Weak Week
March 2, 2007
Monday I woke up feeling crappy. Stuffed up, weak, aches everywhere. The usual flu symptoms. I was miserable. Tuesday was a little better, but Wednesday was worse. I was at work and going between chills and sweating. I spent the better part of a meeting with my back to the camera so the people on the other end of the video feed wouldn’t have to see me blowing my nose.
So after infecting the entire office and attending all the meetings I needed to attend, I stayed home yesterday and today. I slept a lot. I’ve been drinking water like crazy. I’ve been so stuffed up that I was breathing through my mouth. I’d wake up every few hours with my throat and mouth so dry it was painful.
I took a nap this afternoon. Sometime after twelve I fell asleep. I woke up around two and felt so much better. I’m still a little stuffy, but it’s just one side of my nose now and I don’t have the nausea-inducing, dizzy sinus pain headache, and I’m not coughing so hard I think I’m going to black out. So I’m not 100%, but compared to how I felt on Wednesday I might as well be a completely different person.
This does not mean that I’m not a different person. For all I know I’m an alien replicant of myself. If this body doesn’t get sick as often, I’m all for it.
Anyhow, I’ve been watching daytime television (Law & Order) because that’s what you do when you’re home sick, and there’s been an ad on for something called TamiFLU. The deal is that you call your doctor and get this magical pill within 12 to 48 hours of the first symptoms of the flu and it’ll help you get over it about 30% faster than without treatment.
Here’s the thing:
- If you have flu symptoms, what are the chances you’ll actually get to see a doctor within 12 to 48 hours of onset? Most of the time they tell you to give it a few days and then call back. Then you might need to wait a day or two to see someone. Even if they do say “come right in”, “right in” is still usually a day or two before they can fit you in.
- Thirty percent sooner is roughly a day. You can take a drug that will maybe shorten your flu by as much as a day and a third. Maybe.
- Side effects may include: self-injury and delirium, nausea and vomiting, allergic reaction, muscle ache, dizziness, and difficulty sleeping.
So. The side effects. Are a lot like the flu. Hrm. I can’t believe I haven’t rushed off to the doctor to get this miracle drug!
Seriously, though? One of the things that made me feel a lot better was a bottle of aloe vera juice. Yummy!
3 Responses to “Weak Week”
Aloe Vera juice? You are allergic to all the normal, health-giving foods in the world, but you can take Aloe Vera Juice? It’s something I’d never thought you’d dare try. I sure haven’t.
By mim on Mar 2, 2007
The first time I tried it, I was very careful and had a supply of allergy meds on-hand. I figured since I’m not topically allergic to aloe, I’d be okay with the juice. It’s weird. It’s like… not-full-set Jell-O with pulp. Tastes sort of orange-y. And it’s very soothing.
By DataAngel on Mar 2, 2007
My favourite part of the medication adds are when they say you’ll feel better faster then in tiny little print, “when compared to taking nothing at all”
By EoS on Mar 3, 2007