Another fine mess

Jul 10th, 2009

by Dan.

On Wednesday evening I was suddenly struck with flu like symptoms. I was tired, my muscles ached, I felt nauseous, I had a balled up feeling in my throat, and I couldn’t stop shivering. We took my temperature and it was high. Not throwing me in a bath of ice cubes high, but high enough not to be normal.

I rang the NHS direct swine flu helpline and went through a checklist of symptoms with them. Unlike my previous encounters with NHS direct it was a relatively worthwhile experience. There was a point when the pleasant and chatty nurse on the end of the phone described my muscle aches as being “a real killer” and we both had to pause for a while to ponder her amazingly poor choice of words; but all in all it was a reassuring and professional conversation.

Basically she told me it could be swine flu or it could be some other random viral illness. I was to isolate myself at home, pop paracetamol, and only emerge a day or two after the symptoms have subsided.

I must admit I did have some dark thoughts that night. Thoughts surrounding the possibility of infecting my children and hoping it would me that died rather than them. Evan worried me in particular. He’s not only under five but also has a history of breathing difficulties, both factors that place him squarely in the at risk of serious complications category.

In fact Evan had actually been running a temperature on Wednesday night, and had started complaining of feeling ill around the time I did. I had discussed this with the NHS nurse who advised to contact my GP if I was still concerned in the morning.

On Thursday I felt about the same, although the temperature and shivering was gone, possibly due to the paracetamol (Why are there no asprins in the jungle? Because the paracetamol). more importantly Evan was markedly better than he was previously, but we still shipped him off to Kerry’s parents rather than Nursery just in case.

Today being Friday I feel a little better again, although I certainly wouldn’t describe myself as 100%. And the report from the out-laws is that Evan is bright and breezy. To be honest I’ve had flu before and it felt a damn sight worse than this so I’ve either got a very mild case, or probably more likely something else entirely. If it hadn’t been for the media hysteria I’d have just struggled through.

I was supposed to be working this weekend but I’ve called in sick. I could probably push through it and go in if I really had to. But all the advice is not to do that and I often spend quite a bit of time in A&E and hospital wards and wouldn’t want to infect potentially vulnerable people (not to mention my colleagues). I do feel a bit guilty about it, if I don’t go in then some poor sod has to cover my shift, but never the less I think I’m probably acting appropriately.

So now I’m here at home alone for the weekend. Kerry and the kids had a couple of days away with her parents planned and as it doesn’t look like I’m dying we saw no reason why it shouldn’t go ahead. The novelty of having time to myself without any pressure to do anything wore off five minutes after they left however, and now I’m bouncing off the walls (albeit in a lackluster sickly sort of manner).

It probably hasn’t helped that I just watched a documentary about apocalyptic fiction we’d had recorded on Sky+. As much as I am a fan of 28 Days Later and Day of the Triffids et al, it’s probably not the wisest thing to be watching in a house on your own while you’re potentially suffering from an illness the tabloids have been screaming about for the past month or two. I keep looking out the window and half expecting a atomic mushroom or hoards of zombies rushing towards me.

Ah well. Time for another paracetamol, a pot noodle, and a marathon Laurel and Hardy session to cheer myself up I think. There’s nothing like watching two men try and push a piano up a set of stairs to keep thoughts of the end of the world at bay.

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Posted in: General.

Who am I?

My name's Dan and I live near Huddersfield in the North of England. I’m a 34 years old part time stay at home dad. For three days a week I'm also a community mental health nurse but you won’t find me blogging about that here. I’m married to Kerry and we have two children - Amy (6) and Evan (3). I keep chickens, grow veg, and take the occasional long walk. If you want to know how other's describe me then take a look here. If you haven't been here before feel free to say hello in the comments.

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24 Comments on “Another fine mess”

#1 Kevin Spencer
on Jul 10th, 2009 at 9:38 pm

I love how they hedged their bets there. “Yes it could be Swine Flu – or something completely *not* Swine Flu”. Er, thanks that’s really helpful.
Kevin Spencer´s last blog ..Less Than Ten

Dan Reply:
July 11th, 2009 at 9:31 am
@Kevin Spencer, I’ve never met a Dr yet who isn’t fond of the blanket diagnosis. Not that the woman on the phone was a Dr to be fair.

#2 VegasDad
on Jul 10th, 2009 at 9:38 pm

Swine flu or not, sounds like an ideal weekend to me. I could use some solitary relaxation.
VegasDad´s last blog ..in love…

Dan Reply:
July 11th, 2009 at 9:32 am
@VegasDad, Yes, although not being able to leave the house is starting to make me feel a little pent up.

#3 People in the Sun
on Jul 11th, 2009 at 3:30 am

More of a Harold Lloyd person myself. At least at this point in my life. Some people look at you like you’re weird if you tell them there’s nothing funnier than a monkey wearing boots. And I can’t watch his talkies. Is that the right phrase? I want to sound like I know what I’m talking about.
People in the Sun´s last blog ..Sookie!

