My Prevention of H1N1 @Swine Flu

I’m very very sure, some of you have been looking at my Facebook profile and reading that I have been stuck at home, unable to attend work, and kind of ‘missing’ from everything.

Honestly, it’s not what I want. When I skip work, I’d be left with tonnes to do when I return back, and I hate having lots to do in such a short period. But, the doctor instructed me to stay home, so I shall abide. After all, the government did say that who ever go against the ‘home-quarantine’ would be fined, shall it be found that they are violating it.. So, what choice do I have?

After my very first RWMF, I decided that I should go for a check-up on Monday. It was Amiey’s suggestion, and I agreed to it, generally because I wanted to be cleared of any illness, most evidently the H1N1 influenza virus. I wouldn’t want to be labeled as the main culprit in spreading the virus at work, wouldn’t I? So, off I went. The whole examination could be read at Amiey’s blog.

Anyway, none did I know that they will issue me a 3 day sick leave for going for this check-up. I have minor cough, and that was about it. I really felt that it was nothing, and hence, I was looking forward to coming to work on Tuesday. But, with the newly issued sick leave, and the instructions that I should stay at home for the next 7 days, there was nothing I could do, but isolate myself at home. The funny thing is, they instructed me to stay at home, and keep myself away from mingling with others for 7 days, but then they only issued me a 3 day sick leave. Funny.. so what’s gonna happen for the next 4 days left? Should I attend work? or just stay at home assuming I can skip work and get away with it, without any solid proof of the need to stay at home?

So, when my sick leave ended, I decided I should go to work. I went despite having my worsening cough, having running nose, and a mild headache. I know my boss will not be too happy with me having such a long sick leave, and so I braved myself to go to work, despite the odds.

Sadly, after the first few classes, I couldn’t stand it anymore. I sensed that my students were also worried that I might have contracted H1N1, and they stayed a good distance from me. I was also frequently sneezing, and I guess that scared a hell lot of people around me. So.. I finally decided to ask permission from a smaller boss (since my boss was not around yet) to go to the hospital for further check-ups. She agreed, but said she will have to refer my absentee to the the bigger boss regarding what kind of holiday I’d be allowed for. I told her that I am sure that I’d be given another sick leave, an left for the hospital immediately.

To cut a long story short, I was asked and given another two days sick leave (as I expected). I was also asked to stay indoors (quarantine la), and come back shall the headache pursues to become a full fledgling fever, and my cough worsens. The Dr attending to me also suggested that I come back again if I experience shortness of breath, more muscle aches and also worsening flu. At this point, she explains that I will have to be hospital quarantined shall I be confirmed to have contracted the H1N1.

So, am I happy to be home quarantined now? Well, it sucks at some point, but it does have its advantages. Nevertheless, I really hope I can get a clean bill of health cause as much as sick leave is great to have, I’d prefer to be healthy, and running here and there. And did I mention that I am hugely prone to flu and cough?? Well, yes, I am.. and that’s why most of my sick leaves are caused by these two sickness. Now, I’m just crossing my fingers that it’s not H1N1.