It’s Snot Easy Being Sick

I’m home sick from work today for the second day in a row with an upper respiratory infection. Today is day 10 for this thing. After a week of meds from the local UrgiCare (or as a friend likes to call it the Doc-in-a-Box) that did no good, and a visit to my family doctor for an antibiotic and cough syrup with codeine (my new best friend,) I should be on the mend by now. But my sleep (and poor Mr. Maid’s) has been interrupted every night by an hour or two of either a dry, extremely painful cough, or a wet, choking cough where I fear I’ll hack up a lobe or two of a lung. For a week I soldiered on, getting up and dragging my butt to work until yesterday, when I just couldn’t do it anymore. I called the office and told them I wouldn’t be in.

As this is cold and flu season and you may find yourself in a similar situation, I’ve compiled some guidelines to help you through staying home sick from work or school.

My mother always made us get up and get dressed, no matter how sick we felt. She insisted that we’d feel better by just getting out of bed. I believe there is some truth to this. Get up, take a shower if you have the energy, put on some clothes and make the bed.

What really happens: Change from your pajamas into sweats or yoga pants, which, face it, are just fancy pajamas. Make your bed, but create a smaller version of your bed on the couch with a nest of blankets and pillows.

Watch a movie you’ve been wanting to see.

What really happens: Watch some daytime TV. I’m not talking fun shows like Ellen or reruns of The Andy Griffith Show. I’m talking something awful like Jerry Springer or Maury. There’s nothing that will motivate you to get well and get back to work like some time with the dregs of humanity.

You’re going to be home all day and you’re not feeling that bad. Surely you can get a couple loads of laundry done, right? It’s not like you have to drag the stuff down to the creek to beat it on rocks.

What really happened: Close the closet door so you can’t see the laundry basket and take a nap instead.

Heat up a can of soup or make a grilled cheese sandwich. Being sick calls for some old fashioned comfort food.

What really happens: Text Mr. Maid at work and ask him to bring you Dairy Queen for lunch – and don’t forget the Peanut Buster Parfait.

Eat some healthy snacks like some fruit – the vitamins and minerals will do you good.

What really happens: Rummage through the cupboards looking for chocolate and kick yourself for that New Year’s resolution to stop buying the stuff. Resort to eating a ¼ bag of chocolate baking chips and a few spoons of Nutella from the jar.

You’re a full grown adult, not a child. You can take care of yourself.

What really happens: Whine to Mr. Maid about how your feet have been freezing all day. Beg him to rub them. Or your back. Or your temples.

Suck it up. Its mind over matter and you’ll feel better if you don’t wallow.

What really happens: Crawl into your couch nest, pull the hood of your hoodie up and moan. It feels better when you moan.

(Image courtesy of fotolia.com)