October: My Least Favorite Month

I am not impressed with those who rhapsodize about the charms of October. Falling leaves mean my lungs suffer. Cool and damp days bring on head congestion. The leaves falling also mean sinus problems and headaches. Sinus problems lead to sore throat and ear congestion, asthma, fever, and malaise.

Even though the scenes can be charming, I had better watch from behind glass. However, I never have the opportunity to avoid all the dangers to me.

My daughter has asthma. Once, when she was in the first grade, I told her teacher my daughter could not go out because of her asthma. My daughter came home barely able to breathe. She said her teacher said it was okay even though I told my daughter and the teacher my daughter could not go outdoors. It was a crisp, cool day and the leaves were falling profusely.

So, I went to the classroom the next morning and asked her why my daughter was told to go out anyway. The teacher assured me it was such a lovely day that she had her go out. "I just had her sit on the curb. She did not run." I explained that my daughter should not be out because of the falling leaves, that running would not hurt her. I had the teacher give her work to my son to bring home.

The teacher looked hurt. Right! I hurt her feelings. I explained my daughter would probably not be in school for a few days. Still, she was one of my favorite teachers. I have never talked about this before.

The times she was left indoors, the janitor came in and was touching her, hugging her and making her afraid. I complained that I did not mean left alone. I complained to the principal who acted like this old guy touching my daughter was no big deal. However, when a doctor's wife complained, the janitor was fired and parents were never informed.

I digress.

My first semester at UAB, I requested special permission to take 15 hours or something well over the limit. I had horrible allergy problems beginning in October. Of course, I was not free to remain indoors or at least avoid windy days when the leaves were falling. I had to drop an important course and ended up failing another class I thought I could handle.

Later, when I had retaken and passed the course, I mentioned I failed Humanities Participation. Several people were shocked, asking, "How could you fail Humanities Participation? It's only one hour!" Well, this was a course where you had to attend six events--dance, play, lecture, art, etc. Then, each student had to write a one-page paper. The problem was none of these events were on weekdays when I was already there. So, I would keep putting off driving over 50 miles in an effort to recover with rest. Well, nothing worked. So, I failed.

That month, I took three antibiotics at one time, yes, prescribed by the doctor. Finally, I recovered. My problems started with allergies. Eventually, I did have much congestion in my head, chest, and ears. He could not figure out how to help me.

In subsequent years at UAB, I was almost as ill. I thought leaving school would help. Nope. I learned to be proactive and to start otc meds at the first sign of any head congestion. That was 25 years ago. Last year was the first year I did not suffer. It looks like this year, despite anything I do, I will be ill. I am ill, actually. I just hope I can stave this off.

Yes, I love Halloween and changing seasons. But, this is the only month that consistently sees me so ill. I do have problems in other seasons and months, but this is consistent.  Right now, my face hurts; my teeth hurts; my neck hurts; my throat hurts; the back and top of my head hurts; my ears hurt.

Your turn
Does October or fall and leaves falling cause problems for you? Does another month cause you distress? Oh, I have year-round allergies, so I am faced with a new problem all the time. But, October is the worst.