I am deteriorating rapidly

Have I mentioned that Dr Tabubil also has a theater degree?  When she's not feeling well, we all know about it.  Right now she has a head cold, and has begged me to skype her because she's feeling poorly.  Poor Darling.  
            “Hi, Dr Tabubil! How are you feeling?”

            A very very very small voice said “I am deteriorating rapidly.”

            “Oh dear – “I floundered, lost for words.

            “And my upper lip feels funny.”

            “Why?-“

            “Because of all the nastiness in my nose. It tickles.”

            “Yuck!” I said. “Why don’t you use a Kleenex and mop it up?”

            There was a sound like a very small mouse heaving a sigh. “Because I’d have to reach for it and my arm hurts because of the aches and pains, you know. I am deteriorating rapidly.”

            “Tell you what” I said. “Why don’t I hang up and you got get a tissue, okay?”

            A tiny, put-upon-mouse sigh. “Fine.”

            So she did.
            I called back. “Hi Dr Tabubil!”

            “My throat hurts.”

            “Have you tried drinking some tea with honey in it?”

            “I don’t like tea. And I don’t like honey either. And my nose is all stuffed up. I can’t breathe through it at all.”

            I tried being helpful. “You know what I do? I put some eucalyptus oil drops into a mug of boiling water and drape a cloth over my head and inhale. It really does help.”

            “Oh Tabubilgirl.” The mouse gave a little sigh. “Nobody in Queensland uses Eucalyptus oil. Eucalyptus is everywhere and it’s just so… common. ”

            “But it works.”

            “That’s not the point.”

            “And I really doubt that Australians are such snobs about something that works so well.”

            “Huh.” The mouse expressed doubt and gave a weak cough. “But I still can’t breathe through my nose.”

            “Why don’t you give it a try?” I coaxed.

            A long pause. “But I’m deteriorating rapidly.”

            I hung up.