I’ve been a bit of a hypochondriac for as long as I can remember. My parents had a big thick medical book at their house when I was growing up – that’s where I learned about a condition called Black Hairy Tongue, and the book had a photo of it, it’s self-explanatory. I would always look through this medical book, mostly to use the self-diagnosis charts. As a kid, I diagnosed myself with everything from thrombosis to cancer. So it really shouldn’t come as a surprise that I’m pondering the illness I had last week as a case of the “it” illness of the moment – the swine flu. Never mind that no cases have been reported in my state yet; I think I may have had the swine flu. I’ve never had a stomach illness that lasted 6 days before last week (those are usually 24-48 hour deals), and it was accompanied by a sore throat, runny nose, body aches and a scratchy voice (though I did enjoy singing with my scratchy voice – it gave me a whole new sound). I thought I got hit with two viruses at the same time, but maybe it was all one nasty thing. I’m half-joking here, I don’t really think I had the swine flu – but it did cross my mind. I don’t understand though why it’s been all over the media lately. What makes this flu any different or worse than the others? I do know that it’s spreading at a rapid rate – this morning there were 20 confirmed cases in the United States, and now we’re at 40 as I write this. But then again, can’t it be said that most cases of the flu are extremely contagious? The media is treating this swine flu as if it’s the next Bubonic Plague. Remember the bird flu and SARS? Those are two illnesses that were expected to be pandemics, but I don’t think either one was nearly as bad as the media was making them out to be.
Whatever it was that I had last week, I’m happy to report that I’m over it, and I think I got the worst of it pertaining to my other family members. My stomach hurt so bad; I couldn’t imagine my poor little babies dealing with that! And hey, if it was the swine flu I had, then that means that I am now immune to it since I’ve already had it, right?
I’m glad you’re feeling better! It sucks being sick.
Lorraine County had one reported case in Ohio. It was a young schoolage boy whose parents took him on vacation to Mexico. They took him to several farms….must have had pigs. He’s doing quite well, and the schools have closed down for a period until the threat of spreading is over with. I think it was Lorraine County, anyway…..I heard it this morning on the Defiance radio station, and I was only half awake…. 😉
How do I set up my own blog on this site and become a member?? I can’t figure it out!