At least I have the internet >>>>>>>>>>buffering<<<<<<<<<<
The Healthy Has Fallen
It has been over a month since my last blog and I must say the last six days plus three have been spent in the bed. Now most would exclaim, you go girl, you are getting your deserved rest, and it is NOT that easy. I have the influenza virus. As long as I can remember, I have never had or ever been diagnosed with influenza until recently. I deliriously said to myself one night, “I used to always want to comeback in my next life as cats, to sleep all day, look out of the window, sit in the sun.” I have to seriously re-think that re-incarnation idea.
THIS CANNOT BE Influenza
I LOVE going to work but on March 20, 2013, I did not want to go to get out of my bed, let alone go to work. My body was aching ALL over; my Dermis and Subcutis Hypodermis were aching. My clothes hurt, taking a shower ached, drying off ached, my sheets and blankets ached, my ache ached (yea I said it twice.) I ached all over.
No Stupid Questions – Really
Like a trooper, I drag into work, say my pleasantries to my co-workers and address my boss, “I don’t feel well, and I will make an appointment with the onsite RN to see what she says.” A steady stream of work and visitors to the office, each asked, “You don’t look well, are you sick?” I replied, “I wanted to say No S*** Sherlock but kindly stated, I will not find out until I meet with the onsite RN.” I kept to myself the entire day, the department manager/toxicologist asked if she could place her hand on the back of my neck and she exclaimed, “You are burning up!”
I stayed at my desk and hammered away at work. No music, no headphones…silence – I was sick.
Fast Forward To 4:30pm
I make conversation with the onsite RN, I am weighed and I have lost 9 pounds so far this year – I am happy about that. My blood pressure and other vitals are taken and my blood pressure for the first time EVER is slightly elevated for the records. Not looking good. The onsite RN asks if an influenza test can be administered I agree then she buffers the test with, “...this may hurt!” it felt like she shoved a chimney sweep brush up my swollen nostril. The influenza test requires you to pre-blow (softly blow) your nose, then a tiny brush is gently inserted into your swollen nasal cavity, then it is worked around; then the process is repeated for the other nostril. No blood was present but it was REALLY uncomfortable. I told her, “You are officially off the Christmas list for 2013.” After 7 – 10 minutes the test reveals if you have influenza and I did. Hanging my head, I ask, “…isn’t the influenza season over?” the onsite nurse stated, ”…it is coming to an end but NOT over…late season diagnoses such as yours are still popping up.” I felt good but I felt bad. Good to know that I really had the influenza and can be cured; bad to know that I really had influenza.
Telling Everyone
Understanding that I will not be able to talk to people for at least a week, I was in denial that I was really ill. Walking around ranting and raving…hindsight obviously the influenza was clouding my thought and infiltrating my brain matter. After my tantrum was over, I walked to my desk (outdoors), I made copies of my doctor’s note for my boss and her boss then quietly left work.
The Recovery Process
Being homebound is most likely what I needed. I read an article days before I became ill discussing the circuit breakers tripping. When your circuit breaker trips in your home, you search high and low and will do ANYTHING to restore the power to your home but what do you do when you’re spiritual and physical circuit breaker trips? We muster through the pain and wait for the power to be restored. Influenza is like an electrical grid going down…a brown-out; shutting off ALL powers everywhere not knowing when the power will be restored – we have to wait for things to get better. Prior to my brief illness I always prayed for everyone else, this time I asked for prayer for me to get better to continue to pray for others when I return to full strength.
How You Can Help
· Keep your hands washed
· Cover you coughs
· Cough in your shirt/blouse/inside your elbow
· If you don’t feel well, go or stay home – work can wait
I did all the above yet I still got sick – oh well.
March 25, 2013, I visited my PCP because I still wasn’t feeling well, an upper respiratory and ear infection – I’m home another two days – UGH, I guess the work on my circuit breaker was a bigger job than expected.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
I am thankful for being off and I am taking this opportunity to REST, yes, I am resting catching up on homework when I have bouts of energy but mostly resting.
Thank you for reading, post a comment.
