Saturday, February 21, 2009

Encouragement please

I have had my ass kicked by a cold virus. In bed for two days unable to open my eyes, ass kicked. I finally had the energy to hold my son today and to actually open my computer up. I have 75 papers to edit before Tuesday night and I just want to crawl into a corner and die. It seems like everytime, monkey gets sick, I get sick. I am so run down and I don't know why. I used to do so much before monkey was born, I had so much energy and was so strong. I need to work out. I need to get energy and build my immune system because I can not be sick like this. I don't know how I'm going to do it. How do you do it?

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Don't beat yourself up. I don't think anyone actually "does it" - it magically happens to get done!
Rest up, throw some soup down the hatch, hugs.

JLK said...

Two things:

Aleve Cold & Sinus during the day (the good stuff they keep behind the counter)

Nyquil-D at night (also kept behind the counter).

The Aleve will make you feel a million times better, with energy to actually do stuff. I cannot recommend the stuff any more highly. And the bonus? One pill lasts for 12 hours. Just don't take it in the afternoon or you'll be bouncing off the walls at bedtime.

I have not needed to take a sick day since I discovered the stuff.

Isis the Scientist said...

We have it too and my ass is totally kicked. Hang in there, SM.

Unknown said...

Hang in there SM - it won't last forever. You ARE strong...strong enough for your body to keep fighting this in the face of everything else you're dealing with.

I like to think of illness as my body waging war, rather than succumbing to infection. Doesn't make the symptoms go away, but it makes me feel less helpless.

For symptoms: I'm posting kick-your-cold's-ass soup recipe at mine.

Anonymous said...

I remember sitting in the tub with my DD in November, being pukey, dizzy and croaking out the words to the bath book, thinking that "God, what I wouldn't give for a nanny" right now....This too, shall pass. You might have to delay the paper editing though - and that's ok, too. *hugs* Life happens. Sleep, healthy food, and lots of liquids are the key to a healthy immune system, as far as I know. ;)

Juniper Shoemaker said...

Today, I found leftover Vicodin from an old prescription in our medicine cabinet . . . maybe I'll mail it to you . . .

No. Obviously. Just kidding. (I hate that crap anyway. I had to take it after a surgery a long time ago, and it always made me hurl.)

Anyone who has a Monkey and who can always be found blogging things like "I have 75 papers to edit . . ." is already "doing it". Cold or no cold. I seriously doubt I could pull that shit off. Just focus on getting better! The rest will take care of itself.

SciMom said...

OMG, we had it 3 weeks ago. First my son, then my daughter and in the midst of that me! I was laid flat. Usually I can keep going but for 2-3 days I couldn't get off the couch. I think SciDad thought I was faking it but it really was energy draining. High fevers (5 year old's hit 105 one night when I was really sick), then cough. She ended up with pneumonia!
Anyway, given all that Mom's do, to add being an academic scientist monumental. I was an academic scientist for 17 years, left 2 years ago for corporate biotech, now looking to go back to academic administration.
Hang in there, you will get through it.

Anonymous said...

Hope you feel better- I'm incubating a gift from LittleA as well. As to the increased fatigue since Monkey was born- ...it's possible there is a real medical reason for this. Thyroid? Adrenal? Might be worth a little look just to make sure it's nothing more than continuous working mom fatigue...

Anonymous said...

I agree, don't beat yourself up at all! This is the Monkey's first winter in daycare, right? Even if it's his second, expect this. Last winter was hell on earth for both me and Cameron. We shared every cold, flu, and fever you could imagine. He got ringworm of the scalp. I had a huge asthma flare-up (which seems to be a seasonal thing as I'm heading back into it now).

How to get through it? Sleep when you can and don't feel guilty. Minimize work at home - super-easy suppers, let laundry and cleaning go. Don't be afraid to medicate - you or the monkey.

Gym? In theory I go on my lunch breaks. Ha ha ha hahahahaha ha.

Next year will be better. Cameron and I have been sick half the time we were last year, and never as severely.

Amanda@Lady Scientist said...

Sending encouragement here. You can do this and this too shall pass. You already amaze me with all you get done!

Cath@VWXYNot? said...

Everyone I know who has kids is always sick. Think of the good you're helping him do for his immune system!

Your virus sounds more like the flu than a cold. A cold shouldn't have you wiped out like that. The flu's going around - apparently this year's vaccine was the wrong strain again, and the season has been delayed a month or two compared to usual. Don't know why.

I recommend sushi with copious amounts of industrial grade wasabi.

The bean-mom said...

Sending you best wishes, Scientistmother. Rest as much as you can. Don't think too much about lab/grading papers. And Monkey can watch tv while you're laid up on the couch...

ScientistMother said...

JLK - I tried to buy Aleve, but its only available in the USA..URGH. Apparently its the anti-inflammatory drugs that make it so good. Oh and welcome to the blog!

Isis - I'm hanging there, but barely

AA - that soup looks delectable, unfortunately eating anything makes me feel fowl.

Courtney - welcome to the blog, and yes what I would not do for a nanny!

Juniper - you are too kinds, and seriously, mail me that vicodin!

SciMom - I too can usually muddle through, but this one has just had a force of its own.Welcome to the blog!

DrdrA - I went for a bunch of tests last year when I went through a period of intense illness and weightloss, but everything came back normal. The thing is, the fatigue set in when I started grad school again. I was super healthy and full of energy before that! The joys!

Mel - its his second winter is daycare but his first winter in this particular one. Apparently everyone is dropping like flies because there are some many new kids...

Amanda - thank you!

Cath - mmmhh, sushi sounds awesome but my stomach would not like it.

Bean-mom - thanks you. Monkey was watching alot of TV, but then the grandparents took him. Thank God!