Going places when you are sick

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Sept 15, 2014 10:41:45 GMT -5 whoisjohngalt said:

I've always been very pissed at people who came work sick.

We were not doctors saving lives.  I am pretty sure no one has ever died if financial statements were 5 minutes late.

Now, with kids, I am pissed even more.  Bc I have 3!!  And I can ASSURE you - one gets sick, they all get sick.  And sometimes twice. 

So.....yeah.

I didn't take my oldest to his Lego class last week.  For a kid, who never wants to take ANY classes, but loves this one, it was pretty upsetting.  But he survived.

That being said....OP - I don't see a problem with you going bc I think 1) you are smart enough to try to stay away from other people 2) it's an hour-two thing and not an all day event in a small office and 3) you are not a kid who would be touching everything and breathing on everyone.

If you consider that just about every time I have gotten sick, I can track it back to my coworker.  He may feel well, but his kids would get sick.  As he and his wife tag teamed staying home with the kids, the kids would get better and he and his wife would catch what the kids have.  Then I'd catch it from him, despite the fact that he never came into work sick.

Most of the time, you are contagious before you are showing any symptoms, so it really is impossible to try to not spread things.  

[zibazinski]

I'd avoid that co-worker like he was Typhoid Mary.

[Deleted]

I think it was the neighbor kids that got me. I love them, but I swear they are always little snot balls...

[zibazinski]

I refer to them as walking Petri dishes.

[Lizard Queen]

I have allergies, so it's often hard to tell if I have a cold, or if it's just the allergies kicking in.  I used to struggle with calling into work because of that, and anyway, actually using available sick time was frowned upon. Even back when I worked at Subway, I called in once because I had an awful cold or sinus infection or something. Despite the fact that I wasn't supposed to come in to work per the official policy in their handbook, my boss begged me to come in. What do you do?  It all comes down from management.

So, after going in to work so often while not feeling well, I don't stay home from personal things due to sickness either.  It all depends on how miserable I would feel. I'm a total baby with stomach stuff.

[whoisjohngalt]

I remember one time a coworker brought her sick kid in bc she couldn't send her to school and I guess didn't have anyone to watch her.

I felt soooo bad for the kid.  She felt like crap and had to just in an office chair the whole day bc there was nothing else she could do.  She was 7-8 yrs old

Well, needless to say, within a week 2-3 people were out sick.

I think it should be better now, bc like WVUGURL said, she can do stuff on the laptop at home.  But 15 yrs ago that was not the case.

[Deleted]

Sept 15, 2014 11:40:57 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Sept 15, 2014 10:41:45 GMT -5 whoisjohngalt said:

I've always been very pissed at people who came work sick.

We were not doctors saving lives.  I am pretty sure no one has ever died if financial statements were 5 minutes late.

Now, with kids, I am pissed even more.  Bc I have 3!!  And I can ASSURE you - one gets sick, they all get sick.  And sometimes twice. 

So.....yeah.

I didn't take my oldest to his Lego class last week.  For a kid, who never wants to take ANY classes, but loves this one, it was pretty upsetting.  But he survived.

That being said....OP - I don't see a problem with you going bc I think 1) you are smart enough to try to stay away from other people 2) it's an hour-two thing and not an all day event in a small office and 3) you are not a kid who would be touching everything and breathing on everyone.

If you consider that just about every time I have gotten sick, I can track it back to my coworker.  He may feel well, but his kids would get sick.  As he and his wife tag teamed staying home with the kids, the kids would get better and he and his wife would catch what the kids have.  Then I'd catch it from him, despite the fact that he never came into work sick.

Most of the time, you are contagious before you are showing any symptoms, so it really is impossible to try to not spread things.  

I've asked my doctor if I or my kids were contagious when we've been sick. My grandmother use to keep my kids while I worked sometimes when they were small. She wasn't frail, but she was older and I preferred to take care of them myself instead of exposing her to anything contagious from us. Now I just go by the rule that if I'm running a fever, I'm probably contagious. I know that I probably was contagious before I started having symptoms though.

Little kids are the worst for spreading illnesses. I've gotten sick plenty of times from being around my kids and grandkids when they were sick.

[Deleted]

I would be able to do 75% of my job from home if I were out sick, but they give very few people VPN access here.  Too many security issues.

[zibazinski]

We still get calls from DFs former stepson wanting to know when he and the little kids, who are in daycare, can visit. Heck, we don't even want to see the parents let alone the kids. DF handles it, thank heavens. What is he thinking even asking to come visit with those kids? 

