I had grand plans last week. After posting Tucker’s “after” pic and dashing off details of Calvin’s latest episode of gross stupidity, I had enough posts to carry me through until the big Sunday Y & R recap, meaning I could take me a little blogging break and recharge my batteries.
I should’ve known better.
Saturday, I had woke up with a slight tickle in the back of my throat. A tickle which was a sore throat and ear ache by Sunday morning and a sore throat, ear ache, and the cold chills by Monday morning. By Tuesday afternoon, I felt like — as Mama M would say — shit with something bad in it. So I called my doctor. And was promptly informed that he was booked up but I could see the on-call doctor.
The on-call doctor who took one look at my temp — 104 — and asked if I had recently been exposed to viral meningitis. (Seriously, what the fuck kind of question is that? Did I miss the new mandate where sick people have to wear their ailments on sandwich boards along with a “stand by me at your own risk” warning?) After a routine exam, she pronounced it a severe upper respiratory infection and sent me home with a junkie’s treasure trove of shit to cure me up.
So I self medicated and went to bed.
For 15 hours.
After which, I woke up soaked with sweat and feeling twice as bad. But knowing antibiotics take a few days to kick in, I waited. And while I waited, I would wake up periodically and write things in the notebook by my bed (where I jot down ideas for posts). Among the more obscure items scrawled during my fevered state: they always give you a dash when you’re flying a Huey and Brisbane freighters in the bay. (If you’ve surmised I don’t fare well with a fever, go to the head of the class.)
After 2 days I waiting, there was no change.
So I went back to my own doctor on Friday. He looked me over, then sent me for a blood test and chest x-ray. 3 pics and 4 jabs later (“you’re a little dehydrated” Nurse Mengele exclaimed with each stab), he made his diagnosis: pneumonia.
And so here I am at home on Monday, lounging around in my sweats and wondering what I will do with myself today. Hmmmm — maybe I’ll write a few posts and get ahead so I can take me a little blogging break and recharge my batteries…
Oh I’m sorry. I hope this gives you permission to skip work and be paid anyway. Rest up.
By: tornwordo on Monday, February 18, 2008
at 6:30 am
Next year get a Pneumonia shot and a flu shot. Take care of yourself and get better. We/I need you to be there for me each day. On the bright side, Pneumonia can be cured unlike a cold that has to run it’s course. I would like the story about the Huey and the Brisbane frieghter sounds like fun. Happy Presidents day. When I was a child so many years ago we had Washington’s Birthday and Lincoln’s birthday off from school. Oh those tricky politicians who declared Presidents day and only on a monday. Get well soon Dirk, I mean it!
By: Ed on Monday, February 18, 2008
at 6:36 am
Pneumonia – that sucks. Take good care of yourself, because that can be hard to get over.
By: saintseester on Monday, February 18, 2008
at 7:20 am
Hubby and I missed a week of work with some kind of creepin’ crud. Neither went to the doctor (thank God for NyQuil and Mucinex!), but I slept an average of 16 hours a day. We’re still not 100% over it, and I hear it takes a while. I had both the pneumonia and flu shots, but the docs can’t even say this stuff is the flu. Feel better Dirk—lots of fluids, lots of rest, and lots of meds.
By: catrina on Monday, February 18, 2008
at 7:50 am
Sorry your feeling so sick. Hope the cable movies don’t suck today.
And I’d like to wish all you US residents a Happy 1st Ever Family Day from your Northern Neighbors. Yeah, fucking Family Day. It’s nothing but a manufactured day off and unlike Presidents Day, everything is shutting down for this brand new holiday.
By: Sarah on Monday, February 18, 2008
at 9:05 am
Get well soon, Dirk! ((HUGS))
By: tigeryogiji on Monday, February 18, 2008
at 10:31 am
I hope you feel better soon!
By: Cameron on Monday, February 18, 2008
at 12:51 pm
I had a chest cold with a fever this weekend, and I was freaking miserable, so I can’t IMAGINE what yours must have been like…hope you feel better really soon!
I’ll second Sarah and hope that you at least have decent movies to watch. I would hope that you have some decent Y&R to watch, too, but I think that’s hoping for a little much, isn’t it…?
By: Aaron on Monday, February 18, 2008
at 12:55 pm
Here’s to you feeling better real soon. Keep an eye on the pneumonia as if it feels like it might be getting worse you might need to check in with the doctor again. Take care and get better soon
By: Tony on Monday, February 18, 2008
at 2:53 pm
Did the doc give you any different meds to treat the pneumonia? That sucks. Rest up, Dirk. Sleep a lot. I hope you feel better very soon.
By: Java on Monday, February 18, 2008
at 4:55 pm
Well you know when I flew a Huey they did give me a dash. Oh wait, that wasn’t a Huey, that was Southwest and it wasn’t a dash, it was a rash. But that’s another story.
Well don’t make me have to put on my “Mama M Collection” big pink fuzzy robe and matching slippers complete with curlers in my hair and white horn-rim glasses (with the fine rhinestone additions, thank you very much) and come sit at your bedside. Take care and maybe you can wake up a few times and type out some of those fantastic fever-induced ramblings so that we can all have fun trying to figure out what the hell you are talking about.
I will have to tell you someday about my first ex who has now been sentenced to 5 years in prison for possession of a controlled substance. Voodoo and prayer does work after all.
By: Tyler on Monday, February 18, 2008
at 5:24 pm
Sending you a hug and a temple massage.
By: jali on Tuesday, February 19, 2008
at 9:17 am
Feel better soon, Dirk!
By: Mad Queen Bess on Tuesday, February 19, 2008
at 5:45 pm
Only 4 jabs? That’s a good day for me.
By: Robguy on Wednesday, February 20, 2008
at 8:18 pm