Well, what do you know about that!!

@GardenGerty (157552)
United States
September 9, 2012 10:41am CST
Normally I would be at church on Sunday morning and often out to lunch afterwards--so not accessible by phone to most people. However, I stayed home because of fever and illness. 9:30 a.m. my supervisor calls wondering if I can come in. . . he had to move his Sunday staff for my house to another program. . . not sure why. The person who normally needs 24 hour coverage usually goes home to his mom's house for Sunday. Mom is sick, she is running a temperature and has body aches etc. just like me. I nicely turned him down. Before he told me the other person was ill, I had told him that I was, and he said yes, and she has the same thing. So I may have been exposed from this woman when I saw her Tuesday night. It is not healthy for her son to run a fever or be exposed in any way because of health issues. He would not have been able to get in touch with me if I had been well.
6 people like this
24 responses
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
9 Sep 12
I am sorry that you are feeling under the weather and hope you will feel much better soon. I know I hate feeling sick but there are many times I've gone to work regardless. Of course it's interesting when you can't really talk and people say "exucse me, what did you say?" ... Maybe it's more frustrating. Either way lots of rest, hot soup and hot tea!
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
9 Sep 12
So far my voice is good and my throat is one of the parts that is not hurting. It is more muscle cramps in my feet and hands and even for a while in my stomach, as well as the headache. I used to always work, sick or not, until I started making my coworkers sick. I think in retail I may have tried to go in as that is not the same close exposure as working in someone's house is or in a classroom or nursing home. I cannot afford to make my clients ill. I have to be this sick to make myself take a day off.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
9 Sep 12
Well, for sore throats I do fresh pineapple, and it really soothes. Caring for family is different as well. I will be soaking in epsom salts a little later and that will take care of some of the muscle aches. I will do the tea and soup and juices because I know I got dehydrated as well.
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
9 Sep 12
When I work as an IHA, I think I went to work semi sick once, but I wasn't all that sick and stayed away from the client, which was family. When in a medical setting it's much better to just stay at home, and usually much easier to say "look I'm sick, I can't come in." Places like retail are more apt to say "Well you aren't kissing the customers, get your butt in here now!" lol. I think pain like you are having can be the worst, though sore throats are obnoxious as well, stomach pain I'm crying like a baby.
1 person likes this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
9 Sep 12
If I have understood correctly, the son and the mother are sick? If you have all been working together, then I guess a whole lot more people will be going down with this bug so you'd better recover quick as there will be extra hours soon!
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
9 Sep 12
The son (who is my age) is not sick, but he needs to not be exposed to this by spending the day with me or with his mom. He will have seizures almost constantly if he runs a fever. I saw mom on Tuesday night when I worked the night shift, and may have been exposed at that time. In the other house, where the staff for today has gone, it may be someone who just chose not to show up. or they could be ill. I covered for a staff last Tuesday who also had to be pulled to the third house. It also could be someone quit or got fired. . . . I am trained in two of these three houses in this program. Because I have been a supervisor in the past some of the higher up think I should be able to work any of them throughout the agency. That is part of why I quit there for almost three years. I like to take some extra hours almost every week but not an over amount because the time of day is difficult.
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
9 Sep 12
Ah, now I understand the problem. So who will be caring for the son while his mother is sick? Gosh there certainly are some awful situations and we tend to moan about the most banal things Don't overdo it! I know that we all need to work but too many hours could wear you out and then you would not be fit enough to do any at all. I hope that you soon recover too!
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
9 Sep 12
If no one else can or will come in the supervisor will have to come in and work. . .. He is supposed to work alternate weekends anyway, but does his best not to. When I was a supervisor I had some staffing issues and that is what contributed to my burn out. As I get older I understand more when I need to say "no"
@celticeagle (159008)
• Boise, Idaho
10 Sep 12
So you don't get a flu shot. I got mine the last two years and the kids did also. It sounds like that is what you have. I wouldn't want to go out and maybe give it to someone else. You probably were exposed Tuesday. I think that people really need to be more thoughtful of others when they are sick.
