Influenza A (H1N1)

My colleagues are pretty convinced i've got H1N1.

To cut the long story short, Ed's just found out he's been tested positive for H1N1 and i've been in close proximity with him. And just yesterday, i had a growing fever ranging from 37.1 in the afternoon till 37.6 in the evening. My throat felt and still feels really dry, and i've got a cough that is ALSO growing on me. Other than that im really really alright. In fact, i didn't even feel feverish or sick or anything. Just REALLY REALLY sleepy as usual. HAhas...

I told Ed about the symptoms and he said those were the very symptoms he had at the initial stage of his sickness last week. Except that his useless M.O. didnt bother to check properly. He just looked at it for a bit, then waved it off as normal flu and will-you-stop-bluffing-and-get-back-to-work. We thought that oh maybe what he had didn't look like the symptoms of H1N1 hence the M.O. prolly thought it was unnecessary to do a swab test. That's why we thought he was ok and i was still meeting him even when he was still sick.

So yesterday, i stayed back in the office to finish up all my work for the week just in case i couldnt go back for a loooong time. Everyone avoided me like a plague. Like Moses parting the Red Sea, people just kept moving left and right fleeing, leaving me with a clear path. Haha ok except for my dear Aisyah. She still had fish soup with me for lunch and dropped by my table as and when to bitch like we always do. Then after work & OT, i headed to TTSH, intending for a thorough check.

But ALAS, it was not meant to be.
I waited SO DARN LONG for my turn that i even fell asleep in the waiting chair (which is quite a great feat as there wasnt anything to lean on or support myself; the chair didnt even have armrests). The chairs were placed in little squares they drew on the floor about 1.5m apart from each other, and i suppose we're not allowed to invade other ppl's squares or something. It's quite cute. Reminds me of those Oral Examinations we had in primary & secondary school whereby just before our turn, we get called out to sit in a chair designated for us with a piece of picture to study. Remember, we couldn't turn around or talk to our friends sitting in the chair behind or in front of us, and had to be quiet, not fidget and you obviously cannot leave that square. Haha...

Ok so it was my turn. The rather sleepy doctor (who was constantly rubbing her eyes out of fatigue & fighting blatant yawns) told me that as the revised standard procedure, they won't do a swab test on me for the virus yet unless my symptoms get worse. They won't bother to diagnose me and don't really need to find out if im a victim or not anyways - reason being they only intend to test and treat if the virus is fatal on an individual (and i obviously didn't look like i was dying anytime soon), else they would just treat and try to cure the symptoms as it is. It's because many people are able get over the virus naturally, or when the symptoms go off. Also, they cannot afford (i dont know in what sense) to test everyone who came a-knocking on their doors.

So here comes the angry part. I paid 90 bucks for a rather incomplete consultation and some random medication i can get from my GP at less than half the price. Oh wait. I dont even need to get from GP. My home's medication cupboard has them in ABUNDANCE. Ahhh my money.

Back to the story. These few days im supposed to monitor my symptoms and she gave me an MC for today. I asked if I can still go to work with my ambiguous status since i was generally feeling alright. She said i could if i wanted to since the virus is now in the community and no longer contained. I asked her if i had to be quarantined, she say it wasnt necessary anymore. I can still go out if i want, unless my symptoms get real bad la. They generally are fatal only to the very young, the very old, or the very weak.

I had wanted to return to the office this morning. I had my morning bath, and was changing up when i saw that my HR Manager called me while i was in the shower. She advised me to stop in my tracks and stay away from the office at least till Monday in case i bring in the virus to the office and spread it to some unlucky soul who doesnt have an averagely strong immunity system. Actually, coming to think of it, there have been many MANY ppl coughing their lungs out or sneezing in the office already. But they either havent seen the doctor about it, or their doctors didn't bother to test them. So who knows? Maybe the virus IS already in the office... But ah well. I dont want to be the one pin-pointed to have brought in the calamity. So yes i am officially not going to work today.

I am restaurant-citying my day away as always!


P/S: Ok i realised i mentioned that this would be a long story cut short but it seems like it's still very long. Hahaha. Im sorry for hurting your brain cells like that.