My new best friend is the heating pad.   I have aches and pains in places I never knew it was possible to have aches and pains. 

For the last few months I have had a really bad dose of whatever is going around this winter and it will just not leave me alone.  I am a person that normally does not get really  ill, and I certainly never go to the doctor on and really regular basis but this year I fell like I have been at the doctors office on at least a weekly visit.

I am told that I have a virus that nothing seems to touch, and believe me I have had a few different medications to try and ease it ... the cough is the worst as it not only leaves me breathless but I have pulled a muscle in my shoulder from coughing so much and then I twisted something in my back from the same thing.  This is were the heat pad comes into play ... without it I would never survive, especially in the middle of the night when I am having a panic attack because I can't breath properly.   I ended up in the hospital on Sunday morning as I had a really bad night and my husband made loud noises at me and I finally gave in and went.

They were really good at the hospital and I ended up having a number of blood tests and 2 chest X-Rays to confirm what it was but they have no answer as to why I keep losing my voice (and yes partly it is that I just can't help myself and keep talking  ;)  ).  I have a referal to an ENT specialist in a few weeks time.   A bit off putting to say the least as I am not a very brave person and I think they will have to knock me out to get a camera down my throat but I know I will gag and there is no way I will be able to swallow it if I am awake.    :O

So for now I sit with the heat pad tucked up close to ease the pain of my shoulder and last night I actually got to SLEEP ... wow you have no idea how wonderful it feels to be able to say that.   I was starting to think I would never sleep normally again and that was an upsetting thought especially in the middle of the night.   You don't even realise just how quiet it is until you are sitting in the dark all by yourself.     I have seen every Olympic highlight there is to see and  I am more up to date on news and current affairs than I have been in a very long time, and sitting there with me has been my sanity friend the heat pack.     A big thumbs up for the person who invented that wonderful thing as it has given me so much relief over the last couple of weeks especially.                  

You know there is a real downside to all this coughing girls, I cough, and  I wee.      At least I know I am not full of fluid anymore.   *lol*