I haven't missed a day of work in three years. I haven't had a head cold, cough or major soar throat in that time. Yet, last Tuesday night I came down with a flu-like bug that laid me out flat. I wasn't vertical for more than five minutes until Saturday.
On Saturday, I brought my son to his soccer game. That means I drove to Long Bridge Park, parked, walked a block to the field, and then sat for most of the 80 minutes. We drove home, and I collapsed on the couch exhausted, shivering, feverish and aching. I stayed on that couch until bedtime.
I had planned on going to Clarendon Day and the Family Fun Day to cover those events, but I just couldn't. Sunday was little better.
Today, as the symptoms coalesce in my lungs and a cough shakes them out, I feel I am at 80 percent. So I am back to work, as much as I can be. Sorry for gap in reporting.
OK, I realize that my "scientific" approach here is iffy. But given what I just went through, I'm going to tell everyone to get their flu shots!
I just looked at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website to see what they were saying about the 2012-2013 flu season which begins Sept. 30. I had heard reported earlier this year that the warm year overall would mean a potentially bad flu season. However, I could find nothing about this on the site. In fact, the site says it is really difficult to predict the severity of any flu season.
Then I found their charts and graphs. And I know I must be careful. But if you compare this year's CDC weekly flu chart for week 37 of this year (we are still in the 2011-2012 season) with the same chart for week 37 last year, you see a decided uptick. However, if you look back to fall 2009, week 37 of the 2008-2009 year, you see we are coming off easy this fall, so far.
That season--2008-2009--included the swine flu. It was also the last time I was sick like this. I know my science is weak here, but I'm afraid I'm a harbinger.
Get your flu shot!
--Steve
