(Optimistic Sidebar: I do feel a little less horrendous and freaked out today, as I might have figured out a way to avoid the worst of the suffocation when I cough by breathing out at the same time. I think this virus, originally in my lungs, has vacated those premises and is now taking a (futile) stab at my throat. Attention virus: My immune system is kicking your ass even as I write this. Just say good bye and go already.)
OK, the fun news is that Scott has moved his clothing out of our shared closet and chest of drawers and into his new, upstairs closet, which means I can finally, after a dozen years, move half of my wardrobe out of M's room. What? I really like clothes.
The utterly stupid news is that I had a moment of (oxygen-deprived) insanity and decided to try reorganizing. So, right now, I have an entire closet-worth of clothes on my bed and there is no way I'm tackling any of it. Seriously, I suspect I'll have to just throw it all on the floor and manage it slowly over time. Which, if you know me, is fucking outrageous.
I'd just like to reiterate how much I REALLY appreciate your continued good vibes. In some ways, I've never felt so sick or so terrified of the unknown. All I do is lie around - not my natural default mode - and conversing with you all makes things seem, well, normal.
So, here are today's questions:
- Have you ever had a virus that made your throat close up when you cough? If yes, presumably you are over it and still alive, which is just what I want to hear about.
- Have you ever taken oil of oregano to help with a respiratory virus? Was it effective?
- How much space does your wardrobe occupy (not including coats, of course)? I'm pretty sure I'm going to be able to fill up (though sparsely), a 4-drawer chest, 8 additional small drawers/shelves in the closet and 2 hanging rods. Happily, now I have 3 drawers, vs 2, for my extensive lingerie collection.
- Is it crazy to be light-headed with excitement over having a whole drawer for beige and black lingerie sets?
- Are you finally cottoning onto the Marie Antoinette element of my personality? BTW, did you see the Sofia Coppola version of that story? Beautiful cinematography. I've seen so many movies in the last 2 weeks it's high on drugs...
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Good to hear you're hanging in there! In the last year or so I've noticed a sensation of my throat closing up when I have a nasty chesty cold - freaks me out! Nothing that's lasted so I haven't checked it out. My wardrobe space isn't too bad actually but I've had a recent clear out. I have one double wardrobe for clothes and one and a half drawers for underwear. My wardrobe has 2 drawers underneath. One I use to put hangers in when I remove an item from the wardrobe and I think just random things that I don't wear much in the other drawer. I have a drawer under the bed for bedclothes and bikinis. I have clothes that I don't wear dotted about in the spare bedroom, cupboards, loft but they don't really count. I was really excited at finding a use for this narrow wardrobe tidy from Ikea that I bought years ago (the ones with cubby holes that you hang from the rail). I now put my tights in the first three holes and the rest have belts and scarves in! This has really improved the wardrobe space!
ReplyDeleteS, my fitting friend, suggested that there's possibly constriction because I've been coughing so hard. I've never noticed this when I've had colds in the past, but maybe that's because they took a different form. That IKEA thing sounds really useful. I have minimal rail space and lots of drawers so I don't think it would work for me though.
DeleteDear Kristin,
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you've been off your game for so long.
I've tried Oil of Oregano for sore throats because for me, sore throats precede respiratory infections. The stuff burns like crazy and you smell like a pizza for hours (not such a bad thing in my books), but I think I have managed to ward off much more vile infections because of the stuff.
I hope you are over this soon.
On another note, I placed one order with LCL (thank you ever so much for the promo code) and it arrived it less than a week. Of the four bras I ordered, two, one Fantasie (boring but functional) and one Panache (an elegant item, if bras can be described such) fit wonderfully but a Miss Manadalay and a Freya only fit...well. I suspect because the latter two did not provide as much side coverage there was too much 'spillage' under my arms. I sent the sub-optimal ones back, even tho' they were very pretty but ordered four Fantasies from Figleaves. Two are pretty with what was described as 'side support' and two T-shirt bras in beige and black (boring but functional.
Wish me luck!
