Dumb (as in mute)

The bad cold I got earlier in the week resulted in an asthmatical chest constriction and cough the past 2 days.


I saw the doctors, and took western medicine when the chinese medicine I took didn't appear effective.


I thought I was on my way to recovery, since my getting sick always follows the pattern: sore throat -> runny nose -> fever -> cough -> ok! So I went about my way, meeting up with friends on Friday night, walking up Bt Timah and going shopping with Krystal on Saturday.


Then this morning, I woke up from a 15-hour sleep (oh yar, I was ko-ed by 6 last evening) and realised I was dumb! Nothing came out from my mouth except husky noises, and the best I could do was loud whispers. I tried eating lozenges and loquat paste, clearing my throat, drinking mugs of water, all the while testing my voice with, "Hello? Hello?"


To no avail.


And all morning, my mum, knowing I had no voice, kept talking to me from the kitchen. Asking me whether I want to eat mee sua or not, telling me she was going out later, then asking me whether I wanted this or that medicine.


She'd ask, "You want or not?" "Okay." "Huh, so you want or not?" "Okay!" "So, don't want?"


And I got so fed up, I walked to the kitchen and told her exasperately, "I have no voice, stop talking to me."


Sigh! I was rather glad to be left alone at home, although I only had energy to lie on bed and drag myself to toilet when I needed to. Head was pounding all afternoon, and the telephone wouldn't stop ringing. Telephone kept ringing because I couldn't picked it up and say an audible "Hello?"


I'm trying to get well without having to take any more medicine. Am still on antibiotics, and you know, taking all these western medicine weakens the organs in the body. I want to get well enough to go to work tomorrow. It's terrible to keep taking MC first week into the job. Like chow geng or something.


If I don't get well by the coming weekend, I wouldn't have time to go kala for at least a month.


Sian.