taimatsu no monogatari

Bah! I did not sleep well. I don't usually sleep on my back, and without frozen veg on my stomach and anotherLucy in bed next to me to remind me not to turn over, I padded myself in with cushions last night. While it did work, I slept on my back all night and my blisters were intact this morning, my hips are all achy, like they would get at yoga a couple of years back when we'd do corpse/rest pose. I don't know why this is - is it because my arse is too big for the curve of my back to cope with? I dunno.

Anyway, I have more blisters on my unbandaged breast and the top of my abdomen. I'm trying very hard to keep them intact as it's all part of the healing process, but it's very difficult as the skin is extremely fragile. I have had to pad my other breast with a folded clean pair of knickers, which is all I have available in the way of clean non-fluffy fabric.

My skin is sore and uncomfortable. I am back on the painkillers and am distracting myself with fruit and the internet and silly chick-lit.

I was going to go over and see Rhona and others today, but I really can't risk it. Dammit! I'll try to do some clearing up later, and if anyone wants to come over at any point, just give me a call. I don't need much notice.

I am back from A&E! The worst affected bit is the bottom of my left breast, which probably took the first gush of the water; it's blistering and the skin which isn't coming away is very fragile. So that's been bandaged up; it's like wearing half a bra and I am all lopsided! Totherlucy came with me and kept me company, which was great, and I have bought lots of snackyfood to keep me going. I have a pile of Cadfael novels to reread, and I am very perky, because I feel SO much better than last night. I was in a real state when it happened, and I have no idea what I would have done if Rikk hadn't come over. None of my housemates were in and my phone is dead, so I'd probably have wound up half-naked in the street trying to call ambulances from the phone box down the road...

Anyway, I have a bandage, I have paraffin jelly to rub on, I have to take lots of paracetamol, and I'm to go back around 9/10am on Sunday to have it re-dressed. It'll take a little while to heal, but I ought to be able to do most things as usual next week if I'm careful. Washing will be a bit exciting...

I am trying to work out whether I'm fit to go to work. I am coughing loudly and painfully very frequently, at least every minute. Breathing is a cough trigger. My throat is mildly sore and likely to get lots worse during the day. I cannot breathe properly through my nose. Other than my throat, though (and, now I think about it, possibly my ears - one feels like it might be starting an ear-ache) I feel pretty much okay (save the usual stomach idiocy, but we ignore that).

So, I'd rather not go to work because I'm unlikely to be able to make myself honey and lemon drinks every five minutes while in the office, and coughing like this for long periods generally makes me feel really crappy and ill. However, I need to work out whether my bosses will agree with me. I can still talk, but I am fairly croaky and not optimistic that it won't get worse.

NHS Direct Online says this type of cough (chesty, non-productive) is due to common cold or flu, and possible inflammation of the lower respiratory tract as well as the throat etc. So I do have something wrong with me that I could give to other people. Actually, I suspect this is Gerry's cold, though she doesn't sound nearly this bad.

Argh, indecisive.

I am not going to work. I feel like I have a balloon with a number of small weights inside tied around my middle. I am going to call my doctor and go to the chemist, and otherwise stay nice and safely close to my bathroom. I wish I knew what I might be reacting to.