Sick bay

First and foremost, don’t be a schmuck like me. Get your damn flu shot.

Had an appointment a few weeks back to get a flu/Covid daily double at my neighborhood Walgreens. But when I showed up they said I’d made it for a location across town with the same street name. I call bullshit, but too late now. I got busy and never rescheduled.

Now my temp keeps spiking every time the Tylenol wears off. Already took off yesterday and today, which I hate doing. My Covid test was negative, and my ex says my daughter tested negative for flu and strep. (She’s also sick after spending the weekend here.)

God being old sucks. I can’t ever stay awake more than 2-3 hours at a time.

 

Yeah, I mentioned this upper respiratory crud in the COVID thread. It's going around big time. Coughed something up yesterday that vaguely looked like wasabi. Still no fever, just a crap ton of congestion in both my chest and nose. I only went into work yesterday because there was hardly anyone there and I can hide in my office with minimal contact with others. Working remote today, hoping that I turn the corner. Being able to take a nap or three should be beneficial. Frustrating, I haven't been sick in more than two years, but I'm happy to have gotten both my COVID booster and flu shot or this possibly could be a lot worse. One small bonus -- I slept like a mofo last night after getting maybe a combined six hours of sleep the two nights prior. Nothing is worse than being super exhausted but not being able to drop into REM sleep. That's been the worst part of getting older for me.

 

Positive for Covid
Positive for flu.

Fuck me.

 

Damn, dude. Holding a good thought.

Take care of yourself.

 

Damn, that's quite the daily double you've hit. Take it easy, pal.

 

Hunker down, dude. Sleep and sleep.

Push fluids. Manage the fever (and the aches) with Tylenol or Advil or aspirin.

If your breathing becomes labored, call your doctor. Don't wait.

Feel better, my friend.

 

I’d also recommend getting one of those blood oxygen gadgets that you can put on your fingertip to make sure your percentage isn’t dropping too low.

pulse oximeter - about $25 on Amazon.

Get well soon!

 

He's dead, Jim!

Get well soon.

 

Dang, man. Get well.

Breathing is good, but I don't have to tell you that. Seconding Vombatus' suggestion re. the pulse oximeter. Deep breathing is a great practice to start now. I do mine to the natural rhythms and stops of the Episcopal rosary. You could do it to favorite poems, lyrics, passages from books and movies...etc.

Here are the bare bones for deep breathing exercises:

5-5-5
Breathe in through your nose to the count of five.
Hold your breath to the count of five.
Exhale through your mouth to the count of five.

4-7-8 Traditional Auyervedic Version
Breathe in through your nose to the count of four.
Hold your breath to the count of seven.
Exhale through your mouth to the count of eight.

Overly simple? Yuh-hunh. There's a chart somewhere with my name and the word "rales" in it. I no longer take breathing for granted. Take care of yourself, whyontcha.

 

Best wishes.
Pound sports drinks to help with dehydration if the fever/sweating is bad. Dehydration sucks.

 

Hope you feel better soon. Don't beat yourself too much over it, life happens.