[whoisjohngalt]

All I know is that we are in the 3rd week of SEPTEMBER!!!! and I already am reading plenty notices from people saying that their kids are sick - colds, puking!

This is the first year that my kids are actually in a number of activities and if this level of sickness continues, I am pretty much guaranteed to have thrown away a LOT of money

[Mardi Gras Audrey]

Sept 15, 2014 9:31:00 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

I'm rarely sick with anything contagious, but I'm puking sick about once a week with migraines.  I have to come in.    I've been "lucky" that the past few weeks they've hit me on a Saturday.   The guy next to me has been hacking up his lungs for weeks, but what can you do?  We only get a few sick days a year and I try to save mine for when the kids are sick. 

Have you tried Imitrex for your migraines?  I have the pukey migraines as well (The pain is bad but the puking and chills are worse  ) and have found Imitrex is a life saver.  Mine like to come at the end of the week and used to take out my whole weekend.  With Imitrex, give me an hour or so and I'm back in the game 

I usually go to work if I have a cold .  The bad part is that I get a hoarse/raspy voice at the end of a cold, when the other symptoms are gone.  So, the worse I sound, the better I feel.  That voice can last for weeks and people are assuming I am still sick but I actually feel a lot better and my lungs + nose are clear.  

[Artemis Windsong]

Like at the clinics or hospital if you are contagious, wear a face mask.  Then keep your distance from people.

[Miss Tequila]

Sept 15, 2014 11:38:31 GMT -5 whoisjohngalt said:

Sept 15, 2014 11:33:17 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

If I have my laptop, its usually not a problem to work from home. I have gotten a co-worker to bring it to me before when I was out unexpectedly.

Yeah......I was working before laptops were invented

Lena's old

[Miss Tequila]

Sept 15, 2014 12:40:11 GMT -5 @missmargarita said:

Unless my kids are actively puking they go to school.  Sorry...

My rule is puking or a fever of 102 or higher....my kid is texting me from school today because she had a sore throat...jesus Christ, it is like she inherited the "I'm sick and dying" gene from her father! 

[Cookies Galore]

Sept 15, 2014 12:40:11 GMT -5 @missmargarita said:

Unless my kids are actively puking they go to school.  Sorry...

What if they're passively puking? :-p

[Wisconsin Beth]

Sept 15, 2014 9:12:57 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

Well, many jobs don't offer paid sick leave, or combine sick and personal leave together, and don't get much of either. So you are right, that staying home sick is a luxury for many.

As I posted in February, I got the flu when I was on a trip for work. By the time I was sick, I was already on travel status. My employer had already paid money for me to be there so I went ahead and dragged my aching body to work, then flew home. I would have called in sick if I wasn't on travel status, but I was.

hah!  the real reason your boss is out to get you!  You went on a trip all sick and germy. 

[The Captain]

Like a few other posters here my job is very deadline driven, so yea - I go into work sick (not often THANK goodness).  If there is no deadline, I am the first one to call in sick and encourage my staff to do so as well.

However, I will curtail social activites if I'm not feeling well.  It's a combination of don't want to expose others/I need my rest so I can recover faster.

At one job we had personal days which were a combination of sick time and vacation time.  You started with 20 a year and could go up to 30 depending on years of service.  We always had a few in the office that would come in sick because they wanted to use "vacation" time for vacations.  Drove me nuts, especially if folks came in sick in December (little or no deadlines) because that would be just enough time for the germs to incubate and get everyone sick for January (year end closing the books).

[CarolinaKat]

Sept 15, 2014 13:09:57 GMT -5 Mardi Gras Audrey said:

Sept 15, 2014 9:31:00 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

I'm rarely sick with anything contagious, but I'm puking sick about once a week with migraines.  I have to come in.    I've been "lucky" that the past few weeks they've hit me on a Saturday.   The guy next to me has been hacking up his lungs for weeks, but what can you do?  We only get a few sick days a year and I try to save mine for when the kids are sick. 

Have you tried Imitrex for your migraines?  I have the pukey migraines as well (The pain is bad but the puking and chills are worse  ) and have found Imitrex is a life saver.  Mine like to come at the end of the week and used to take out my whole weekend.  With Imitrex, give me an hour or so and I'm back in the game 

I usually go to work if I have a cold .  The bad part is that I get a hoarse/raspy voice at the end of a cold, when the other symptoms are gone.  So, the worse I sound, the better I feel.  That voice can last for weeks and people are assuming I am still sick but I actually feel a lot better and my lungs + nose are clear.  