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
11 Sep 12
I do get my flu shot and have almost every year for about fifteen years. I just have not had one yet. My company will give me one free when they give shots to the clients. I did not ever go into any kind of respiratory symptoms, so mine is not the flu, but it is some kind of virus. As I look back, I had a similar virus about this time last year. I know I got dehydrated this week and was short on sleep and then was around my sister while she smoked. They say your flu shot is good for a whole year and I know I got mine in September last year.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159008)
• Boise, Idaho
13 Sep 12
THat is good. I have been getting mine for the last three years or so. I get mine when I go into the doctor for my annual. Lack of sleep can cause your immune system to go down hill. And stress ofcourse. I think that the flu shot is only good certain strains though.
@jennyze (7029)
• Indonesia
11 Sep 12
Some people are just like that. Sorry to hear you are sick. My boss often called me even when she knew that I was sick or in holidays. She just said: while I remember... I just had to do it even while grumbling at myself. Duh!
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
12 Sep 12
They did not know I was sick, and I do not think they would call me if they had known. They did not want me to come in once they knew I had a temperature.
@jennyze (7029)
• Indonesia
12 Sep 12
Oh, I misunderstood. You have a good boss, then. I wish I have one, too...
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
9 Sep 12
No mattet how we keep ourselves healthy, still we catch viruses anywhere. i hope you are feeling a lot better by now.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
9 Sep 12
I am feeling a lot better. Sleep, liquids and good nutrition, lots of herbs and spices help.
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
10 Sep 12
So glad that you are feeling better. keep safe snd healthy!
• China
11 Sep 12
You are so busy that they disturbed you on Sunday when you were not on duty by turn and that you have catched a cold.No matter whether common cold or flu,it is better for the sufferer to be isolated.Hope you will soon shake the cold off!
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
12 Sep 12
Mine seems to be from my sinuses. It is much better and I do not have a fever. I am drinking fluids, eating lots of fruit and soup and I got a lot of extra sleep on Sunday.
• China
13 Sep 12
Thanks to your character of work,you know how to take care of yourself.
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
11 Sep 12
Well it definately sounds like there is something going around that you all caught from somewhere just like something went around my job for a short while as well. Hopefully this finds you feeling better and everyone understood. It is interesting how many times even places of work want everyone to come in when sick instead of in forcing everyone to stay home to keep everyone else from catching it.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
12 Sep 12
They did not know I was sick until they called me. They understood fine and were able to make other suitable arrangements. I am long past the point when I would work when sick.
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
10 Sep 12
Unfortunately in your line of work, you are up against it all the time. I agree she should not have been around him and that is where you probably picked it up. I am glad that you did not go.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
11 Sep 12
I think the mom has the flu, but the doc I talked to pretty well set my mind at ease that mine is some other virus. It is clearing up pretty fast with sleep and fluids and I am better today.
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
10 Sep 12
I hope you feel better soon! Hopefully the person who your supervisor wanted you to work with does not get sick, too, if his mom is sick and you are sick, probably more people are sick as well. It's amazing how fast some sicknesses can spread.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
11 Sep 12
I am pretty certain it is two different illnesses, but a lot of our employees are college students and I heard today that there is a lot of illness going around the dorms. We actually have two colleges in town.
@babystar1 (4233)
• United States
10 Sep 12
I am so sorry that yoy are sick. I no what that feels like, its not fun. I sure hope you get to feeling better. Sorry for the last respond but my notifications are not working. I dont no why. I cant get any of my friends notifications and it is turned on.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
11 Sep 12
Look at the last FAQ, I think. It gives some information about not getting notifications. I am so far behind I have missed lots of my friends' discussions. The other thing is that you may have some kind of a pop up blocker that keeps you from getting notifications. Do also check your spam or junk mail folder. Sometimes my notifications get distracted and go there.
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
10 Sep 12
An occupational hazard, eh? I do hope you are feeling better soon.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
11 Sep 12
I look back to last year and I was sick like this then as well. It may be related to something seasonal, an allergy that settles in and turns bacterial or something. I got an incredible amount of extra rest and feel pretty good today.
@Shellyann36 (11385)
• United States
10 Sep 12
I hope you get better quickly and I hope that the client does not catch it since he has so many health issues. I wonder if that could be claimed under workers comp if you went to the doctor? Not suggesting that you should do that but just one of those random thoughts running through my head while thinking of the situation. We never had any experiences such as workman comps claims due to sickness. I guess it would too hard to prove that you were directly infected by this person. I hope you all get well quickly!
