In Case You've Wondered

My blog is where my wandering thoughts are interspersed with stuff I made up. So, if while reading you find yourself confused about the context, don't feel alone. I get confused, too.

If you're here for the stories, I started another blog: scratchingforchange.blogspot.com

One other thing: sometimes I write words you refuse to use in front of children, or polite company, unless you have a flat tire, or hit your thumb with a hammer.

I don't use them to offend; I use them to embellish.

jescordwaineratgmail.com

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Memory of the Flu

When I was much younger - around 25 - I caught the flu. I'd never experienced the illness as an adult, and it was a sobering experience.

I was at work one morning, when I started to have a mild headache. As the day progressed, the headache became worse. What started as a mild annoyance, turned into a distracting pounding that made the fatigue of working all day in cold weather much worse.

When I arrived home, the chills started. I was uncomfortably cold one minute, and within a few more minutes, I was burning up with fever.

As the evening progressed, the fever became worse. I tried to watch some television, but I can only describe the experience as like being delirious. I couldn't concentrate; the headache and fever were now accentuated with muscles aches.

I went to bed, after taking some cold medicine, and awoke during the night feeling worse. That's when the fear started. I had no memory of feeling as bad as I did before going to bed; feeling worse was more than just an unpleasant thought. Thoughts were jumbled, the aches were worse, and the congestion had started. I fell asleep again.

I woke in the early hours of morning, drenched with sweat; even my bed sheets were wet. The worse of the headache was gone, but the congestion was worse and my throat burned just from breathing. Added to the symptoms were diarrhea and nausea.  

I ended up staying off work for two days.  The first day was miserable, and the second wasn't much better. I needed the hours, so I went back to work on the third day; still sick, but not so much I couldn't manage with my sinuses running, a cough that sounded like my lungs were coming up, and a sore throat that made swallowing food an unpleasant task.

It took a week for the sore throat to end, and I coughed up phlegm for weeks.

So, if you haven't gone for a flu shot, you might think about doing so. Influenza kicked my young, healthy ass to the curb, and gave me a fear of a deadly illness.

 

6 comments:

  1. I was about 23 when I last had the flu, pregnant and the mother of a toddler. It was miserable because the ex-husband refused to "help" me with our son and would not bring me anything. That was the last time I had the flu and had only had it once as a teen. Since then, I have never had the flu. But, when I turned 60, I decided my age might make the flu worse and started taking flu shots.

    Do you get a pneumonia shot?

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    1. I didn't get the pneumonia shot, but I might.

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  2. I had stomach pain that was unbelievable!

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    1. I was fortunate to not have severed stomach pain. That would have turned a bad experience worse.

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  3. Due to my extreme fear of catching someone else's "allergy" (when they're too sick to go elsewhere, they seem to land here for a long visit), their sniffles always turn into MY bronchitis followed by pneumonia. Last night I ordered some Oregano Oil after researching that it's nasty taste can remove a sore throat and open up congestion. (three drops in a capsule, or hidden in a spoon of honey) I'd pick s**t with the chickens if it meant I'd avoid the flu.

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    1. ...me too; and carve a wood beak for picking.

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