What the Flu?!

Originally posted on August 8th, 2009.


Hi. I'm back. If you think I haven't been diligent in keeping up my blog the past few days: you're right. I was too busy being sick and sleeping away most of the day. I can tell you it gets old real quickly, but I don't have many other options.

A while ago I was telling Krista how I'm hardly ever sick. Which is true; I don't get Flu shots and I've been known to "skip" quite a few flu epidemics (the last time I was sick with the flu was in December 2007) and I can't remember the last time I caught a cold. My friend Jules joked that's what I get for bragging.
Anyhoo, it started with a sore throat on Saturday, but I dismissed it thinking of various other excuses. When I woke up Tuesday morning I felt bad, but figuring I'd feel better as the morning wore on I packed my gym back and went to work... Only to feel worse as time went by. A few coworkers knew something was up by the way I dressed: despite the 27C/81F I wore regular jeans, wifebeater, button down shirt AND a spencer (sleeveless vest?). And I didn't break a sweat. Totally out of character: even in Winter I walk around the corridors at work in ironed T-shirts. (Unless I'm due for a court session.)
I skipped going to the gym and went home early - and crashed. I got a good two hours of sleep before and a good two hours after dinner, and felt better afterwards.

Around rolls Wednesday morning. I had trouble waking up and I felt like utter crap (hello headache and vertigo). Ignoring that I went to work anyway. This time I switched the jeans for shorts - but kept the three layers to keep my upper body warm. It was 30C/86F - and no air conditioning at work... Crazy, eh? I know.
My headache got worse, my shoulders were aching even more - in short: I felt even worse than when I woke up. A coworker of mine couldn't bear to watch me being sick at work and sent me home. I tried protesting, but I felt sick enough I didn't need more persuasion. Again, I crashed when I got home, and I got a good four hours before dinner. I felt better by the time I turned in for the night, and figured I could go to work the next day... But when I woke up Thursday morning I knew how wrong I was. I had to call in sick, and then slept away most of the day.

But when Friday morning rolled around I couldn't deny the fact I'm still sick. I actually coughed up phlegm so hard I woke myself up. I also noticed my head seemed to weigh as much as a ton of bricks, ready to burst, and every movement of the head when upright caused the room to spin. I opted to be prudent and stay home another day. Hopefully I get rid of the remnants of the flu over the weekend.

I talked to someone from HR and she told me that even it's not mandatory yet, my employer wants me to check in with the doctor to verify whether my Flu is a regular one as opposed to the piggy Flu... I told her that I would if I still feel crappy on Monday.