So I told you I’m sick, right?
Well, it’s not COVID.
After receiving that negative test result, however, my symptoms had continued/set-in to the point where I knew I needed to Do SomethingTM about the situation. A regular cold, for me, lasts three days. As of this morning, I was at five days of symptoms with a still-deepening cough and an unsettling rattle in my chest. So off to the doctor I went.
The verdict?
I have bronchitis.
It’s a viral infection and there are no antibiotics (antibiotics don’t work on viruses) to treat it, so basically I was given a prescription strength cough suppressant with a numbing effect to help me sleep (I can’t sleep sitting up and I cough up my lungs when I lie down) and help ease the pain in my throat. Otherwise, it’s “drink lots of fluids and get as much rest as possible” (I’m doing that already) and “don’t smoke” (WTF? I don’t smoke!) and “don’t go back to work until at least Monday.”
Oh.
Well, that last part sucks.
Normally, I don’t have a ‘regular’ job. I’m self-employed and I contract with all kinds of different entities, which means I’m in a variety of community, home, educational, emergency, and medical situations every day. But I started my kindergarten thing recently — which has just gotten into a regular routine after three weeks — and now I can’t go. (And haven’t gone all week.) So come next Monday it’ll be like starting over.
: sigh :
But anyway…
I told the doctor that we all mask and wash our hands and yadda yadda and he was like, “Well you got this virus even though you wear a mask. And you can spread this virus even though you wear a mask.”
Which…
Think about that for a minute.
.
.
.
.
.
And yet, with COVID, masks are supposed to be The AnswerTM!
?!?
Which is total bosh.
But it was really REALLY refreshing to hear a medical professional say that masks are NOT the answer. That you can – and will – still get sick even if you wear them. (Personally, I find masks to basically be placebos for the population.)
Granted, he was talking about a viral bronchial infection. Not about COVID. But still. The same rule applies.
(And before you go apeshit in the comments section: I follow the mask mandates even though I don’t believe them to be particularly effective. Also, I give zero fucks about politics. And I’m vaccinated. So you can check your diatribe at the door.)
A n y w ay
I will not do anything to knowingly put other people’s health at risk. Especially not children’s health. (Even though those same children are the ones responsible for putting MY health out of whack.) So of course I will stay home from work until Monday.
(It’s interesting how much COVID has changed my/our/the-world’s approach to this, I think. In the past, where work was concerned, it was: Unless you’re dead, you better show up. Especially in my field. Now it’s more like: If you even think you might feel a sneeze coming on, stay home.)
So I’m explaining the verdict to my husband, right? We’re in the car and he’s driving (and I’m wearing my mask in the passenger’s seat — f’real — because I don’t want him breathing my recycled-in-the-car-cabin air regardless of how {in}effective my placebo-mask efforts might be) and I’m rubbing his leg, and he gives me a little “mrawr” type look because, y’know, I’m touching him.
And I say, “That was your feel-up for the month.”
(Honestly, I don’t think he got any feel-ups in January. Hmmm…)
“I’ll take what I can get,” he says.
But really…
It’s February.
Which means he’d get more than one feel-up under normal circumstances.
And nevermind all that Valentine’s crap. It’s not because of that.
It’s because February 5th is his birthday.
AND
This year his birthday falls on A WEEKEND.
Those two facts combined would normally make for a lil somethin’-somethin’, right?
But, since I am sick…
Well, I’m afraid that for his birthday ‘night out’ he might just be stuck-in with a sick fuck.
(Maybe we’ll wear masks while we get our Birthday Lovin’ on. THAT would kinky…)
Sorry to hear about the bronchitis! And, totally agree with you about masks. Unless it’s a new N95 mask, it’s not doing much (and I am vaccinated, and wear the damn things anyway to appease the masses). But, there is something a bit kinky about making love and both wearing them…. LOL
Thanks. The numbing medicine has at least eased the throat pain — whew!
