Friday, February 12, 2016

So I Had the Flu...


This week I had the FLU - a really bad case of it. I can now say that I actually understand how people die from the influenza. I literally slept for three days straight and most of the fourth and fifth as well. I barely watched tv, let alone remembered that anything on the internet even existed. I went to the doctor on Sunday and then woke up some time Monday evening and realized that I had not gone to the doctor that morning, and that it was now a completely different day. Basically, I had no idea what day it was all week. I was sick. But speaking of the doctor, that was the most interesting thing I did all week - and it wasn't exactly pleasant.

I was unfortunate enough to get sick on the weekend so I ended up going to a Walgreen's clinic on Sunday morning. I woke up that morning, and without bothering to change clothes, slipped on some muddy hiking boots, a coat, a scarf, and a doctor's mask so I didn't infect all of Walgreen's and my mom in the process. It was definitely my most highly coordinated outfit and, let's just say, I looked HOT. You know, in a fever of 102 kind of way. My mom drove me and, of course, we didn't look up what time they opened before we left so we ended up getting there over half an hour early. We waited in the car until we saw a couple carrying in a little girl in her pajamas. There's only one reason you take a little girl to Walgreen's in her pajamas - she's sick. I should know, I'm not that little and I was wearing my pajamas too. At that moment, it became a race. As politely as possible beat that little girl inside. Of course, that didn't happen. I could barely find the back of the store in a fevered daze.

So, we finally made our way to the back of the store where the clinic is located and it was still closed but there were two kiosks available. The little girl's parents were signing in on one so I took the other. But then, Walgreen's let me down. The kiosk didn't work. No appointment times available it said - anywhere. I decided to wait, besides, there was no one but the little girl and her parents there and I couldn't imagine that dozens of people were going to suddenly rush in with appointments. So we waited. I could hear the little girl and her parents laughing and telling jokes. I basically just sat there in my doctor's mask wondering if it would be too weird if I laid down on the floor. Someone would probably think I was dead. I mean, I felt like I was dying? Probably not a good idea.

The nurse practitioner finally arrived and promptly explained that whoever signed in first could be seen first. And the race was back on! I heard the little girl's father interject that the little girl has a fever of 101. It was then I wanted to yell,

        "Ha! I have one hundred and TWO! I win! Me first! She's not 
even sick. I could hear her laughing back there. Laughing!" 

Thankfully, I did not do that. I just sat... still wondering if it would be weird to lay on the floor. The little girl went first. And she was in there for an eternity. But finally, it was my turn and I obviously had a positive flu test and was sent home with a prescription for Tamiflu. Four days later I woke up and could laugh about how ridiculous the whole Walgreen's clinic experience was.

I would like to think that it was all because the flu that I turned into a little bit of a monster, but, let's be honest, we all have those moments. Next year I am getting a flu shot.


The silver lining? Through being sick I found my new favorite drink! I was coughing to the point of desperation so, of course, I turned to Pinterest. I found that "pineapple is 5x more effective than cough syrup" so, you know, I had to try it. I mixed up a pineapple concoction and I can't say that it cured my cough, but it was delicious. And I did cough less the next day so who knows. Cough curing or not, here is the recipe:


14 oz. coconut water
2 cups fresh pineapple
the juice from 1/2 a small lemon
1/2 -3/4 inch piece fresh ginger
a splash of Bragg's apple cider vinegar
honey to taste if needed
ice

blend well and there you go!



2 comments:

Gloria Kluth said...

Yikes! I've never had a flu but I've had similar unpleasant encounters with viruses. Hope you're feeling better!

Amelia said...

I've never had the flu and I've never gotten the flu shot. 😂 My mom, right after giving birth to me, was given a flu shot, and soon came down with the flu. She's never had us get flu shots since people can never be 100% sure what viruses we'll have from year to year.