Written by Guest Blogger, GroovyOldLady of Groovy’s Ruminations
Hiho, Groovy here.
I am not a beautiful airline stewardess, but today we get to pretend that I am. This may be difficult since I am really a backwoods Maine rube replete with a plaid shirt and a tash of whoopie pies, but do your best, K? Kailani has graciously (and bravely) allowed me to be a guest poster here on her lovely and popular blog.
In keeping with her tropical themes and cultural revelations, I thought I’d write about a universal American experience and get your input. Today’s topic?
I had a little bird, Its name was Enza, I opened the window, And in-flu-enza.
-American Skipping Rhyme circa 1918
Yes, I want to talk about the flu. The real flu, not the stomach flu which, according to the CDC is not even related to the flu. Naturally, this brings up my first burning question of the post: Why do people INSIST on calling Gastroenteritis “the flu” when it already has a name and “the flu” is another ailment entirely?
Pardon me while I refocus my own feverish brain. Because yes, I currently have influenza. So does my husband and both my girlies. My friend Mary called a few days ago to see how we were doing.
“We have the flu,” I told her.
“How do you KNOW you have the flu,” she countered. “Have you seen a doctor for a diagnosis?”
A doctor? For the flu? Was she kidding?
I KNEW I had the flu because
- The flu is going around rather freely in Central Maine right now.
- I personally know several people who have recently succumbed to the flu.
- These people have had the audacity to breathe air in rooms I too have inhabited and the flu is highly contagious.
- I have all the symptoms of the flu: sudden onset, fever, chills, severe malaise, cough, sore throat, aches, etc.
Why in the world would I go to the doctor? That would mean putting my miserable self in a car and driving through traffic, breathing in the foul, germacious air of other sickos in the waiting room, and twiddling my thumbs in the exam room. The nurse would come in and ask me too many questions and take my blood pressure. Finally the P.A. would come in (we’re short on doctors) and ask me all the same questions that the nurse did. Then she’d say, “A nasty flu bug is going around right now and I imagine that’s what you have. Go home and drink plenty of fluids and get some rest.”
For this I (or my insurance) would pay $80.
I remember way back in the early 80’s when I was working my first real job at a department store in Daytona Beach. I was at the service desk and overheard the manager talking to a sick employee on the phone. “Well,” he said, “If you’re not coming in then I’ll need a note from your doctor.”
After he rung off, he smiled at me. “Peggy won’t be in today. She says she has the flu.”
“The flu? And you want her to see a doctor for THAT?” I asked incredulously.
“You don’t go to the doctor when you have the flu?” he countered, equally shocked.
“We don’t go to the doctor for much of anything!” My mom always worked 2-3 minimum wage jobs with no benefits; we didn’t go to the doctor unless we were DYING.
“Well,” he rose to his full height and put on his most impressive let-me-teach-you-a-thing-or-two-you-ignorant-neophyte voice. “All I can say is you’d better go to the doctor when you have the flu because the flu can kill you.”
Well, I’m 44 now and I’ve had the flu a time or two. I’ve never gone to the doc for it and I’m still alive. I will go to the doc if I get a secondary infection, but I will not go for a virus - at least not at this stage of my life.
What about you? Do you head for the doctor’s office when you suspect you have a virus?
21 Comments on “… And In-Flu Enza”
2:15 am
I have NEVER gone to the doctor for the flu before and I’m still here. And that’s a myth that the flu will kill you…only small children & the elderly can die from it…and that’s cuz they get dehydrated. If you keep your fluids up you’ll be fine.
That said I never go to the doctor for anything unless I’m dying either…not because we can’t afford it (we have insurance and can afford it) but because I end up sicker after seeing the doc than when I went in from all the other folks who should have just stayed home spreading their germs all over the doctor’s waiting room!!!
Renee’s last blog post..Well what has been going on here?
2:16 am
I can’t believe I was first!
Renee’s last blog post..Well what has been going on here?
3:02 am
That’s so frustrating. Sorry you are under the weather. I hope that your family is feeling better soon.
Elizabeth’s last blog post..Little O? This and Little O? That
4:33 am
Well done, by the way!
I don’t go to the doctor unless I have a goiter growing out of my eyeball! And only then if I’m dragged kicking and screaming. I hate hate hate the doctor’s office. Why is that?
Stacey’s last blog post..Reesie the Purrr-Fect Kitty
11:35 am
None of us, me, husband or chillins, go to the doctor unless a) school tells me the kids HAVE to go, b) sports trainer tells me my kid may or may not have hurt his brain, or c)something is falling off.
And yet we are all (thankfully) healthy and alive. Imagine…..
Thanks for holding down the tiki hut.
12:12 pm
Welcome!
When I was young the stomach flu was shortened to the flu. It was weird when something other than upset stomach aches were called the flu.
My husband and I see the doctor tomorrow because we have, well, I’m not sure what we have but we’re had it way too long. I phoned the doctor’s office two days ago and they said come in Friday. Friday? But I’m sick now. I need a new doctor.