And yes, I think masking will be my new kink! *laugh*
LOL…that is one way to turn lemons into lemonade!!! XOXO
A lot to respond to today. (I’ll abstain from any diatribes though. LOL)
First, isn’t it a weird world when bronchitis is a preferred option to the alternatives? 😉 Hope it passes quickly, because that can linger.
The mask thing is complicated and much more than just “do they work or don’t they?” If you needed an operation would you want the surgical staff to eschew masks? There is a difference between transmission modes and mask efficacy directionally. Meaning a mask for Covid is more effective as a preventive (like a surgeon’s mask) than a protection. (Your surgeon doesn’t wear a mask to protect himself from catching something from you.) That said I am not sure why your doctor said that? My guess is an abundance of caution and also because masks can be tricky when coughing (something bronchitis makes you do a lot) is involved.
Covid protections have been logical, political, and desperate, alternatively and simultaneously. The one thing that I have a hard time with is when folks see an unexpected result and get angry and “throw the baby out with the bathwater”. I also think that there are so many factors to Covid transmissibility that most people don’t want to learn about. Hell, a lot of yabbos out there wear their mask under their nose! Or use some bullshit thing that just forces their breath around it and out into the atmosphere. My own beard renders my mask less effective. To say they are 100% effective is nonsense, But to say they are 100% useless when worn properly is equally misinformed. They make a difference, just not the one we would hope for.
As for “sick fucks”? Well being one type myself, (lol) I DO have an opinion: if you want him to feel special, there a loads of ways an imaginative person like you can achieve that…..bronchitis and all! I know I could think of a dozen treats I’d enjoy right now……since I’ve been O-less well over a month myself. I’m sure you’ll come up with something……just be sure to post about it! LOL
KDPierre recently posted…Making (and breaking) Whoopi
It’s the inaccurate messaging around masking that drives me insane. They are not going to prevent illness when a strong virus and a persistent cough has involved. Which is what my doctor pointed out, presumably to emphasize the point that I need to avoid mini humans.
Having gone through home dialysis training when my husband was doing PD, the medical staff told us over and over again that we had to mask but that the purpose of the mask was to *minimize* any germs we were breathing OUT. Which is the logic I follow.
I told my hubby last night that it was almost spanking time. He had a slightly deer-in-the-headlights look. (Of course, I didn’t specify which part of him I’d be spanking…) 😉
Sorry to hear you are sick, Feve and I hope you feel better soon, and can at least celebrate your husband’s birthday, even if a bit later than the actual day 🙂
~ Marie xox
I am improving, just not as quickly as I’d like.
(And I started on the birthday spankings early. I have to do SOMETHING to entertain myself while I’m home sick!) 😉
Feel better soon! I had bronchitiis as well just after Christmas and I stay home and go nowhere. Neither did Storm and the other member wears a mask, which is an N95. For me, my asthma and allergies get irritated over anything and everything which gives me sinus drainage that always goooooooes to my my lungs.
Happy Birthday over there. We have some this month, too!
Hugs,
Windy
It’s been a long time since I’ve had bronchitis, and I’m NOT enjoying the renewed experience. *laugh*
Happy birthday-ing to you and yours!
Its so nice to read some common sense remarks concerning masks. Those are few and far between. I refuse to mask because I am more concerned with human rights and individual freedoms than wearing the placebo (great word for it). Viruses exist, always have and always will. Humans will contract them and there isn’t anything to prevent that. The weak will succumb and the healthy will survive. That is the way of this world. COVID is just another in the mix and it will never go away.
I wish you a speedy recovery. No one likes to have their routine turned upside down but you will be back on your feet soon.
I’m working on the recovery thing. I’ve written before about how terrible I am at being a nurse — I’m much worse at being a patient! *laugh*
I was finally able to sleep last night, so things are looking up. 🙂
How wonderful your brain is. Every time I never cease to admire the originality of your texts. Even your story about an unpleasant painful condition reads like a humorous one. In fact, I sympathize with you and, of course, as always, I wish you a speedy recovery. And thank you for your humor.
Thanks. There’s no point in being miserable, right? 🙂