Illness
November 20, 2005 – 3:33 PMI wonder about a lot of things lately.
A cold is a cold — they're common. They're usually short-lived. They're usually not severe. And there's really nothing you or a doctor can do about them except rest, take vitamins, drink fluids, and generally try not to lose your voice.
Does resting really help a cold? Or does it just provide relief because you already feel totally wiped out in the first place? Does it accelerate recuperation? And if so, why is it that after a week I can still barely move?
I do not have the flu. I'll get that out of the way. I don't have bronchitis, or a sinus infection, or an allergy flareup. I know this is a cold. I know the symptoms of all of the above. I have good days where I can go to work and generally feel OK except for coughing a lung up every now and again. Then on days like today, I can't even get out of bed until the afternoon, and the bottoms of my lungs sound terrible.
The flu doesn't come and go like that. Neither does a sinus infection. Allergies do, but my allergies involve sinus pain and never fever, which I also have intermittently. It's also past allergy season.
Bronchitis hurts. My lungs don't hurt.
I'd go to the doctor if I had any damn energy or will to do so.
Am I on any medication that could be contributing to the fatigue? Of course I am. but that doesn't excuse my lungs from clearing up after I've spent so long hacking up anything that might still be lingering in their depths. And frankly, I've been on this medication long enough that headaches and fatigue should be side effects of the past.
everybody is disappointed in me, I can feel it. Friends who want to talk to me on the phone or meet me places — no can do, even if I'd like to. My college advisor is concerned. My coworkers have acclimated to my absences and don't even question where I'm at anymore. This has gradually become a norm, and everybody feels it, and I hate it. I hate illness, and I hate how it cuts you off from people.
More rest now.