Symptom In Search of a Cure

Right about there is that tickle in my throat. Excuse me, I have this nagging cough. And when I breathe, I have this slight rattle in my chest. Sometimes my eyes water a lot. And then I sneeze so forceful that it seems as if my whole body shuts off for an instant. And I've coughed and sneezed so much my whole body aches when I cough and sneeze again.

The last week or so will not make the highlight reel of my life. Granted, I’ve felt worse before but this little spell has been frustrating. Allergies and a cold have teamed up to drag me down and I can’t quite seem to get back to the feeling-better place I was before. I do feel better now but the cough still resides and the occasional sneeze makes me sigh as if I’m asking for relief from above.

No doubt the medicine has helped but I’m not a medicine freak. I’ve always been a bit weary of things that alter reactions chemically. I mean I have enough problems dealing with things with a clear mind. I know though that these meds are prescribed to get me back to where I need to be so I read the instructions on the bottles and follow them to the letter. And wait. And hope. And pray. And while patience is a virtue, patience runs thin when I feel like I should be past this place already.

And for now the tickle in the throat and the nagging cough and the slight rattle in my chest and the watery eyes and the sneeze still reside. The sick symptoms are fading some and my strength is returning slowly. But still…

While this week has been a bump in the road, I feel foolish when I think of those who deal with real sickness day in, day out, compared with my temporary cough. I feel self-centered when I think of those who struggle with real pain, real weakness, real physical limitations or watch those they love deal with those things constantly when I will probably be over what I have now in a few more days.

It makes me think the real sickness I have is that I am spoiled. I take things for granted, especially the measure of health I do have. I am selfish and no over-the-counter or prescribed medicine can take that out of my heart. And it’s something that’s harder to get rid of than a nagging cough.