2022 has been SICK!

How do you know an expression or a slang word has run its course?  When a 40-something lady blogger uses it!

But, of course, I don't mean that this year has been 'sick' in the way the cool kids say it.  I have literally been sick for a good portion of 2022.  It's not 'sick' like I was back in 2017 when I was awaiting cancer surgery either, so, you know, I'm trying to keep it all in perspective, but still...it's been annoying.

The year started out with a round of isolation due to a Covid diagnosis in the family.  We were all together on Christmas Day, so we all had to isolate and get tested.  Thankfully, this was the first exposure to the annoying virus since it all started, so we were lucky in that regard.  And, of course, it was probably the super-mild, 'you might not even notice you have it' omicron variant, so no big deal, right???  But, off to the testing site Husband and I went.  

I hate to play into stereotypes and everything, but you know how 'they' say that women have a higher pain tolerance than men?  It was definitely true when we went to get tested.  As the swab went up Husband's nose, he literally yelled, "JESUS CHRIST!"  The two ladies doing the testing roared.  It was brilliant!  We both had negative tests, thankfully, but we still had to isolate for 7 days, given our exposure to someone with Covid.

About two days after that, I got fever, chills, and was exhausted.  I spent 2 or 3 days in bed while my temperature soared.  I had to cancel a baking order as well as my Saturday Bingo calling (I know...scandal!) because of my illness,  After a while, my temperature came back down to normal and I went back to work.

Two or three weeks after that, I was typing away happily in my office when my brain got fuzzy, and my whole body started to shake.  The chills and shivers were back!  So, back to bed I went.  And, of course, back to the Covid testing site I went as well.  Another swab, another negative test!  I was having all the luck when it came to getting Covid, but none of the luck when it came to getting a fever.  Oh, and I had to cancel another cake order!

I don't mean to belabour the whole 'cancer' thing, but any time I get a twinge or a pain anywhere in my body, my brain goes, "Oh no! It's cancer again!"  I don't know if other cancer sufferers get this.  It might just be me!  But I developed an infection in the area where I had a tumour, so I think this time, my immediate panic was justified.  At least that explained the fever.  Thankfully, my oncologist was able to see me pretty quickly, and put my mind at ease.

I had a brief reprieve from this sickness foolishness, but as April started, so did my cough.  Now, no matter what level of cold/flu I've got, I develop a cough that could shake the very foundations of any building.  It's alarming.  Just ask the husband!  So, I had a cough, which was nothing much to worry about, but all of a sudden, I couldn't catch my breath.  I would be speaking, and then all of a sudden, my breath would just...leave me.  Any time I ate something, it felt like it was getting stuck in my throat.  Because of the congestion and cough, I couldn't sleep in my bed.  I had to sleep (or not sleep, really) sitting up on the couch.  Thank goodness for Bakeoff The Professionals.  It kept me company on those long nights.  Two and a half weeks later, I had only managed to spend one full night in my bed.  I eventually got an inhaler and some antibiotics, and I am feeling much better.  I can breathe, my voice has returned, and my cough, thankfully, is almost completely gone.

So...here I am!  Feeling better, glad the weather's getting nicer, and just about back to normal.  I know that there are people who have had much worse years than me so far, so I don't mean to complain, but it has been quite a start to 2022.   Hopefully the months to come will be fever-free, cough-free, and, fingers crossed, they won't be job-free for much longer.