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  >> Book >> Writing >> ID #1448943  |   Show DetailsPrinter Friendly Page Tell A Friend
Shelly Writes!
An ongoing discussion about writing, life, and everything in between.
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Entry #643956, added on 04-05-09 @ 7:45 pm EDT
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Viral Influenza is Not a ColdEntry #643956
If you've never gotten the flu shot and been fortunate enough to never get viral influenza (which is what the flu shot protects against, not the cold or more common stomach flu) consider yourself fortunate and take my heartfelt advice: GET THE FLU SHOT! I was one of those people who was too arrogant and too uneducated to get the shot (along with a healthy dose of fear of needles). I'm 29 years old and while I've not been a dedicated to my own physical needs as I should have been, I considered myself reasonably healthy. But for some reason, this past winter I kept getting sick. I've been sick at least six times since the winter season started but this last illness was more serious than any of the others.

I had a fever so bad I spent most of the time unable to think coherently, but yet felt like my bones were on fire and at the same time so cold I didn't know how I'd get warm again. I had a cough so horrible it made my entire body ache and I struggled to breath. After four days I went to the ER due to difficulty breathing and an inability to stave off the fever. I registered in with a 101 fever, high blood pressure, severe dehydration, and a concern that it had become pneumonia. Thankfully it hadn't but if I had continued my stubbornness it probably would have. The staff put an IV in me (it took five tries to get my vein which is unheard of for me) with fluids and some pain medication. For the first time in my life I have had to do breathing treatments because my airways are so inflamed it was making breathing difficult and have to continue them for the next few days as needed (and boy did I need one today - I was wheezing I was having so much trouble breathing). They gave me some cough medicine with codeine (which promptly made me loopier than I already was) and a list of medications to cover my symptoms and sent me home. I'm out for the count for at least a week, depending on how long this goes on for.

So please, take my advise, you don't want this and a yearly flu shot is a small price to pay to avoid this. I'm wishing I had gotten one this year, that's for sure. And I've put everyone in the house at risk including my 2 year old daughter. So please, do your family and yourself that small favor and next winter get a flu shot. You'll be glad you did because even if you get sick, it won't be as bad as the full-fledged influenza would be.

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