Scottish Summer

[Geneticist]

Chilly rain, frosty mornings, shivery evenings spent under a thick duvet....sounds like a perfect setting for some cosy winter story, doesn't it?

Welcome to August in Scotland, in which I, of the iron immune system, catch a stinking cold just in time to be laid up all weekend.

It's been a tough week in the lab where I work, and after working late into the evening Mon-Thurs, I was grateful for a day off Friday. My throat had been a bit rough and achy, and I'd been feeling a bit worn out and under the weather, but I'd put that down to the long days and my training (I'm out the door by 5am most days a week as I train for my sport, and also like to fit in a run when I can!)

Anyway, I keep very fit, eat very healthily, and try to get adequate sleep.....that should keep me sniffle free, right? WRONG. Urgh, woke up Friday feeling like I'd been hit by a truck...scratchy sore throat, runny nose, the works. Not many sneezes, just one or two. Cancelled my plans for a long trail run and yoga class, and instead caught up on some reading, nutritous eats, and taking it easy. I had a big training session scheduled for Saturday morning, and I desperately hoped to nip this in the bud and make it through.

Saturday morning: Woke up a bit groggy, but no sore throat! No sneezes! Could I have stamped my brewing cold out for good? I smashed my session with my training partner, and was feeling pretty good (rep PRs and all) when my buddy asked if I was feeling okay, as he said "you sound a bit sniffly today."

"I'm fine," I answered cheerily, "Thought I was coming down with a cold, but I've seemed to avoid the worst of it!"

Flash forward a couple hours later, when I, still in my leggings and vest top, am up town picking up some bits, am cursing those words. Despite the sunshine (very rare here, haha), I was shivering as I made my way through the busy shopping streets, and fumbling for some spare napkins I keep in my sports bag, to dab at my increasingly streamy nose. My eyes were starting to get watery, as they always do with a cold, and my itchy, tickly throat had returned with a vengeance, causing me to cough in the crook of my arm every couple of minutes. As I was searching through M&S home section, the first of many sneezes came. I'm awfully shy about sneezing in public, so try and fend them off or else stifle them, but there was no stopping this one: "HA-tchiew"--wet, heavy and throaty, as my cold sneezes tend to be.

The bus ride home was nothing short of a nightmare for me, being so self conscious of appearing ill....I kept having to swipe at and gently blow my nose with my dangerously dwindling napkin supply, and 4 more sneezes escaped, in the form of two strong doubles. I was praying for the bus to hurry up, as I could feel my cold getting worse with each passing minute!

So, last night to today, Sunday afternoon, has been the absolute works. I'm so congested that I feel dizzy when I stand up, and have got the accompanying dull sinus pain that comes with being bunged up beyond belief. I have now got a hacking, full-body rattler of a cough, and my sodden nose keeps hitching with false starts, occasionally yielding to a loud, congested "Heh-CHOOO, HA-CHIEEW" every couple of minutes. My eyes are incredibly red and watery, and I am blowing my nose about every minute (in vain, I might add...it just fills right back up again!). I've been blowing so much, in fact, that my poor nose is completely red and chapped.

My partner, P, who I've written about before, took one look at me this morning, and burst out a sympathetic chuckle while brushing my hair away from my face and pulling me towards him. "I'm so sorry for laughing," he said, "but you look so adorably pitiable, look at your red cheeks and nose." He had to work all day, but sorted me out with cough sweets, tissues, tea, and a big cuddle before leaving.

So here I sit, completely miserable with a sore, cracked, red and sneezy nose. I'm on the fence about tomorrow....I'm mortified about folk seeing me ill, or worse, getting people sick, but I've just started a thks new place and don't want to seem like a skiver by calling in sick for "just a cold".....any advice?

[honkmaster]

Great jobs, thanks for sharing. I hope you feel better.

[Geneticist]

Thank you! I'm still new at this thing, and unfortunately am not sneezy enough normally to warrant an obs!

[poiub]

Great stuff! Bless you, and hello from a fellow Scot!

Edited August 30, 2015 by poiub

[Subtly Clashing Wishes]

If you are running a fever and can't stop sneezing then stay home. Nobody wants what you've got, your excellent work ethic not withstanding. I do hope you feel better. It sounds like a miserable cold.

[BananaTree]

I wouldn't want to share it. Most people don't want your germs lol but wow what an awful cold that sounds like feel better soon!

[AnteatersOnParade]

I'd say a fever would mean you're contagious. If/when you call in you can just say that you woke up fighting a bad head cold, took your temperature, and found it to be elevated and bc of that you're worried you might be contagious. You could even say that you're on the fence bc you don't wanna be that person that calls out just because of a bad cold, but you also don't want to be the person who brought the cold to the office. You could even put the ball in their court after that and say it's up to them and that if they need you in, you'll take a painkiller and come right in. They probably wont say you should come in but idk your work so yeah idk for sure how that could go.

I definitely hear you on those cold summers! I grew up in San Francisco - Mark Twain said that "the coldest winter [he] ever felt was a summer in San Francisco!" Hope you feel better soon!!!

[Alex1355]

I know what you mean abouy Scotland,I hrew up there. Summer lasts for a day hope you feel better and let us know if the sneeziness continues

[Geneticist]

Cheers guys! You all are so kind.

I didn't go in today...knew it was the right decision all along, but I have such a hard time admitting defeat As soon as I texted my supervisor last night, she kindly replied that I should be firmly planted on the sofa with Lemsip and a good film for as long as it takes for me to feel better!

So I slept for about 12 hours and woke up feeling MUCH better! Still quite congested and coughy, with the occasional sneeze, but all in all more perky.

Onto the obs bit:

Like I said, much less sneezy today, although it's been peppered with a couple doubles and triples. P took the morning off to look after me (eeeee) and we spent a lot of the time cuddling and drinking tea. Only when we started getting a bit more *adult* (what can I say, I really am feeling worlds better today) that I was surprised with one massive, messy sneeze. I'm usually not messy at all, but, for those of you that like snotty situations, this one was a doozy...."ISCHIIIEWWW" straight into my hands as I was so unprepared! Had to dash off to the bathroom quickly to clean myself off

Anyway, I felt well enough to bang about in the kitchen afternoon and knock up some chicken and dumplings.

That's it for now!

[AnteatersOnParade]

Glad you're feeling better! And good call on the chicken and dumplings; I love that stuff!!!

[Geneticist]

Glad you're feeling better! And good call on the chicken and dumplings; I love that stuff!!!

Thank you!

Back at work since Wednesday....must have been the magical curing chicken and dumplings

[AnteatersOnParade]

Definitely. Definitely the chicken and dumplings. *nods head vigorously* Glad you're feeling good again!