@much2say (53959)
• Los Angeles, California
12 Sep 12
Ah, so do I have this right? You were being courteous to not have others catch what you have . . . but in fact you caught this bug from someone who was walking around sick already? I try to be courteous about that and keep us and the kids home if we are sick. But it irks me to no end when others do not do that. The other day my daughter's old teacher wanted her to come play with her son in the classroom after school. So we went in and her baby daughter was there too. Well, I learned an hour later into their play that the daughter has been needing the humidifier at night because of her "croup" . . . and the son that my daughter was supposed to play with started not feeling well himself . . . he laid down on the class carpet and eventually knocked himself out. He was getting feverish. Well thanks for telling me your kids were sick or potentially getting sick!!! Anyway, hope you are feeling better now!
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
12 Sep 12
I talked with the "mom" on the phone today. She had an intestinal bug that she called the flu. My issue seems to be sinus related and responded very well to fluids, appropriate treatment and lots of sleep. I learned by sad experience about not contaminating others. Even when ill I bounce back fast but others tend to get a lot sicker for a lot longer.
• United Arab Emirates
10 Sep 12
Get well soon..I wish that you become fit in upcoming days...:)
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
11 Sep 12
Thanks, I am certainly working on it and doing healthy things.
• United States
9 Sep 12
Aww, I hope you're feeling a little better today GG. I'm glad you stayed home and yes, it probably was given to you by that other person. And you've been really, really tired too, which doesn't help the immune system fight stuff off. So strange how stuff happens. Get some rest now GG.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
9 Sep 12
Or I could have been extra tired because I was coming down with this. I am thinking we both could have been exposed because another resident of the house had to go get a treatment at the ER. Although he did not get sick some viruses will come on in on a carrier. I enjoyed my epsom salts bath and slept four hours after that. I just got up and ate and will go back to bed soon as I plan to work tomorrow. My fever is staying down.
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
9 Sep 12
I hope u feel better soon. I'm glad u turned him down but am surprised because u always work so hard.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
9 Sep 12
I am better this afternoon, but I have slept four hours. I am staying hydrated as well. I know that if this client gets this and runs a fever he will go into almost constant seizures, so I really did not want to expose him.
• United States
9 Sep 12
It's good that you stayed home. There is no reason to go out when you are not feeling well and have something that is clearly contagious. Get some rest. Have some chicken soup with lots of garlic and ginger in it. Hopefully, you will be feeling better in another day or two.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
9 Sep 12
No need to give something to a vulnerable population. I worked in a different agency last year and on my training day the lady who was training me had a stomach virus. She worked anyway for part of the day. The three months I stayed with that agency there was not a time where the residences were clear of the stomach bug. I feel like she caused at least part of it.
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
9 Sep 12
Oh dear. it is a messy situation (in my place) when the boss calls up and you are ill. I wish you recover soon and well dear GG. Now, what I gather from the discussion is that you and a co-worker are both ill and with similar symptoms. If I am right, I think it should be taken up seriously by the management and do hope it has nothing to do with the job.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
9 Sep 12
It is not a co worker, but the mother of someone I take care of. Normally he does not need care on Sunday, he goes home with his mother. His mother is ill in the same way I am, and it is dangerous for him to have things that cause fever as it makes him have lots of seizures. Our company will give us flu shots later this year with no charge, they are even scheduled. I am thinking that my getting sick is triggered by many things this week, including my sister smoking, and some fatigue and dehydration. So here I am drinking juices and limeade. and sleeping extra.
@natliegleb (5175)
• India
9 Sep 12
its so bad to hear that your health is not perfect and you should not feel so worked up about it or depressed,take the medicines and be positive always to be proper
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
9 Sep 12
I will drink lots of healthy foods as well. I slept about four hours this afternoon.
@911Ricki (13588)
• Canada
10 Sep 12
Hope your feeling better, and everything goes away soon. I know some days you just feel ill, and need that rest. No need to go into work, I hope they understand why, and dont give you a hassle.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
11 Sep 12
There was no hassle. I think my illness was probably related to some sinus stuff. The doc I talked to said there would be other symptoms if it was the flu, some respiratory stuff and there was not.