Like Bloodletting, Only a Lot Less Messy

I managed to make it through an entire winter of seeing patients with various upper respiratory infections, colds and flu without getting sick myself. I credit that to lots of vitamins, exercise, good diet, washing my hands like an obsessive-compulsive, occasionally masking-up if a patient is really cruddy and probably the most important factor of all–good ol’ fashioned dumb luck.

My luck has run out apparently, because I’m sicker than a dog this week. It started with a tickle in my throat Sunday night, progressed to fountain-like snot-works on Monday, and by Tuesday I was generally weak, lethargic and unable to breath beyond that which was necessary for minimal life support.

I even rescheduled my Tuesday afternoon patients and stayed home from work yesterday, which is a rarity for me. I usually try to work through colds and just suck it up and go in anyway and try not to breath on anyone. But this time, I didn’t feel the sight of the doctor holding his head and moaning, not to mention the colorful snot-works, would do a lot to inspire my patients’ confidence in me.

I’m not exactly a stoic when it comes to being sick. I moan–a lot. Just ask Eyegal. She is a stoic when she’s sick, so my moaning, whining and groaning are like fingernails-on-the-blackboard to her. But she did the Christian thing and tried to be nice to me anyway–bless her heart–and she even made me a grilled cheese sandwich and soup for lunch.

But I really feel that moaning and groaning helps you get better faster. No use in keeping all that misery bottled up inside where it just festers and makes things worse. I think it’s a little like bloodletting, only a lot less messy.

I’m headed back to work today, and I think Eyegal is feeling better already.

5 Comments

  1. Mike the Eyeguy

    Let’s face it guys–we’re wimps.

  2. Hal

    Hey Eyeguy, I wish you wouldn’t use such fancy medical terms like “fountain-like snot-works” and “colorful snot-works.” It’s kinda hard for us plain folk to figer out whatcha talkin’ bout.

    Anyway, I hope you feel better.

  3. Stoogelover

    What … no pictures (closeups preferred) of the snot-works?

  4. mmlace

    Ugh! You guys are disgusting!

    Hope you get to feeling much better soon, Dr. Eyeguy!

    Speaking of “bloodletting,” this Sunday it will be my turn to moan and complain when our Singles group hosts a blood drive at our church. I’m already nervous about it.

    Although having done this twice before, Istill don’t do needles very well. So I’ll most definitely whine about my arm hurting afterwards, I’m sure.

  5. Mike the Eyeguy

    Well, you know, guys will be guys…

    Thanks, I am feeling somewhat better or at least functional. But you probably wouldn’t want my blood right now, what with all the various OTC drugs in it at the moment.

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