My Experience with the H1N1 Flu So Far
So Monday and Tuesday, October 26th and 27th, I had a sinus headache most of the day.
Wednesday afternoon, I started feeling a sore throat.
The next morning, I called in sick and had to miss the Mann Teachers’ Conference in Detroit.
I was not coughing, but I had a very sore throat and felt tired.
We canceled my birthday party Saturday night.
Sunday I didn't go to church.
Monday I called in sick again.
By this time the thing had moved into my chest and I was coughing relentlessly. My chest ached.
Wednesday I finally coughed up a lot of dark phlegm out of my lungs and figured I had finally turned the corner. I looked up the H1N1 virus on the internet. Every source said it was just like the regular flu, practically indistinguishable without the swab test. But they all mentioned fever, and I had no fever. None mentioned it lasting an unusually long time. This virus had now been accosting my system for over a week, longer than any other bout with illness I had ever had.
This morning, back to coughing and coughing.
I tried to force it. I got up and got dressed and went to school, but just couldn't deal with it. I got materials and plans together for the sub, and returned home.
My friends suggested I go to the doctor, just in case I had strep throat, but I figured she would tell me to drink fluids, get plenty of rest, and so forth... why bother?
But today I went to the doctor. She diagnosed it as probable H1N1. So at least I have a doctor's note. So now I can just relax and be sick. And I can stop worrying about whether or not I should get the vaccine. Unlikely.
A psychosis I have had since I was a child, no doubt developed at that time, is that I feel I have to prove I am sick; otherwise people will think I’m faking it, or exaggerating the symptoms, or that I’m a hypochondriac of some degree. A doctor’s note. Proof positive I am for real.
Wednesday afternoon, I started feeling a sore throat.
The next morning, I called in sick and had to miss the Mann Teachers’ Conference in Detroit.
I was not coughing, but I had a very sore throat and felt tired.
We canceled my birthday party Saturday night.
Sunday I didn't go to church.
Monday I called in sick again.
By this time the thing had moved into my chest and I was coughing relentlessly. My chest ached.
Wednesday I finally coughed up a lot of dark phlegm out of my lungs and figured I had finally turned the corner. I looked up the H1N1 virus on the internet. Every source said it was just like the regular flu, practically indistinguishable without the swab test. But they all mentioned fever, and I had no fever. None mentioned it lasting an unusually long time. This virus had now been accosting my system for over a week, longer than any other bout with illness I had ever had.
This morning, back to coughing and coughing.
I tried to force it. I got up and got dressed and went to school, but just couldn't deal with it. I got materials and plans together for the sub, and returned home.
My friends suggested I go to the doctor, just in case I had strep throat, but I figured she would tell me to drink fluids, get plenty of rest, and so forth... why bother?
But today I went to the doctor. She diagnosed it as probable H1N1. So at least I have a doctor's note. So now I can just relax and be sick. And I can stop worrying about whether or not I should get the vaccine. Unlikely.
A psychosis I have had since I was a child, no doubt developed at that time, is that I feel I have to prove I am sick; otherwise people will think I’m faking it, or exaggerating the symptoms, or that I’m a hypochondriac of some degree. A doctor’s note. Proof positive I am for real.
Comments
A very merry Christmas to you! :)
I am Charity, author of Thoughts...by Charity Joy Bell (www.charityjoybell.com) and I have a book coming out early next year, which is to be released in 25,000 bookstores worldwide. :) For one of the poems in my book, I would love to use your photo to go with it. Your photo entitled "Snowflake On My Shoelace" as your photo reflects the soul in my poem. :) If you would like to allow me to make this photo of yours a part of my book, please contact me, and I will email the poem to you, so you can read it first, and see how exactly your photo will be made a part of my writing. Of course, you will have all the credit for your photo. Please let me know if you have any specific requests regarding that.
You can contact me by leaving me a comment on my blog, and I will get back to you. If you leave me an email address, I can reach you there. If you don't want your email address posted on the web, do not worry, I won't publish your comment.
Again, a merry Christmas to you! :)