Have You Missed Me?

Image by alvi2047 via Flickr

I usually try to post something on this blog every day or two.  My last post was done on Sunday, but it was a Music Monday post, so I almost don't count it,  It is not that I have been exceptionally busy the last few days, though things are pretty hectic at the office right now.  I have been more than a bit under the weather.

It all started on Sunday.  My son decided at the last minute that he wanted to go to the Bowie Baysox game.  My brother in law had offered to buy tickets, so off we went.  As is usually my custom, I had a few large (24oz) draft beers while enjoying the game.

After the game, I went home, had dinner, and took a little nap on the couch.  When I woke up after my little siesta I had the worst headache.  I really did not have that much beer to have such a horrible headache but I chalked it up to the beer anyway.  I also had chills resulting a shakes.   I went to bed early that night.

Monday morning, I woke up and got ready for work.  I felt kind of achy and alternated between sweating and having chills, so I took my temperature.  It was 101.  Being the macho guy that I am, I thought I would be OK and headed off to work. Besides, I have a ton of projects on my plate write now.  I was wrong.  I felt worse as the day progressed and left the office about 1pm.  When I got home my temperature had risen to 103.

When I woke up Tuesday morning, I felt like shit, my head hurt, my body ached, and my balls ached.  The boys don't like it when your temperature gets too high.  I called out sick, made a doctor's appointment, and headed back to bed.  Shortly before my doctor's appointment, my temperature was 104.4.  I thought I was going to die.  He basically chalked it up to the flu, gave me some Tamiflu, and sent me off with an admonition about getting the flu shot.

I have to say that the fever this week has left me somewhat delusional.  I would lay in bed listening to the TV with my eyes closed, and some strange images would appear in my mind's eye.  I really can't describe them other than to say they had nothing to do with what I was listening to.  I also have been convinced for the past few days that Jack Black had died. Thanks to Al Gore's Amazing Internet I verified that was not true.

I still had a 102 fever when I woke up this morning, but today is the best I have felt all week.  I am feeling a little more "normal" each day.  Fortunately, it is the weekend and I have two more days to rest and regain my strength.

Flu Shot?

I rarely get a flu shot.  About the only time that I have ever gotten a flu shot was when I went to the doctor for something else and he suggested I get one.It is just not something I ever really think about, and I rarely (knock wood) get sick.  So in all likelihood, I probably will not get one this year, especially when I saw this news story on my local news.

The story of Desiree Jennings is frightening.  Up until August, she was a healthy, active, 25 year old woman training for a half marathon and a member of the Redskins cheerleading squad.  In August, she decided to get a seasonal flu vaccination at a local grocery store.  Ten days later, she came down with flu like symptoms.  Her condition has deteriorated and now she has difficulty walking and speaking.  Her doctors say she has had a very rare reaction to the vaccine and it has brought on a neurological disorder called dystonia.

Millions will get a flu shot this year without any adverse affect.  For the vast majority of people, it is completely harmless, and I am not suggesting anybody not get a flu shot because of the case of Desiree Jennings.  I doubt that I will get one, but I would most likely not have gotten one regardless of this story.  However, as a father of an autistic son, I have read the stories of those who think all the vaccinations our kids have to get possibly contributing to the rise of autism.  As much good as vaccinations do for us as a whole, it is important to keep in mind that they are not completely void of risk.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Seasonal flu shot may raise H1N1 risk: Canadian study (nationalpost.com)
• Drug makers can't meet flu vaccine demand: WHO (nationalpost.com)
• Quebec may scrap seasonal flu shots (nationalpost.com)