My right rib cage began to sting. Ouch. Memories of 2017 returning.

I remembered the veterinary medicine tip from my good friend Julie. Coupage.

Applied it.

A lot of goo started coming out. Is still coming out. In the winter, this mucus gets much denser. So it starts clogging up my airways. (That’s what causes the stinging, I think.) Lower temperatures here may play a role too? Fearful/stressful situations leading to shallow breathing can play a role too, I think. Not enough exercise as well.

Started to feel better then and the aching began to subside. Not gone yet. It’s a matter of daily maintenance.

A few years ago, I started taking N-acetyl cysteine to thin the mucus – helps a lot! – and usually up my dosage in the winter. I just did that. Thankfully, I only recently started a new bottle.

I may be coming down with a flu, though.

Also, my vitamin A levels are low. Everything is pitchblack when I turn off the light and leave the toilet. Can’t see a thing. Nothing. Just black. That’s Vitamin A shortage. Fixable.

Also, no more costly compromises.

This is about what _I_ need right now, not about how many hoops I can obediently jump through.

No more scapegoating of “poor little learning-disabled” me.

No more of the “running from” that started in Portsmouth. Running toward only.

I’m the captain of the ship that is my life.

Period.

I know that I often sound like I am complaining about my health, but this is just scientific fascination. And my drive to resolve things.

I often moan about things that aren’t good but that is because it’s so wonderful to be able to (help) make things better.