November 18, 2012

  • Colds And Sleeping, Is There A Connection?

    TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

    I don't think I mentioned that I felt a cold coming on a couple days ago.  I doubled up on my vitamins and was using lozenges because the coughing (mostly from sinus drainage) was really irritating my throat.  I really think it only got worse on me because of a lack of good sleep.  The minute I laid down, my sinuses would start draining down my throat and the coughing would start.  I didn't have a decent decongestant in the house and kept forgetting to put it on the list for the Beast.  I kept thinking I was losing it because how could I forget to tell him I needed one when it was keeping me from sleeping well?  Must be *old timers*, right?   

    Since I wasn't sleeping well, I was finding myself falling asleep on my feet almost literally.  I would be talking to Bratfink on an IM and have to tell her that I was zoning out at my desk and HAD to go nap.  I would blow my nose until it was feeling sore on the outside and then grab an hour or two of sleep that left me feeling groggy and my cold felt like it was growing in my chest.  The last thing I wanted was a cold right at the start of winter type weather.  Those colds seem to last a looooooong time.

    But, here I am.  I definitely have a cold now and not (as I hoped) just sinus congestion due to allergies.  I KNOW my lack of sleep had to be the most major contributor to that.  But, I have to tell you about today.  Last night I had a couple drinks (my favorite, vodka **Grin**) before I went to bed.  I covered up, nice and warm and actually fell asleep fairly fast.  (Gee, I wonder why?  Ha ha ha!)  I slept for around four hours, got up to pee and went right back to sleep.  I did that once more and stayed up, turned on my computer and checked my email and a few other things before I checked out Pogo.

    I stayed up for about 8 or 9 hours and then told Bratfink I had to lay down for a while.  I had eaten because the Princess brought over some homemade lasagna (very tasty, too).  While she chatted with the Beast, I laid down thinking it would only be for an hour or two and I crashed for about four hours.  I never heard her leave after Chewlee got dropped off by Birdie, never heard the Beast at all and I usually wake up the minute he opens my door in my computer room.  My cold seems slightly better and I'm wondering just how much the reverse of *not enough sleep* to *sleeping a lot* has to do with that.  Sleep as a healing agent.  Hmm. 

    Love you all.  Get lots of sleep and avoid crowds.  Take your vitamins.  Cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough...be considerate.