Dale
Winnipeg
I'm wishing you great luck! I agree that the Miss Mandalay bras don't have high side under wires and some of the Freyas definitely fit that description. The Nina, for example is short under the arm. The Lacey (a Freya) has higher side under wires but, if Fantasie works, keep on with them!
DeleteI forgot to say that I'm taking oil of wild oregano (it's wild just to increase the cost, I suspect) in capsule form. It's not unpleasant that way at all. And I can't say it's made me miraculously well, but I don't feel I'm getting any worse, particularly.
DeleteMaybe the O of O has to be taken in liquid form for the proper burn. A few drops in a glass of water. You never know when the burning will start; the Russian Roulette of cold treatments. ;)
DeleteDale
I've been pretty lucky on the illness front, knock on wood, and haven't experienced that frightening respiratory sensation you describe.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you're feeling a bit of strength returning -- may it continue!
(I was sure your "brief interlude" was a pun -- à la Miss Cavendish -- and there would be a pair of briefs on display from your recent online forays . . . )
Oh, damn, I missed that boat! And thanks for the continuing well-wishes. I hope you are feeling more energetic these days...
DeleteYour post made me laugh. Sounds like you're on the mend! The questions and thoughts you have are all over the place but sound so familiar to me. I can relate. Anyway, I have a question about that boring beige everyday bra you recommended and buy, Fantasie I think you said. Does it provide good side support or does it squash you breasts down and widen them? I have a huge pet peeve about that widening effect that so many bras seem to give, especially those types of bras. Thanks for all the great advice you've given! Julia
ReplyDeleteFurther to my last post, I didn't say that I'm thinking of ordering that boring beige everyday bra you recommended. You mentioned in an earlier post that it's a tricky fit. Can you explain how so? Just to help me figure out what size I need. Thanks! Julia
ReplyDeleteOK, this is a good question. I think, to some extent, flattening bras have something to do with the depth of the cup/width of the wires and something to do with the way your own breasts sit on your frame (vs the way the bra is put together). Having said that, there are certain styles known for flattening breasts and I wouldn't classify this bra as one of them.
DeleteOn me, it gives a very round, lifted and front-projecting profile. In truth, I tend to like a pointy (flatter on top, tapering at the nipple) shape best. But this shape is very wearable under all kinds of fitted tops. It's practically undetectable.
In what way is it tricky? Well, I think it's designed for a full on top breast and, given that there are no seams (which tend to shape to breasts) it's impossible to fake it if it doesn't fit the upper breast. It will pucker and ripple from the strap towards the centre gore. The amount of ripple will depend on how much upper breast volume is unavailable to fill that area.
I have breasts of slightly different sizes. This bra fits one breast perfectly but I get a small bit of pucker on the other. I can move things around to mitigate this but it does recur occasionally throughout the day. It's still barely undetectable under a tshirt, but I know it's happening.
Having said this, the bra is comfortable, attractive for all of its plainness, the band is firm (in the right size) and the centre gores sit nicely between breasts that are neither particularly close or wide set.
It's tricky because it's one of those bras that doesn't fit "everyone". Mind you, if it does fit, it's a boon.
Oh, and I wouldn't say the wires are high in the scheme of things (vs., say, the Panache Superbra) but they're not notably low. It gives some side support - like most Fantasie bras do. I wouldn't say that's its claim to fame though.
DeleteOne last thing, I can only recommend the beige one. I've tried the black and pink versions and both fit very differently than the beige - much less supportively and with a different overall shape. I think the microfibre synthetic fabric is messed up by the dying (that's the only thing I can imagine). But I've heard that other people feel the same way about it.
DeleteThanks for all the info, I think I'll order it next time I place an order with Figleaves. Though I'm going to wait awhile as I went full-gusto with this lingerie shop-along, ordering twice from LCL & Figleaves — resulting in a few sets with multiple undies! Just got a little carried away... : )
DeleteI have the same issue with breasts being slightly different sizes. Judging by your description, and the fact that you actually prefer pointier bras, if this suits you, I'm figuring that it won't give me that flattened and widened boob effect I so hate. Would you say it fits pretty snug in the band? What about the cups? Julia
I'm particular (as I guess we all are) when it comes to the shape I prefer. On the one hand, I really dislike flattening, shallow bras. They just make me look wide and, dare I say it, I've got rather nice boobs. Why would I want to flatten them? On the other hand, I'm not into bras that give a super-round, mega-front-and-centre profile (like most of the Ewa Michalak offerings). I don't want to look like a cartoon character which, given my proportions, is possible.
