Monday, November 2, 2009

Bad week

I have the swine flu.

Well, some kind of flu, anyway. I woke up at about 5am on Saturday with a cough, sore throat, aching joints, and low-grade fever. I seem to already be past the worst of the fever and aches, but that cough is just nasty, and while I'm not actually short of breath, my breathing doesn't feel as free and easy as usual. So I stayed home on the sofa all weekend while Mr E Man went to an awesome Hallowe'en party/sleepover on the Sunshine Coast.

I'm still too sick to do any useful work - I had to lie down for an hour after doing one load of laundry yesterday. My colleague has just emailed to confirm that our flu guidelines mean I'm not allowed into work all this week, even if I feel better. (I'm based in the research building, but the clinical building is just over the road, and there's a lot of traffic (patients and staff) between the two). As soon as my 7 day isolation period is up, I'll be getting on a plane... so I'm going to be horribly, horribly behind when we get back from vacation! Oh well, if I feel better later in the week I'll get one of my colleagues to send me some of the documents I was working on last week. And I can call into my various meetings, if my colleagues don't mind listening to me cough.

I'm thankful for two things though: the timing (the WHO's 7 day isolation recommendation means I'll be OK by the time our flight takes off at 10pm on Saturday), and the fact that (so far!) I haven't had the gastric symptoms that some people have been getting. I hate throwing up, almost to the point of phobia.

So, it could be worse. I have movies, internet, podcasts, books, and kitties to keep me entertained, and Mr E Man has stocked the cupboards and fridge with soup, fruit, juice, and lots of different kinds of tea. I forgot to ask him to pick up some honey, though, and as it turns out, lemon tea with maple syrup is NOT going to be the Next Big Thing. Worth trying though!

I might even get caught up on my blog reading!
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21 comments:

  1. AlyssaNovember 2, 2009 at 10:01 a.m.

    Ugh, Cath - that totally sucks! But, absolutely perfect timing for your trip. I'd like to say that I have some amazing stuff waiting for you on my blogs, but as you can see, that's not really the case.

    I hope you don't blame the flu for how bad you did in the pool this week ;) Mwahaha!

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  2. LisbethNovember 2, 2009 at 10:04 a.m.

    Oh, that is horrible, Cath - but YAY about still being able to go on vacation!

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  3. tideliarNovember 2, 2009 at 10:14 a.m.

    Oh boo! i hope you get to feeling better soon mate!!

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  4. ScientistMotherNovember 2, 2009 at 10:46 a.m.

    Oh that so sucks! But at least you'll be better before your trip;)

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  5. challNovember 2, 2009 at 11:00 a.m.

    NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. that sucks.

    (ok, now I am more normal since I think this means you willbe ok in time for the trip... and then maybe less likely to get sick on the trip... Have a nice trip!!)

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  6. Bob O'HNovember 2, 2009 at 11:23 a.m.

    Does this mean you won't be able to infect a pile of people when you get on the plane? Where's the fun in that?

    On behalf of the cats, I order you to lay around all week in an ideal position to be sat on. Oh, and make sure you've got plenty of cat treats on hand.

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  7. Cath@VWXYNot?November 2, 2009 at 11:27 a.m.

    Thanks all! Ah luvs mah blog buddies!

    I just read something funny, and laughing made me cough! So perhaps if people could point me towards their least amusing blog posts...? ;)

    I'm now just hoping that Mr E Man doesn't get sick. He has the constitution of an ox, rarely gets sick, and when he does, tends to get over it quickly, so his odds are good. Plus he had one evening 3-4 weeks ago of feeling very cold to himself, but hot to the touch to me, so it's possible he's already had it (seriously, that's how his illnesses usually go. He got the same norovirus as me at Christmas, but rather than the 24 hours of shivering and vomiting that I had, he had one afternoon of feeling a bit hot and with a bit of an upset stomach). I felt really bad last night when he ordered a coke with our take-out sushi, and I took my customary 1 sip... and he then said he didn't drink the rest of it because it had my germs in it! It was still half-full, and I really only wanted a sip... oh well.

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  8. Cath@VWXYNot?November 2, 2009 at 11:29 a.m.

    Bob, yeah, a purring cat on my chest is nice and comforting, but perhaps not the best way to ease respiratory symptoms!

    They got into my bag of cough sweets overnight, and have spread them over 3 rooms. I don't have the energy to clean them up.

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  9. infinite scienceNovember 2, 2009 at 12:49 p.m.

    boo! and partially because I didn't make it to the superawesome hallowe'en party/sleepover as I missed my date ;)

    but i'm not going to say boo about the no work - GET BETTER and stop working!

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  10. Cath@VWXYNot?November 2, 2009 at 1:29 p.m.

    sorry, dude!

    I'm not really working working. I'm just replying to some of the more urgent emails. My cough isn't as bad as it has been, but I'm just generally too woozy and wobbly to do any concerted thinking!

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  11. challNovember 2, 2009 at 2:04 p.m.

    I think my posts aren\t too funny so if you need calming down from laughing that's where you can go ;)

    on another note, I have a memory that you worte down things what you do after each work da (especially when you started your new job right?). I am trying to do that....

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  12. Cath@VWXYNot?November 2, 2009 at 3:42 p.m.

    yep - here's the link! I'm still doing that too, it really does help me.

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  13. ScienceGirlNovember 2, 2009 at 4:23 p.m.

    Booo! I hope you feel better soon, and then the vacation makes it all better!

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  14. Professor in TrainingNovember 2, 2009 at 6:48 p.m.

    That sucks that you're sick ... hope you feel better in time for your holiday.

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  15. EcoGeoFemmeNovember 2, 2009 at 7:18 p.m.

    Boo! At least your work flu policy means that you can stay home without feeling like everyone thinks you should be a work. I hate the guilt I get when I stay home when I'm not super-duper sick (anymore).

    I'll keep my fingers crossed for Mr E Man!

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  16. PhizzleDizzleNovember 3, 2009 at 12:50 a.m.

    OH no, feel better soon Cath!

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  17. NinaNovember 3, 2009 at 1:38 a.m.

    Argh! I hope you feel better soon! At least it won't ruin your holiday.
    And I'll write some super boring blog posts just for you if you want ;)

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  18. Cath@VWXYNot?November 3, 2009 at 10:40 a.m.

    Thanks, all!

    SG, I think some nice hot weather should help me get over this!

    PiT, I think I'm getting there. I don't even feel like I need a blanket today! I put my contacts in and everything! (I'm still a bit woozy and wobbly though. Lots of naps).

    EGF, true! Although I've taken an average of 2 sick days a year for the last 6 years, so I think my non-malingering reputation speaks for itself ;)

    I got my colleague to scan and email my to-do list to me, and I'm now putting together a list of files for her to find on the shared drive and email to me. I plan to work half a day tomorrow and see how that goes.

    Nina, I don't want boring, just non-LOL-making!

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  19. Amanda@Lady ScientistNovember 3, 2009 at 2:48 p.m.

    I hope you feel better soon! The flu is no fun. But at least now you get a chance to catch up on the fabulous day time TV, right?

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  20. stepwise girlNovember 4, 2009 at 10:35 p.m.

    Hope you get better! And have a great holiday.

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  21. Cath@VWXYNot?November 6, 2009 at 2:09 p.m.

    Thanks both!

    AA, amazingly enough, I haven't watched one single minute of daytime TV. I've been watching and listening to podcasts instead, and playing online Monopoly (don't ask. MAJOR time suck). And I worked from home for the last 2.5 days of this week!

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