I'm sick. I woke up at 4am this morning with terrible stomach cramps and diarrhea. I felt a little better by the time I had to leave for work, so I went in. (Calling out sick after only three weeks isn't the impression I'm trying to make). After a couple of hours, I started feeling bad again. I went to see the school nurse for some anti-diarrhea medicine, but even after taking it I couldn't stay out of the bathroom. Finally the other people in the office insisted I should go home. They were very nice about it, but I hated to leave. I told them that in the past I've very rarely called out sick, and they all smiled and said, "Honey, you work in a school now. You're going to get sick. It comes with the territory. That's why we have paid sick days!" It turned out that leaving was for the best, because as soon as I got home I started throwing up, too. What a morning I've had! I feel pretty awful right now.
I knew that I'd be exposed to lots of germs working around children at a school, but I didn't expect to get sick this soon. So now I've found the one downside to my (almost perfect) new job!
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One of the office helpers started spraying down
my desk area before I had even left the building!
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Sorry to hear you're sick; I hope you'll be right as rain very soon!
ReplyDeleteAt the bookstore, you certainly met a lot of children (and adults), too, didn't you?
Not so many children concentrated in one place, all the time. I rarely caught colds or other "bugs" when I worked at the bookstore, and I haven't had the flu in almost 20 years.
DeleteMy granddaughter is sick, for the first time in a couple of years. She soldiers on through darn near everything. I should take a lesson. And, not get sick, which I haven't.
ReplyDeleteI would have stayed at work despite being sick, but it's damn embarrassing to spend lots of time, repeatedly, in the bathroom. :/
DeleteOh dear. Feel better soon. Just think of all the things you'll soon be immune to!
ReplyDeleteGaining that immunity might be a real bitch, though! lol!
DeleteI was wondering when or if this would happen.
ReplyDeleteWhen having little ones starting school it seemed one was alway sick with whatever. Then it gets somewhat better. It is meeting 2 classes of kindergarten and 1st graders. germs everywhere.
It will get better. Take care and feel better soon.
cheers, parsnip
Thanks, Gayle. I feel pretty awful. But I've been drinking lots of ginger ale!
DeleteYou'll quickly build up some resistance. In the meantime, plenty of fluids and hope you feel better soon.
ReplyDeleteI've downed about 24 ounces of ginger ale, so I'm keeping hydrated.
DeleteBetter to take the time off than to spread the illness. People who work in schools get everything the kids have. You'll become extra-vigilant about washing your hands.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Sounds like I need to become a more careful hand washer! Thanks Janie!
DeleteI don't know what the standard is for hand washing now, but when last I took a nursing class, it was three minutes of scrubbing. Scrub your nails against the palms of your hands. Wash thoroughly between your fingers. Dry carefully because "wet is germy," as I was taught. When I worked in the healthcare field, I didn't wear my rings to work because bacteria can hide under rings. I know you want to be kind to the students, but avoid touching them and have a rule that they aren't allowed to touch things on your desk. Oh, and wash your hands when you go in the bathroom as well as washing them before you depart. Most people don't spend nearly enough time washing their hands. And no one should shake the water off their hands after washing. It spreads microbes. I know--TMI. Sorry, but I learned very quickly about the importance of serious hand washing.
DeleteThanks Janie! I shall be the queen of clean hands! :)
DeletePerhaps you should wear a space helmet for work with your own air supply... but this could make answering the phone a little tricky.
ReplyDeleteI'll bet I answer the phone 50 times a day, and I have to do school announcements over the intercom.
Delete"SHUT THE **** UP KIDS! THIS IS MRS BARLOW TALKING SO LISTEN UP! EVERYBODY STAND UP AND SING THE SCHOOL SONG! ARE YOU READY? ONE TWO THREE...
DeleteWE ALL LOVE THE FISH MAN
THE FISH MAN YES WE DO
HE COMES TO CLEAN THE TANK OUT
WHEN THE FISHES HAVE A POO!"
You are insane, YP. :)
DeleteNo I am not! I am mad.
DeleteOh,I so understand! For many years I worked in non profits that served children and youth and it was just like working in a school; every bug was passed all around and 'carried' up into our 'corporate office', where I was director of finance, and eventually shared with us too. We were always exposed. Plus I dealt with donations / cash which as any bank teller will tell you ... money is DIRTY. I got severe pink eye several times in 15 years from handling dirty money. I hate missing work due to illness; I have been known to drag my rump into the office too and say to myself 'I can work through this, yada yada yada', and end up having to leave and be out sick a few days after all. So I get it! Get better soon!
ReplyDeleteGADawn57
Thank you! Last year the schools in our district had a terrible flu outbreak. I hope that doesn't happen this year!
DeleteI remember this downside! But the upsides are SO good! Hope you feel better quickly. Another upside, it might improve your immune system!
ReplyDeleteBest to look on the bright side!
DeleteGet well soon. My wife just retired from the school district but fortunately she claims to have the constitution of a plow horse and only took sick leave to stay home and take care of me when I was poorly.
ReplyDeleteI've been very lucky for the last 10-15 years, and rarely got sick. I hope this is just a fluke!
DeleteNot to worry. It sounds like the school administrators are reasonable people. The reality is that you will likely get sick in September or maybe lose your voice briefly, as I usually did since after a quiet summer at home I was suddenly speaking IN MY TEACHER VOICE for 5 or 6 hours straight. Oh, and with luck you'll end up as I did, with enough antibodies built up in your system to protect a small nation.
ReplyDeleteThe administrators are great people! So kind and understanding! Everyone keeps saying I'll build up antibodies...I guess that's a good thing. I prefer never getting sick!! :)
DeleteI remember when I was teaching we were all TOLD to have flu jabs; I didn't. Of course I got ill, and had to pretend I wasn't. It was hell, but I soldiered on. I felt so stupid.
ReplyDeleteWe get free flu shots at the school if we want them. I think I'll probably get one.
DeleteOh no! So sorry you fell ill. That's a drag. Feel better soon! (And it's true -- working around kids, illness is inevitable, unfortunately!)
ReplyDeleteIt really WAS a drag!
DeleteHope you are feeling better.
ReplyDeleteI am, finally. Thank you!
DeleteI hope you have now developed quite an immunity to all those germs. Be well dear friend.
ReplyDeleteTerra! Hi! I've been thinking about you and meaning to get in touch. Life has been busy for the past month or so but I haven't forgotten about you!
DeleteThat is an unfortunate downside to your otherwise awesome job; I hope you dont get too sick too often. I'd feel guilty about having to take a sick day so soon after starting a new job - but credit to you for trying to tough it out, and credit to them for understanding. I hope you're back to 100% now!
ReplyDeleteI'm feeling much better today...just in time for my three day Labor Day weekend! :)
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ReplyDelete