DeleteHere's the thing about the band - a couple of years ago I ordered a couple of these bras, and they're just starting to give out. (You know how many basics I own...) When last I bought them, I was in a small phase and I got 30 bands (if I remember correctly). They continue to fit well, though now I'm on the middle hook.
I just ordered this bra in a 32 band and it was huge (as were the cups). So I'm going to say the band fits about a size larger than the label says. As do the cups.
If you're usually a 34E, I'd get a 32E. That means the band would be 2" smaller and the cups, one size smaller.
I just read a few reviews of the bra on Figleaves and some people actually think the shape this bra provides is pointy. (I so disagree.) What I think they mean is that it's front-projecting.
I've had the sensation of restricted breathing when my bronchitis kicks in. Yep, I survived! lol It can be scary, though. Once, my dr gave me some muscle relaxers and boy, did they help! lol Some of the tightness may just be from stress that you're not aware of. Seems that's what was going on with me. I was having frequent asthma attacks - probably about 10 in one day. Know how you can tense up sometimes? Evidently you can "tense up" your lungs also. Have fun reorganizing! It will feel awesome having everything in it's place!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to hear you're still alive. For both of us :-)
DeleteOh, I hope you are feeling better soon... have you been checked out for asthma? I'm hypersensitive to the possibilities of asthma, ever since my son had a life-threatening attack when he was little. One of the scariest times of our lives.... MASSIVE wake-up call. Thankfully he seems to have grown out of it now.
ReplyDeleteHave fun sorting out the wardrobe... it is an activity I find very satisfying and cathartic :))
The doc did say, initially, that I had asthmatic bronchitis. But I don't think it's asthma. My sister has had serious asthma since babyhood and I've had a number of conversations with her about what I'm experiencing.
DeleteI loved the Marie Antoinette movie. Quirky, strange, but I get lost in Sophia Copolla's visual world. Hope you feel better! I've only used oregano on skin problems. It stings like a mother-blinker and the pizza smell is hilarious.
ReplyDeleteHappily, when you take the capsules, there's no pizzaness in sight. I really hate the smell of oregano.
Delete-Ohmygod yes, I had an illness this year that made my throat close up completely! I felt like I had a golf ball in my throat, and it was awful! But I am alive so take heart!
ReplyDelete-I've never used oil of oregano. I'm sure it can't hurt, lol :)
-My wardrobe doesn't take up much space. One dresser, half a small wardrobe and I stole one of my husband's dresser drawers. I guess that sounds like a lot lol! I feel like I have a sparse wardrobe cos most of it is junk I need to chuck lol.
Get well soon!! :)
Jo: How long did it take to go away? Did anything help other than rest?
DeleteDo chuck all the stuff in your wardrobe you don't like. It's seriously just taking up space and distracting you...
Hope you're still on the mend. A year ago I had a infection of my respiratory pipe, I got sick as a dog within 4 hours. Apart from the high fever, one of the symptoms was the difficulty I had breathing, especially while coughing. Lying on my side was the one position that allowed me to breathe, everything else was impossible if I wanted oxygen for a couple of days. Nothing worked against the swelling and the build-up of mucus, so I just had to wait until it was over. Sometimes there is just nothing you can do but wait and rest. One thing I noticed is that I couldn’t get upset or stressed, because the tension in my chest and shoulders just closed things up more. It took about 3 days of struggling for breath, and 4 more days of not being able to speak as the infection migrated to my throat, but after that I got better without any lingering coughs whatsoever.
ReplyDeleteThat is seriously scary! You know you've got a bad bug when you get a high fever within a short time frame. I'm starting to realize it's a combo of mucous (in my throat) and getting very stressed when I cough that's adding to the badness of the situation. Thank you for corroborating my perspective. And I'm SO glad you got better.
Delete