Illness

Stephen and I have just had a nasty upper respiratory bug. Day five for me and I am still coughing and blocked and filling up copious paper towels as my sinuses run. We didn’t test for Covid, but it could very well have been. If not, it hasn’t been pleasant. The fever only lasted three days for me, starting with a bang on Wednesday night. I got the rigors and no matter how hard I tried, couldn’t get warm, even with two hot water bottles and a long jumper, which I wore for the night. Now I just feel washed out, not an ounce of energy to do anything, and only a slight desire for food, with what I am eating, very unhealthy, but all the body feels like. Stephen is two days ahead of me and he is still not right yet.

We have stayed home for the entire time, so at least we can’t be accused of spreading our bug. There is nothing worse than being in a confined area with someone who is coughing or whose nose is obviously running.

And as I said to Stephen, as least we don’t have to do anything. Our calendars were empty, whereas we have a busy week ahead, this coming week. Back in the days when my children were small, getting sick was always so hard, especially when I’d get mastitis shortly after having one of my babies. With that condition, I would have a high fever for several days but still have to feed and take care of the baby as well as the other children. It was hard. In some ways getting sick at our age is easy. There is no work to worry about – how many sick days do I have left? Who is going to do my work for me when I am gone? I feel bad about not turning up to work. Buggar, I have to get a doctor’s certificate and so it goes on, whereas now, we relax, be thankful we can, and let the condition take its course. I do think that we get hit a bit harder with each illness though. Recovery times are slower and motivation is harder.

There is an isolating feeling about being sick too. My routine usually takes me to the beach for a daily walk, yet even taking the few steps to get outside has been difficult, so I am feeling cut off in some way. Yesterday, Stephen suggested a drive to Coopers Beach but neither of us felt like it. I was craving MacDonalds of all things a few days ago, but again, neither of us were well enough for the drive to town.

I just hope I can cope with the demands of this upcoming week.