lookitmychickenJun 15, 2023
When you catch a cold, which of the following experiences is most typical for you?
soldier thru with meds
29.4%
need to rest 1 or 2 days
49%
in bed for a week or so
21.6%
Poll ended at .
Show threadlookitmychicken

I'm in bed with a cold, first one I've had in a while. I used to get several colds every year, and most would put me out of action for a week or so.

But I see other people just taking over-the-counter cold meds & mostly carrying on as normal.

It's only just occurred to me that maybe people experience colds differently, depending on whether they have other underlying conditions.

Jun 15, 2023 at 2:18amWeb
Show threadunderstandable armpit holdingJun 15, 2023

@lookitmychicken i get colds as an ear infection first. huge earache that builds and develops over 2 weeks before exploding into massive running nose, coughing, sore throat, that would become me coughing for 6 weeks like my entire lung wants to abandon my body.

i would usually only take sick leave when it exploded. but during covid i was made to take sick leave when my ear started hurting since it was an ARI symptom. and lo and behold, all it took was 2-5 days in bed. not 6 weeks...

Show threadunderstandable armpit holdingJun 15, 2023
@lookitmychicken which told me, personally - i CAN continue on. but should i?
Show threadEnk-1 (no hugs)Jun 15, 2023

@lookitmychicken

Not every cold is a cold either, there are loads of viruses out there which can be more severe than a cold but start like one.

Underlying conditions definitely play a role too (for example covid depletes T cells in the body and can make it more difficult to fight infections), but even a 'healthy' person should take time to rest for a couple of days when sick even if it's 'just' a cold (ofc capitalism prevents that but alas in an ideal world)

Show threadlookitmychickenJun 16, 2023

@enk_dash_one
Huh, that's a good point about the t cells. Mine have been fucked up since I got glandular fever 30 years ago.

I agree 100% that people should take time to rest when they get a cold!

The thing that has always bothered me is that I don't have a choice -- taking cold meds doesn't do enough for me to be able to continue working, I can barely get out of bed to go to the toilet. I used to beat myself up for not being able to "soldier on" when other people can.

Show threadEnk-1 (no hugs)Jun 16, 2023

@lookitmychicken oh yeah, mono is ridiculous in how it messes up the immune system forever. I had it thrice and ended up with MS in my 30s.

We definitely shouldn't live in a world where soldiering on is acceptable. Someone who soldiered on probably passed that cold to you.

I do hope it passes quickly hang in there