Themed Monthly Avatar Committee (TMAC) discussion thread - Page 179

I've [largely] been in bed.  Even though I had made it through the entire show (CES), that sea of germs inevitably overcame the biological wonder that is my immune system.  It all began the Saturday after the show...

I came home and immediately went to bed as I felt under the weather.  That began a five-day odyssey through every known flu symptom you've ever heard of (and probably some that you haven't).  And yes, this includes all of the truly interesting symptoms that involve bodily fluids.    As if that weren't enough, I also became extremely weak over the course of those five days as I didn't eat anything (the nausea made it hard to keep anything down). 

And then, there was the fever.  On one hand, I scored a new personal best having reached 106ºF (106.5ºF to be precise).  Woo hoo!  OTOH, I experienced an entirely new level of delerium as a result.    I won't get into the increasingly ridiculous world views I adopted in quick succession during this fever, but let's just say that driver8's dreams pale in comparison.

BTW, I used to think it was slightly comical that people used to die of Influenza.  I no longer hold that opinion.

So after a good week of this flu from hell, things get even better.  And by better I mean worse.    Turns out that I had developed a secondary bacterial pneumonia on top of the Influenza.  Wow, I've never had a pneumonia before... looks like another first for me!  By now, I'm sicker than you can possibly imagine, and taking a course of antibiotics to help manage the pneumonia.

I'm also starting to get pretty cranky as I haven't had a good nights' sleep in some time.  I'd try, only to be awakened every 30 minutes or so because my lungs suddenly felt the need to invert themselves, which would then necessitate me violently coughing them into submission.  This is largely how I spent my second week after CES.

Now we're in the third week after CES, and I find myself in uncharted territory.  While my flu/pneumonia based suffering is FINALLY being put in-check, I am experiencing a host of new conditions that frankly don't thrill me.  Between an eye infection, an ear infection, and various lingering symptoms, I still feel pretty darn crappy.  I've also [and involuntarily] lost about 10% of my body weight over the past few weeks.

Oh wait, I forgot about the best part!  Because of the nausea and the respiratory difficulties, I have been unable to enjoy coffee and cigarettes for nearly three weeks now.  I know this doesn't sound like a big deal - especially for those of you who don't drink coffee or smoke.  But I can assure you that the detrimental side of caffeine and nicotine withdrawal is very real, and very hard to deal with.

In short, I've been nowhere special.  Just in my own personal hell. 

It might take a little while for me to get back to full strength, but I'll be around more and more over the next week or so.

In the meantime, thanks to everyone who has been asking about me.  I really do appreciate the thoughts.  I know I've been slow with the PM responses, but I'll get back in the saddle soon.