Dan Reply:
July 11th, 2009 at 9:33 am
@People in the Sun, I think talkies is the right phrase.

I like the interplay between Laural and Hardy, The idiot and the even bigger idiot who doesn’t even know hes an idiot. But I like all the silent comedians except chaplin, who I’ve never been able to get into.

#4 Clair
on Jul 11th, 2009 at 7:06 am

Feel better! :)
Clair´s last blog ..Hadrian’s Walk

Dan Reply:
July 11th, 2009 at 9:34 am
@Clair, Thank you. I do a little bit more again today actually. I’ll be right by Monday at this rate.

#5 SandyCalico
on Jul 11th, 2009 at 8:23 am

Hope you feel better soon. If it is the dreaded swine flu at least you will have immunity now?
I love Laurel and Hardy :-)
SandyCalico´s last blog ..The Terrible Twenty Twos

Dan Reply:
July 11th, 2009 at 9:35 am
@SandyCalico, Yes hopefully I’ll be immune. It really does seem to be sweeping the nation at the moment.

#6 Oli
on Jul 11th, 2009 at 11:06 am

Oli Submit on 11 July 2009 11:03:37 GMT+01:00:
Sounds like you’ve done all the sensible things Dan. Does not leaving the house mean you can’t tend your garden or look after your hens? Or perhaps the killer muscle aches make that unnappealing anyway.
I hope you’re ok by Monday. (Not to say that I don’t hope you’re ok today or tomorrow)

Dan Reply:
July 11th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
@Oli, Thew garden actually isn’t needing too much tending at the moment. It’s grown so well that it’s suppressing the weeds itself. I did have to deal with my errant hens yesterday though as they ahd somehow escaped onto the drive. Might have to clip their wings unfortunatly

#7 Arjan
on Jul 11th, 2009 at 1:40 pm

there was a page stuck on the wall of the elevator at my work advising people not to go on holidays to a couple of countries around the world because of the swine (we call it Mexican flue) flue, England was among them ;)

Get well soon :)
Oh and try and enjoy a bit of freedom this weekend doing random stupid stuff :P

Dan Reply:
July 12th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
@Arjan, Judging from what I’ve heard from other people it seems like there’s a lot of us coming down with it all of a sudden. They are even talking about giving everyone in the country a vaccine on the news, which will cost millions.

#8 dadwhowrites
on Jul 11th, 2009 at 8:45 pm

Oh Lord! I saw your tweet and felt for you – we’ve got a couple of people at my place of work who’ve returned from holiday abroad and been confined to their homes with ’suspected swine flu’. Bit ridiculous when you consider there are mum’s taking children to swine flu parties. Hope you’re feeling better by now.
dadwhowrites´s last blog ..Politics

Dan Reply:
July 12th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
@dadwhowrites, I’m just about there now. Back to work on Tuesday I think (I don’t work Mondays)

#9 Darren
on Jul 12th, 2009 at 1:25 am

Was this just a scheme to stay home and watch Laurel & Hardy? Get well soon.
Darren´s last blog ..Maid Marian on Her Tiptoed Feet

Dan Reply:
July 12th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
@Darren, You’ve discovered my evil plot. In fact it was me that started the whole thing off in Mexico.

#10 gail
on Jul 12th, 2009 at 9:25 am

When I was quarrantined back in May after returning from Florida it was less of an issue as there were very few cases here – now they are popping up all over so it’s best to stay in and keep it to yourself.

As for the zombies…….from what I hear there are lots of them in Huddersfield already!
gail´s last blog ..

Dan Reply:
July 12th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
@gail, Yeah, they all came down from Northumberland because they heard we have hot and cold water down here.

gail Reply:
July 12th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
@Dan,
and who was it wants Northumbrian folk to help him out for his little jaunt beside a bit of a wall?

Northumbrians ‘walk the wall’ to get a pint of milk and a loaf of bread every couple of days…..

be nice Dan! ;)
gail´s last blog ..

#11 Jo Beaufoix
on Jul 13th, 2009 at 8:57 pm

WE got the same advice. Mine are allowed back to school on Wednesday. I don’t think we had it as it was pretty mild in the end but who knows. And a whole weekend to yourself. Sighhhhhhhh.
Jo Beaufoix´s last blog ..I So Deserve Belgian Chocolate Haagen Daz

Dan Reply:
July 13th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
@Jo Beaufoix, I was really lonely and miserable. I think if been allowed to leave the house I’d have gone on some nice long walks and enjoyed myself. But as it was I just stewed for two days.

#12 Holmes
on Jul 17th, 2009 at 3:22 pm

Do hope you’re feeling better.
Holmes´s last blog ..H Disorder

Another fine mess

24 Comments on “Another fine mess”

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