Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Weekly Homework Assignment




It's time once again for Mama Kat's weekly homework assignment.
This week, I chose the following prompt: What was your medicine? Write about a time you remember being ill.

I absolutely hate puking ... I'm sure most people probably don't like it, but I, I fear it. I fear the sound, sight, touch, and smell of puking. When my wife has to spill cookies, I fly out of the room and downstairs. When my little nephew threw up on me when I was holding him, I nearly jumped out of my skin.

I can't explain it, I just plain fear it. If I was a super-hero, my "Kryptonite" would be puke ... guess that wouldn't make me a very good superhero.

I haven't "delivered sidewalk pizza" much in my life. I can only remember a handful of times that I did ... the last being sometime in 1997, and that was after a hard night of drinkin'. The last time I threw up because of a flu or virus was probably in grade school ... and yes, I probably should've done the "technicolor yawn" more times, but I've kind of found a trick.

Yes, a trick. Basically, when you feel ill, the worst thing you can do is lie still. You must keep moving. So, I've gone for walks when I've felt sick, or paced around ... and yes, this includes late at night ... I've kept active, and somehow this has kept me from unswallowing ... or at least I think it has. Sure, maybe it's a placebo that somehow convinces my body that it doesn't need to vomit, and I think that's OK.

12 comments:

snowelf said...

I have another friend who swears by the motion thing. When he starts to feel bad, he always goes and works out.

I know a lot of people who hardly ever throw up, however I am not so lucky.

--snow

Unknown said...

Hmm, that's interesting. I should try that next time I feel like throwing up.

Yea, I find the sight, sound and smell of vomit disgusting too.

Shanda said...

Motion, huh? I'll have to try that.

Cause now I'm a little nauseous. Just thinking about vomit makes me sick! :)

Steph said...

I'll have to try to that sometime. The worst is the dry heaves.

paige said...

I'm going to try that because I feel the same way. I know it's coming and I go into denial about how it might not. I've not tried moving around. Awesome.

Stef said...

Nice. I will have to try it. My son just stands in the bathroom, jumping up and down screaming "NO MOM! NO MOM! I DON"T WANT TO THROW UP!!" Your trick seems much more pleasant. BTW, I like the term unswallowing more than vomit!

Heff said...

Motion DOES WORK - IF you're sick from DRINKING.

Being nauseous from a virus or other ailments, I'm not so sure about.

Jennifer said...

See it is the exact opposite for me. If I move I will puke. If I'm still and focused I can hold it in. It worked for two pregnancies.

Jeanette said...

I am not a thrower-upper. Maybe it has to do with the fact that I threw up under the office Christmas tree my fifth grade year, seriously humiliating myself. Maybe the trauma of it all has left me with the inability to puke. Who knows, but I do like your motion idea for when I feel like I need to throw-up. Not being able to throw-up when you really need to can be very unpleasant.

Unknown said...

Los! Your brilliance is nothing short of astounding : )
Thank you for this great tip!

PS YAY Flyers! What has gotten into our Philly boys this year, right? Wow.

Jeff said...

I don't think I've ever thrown up during a Notre Dame or Cowboys loss.

Coincidence? Probably not.

KatBouska said...

That's exactly the opposite of what I do. I like perfectly still and focus on my breathing and repeat positive affirmations to myself like, "I will not throw up. I will not throw up. I will not throw up."

It doesn't usually work, per se, but that's what I do.

I'm doing it YOUR way next time.

God forbid.