The Progeny
Can You Die From Shoveling Snow?
I mean, someone like me.
The following account is a shameless ploy for sympathy, because let's face it, when you live with someone who's almost died from cardiac arrest, been shocked numerous times by his defibrillator, and then undergoes a heart transplant, it's really hard to gin up some compassion anything short of life-threatening.
I am happy to say that we did get enough shoveled in the driveway to get Loren's car out. Of course, the old blue van and the old red Toyota are also out there, free and clear, but the van probably needs to be jumped and the Toyota is not trustworthy.
But we should be able to drive one car, now!
There was substantial buildup in front of the garage, where both Lincolns were parked. Ethan went to work here...
...and we still have to do the part in the foreground of the picture.
(one of the reasons these cars weren't in the garage is because Loren had been putting on snow tires--in the garage, where it's warm--and when he got to the big white van, the VERY LAST TIRE couldn't be switched, so he had to dump oil on it and let it set. It was still setting in there during the blizzard, but that tire finally did loosen up and get changed.
Carolyn cleared out be-TWEEN the two cars, where a very large drift had been deposited.
I had Nolan and Trevor, who were under the mistaken impression they were outside to play, pick up large chunks I'd broken off from the drift.
Come on, Trevor....get back up and get a goin'!
We finally did get that big drift cleared from the drive.
Trevor showing his snow-clump-tossing form.
Trevor was a pretty good little worker, however, here's a snippet of typical conversation I had with "somebody else:"
"Can't we stop now?"
"No."
"But I'm tired !"
"I've been out here longer than you..."
"My TOES are cold..."
"I want to finish this drift and then you can go in. You expect to eat for free?"
(that last comment was completely lost on Nolan, but one tries)
But getting back to the important whiney stuff....I have not felt this bad since I dug out that crazy sewer ditch.
Didn't realize you can get nauseated from hard work. I hadn't been that cold outside, but became pretty freezy indoors, so right after lunch I crawled into bed, with heavy sweat pants, heavy sweater, and two pairs of socks, and I turned the electric blanket up to medium toasty. Then I pulled a thick afghan over top of everything, and that's when I got the shakes.
Bone rattling, freezy shakes. The kind you get after having a baby. The ol' breathing techniques did nothing. I tried warming up for almost 30 minutes and then it hit me...JUMP INTO THE TUB!
So I put in lots of hot water, and when that cooled down, I put in more, and when THAT cooled down, I drained part and put in MORE hot water. Then I crawled back into bed and snoozed.
Now, instead of feeling cold and sick, I'm nice and warm, but still feeling sick.
And my heels hurt.
And did I mention I feel sick?
Tweet
The following account is a shameless ploy for sympathy, because let's face it, when you live with someone who's almost died from cardiac arrest, been shocked numerous times by his defibrillator, and then undergoes a heart transplant, it's really hard to gin up some compassion anything short of life-threatening.
I am happy to say that we did get enough shoveled in the driveway to get Loren's car out. Of course, the old blue van and the old red Toyota are also out there, free and clear, but the van probably needs to be jumped and the Toyota is not trustworthy.
But we should be able to drive one car, now!
There was substantial buildup in front of the garage, where both Lincolns were parked. Ethan went to work here...
...and we still have to do the part in the foreground of the picture.(one of the reasons these cars weren't in the garage is because Loren had been putting on snow tires--in the garage, where it's warm--and when he got to the big white van, the VERY LAST TIRE couldn't be switched, so he had to dump oil on it and let it set. It was still setting in there during the blizzard, but that tire finally did loosen up and get changed.
Carolyn cleared out be-TWEEN the two cars, where a very large drift had been deposited.
I had Nolan and Trevor, who were under the mistaken impression they were outside to play, pick up large chunks I'd broken off from the drift.
Come on, Trevor....get back up and get a goin'!
We finally did get that big drift cleared from the drive.
Trevor showing his snow-clump-tossing form.
Trevor was a pretty good little worker, however, here's a snippet of typical conversation I had with "somebody else:"
"Can't we stop now?"
"No."
"But I'm tired !"
"I've been out here longer than you..."
"My TOES are cold..."
"I want to finish this drift and then you can go in. You expect to eat for free?"
(that last comment was completely lost on Nolan, but one tries)
But getting back to the important whiney stuff....I have not felt this bad since I dug out that crazy sewer ditch.
Didn't realize you can get nauseated from hard work. I hadn't been that cold outside, but became pretty freezy indoors, so right after lunch I crawled into bed, with heavy sweat pants, heavy sweater, and two pairs of socks, and I turned the electric blanket up to medium toasty. Then I pulled a thick afghan over top of everything, and that's when I got the shakes.
Bone rattling, freezy shakes. The kind you get after having a baby. The ol' breathing techniques did nothing. I tried warming up for almost 30 minutes and then it hit me...JUMP INTO THE TUB!
So I put in lots of hot water, and when that cooled down, I put in more, and when THAT cooled down, I drained part and put in MORE hot water. Then I crawled back into bed and snoozed.
Now, instead of feeling cold and sick, I'm nice and warm, but still feeling sick.
And my heels hurt.
And did I mention I feel sick?
Tweet
posted by Ma Hoyt | 4:24 PM
6 Comments:
Mommy, I'm sure this sounds awfully mean, but I really think that the best way to warm up once you're inside is to not sit or lay still, no matter how much woolen weight's piled on top of you. But who am I to talk... I didn't have to shovel outdoors in that cold wind for hours.
To answer the question of the post...possibly. My grandmother had a stoke after shoveling snow and she was in her late 50's. Becky, be careful!
Love you,
Elizabeth
You may have had mild hypothermia. It can occasionally have nausea as a symptom.
I sometimes get the "didn't feel cold outside, but couldn't get warm after coming inside" thing, although it's usually just my legs, since I don't usually wear as many layers there. This happened most recently when we were out watching the Christmas parade here in Cedar Rapids, and it was in the low 20's, a bit windy, and we were outside not doing much for a couple of hours. I've generally chalked it up to not being warmly dressed enough.
Sharon, it doesn't sound mean...at least, not any more than usual ;-) I wasn't coming in and sitting down all the time, and I'm not the kind of person that can stay up and moving all day, but point taken.
Elizabeth, I guess nothing untoward will happen, since it hasn't yet. I should get in better shape, though.
Ardith, ditto on the legs being cold...that was the worst part. You'd think with all this fat I'd be warmer, but maybe fat cells retain cold for a longer period of time.
I guess I just overdid it, but sometimes there seems to be no choice.
Drink water! It helps keep your body's temp regulated, whether that be to cool or to heat. I know I haven't been drinking enough since it's gotten colder.
You're right. I shoulda done that, too.
Post a Comment
<< Home