Lessons

Posted on | March 5, 2006 at 2:02 pm | 6 Comments

Things I learned from my recent bout with the flu or whatever virus, which I think was the longest, most intense illness I’ve had in my life:

When I’m sick, I don’t want to do anything. I always kept thinking “Wouldn’t it be great to be sick for a couple of weeks so I could stay home and catch up on my books, comics, video games, and DVDs?” The reality is that when I’m sick like I was for those two weeks, all I wanted to do was lie down and wallow in my misery. Reading was a chore, especially with my vision problems. Forget about listening to music, especially with a congested head. Even watching TV was a hassle, as I just kept thinking about how much pain I was in and couldn’t focus on the story. I did manage to watch a few DVDs though, including Raging Bull, which I had never seen before.
Raging Bull was overhyped. I was disappointed in it and had no sympathy at all for Jake LaMotta. Hotel Rwanda, OTOH, was very good.
I don’t like soup, especially chicken soup. Although maybe that was because everything tasted like crap while I was sick. Still, I can’t look at a soup can now without gagging.
Doctors don’t want to listen to you. Nurses are marginally better.
My body’s response to everything abnormal (including acid reflux) is FEVER! (And more cowbell doesn’t help.)
The Winter Olympics are actually kinda boring, even in HD.
My friends, family, and co-workers are pretty good about giving me the space, help or attention I need when I’m sick.
Pepto-Bismol can make you think you have a bleeding ulcer.
It’s one thing to grasp the concept of “drinking lots of fluids” and another to actually be able to do it.
Ocular migraines are not as rare as I thought – I’ve talked to other people who have experienced similar episodes to mine.
There are too many dogs in my neighborhood who bark endlessly throughout the weekday.
Sleep is a very precious commodity. A good night’s sleep doubly so. We don’t miss it until we miss it.
It’s a hassle to cancel airline reservations.
My new trash disposal company, who says “Your neighborhood is one of the first ones we do, so be sure to have your garbage out by 7am!” doesn’t actually pickup until late morning, which is after my old company picked up.
My postal carrier, who delivers by 1pm on Saturdays, sometimes doesn’t deliver until 4pm on weekdays.
Hot showers actually feel good when I have a fever.
Sweat-drenched bedsheets are disgusting. Okay, I kinda already knew that.

Latre.

Category: Personal

Comments

6 Responses to “Lessons”

Sue
March 5th, 2006 @ 4:20 pm

Rog, I’m glad you’re feeling better. It seems miserable — hope you’re 100% well for the rest of the year; you deserve it!
2fs
March 5th, 2006 @ 5:46 pm

I second that emotion. But really – more cowbell doesn’t help? Good lord but you really were sick.
Janet
March 5th, 2006 @ 5:51 pm

You learned a whole bunch of stuff, Rog! 17 bullet points’ worth. But I wish you’d been able to be 17 things the more ignorant, and not go through that hell.
Bill
March 6th, 2006 @ 7:18 am

I’m glad to hear you’re feeling better
Flasshe
March 6th, 2006 @ 8:04 am

Thanks, y’all. Now that I’m feeling much better, for the most part, I can look back on it and chalk it up to a learning experience (the #1 lesson being that Yes, This Too Shall Pass And I Will Survive). It was just so weird for me because I don’t get sick very often, and when I do, it’s usually like a 48-hour thing. At least now I will have more sympathy for those who go through something prolonged like this and not keep thinking “Just get up on your feet!”
Paula
March 6th, 2006 @ 11:08 am

Hey, Rog, glad you’ve been restored, that sounds yucky, but nice that you’ve learned some stuff in the process.