Once a year, as the temperatures drop and the holidays approach, I always seem to catch something cold or flu like. Still it's not too bad because, although this year was a bit different, in past years I am typically only ill for about 48 hours and then good to go minus a few sniffles.
Here I am, day 3 of the worst flu ever, and as of now feeling fairly good and hoping to head back into the office in the morning. I am a strong advocate of listening to your body, and fortunately for me this year blessed me with a new job that allows me to work from home if needed.
So I was able to work with my laptop bundled up in bed with a pile of tissues and and endless supply of constantly refilling water (thanks to my loving man) while I wimped it out. What a blessing!
Unfortunately many employers do not offer healthy options for sick employees to take it easy and avoid infecting the workforce by working elsewhere. Sometimes this is not possible due to the type of work being preformed.
I love my job. We have a great boss and team AND we also are allowed to use our PTO days as sick days if we do suddenly become ill. There are a lot of jobs today that do not offer PTO to their employees, OR do not allow vacation days to be used as sick days, such was the case at my last job.
Money is tight everywhere, and most of the employees that do not get these benefits are average middle class employees - employees with families to support and bills to pay. For some of these people missing even a day of work could could be the difference between food on the table this week, or getting the power disconnected.
Imagine what having the flu for 3-7 days could do to a family that is barley getting buy. No work - No Pay. No Work - No Food. With these circumstances it should not come as a surprise to you that 60-90% of workers come into work while ill. It is a sad fact.
Counting my blessings, this year I was able to stick out this 3 day beast of a flu in bed, thanks to my new job and understanding boss.
It hit me like a ton of bricks on Monday night at around 9pm, I was on my way home from work and several errands. Out of nowhere I was assaulted by a fever, aches from head to toe, and the worst headache ever.
On Tuesday, I was lost in bed. I slept all day, merciless to the symptoms, I surrendered to my body and let the immune system war take off. Sweet surrender, I realized that the flu "just was" there was nothing I could really do about it but let my body fight and drink lots of water.
Side note, I personally do not believe in taking any medication that masks symptoms created by your body's immune system such as a fever. I remember learning at a very young age that your body creates a fever to kill off bad things like viruses and germs that make you sick.
It has been my experience that every time in the past I have stepped in and interrupted that process, often because I was trying to go to work while sick rather then let my body recover, I stay sick longer. For me, these medications only seem make being sick tolerable, and they never seem to help me to get well.
Wednesday I worked, bundled up with fever in a pile of blankets, body aching head to toe. I must add that my boss offered and assumed that I was taking PTO but I insisted otherwise as my winter holiday vacation starts very soon. I had high hopes that I would return to the office on Thursday morning.
Thursday morning I wake up not felling 100% but still much better than before. "Maybe I will be able to go to work after all" I thought. I got out of bed and picking the empty water cup from my night stand headed towards the kitchen.
I hadn't made it but a few steps outside of my bedroom door when I realized that something was horribly wrong. I was weak, cold, sweaty, nauseous, and if I did not sit down soon I was going to black out. Luckily I threw myself at the sofa just in time.
It was amazing at how quickly things had gone downhill, and gotten a little scarey. In a few seconds it was as if someone had dumped a bucket of cold water onto me. I was sweating from head to toe, and every time I stood up the cycle started over again.
Needless to say I had my loving man bring all the things I needed back to the bed for me, including my work laptop, and I got back to work. Honestly, as long as I was not moving around I felt fairly alright.
Right now, Thursday night, I feel fairly alright, and do not seem to have a fever. (I say seem because the thermometer broke.) Other than a stuffy nose, drainage and a small cough, I feel pretty good, and THANK GOODNESS!
This monster flu was a great reminder to me that, in the fast paced world we live in it is important that we take the time to stop, slow down, and listen to what our body is trying to tell us. This year the flu actually demanded I listen to my body.
I feel good right now, and hopefully will be able to head back into the office tomorrow. Either way, you better believe that I will be listening when I wake up in the morning so that I can be sure to hear what my body is telling me.
