Heating Pads and Heatstroke
Life is…
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My lower back was hurting today.
Actually, it’s been doing that a lot lately. Probably age. I hate to admit it, but yes, I am getting older and a lot of times my body aches just getting out of bed in the morning.
So, with my muscles twinging and constricting, I thought to myself, “Self, it’s a quiet day. You don’t have anything to do. Get the heating pad. Put it on your back and relax for a few minutes.”
Great idea.
I searched the closet and dug the heating pad out. You know, the old blue one handed down through generations that doesn’t turn off on its own — no matter how long it’s on, or how hot it gets. Yeah, that one. I plugged it in, turned it on, and positioned it on the bed, with me laying on top of it.
“Mmm. Yes, that feels good.”
The next thing I know it’s two hours later and I’m waking up in a pool of sweat. I’m hot, my face is flushed, and I feel like I’m running a fever. I sit up with a wave of dizziness. I’m weak, my head is pounding, and my stomach is queasy — making me feel like I want to throw-up. And to top it all off, my lower back is bright red, and feels sunburned.
I think I gave myself a heatstroke. So dumb!
As I write this I still don’t feel well, I have a headache, and I’m really tired and thirsty. Maybe I’ll just go back to bed and sleep for a while. Or better yet — it’s a nice cool day, so maybe I should drink some water — a lot of water, take a stroll, and get some fresh air.
Yeah, the latter sounds like a much better idea.
Lon Casler Bixby is a professional photographer and published author in various genres: Fiction, Poetry, Humor, Photography, & Comic Books.
You can see his writing here — www.amazon.com/author/loncaslerbixby/.
And view some of his photography here — www.whileyouweresleeping.photography/ and here — www.neoichi.com/.
