kung foo the flu

Your throat is scratchy and you're feeling like a cold might be overtaking your system. But then a bug in your ear compels you to grab the thermometer out of the first aid box. Crap--Temperature slightly elevated. You don't panic and settle in with a cup of tea and some TV time before dozing off for the night. But the next morning the soreness is worse, you've got a bit of a headache, and the mercury is still showing a mild fever...

What do you do?

Let me make this easy on you: GO TO THE DOCTOR

Skeptics, I hear you. The only reason why I decided to make the trip to ZoomCare (doing justice to how much I love them will require an entirely different post) last Thursday was the fact that a coworker of mine was diagnosed with pneumonia two weeks ago. I'd ridden that horse in early 2008 and it was a trip I NEVER want to repeat. So last week I was proactive and zipped to the doctor's office. While there, I learned that the flu can be diagnosed pretty accurately via a Rapid Test that the doctor administers in the office. Ten minutes later and BAM we knew I had the flu.

So, great. The flu. Now what? Stock up on facial tissue and get the ol' barf bucket ready? Nope. If the flu is diagnosed within the first 48 hours, the doctor has the option to prescribe an anti-viral medication to help dampen the symptoms. It's not a cure, you're still going to be on the couch for about five days, but it's SOMETHING. And looking back on the past six days of my life, I can say totally worth trying. The doctor actually put me on two anti-virals because the strain of influenza going around seems to be especially resistant, so it was kind of a bummer swallowing two pills twice a day with a nasty sore throat. But the discomfort was worthwhile, as my flu symptoms were thereafter limited to weakness, sinus pressure treatable with ibuprofen, and runny nose/sneezing. No puke, no chills, no sweats, no aches, no wanting to DIE for days in a row--Worth it, don't you think?

Let me reiterate that it's not a miracle. I still missed three days of work. My motivation behind sharing this story lies in the fact that everyone I've told since returning to the office yesterday did not know that these diagnosis and treatment options were available. So, in the name of love (you know I heart you, my dear readers) I share the story with you. Hope it helps!