Cathi’s last blog post..GIVEAWAY - Grand Opening - Kennedy Grace -
1:25 pm
I have never gone for the flu… but then, I don’t go to the doctor unless bones are broken, I’m bleeding profusely (and it’s not “that” time of the month) or I have an ear infection (which I get about every three years).
I hate the doctor.
I hope you’re feeling better…
Marianne’s last blog post..It’s Raining, It’s Pouring…And the First Sign Of Spring
1:54 pm
No way, no how. Doctor schmocter. Only if someone has severe pains that don’t go away or a high fever that medicine won’t knock down. Oh, and babies that are sick longer than a day or two, cuz I’m not dealing with a sick baby in the hospital again.
Also: flu shots? A conspiracy, imho.
tracey’s last blog post..The third child.
2:40 pm
Doctor? We have doctors? Hmmmm.
I don’t even think my family doctor knows who I am LOL I only go if am dragged. For example: the last time I was at the docs office…well, actually it was the ER….was because I had severe cramps in my side for 2 weeks…turns out my appendix had burst - who knew! That was 3-4 years ago and they haven’t seen me since!
Alexia’s last blog post..If you’re bored…
2:42 pm
I work at the same kind of place. You have to bring in a doctor’s note any time you call in sick, or else you don’t get paid for the day and maybe even get disciplinary action. My family and I live in teeny tiny town Kentucky. I work at a facility for adults with MR/DD and we’ve dealt with two rounds of flu this winter. UGH! My hubby will want to go to the doctor for every little ache and pain. The world has to be near its end for me to go.
LuAnn’s last blog post..My purses
2:50 pm
I loved your post, and your right I have never gone to the doctor for the flu, and one time that flu had me in bed for 3 days, I knew I wasn’t dying tho, I was just sick as a dog….sleep is what I needed.
Dee’s last blog post..6 Word Meme
2:54 pm
Amen.
Sometimes you need to use the brains and commen sense that God gave you. Rest, fluids..you can treat the symptoms and that is good enough. Screw the copay and getting everyone else sick.
NOW..if you are OLD, super young or have a uber high fever..yeah, give the doc a call. Other than that, take two asprin, drink some water and go to bed!
mp’s last blog post..Brilliant Writing..
3:28 pm
Why on earth would you go see a doctor when you have an illness he can’t do anything about? Should I go to the doctor when my skirt rips, too? Ridiculous!
I only go to the doctor if I have an illness that a) CAN be treated by a doctor AND b) is actually serious enough to NEED treating by a doctor; or if I need information that only a doctor can give (like needing an ultrasound or an x-ray).
Michelle Potter’s last blog post..Bad News
4:32 pm
We have had SOOOO much sickness in our home lately. I don’t normally run to the Dr. when we have the sniffles and the coughs. My son got pretty sick last week with the puking and the coughs…fever. I didn’t run him in to the doctor. Then, my baby (who is a new 1 year old) got really sick and her fever spiked up. She is only #16, so I do worry. We had her in to the ER on Sat., and she is diagnosed with influenza. Then, we had her into the ER on Tuesday afternoon, because she was struggling with breathing and her cough was horrifying. She now has the onset of pnuemonia. So, here we go with monitoring her breathing and coughing to make sure it doesn’t worsen. The “flu” bites! My hubby now has it…and there ain’t nothing the Dr. can do for it, unless it travels to the pnuemonia state. I hope you all are feeling better soon…no fun in sickness~
5:39 pm
Absolutely not! I love your post. It’s exactly how I feel.
Sher :)’s last blog post..March Book Giveaway ~ I Love You So?..
8:26 pm
Despite being 34 years old my mother would still pester me to go to the doctors if I had a virus. Ofcourse there is nothing the doctor could do, but sometimes I go just to stop the pestering!!
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8:53 pm
For myself, I’ll only go if it’s something that’s dragging on and on… like my recent cough that came in November and was still around in January, so much so that I needed a puffer. But I only went after about 4 weeks! I hate going to the doctor’s for fear of what I or my kids will pick up in the waiting room. I do take the kids if symptoms last more than a couple of days though, I think that’s only prudent.
For the flu, once you’ve got it, if it is a virus I agree, just stay home, take care of yourself and it should pass. The flu can kill but as you’ve put it, the vulnerable are the very young or very old.
Karen MEG’s last blog post..Thursday Thirteen
9:23 pm
I feel vindicated. You gals are awesome!!
groovyoldlady’s last blog post..C’mon Brain, Let’s Think up Something Clever to Say…
5:18 pm
Spend $80 to be told I need to rest and drink lots of fluids? No way!
Great post!
anno’s last blog post..What’s Cooking Wednesday: Dr. Weil’s Ginger Tea
3:43 am
I always ask “The Stomach flu or the achy breaky flu?”
8:56 am
Excellent post, Groovy. Even with the flu you’ve still got it. I agree, the doctor only sees me if I’m close to death. Otherwise it’s a waste of time and money. Get better soon.
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(I'll take good care of it.)