Six week bug
I’m finally over the annoying illness that’s kept me on a reduced schedule these past few weeks. I’m calling it bronchitis, though my doctor never used that term, and it’s possible it was something else entirely. In general I’m not a person who gets sick for more than a day or two, so it was frustrating to feel lousy this long.
It wasn’t until conversations at a cocktail on Saturday that I realized a huge chunk of my writer/actor/lawyer friends have or had the same thing, with symptoms roughly as follows:
Gurgling when you lie down to sleep.
Mild fever, or chills or headache — but not enough to make you feel sick-sick.
The kind of cough which, if you heard it come from an actor in a period drama, would telegraph the character’s impending death by consumption.
The insidious thing about this bug is that I generally didn’t felt bad enough to go the doctor. I’d skip the gym or go to bed early, but truly thought I’d be able to ride it out. I finally went in to get some drugs, and was better in a week.
In conversations with everyone who’s had it, the treatment always seems to comprise three things: an antibiotic, a decongestant and cough syrup. The brands change, but that’s always the cocktail. Of the three, the behind-the-counter decongestant (Claritin-D) required the most paranoia-inducing paperwork.1 But the prescription cough syrup was also unsettling, because it worked so well and felt so good. I was careful to limit my doses.
Just when I thought I’d beaten the bug, it roared back to life like Glenn Close leaping from the bathtub in Fatal Attraction. I’m pretty sure now that last jolt was just me kicking the cough syrup, despite my moderation.
Still, it feels good to feel like me again. Though I now have less excuse for endless Fallout 3 sessions.
- It contains pseudoephedrine, with is used to make meth, so the government tracks every sale. ↩
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December 11th, 2008 at 5:51 am
Try Elderberry from GNC. Works great and you can bag all the meds that dry you out and prolong your symptoms. Take two with every meal while your sick and one with each meal for a week after to make sure it’s gone. Also drink loads of juice and get plenty of sleep. I’ve won every bet I’ve ever made about Elderberry. I’ve found only the GNC brand that has purple capsules work as they should.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mim0826/is621/ain15966356
Good luck!
December 11th, 2008 at 6:14 am
I used that special cough syrup once on a particularly horrible cough. My brother told me to mix it with Kool-Aid. It’s what all the gangstas drink.
The drink was disgusting. But the after effects were awesome.
December 11th, 2008 at 7:07 am
When I had those symptoms, the doctor called it pneumonia.
December 11th, 2008 at 7:08 am
Nice to know you’re feeling better. I’m currently hooked on Fallout 3… my writing has taken a serious hit due to that damn game.
December 11th, 2008 at 7:09 am
Welcome back! Glad you’re feeling better.
December 11th, 2008 at 7:15 am
You should really not take a decongestant like pseudoephedrine (the D in Claritin-D) when you’re sick. You should take an expectorant like Mucinex which loosens mucus and moves it out of your system. A decongestant will thicken mucus and make it hang around in your system. This actually prolongs your infection because mucus carries the viruses that are making you sick. You might feel better regarding the congestion but in the long run, it’s not good for you.
But anyway, glad to hear you’re feeling better!
December 11th, 2008 at 7:25 am
You can add me to that list. Week 2. — But I now fully believe that taking a full two-week break from the script is literally the answer to all of life’s problems.
December 11th, 2008 at 9:04 am
My coworkers here in Santa Monica have been experiencing exactly the same thing. I was the first to catch it and the cough was so bad that I ended up with laryngitis.
I must agree with Greg – the worst thing you can do is dry out your sinuses with a decongestant. It can invite infection. Mucinex or Robitussin (do NOT get a cough suppressant, just the expectorant) will help all that phlegm do its job of expelling the crap* from your lungs and nose. So says a dear friend’s brilliant mother, a nurse practitioner.** You may not feel the glorious warmth and sedation of other products (such as Nyquil), but you will get better sooner.
December 11th, 2008 at 10:23 am
Glad you’re feeling better!
