucets to create a moist and steamy atmosphere. Let your child breathe in the moist air for several minutes.

I still remember this as the strangest part of having the croup as a child. I was visiting Technical Father, and the stepmother said I had to go be alone in the bathroom while all the faucets were running hot water. It really was pointless. Actually, the strangest part was that the Stepmother said not to clean up the vomit at the end of the hallway because that was somehow helpful in making a diagnosis. I did find on the web that diphtheria was called "membranous croup." Perhaps she was trying to diagnose me with diphtheria.

• Take your child outside. Exposure to cool outdoor air often helps open a child's airways, reducing the coughing and breathing difficulty of a croup attack. Make sure your child is bundled up appropriately before going out.

Yeah, Libby said to stand in a steamy bathroom and then go outside in the cold. I just tried that. It was quite an entertaining change of venues. I barked like a seal in the bathroom, then I barked like a seal for the possoms and crows outside. Lungs are just the same. Nice to have a change of scenery, though.

Comments

[Marcia]

Look at it this way: isn't it tradition in the S______s to give presents following an illness? You could score big with Gary. :-)

Feel better! We miss you!