Tuesday, September 6, 2016

timeline of a cold

Day 0. Actually two weeks. Five co-workers have colds. They drop by my office to chat, for varying lengths of time,  2 to 20 minutes,  interfacing with my office environment. When they leave I swipe surfaces with Chlorox wipes and self-Reiki.

Day 1. The suspicion of a symptom. No, probably overreacting. Yes, symptoms increase noticeably each hour. A slight headache, several sneezes, touch of a sore throat, general malaise. Regard still sick co-workers with annoyance. Have holiday plans, maybe will wake up and be totally fine. Self-Reiki.

Day 2. First day of 3-day holiday weekend, have many fun plans with family & friends. Symptoms peak, feel miserable, cancel plans, curse co-workers. Moan and whine.

Day 3. Slightly better? Feel pretty much ok if I rest on the couch. Gorgeous perfect weather outside, almost criminal to be inside, I think wearily, when I venture out for a few minutes. Spend the day on the couch with a box of tissues. Red nose runs like a hose. Many sneezes. Body aches. Then nose stuffs up; mouth-breathing. Thinking seems muddled. Ration NSAIDs carefully to avoid overdose. Echinacea tincture qid. Self-Reiki head and sinuses.

Day 4. Last day of holiday weekend. Cough tastes metallic, like blood. NSAIDs, echinacea, tissues. More gorgeous weather, everyone in the world is celebrating, hiking, BBQg, swimming, kayaking. Another day on the couch, mouth-breathing coughing sneezing, cursing co-workers and my own bloody immune system. Self-Reiki.

Day 5. Back to work.