Itch in the Throat

Here I am again suffering from asthma, four (4) months after my last post.

The strange headache I felt two days ago made me realize I did not have an ordinary allergy, but a cold virus because the headache was accompanied by a little awkwardness in the throat.

In ordinary allergy, I would exhibit symptoms of cold. I would be blowing my nose but after sometime I would forget about it. But when the symptoms of cold is accompanied by a headache and the awkwardness in the throat, I know immediately that I caught a virus and not an allergen.

I had to do something because I could not afford to miss a once a week seminar in the University of Santo Tomas. So, I once again referred to my previous posts here which (posts) served as my guide to the medicines to buy.

I started inhaling Seretide and taking Cefixime two nights ago. I should be taking Ansimar too to relieve me from the itchiness in my throat.

Aside from these asthma symptoms, I also feel pain in my right buttock near the bottom of my backbone. My coughing triggers this pain.

A vain, or a muscle must have gotten out of alignment.

Under the mercy of my lungs

Sore throat alerts the asthmatic me. The moment I feel something tears apart in my throat every time I open my mouth, I know what to do: shun cold drinks and desserts, take vitamins, and if necessary medicines. This usually happens when the weather changes and my immune system plummets–through insufficient sleep, or stress.

Having been hospitalized many times in the past for severe asthma attacks, I am wise enough to do everything in my power to prevent sore throat from developing into a full blown severe asthma attack. I do not want to relive the day I am so tired of breathing I would rather want to die. Imagine. The very act we take for granted–breathing–is very hard to do. I have to work real hard by pulling all my muscles together to have that precious, single breath, one breath at a time. If the doctor does not inject me with steroids soon, by the next day, I would be so tired I wished I were dead. But I would still be alive, so angry at God I try not to think about him. Breathing is so hard I no longer want to breathe. Yet, as it is an involuntary act, I keep on breathing. As a result, I suffer against my will–with every single breath I take.

It is this profound experience of helplessness that has brought me closer to my mortality. In severe asthma attacks like I just described, the thought of death is my only consolation. I would say to myself, a little more time. Soon you will stop breathing…and you will be ok.

It is never ok to be alive during severe asthma attack, I tell you. It is this experience that floods the memory during sore throat.

First symptoms

I had a sore throat two days ago. Two days before that, I ate fried fish in Marikina hotel for dinner. I remember the fish because my lips became itchy halfway through it. My lips blistered the next day, and a day after that my throat became really sore after I ate mango shake for afternoon snack.

I took Sinutab and Celestamine and vitamin C twice a day. I thought I was ok yesterday until this morning. But this noon, right after lunch, my throat went so dry and itchy I could not sleep though I was so drowsy. I remember when I was young when my sore throat was not administered, about third or second day thereafter, I would feel exactly the same way. Then I would be coughing and spitting, and starting that night, I would have my asthma attack.

Except for the dry and itchy throat, I am ok. I try to be strong because I do not want my wife to worry about me. She already has her sick mother to worry about.

Wife arrives from a Christmas party and she has with her the lozenges I requested for sore throat.

Bought Salbutamol for inhalation. I remember, inhalation takes away the dryness and the itchiness of my throat.

Last time when I had this, I believe I took the same medication including the inhalation. I believe, after three days I still had the itchy and dry throat I had to see a doctor for an anti-biotic prescription.