December 11th, 2008 at 10:25 am
I’ve been hit with the same thing. Lost count of which week I’m in but seems like forever. Years ago, I drank Breathe Easy tea, which contained ephedra (I think the Chinese herb name is Ma Huang). That stuff worked wonders, but the magical ingredient had to be removed.
December 11th, 2008 at 10:40 am
I’m still pissed the meth addicts ruined my ability to get easy drug treatment.
Tea, with lots of honey. Preferably Chamomile or Rooibos. Ooooor, it could have been Fallout 3 making you sick! In which case, I will do what is necessary for the arts and take it off your hands.
December 11th, 2008 at 11:30 am
John, have you played “Left 4 Dead”? If not, it might be worth getting ’sick’ all over again for another week or two!
December 11th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
I find being sick helps me write… you have to muster all your energy just to focus on the page, leaving less energy to spill on distractions.
December 11th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Also, Operation: Anchorage DLC just got announced. So, yeah, whoops, there goes all your time.
December 11th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
I came back from Southern California a sick man, while I wasn’t out for six weeks I was armed with cold/flu pills before I flew out, though that ran out. Had to make do with some off-the-shelf stuff from an airport bookstore – helped me through a 10 hour flight, but when I got home I had to get some of the same pills… containing pseudoephedrine. When I got to the counter the gentlemen asks “Did you want the original or new formula?”… I answered “Yeah… the one with the pseudoooo” quite casually with more of a drug-dealer huskiness to my voice. I paused, and just remembered what I said – and now quite sure that I’ve been tipped off as a suspicious character. AFP.. come and get me!!
December 11th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Hey John,
Good to hear you’re better! By the way, big fan of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!!!
If you have the time or inclination, check out our blog. From two aspiring screenwriters from across the pond:
http://www.specodyssey.blogspot.com/
December 11th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Dear Mr. August,
We cannot access your “writer/actor/lawyer” directory because you have it read/write-protected.
With Love and Zaniness, Tech Support
p.s. get better
December 11th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Sounds like the bug I had a few weeks ago. As soon as I felt it coming on, I zapped that herald of misery out of my system. Luckily I always have spare Z-Paks (Azithromycin) handy. Z-Paks will conquer almost anything as long as it’s bacterial and not viral. 3 pills and 3 days later you feel tip-top.
December 11th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
I’m going to go on a short rant here. It really bothers me how quickly and often doctors prescribe antibiotics. They should be an absolutely last resort. It’s bad for the patient’s immune system and overprescribing causes bugs to build up immunities to them, thus creating superbugs. I’ve taken antibiotics once in the last ten years and that was after dental surgery. I was told it was not negotiable. As a father of two small children, I hear from so many parents that their kids took antibiotics far too often. There’s a myth that any ear infection must be treated with antibiotics, when more than 90% of ear infections do not need to be. Neither of my kids have ever taken antibiotics and they both rarely get sick. Sure, genetics and lifestyle are a factor, but 99% of the time, allowing your body to naturally fight off the bug is better for you and better for the health of humanity (stopping superbugs). Sometimes that means feeling like crap for a few more days, but in the end it’s better for you. Okay, end of rant.
By the way, I went through something similar a couple of months ago. I pass it off as schoolchildren sickness. I’ve been sick more since I had kids than in possibly my entire previous life. Talk about a superbug!
December 12th, 2008 at 3:44 am
Poor John, same here – my sister got me into this :( Except she took antibiotics, wheras I tried it with cough syrup only and it worked. On the other hand I think there’s nothing working better than a fine ham bread with a thick portion of creamed, hot horseradish – cleans you from the inside ;)
December 12th, 2008 at 7:34 am
I don’t play video games, nor do i know much about them, but i have to say, while at the movies the other day i saw a trailer for Fallout 3, and it looked COOL.
