Posted by Lee Cowles on April 22, 1999 at 13:12:43:
Tuesday night about 3AM, I know this because I already had my 1AM ch. I awake shivering cold, violently shaking, some nightmare still lingering. I ease myself from bed as not to wake my wife, head into the living room and wrap myself in a blanket. The cold and shivering is intense. My skin feels hot. I'm freezing. Was it the meds? 80mg Vep before bed and 25mg Imitrex tab with ch? Never had a problem before, this isn't making sense. I crank up the heater, sit on the vent with the blanket catching all of the hot air. I consider calling my wife for help, but knowing that when she saw me violently shaking, she'd call 911. I know most of the EMTs around here and prefer not to see them professionally. I also figure the first order of biz is to lower my body temp, but I'm already too cold. The shivering finally begins to subside and my thoughts clear enough to pile on the blankets and try to get back to bed/sleep.
Wednesday 6AM the alarm wakes me. Once out of bed I'm dizzy and lightheaded. Coffee doesn't interest me, the newspaper stays in the driveway. Think I'll sit down. Something's wrong, this is not me at all. Remembering last night, I find the thermometer. Temp. 103.8. Jeeze! Can't remember ever having a fever that high. Now I know I've got the flu. All makes sense now. I'll be ok.
Spend all day in bed. Aspirin, Ibuprofen, and lots of water. 7:30PM I awake in soaked bedding. Fever has broken. I get up and spend a couple of hours with my family, remake the bed. 11PM lights out, maybe a couple of hours before ch time. Set out the imitrex, O2 tank still ¼ full, ok let's see if can sleep a little.
4AM I awake. First thought, no headache. Wander into the living room and have a smoke. Nearly naked but not cold. I smile thinking things at the moment are good. I see the paper hit the driveway and consider getting it. Instead I turn on the coffee maker and go back to bed for a couple of hours.
6AM, awake again, no alarm. Temp normal. Feeling just a little unsure of myself. I help my son get ready for school and my wife ready for work. I decide not to go to work today myself, not wanting to push it. So it's about 9:30AM Thursday and "headwise" I feel better than ever. No shadow, no ch hangover. I realize I had skipped all of my meds yesterday, Prednisone (just beginning the taper)and the 3 80mg veps.
Well, I guess I had better get back on the plan and take my meds like a good boy. I can't say it was a wonderful break, but it was something. Anyone have a similar experience?