The week-long (and then some) flu

So after battling the flu for a week, I got away from my stubbornness and saw a doctor. I thought I was getting better, but then suddenly felt worse. A week of on and off fevers, throat pain, sinus pain...everything pain had finally had its toll.

The doctor's office was over-worked. Masks were on many patients who also had flu symptoms. I was told the wait was going to be a while, but it didn't seem that long. While sitting in my little room, I could hear the doctor tell a patient he was going to have to go to the hospital immediately because the H1N1 flu he acquired had caused him to have pneumonia. The ICUs at the hospitals around here are flood with H1N1 cases.

I was finally seen. The doctor looked in my mouth, heard me breath, felt my ribs, etc. The verdict: I have the flu (but not necessarily H1N1), a sinus infection, and costochondritis. I was also tested for mono, even though I've already had it as a kid. I was given a z-pack for the infection and to prevent an upper respiratory infection and was told I had to be on bed rest for the next three days.

Good thing I can write in bed and really like to sleep.

Swine Flu

Did you hear? About the swine flu? Of course you have. The swine flu is at level 5, one step from being considered a pandemic.

Is this something we should really worry about? Does this deserve all the hype the media is giving this topic? The swine flu has hit Oregon, earlier than expected.

It's too bad that this kind of attention is not given drunk driving (one person in the US is killed every half hour because of a drunk driver). What if this type of attention was given to other types of communicable diseases?

Remember to ALWAYS (not just when the swine flu is possibly present): wash your hands after using the restroom, after shaking hands, before eating, before touching your face or mouth, after touching items open to the public (doorhandles, etc.). Cover your coughs and sneezes. Get away from those who are coughing and/or sneezing.

The next thing to consider: what kind of a fashion faux paux would wearing a surgical mask be? I'll only wear it if everyone else is.