December 12th, 2008 at 7:54 am
Hey John,
Slashfilm has a blurb about Go and you’re mentioned.
http://www.slashfilm.com/2008/12/12/doug-limans-go-for-free-on-hulu/
December 12th, 2008 at 11:17 am
Total empathy here John nothing worse than being ill and staring at a big white screen shudders
December 12th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
I used to get a similar thing every year. Not really ill, but feeling crappy and slow from about the middle of October on. And I would always seem to recover in January. For a while the diagnosis was sinus infection. But every year, at the same time? Turns out it was Seasonal Affective Disorder. A couple of full spectrum lightbulbs (like $8 bucks at home depot) fixed it.
When I considered how much time I spend sitting inside, in front of a screen, or on the inside of UV filtered windows — it made sense. And it even happened while I was living in Sunny Southern California. Might be a new health hazard for the digital age.
December 12th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
I think I saw something about this on CNN today! They said…
…it only strikes screenwriters.
Oh, that and the call is coming from inside the house.
December 12th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
God, is that what I had? Not badly enough to go to the doctor but enough that I couldn’t write or work out. Misery. I ploughed through the pseudo – I’m sure I’m on some watchlist now but I love that stuff. So, yeah, come and arrest me. Glad you’re feeling better. x
December 13th, 2008 at 12:32 am
Feeling sick equals some misspellings in the blog posts. But that’s okay. Hope you feel better.
December 13th, 2008 at 5:15 am
Haha. I feel you on this sickness John. I am currently hacking my brains out while the rest of the time I’m wondering why I don’t feel sicker. Just like you said, very mild fever, mild chills, but ridiculously loud deep throat coughs. I tried to blame it on the weather here in the cold Mid-West, but if its affecting you out in Cali, I don’t know how one gets it.
I’m also assuming you live in warm southern California.
I’m also assuming southern California is always a balmy 70 degrees year round. Wouldn’t know. Never been there :P.
December 13th, 2008 at 11:16 am
I totally agree with Tim W. I haven’t taken a thing in over 7 years and I haven’t been sick in 7 years. Not even a cold.
Stay far, far away from medication. It’s designed to make you dependent on them. Even aspirin lends itself to something called “recurring headaches”.
Not to sound like Tom Cruise but there’s nothing better than regular exercise and vitamins. Especially when you have kids.
John, no more medication.
December 13th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
I’m just getting over the same bug. My doctor gave me an antibiotic and Mucinex-D which has that same government-tracked wonder drug. Instead of Fallout 3, I’ve been playing “Dead Space” for PS3, those are some freaky aliens.
And since I can’t hold back a chance for a little self-promotion, click on my name to see my short, “The Tender Morsels”, which I did with http://www.strike.tv.
December 13th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Hey,
try this: take butter, vodka and honey – everything one large spoonful, and mix those ingredients into cup.
Next put this cup to the micro-oven and let those rays bombard this mix for a while – NB! not so long that vodka will be boiling!!
Test if it’s not too hot and drink it at once. Works for me every time. Sometimes I just tend to forget to add butter and honey and that micro-oven part too.
December 14th, 2008 at 10:39 am
I had this too, and because I have asthma, felt like I was about to die from it. I was seriously five minutes away from going to the ER at one point, but the meds kicked in at just the right time. It is RSV, Respiratory Synictal Virus, and it is a motherfucker.
December 14th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
I had this for six weeks last winter. The cough was exhausting and maddening. Doctors thought I had whooping cough which I always thought had been eradicated in the mid 1800’s.
Try this: a cup of hot water, three shakes of cayenne pepper, fresh lemon, and honey. Stir. Hold nose and swallow.
December 15th, 2008 at 12:26 am
Glad to hear you’re feeling better. Also, you have a small typo in your footnote. ‘Which’ instead of ‘with’. That is all. Have a good day.
December 16th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Glad you’re feeling better.
My dad had something similar and it just would not go away. It was not until a friend of ours recommended Zicam. It’s a throat spray that is purchased over the counter for about $12. After one week of use, it was gone.
I’ve tried it, friends of mine have used it and the darn thing works.
December 16th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
I always wonder: if pseudoephedrine is so good, how cool must actualephederine be?