Yet another respiratory virus

Except for the odd day or two here and there, we've had someone sick almost continually since the end of January.  This week, dear husband finished up his third round of antibiotics for the secondary infection that resulted from the flu back at the beginning of March. 

I've finally admitted to myself that what I have now is not just bad allergies, but some kind of respiratory virus - one which leads to two naps a day, leaves me absolutely exhausted after 5 pm and leads to a quick loss of voice and a less quick hacking cough. 

The allergies aggravate it, though.  My lungs feel like they've been through a cheese grater most of the time (normal colds don't do this).*  It gets noticeable worse, and I lose what little voice I have, if I stay outside for more than 45 minutes.  I was able to get six plants planted in that time this afternoon. I'm starting to feel rather trapped inside.

Quite frankly, I'm not paying much attention to Holy Week.  I tried going to choir on Tuesday and had to leave early because of allergies - which was probably a good thing, otherwise I would have sung for too long.  I mostly went so that I could learn the alto part to Randall Thompson's Alleluia,** which the choir is singing for the anthem at the Vigil service on Saturday evening.  Last week, when I couldn't sing for very long at my voice lesson, my voice teacher (who was also my voice therapist) said that my vocal folds are probably swollen.  If it keeps going on, she'll recommend that I go see a new doctor. 

The Alleluia has parts where the sopranos sing high and soft, and that's the worst thing for my voice right now so I decided to join the altos.  I usually sight sing new pieces by playing them on the flute in my head and singing along with that.  The problem is that this alto part goes lower than the flute does!  I really had to work at hearing those notes. 

I really shouldn't have started choir again at the beginning of Lent.  My voice wasn't anywhere near back to normal from the winter/early spring flu and colds.  I overdid it because I really wanted to start learning the Lenten pieces.  The music we sing is always wonderful, but it's particularly special during Lent and Holy Week.

I don't go to church if my voice is bad.  I have self-discipline for many things, but I don't have the self-discipline to go to church and not sing.  I won't be at the Good Friday service, although I'll read the Passion to myself at 3 pm.  The Easter Vigil has lots of singing, which will be hard on my voice, and lots of incense, which will be hard on my lungs.  Older son said that it was good that I wasn't at the Maundy Thursday Service this evening because the incense was very heavy.  I'm trying to get myself ready to miss the Vigil, which is difficult because I've enjoyed it so much the last few years.  I've even considered just going in to the Nave for the anthem and skipping the rest of the service.

I hope I'm better at least by Sunday.  My mother is going to come to church with us and come over for lunch after.  We haven't seen her in quite a while because of all the illnesses so I really don't want to have to cancel!

Singing-wise, I might be able to make it through one service - and Sunday's anthem, The Angels Rolled the Stone Away (can't find a version I like online), is enjoyably enthusiastic.

I'm not sure what to do, voice-wise, after Easter.  I keep hoping my voice will get better on its own so that I don't have to stop singing, but I don't think that is going to happen. 

Enough whining.  At least my plantar fasciitis is better this week so I can do some dance exercise classes.  It turns out I built up too quickly from doing no classes at the end of December to doing four classes a week by the beginning of April.  I really enjoyed the class I took yesterday - the teacher used some wonderful songs.***

I'm going to watch the first episode of Ally McBeal through Netflix streaming and see if that helps cheer me up.****

 

* Extra points if you know this reference.

** I'm only linking rather than embedding because just listening to the beginning makes me sad. 

*** Of course I went to Jazzercise yesterday.  I can stand, can't I?! After teaching aerobics for 16 years and teaching while sick when I couldn't get a substitute, just taking a class (as long as I'm able to stand up) while sick is (relatively) easy.

**** Later note:  It did.*****

***** The photo of the azalea from the NC Botanical Gardens also cheers me up.

Comments

[Summer]

If you decide to go to Vigil and just go in the Nave for the anthem, you can probably keep us company in the Narthex. It's never very incensey in there.

Sorry your cold hit at this time. I was sick a few Holy Weeks back, and it was miserable. All the fun music, and no voice.

I hope you recover soon!

[M Light]

Thank you! Right now it looks doubtful because my breathing is still not good (this one really cranked up my asthma) and I'm still pretty tired. But if I miraculously perk up by this evening...

You're right, it's no fun to be sick during Holy Week.