Imitrex Makes me puke, I hate that stuff.

I'm now on a combo of Maxalt, Atavan and Phenegran for the 'KILL ME NOW" vomiting Migranies. Zofran is also good for normal people who have puking symptoms with their migraines. Zofran is on my 'skittles list' though.

As for being sick, I do not go into work sick. I work from home or just lie on the couch and want to die. I have a weakened immune system wo I really hate it when people come in sick to work. I try to avoid them as much as possible. DH, however, always makes me sick. He has a very good immune system and barely gets a runny nose. He then brings it home to me, and I'm sick for 10 days. DH had a runny nose on last Sunday. I got sick Monday night, and have been on anti-biotics Tuesday. Yesterday is the first day I didn't run a fever.

[Deleted]

Sept 15, 2014 13:09:57 GMT -5 Mardi Gras Audrey said:

Sept 15, 2014 9:31:00 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

I'm rarely sick with anything contagious, but I'm puking sick about once a week with migraines.  I have to come in.    I've been "lucky" that the past few weeks they've hit me on a Saturday.   The guy next to me has been hacking up his lungs for weeks, but what can you do?  We only get a few sick days a year and I try to save mine for when the kids are sick. 

Have you tried Imitrex for your migraines?  I have the pukey migraines as well (The pain is bad but the puking and chills are worse  ) and have found Imitrex is a life saver.  Mine like to come at the end of the week and used to take out my whole weekend.  With Imitrex, give me an hour or so and I'm back in the game 

I usually go to work if I have a cold .  The bad part is that I get a hoarse/raspy voice at the end of a cold, when the other symptoms are gone.  So, the worse I sound, the better I feel.  That voice can last for weeks and people are assuming I am still sick but I actually feel a lot better and my lungs + nose are clear.  

Imitrex is the only reason I still have a job!  My migraines were getting so awful these past few years that sometimes I just wanted to die, and you're right the sick feeling is worse.  I get some where there isn't much pain at all, but I just feel like shit.  Like this morning.  Unfortunately, the Imitrex often leaves me kind of woozy too and ill too.

[Mardi Gras Audrey]

Phenergan knocks me out. I have been pretty healthy (knock on wood) and have had success with most meds I take but phenergan was horrible. I got it for extreme nausea once (not a migraine) and it knocked me out for like 2 days (I took it, climbed into bed, and woke up like 2 days later). Sure, it stopped the nausea + vomiting but I was unconscious. Not worth it.

I had good luck with Zomig also (The dissolving tabs are great- work fast and taste good!).

[CarolinaKat]

Sept 15, 2014 13:34:06 GMT -5 Mardi Gras Audrey said:

Phenergan knocks me out. I have been pretty healthy (knock on wood) and have had success with most meds I take but phenergan was horrible. I got it for extreme nausea once (not a migraine) and it knocked me out for like 2 days (I took it, climbed into bed, and woke up like 2 days later). Sure, it stopped the nausea + vomiting but I was unconscious. Not worth it.

I had good luck with Zomig also (The dissolving tabs are great- work fast and taste good!).

Zomig = skittles list

Zofran is like Phenergran's little brother, less powerful, fewer side effects. Works well for most people

[whoisjohngalt]

Sept 15, 2014 13:19:06 GMT -5 Miss Tequila said:

Sept 15, 2014 11:38:31 GMT -5 whoisjohngalt said:

Yeah......I was working before laptops were invented

Lena's old

I know!!!!!

[zibazinski]

So am I, Lena!

[whoisjohngalt]

Sept 15, 2014 13:39:49 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

So am I, Lena!

Well, at least I like the company

Oh and Miss Tequila shouldn't be smirking either - she is no spring chicken!

[zibazinski]

[Miss Tequila]

Sept 15, 2014 13:50:00 GMT -5 whoisjohngalt said:

Sept 15, 2014 13:39:49 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

So am I, Lena!

Well, at least I like the company

Oh and Miss Tequila shouldn't be smirking either - she is no spring chicken!

Grrr...this is the internet...I'm 26, a hottie with perkie boobs!!!

[Deleted]

I'm feeling slightly better. My nose looks horrid, but isn't running as much. If I med up and take the kids, and sit one on each side of me as my 'germ buffer'... That might work!

[CarolinaKat]

For Jane Goodall, I would probably med up and not breathe on anyone.... and go to the book signing, and not breathe on anyone.... take tissues, sanitizer, possible a mask and touch as few things as possible

ETA: I would not go to work sick or the grocery store if I had to, but it's Jane Goodall....

[Deleted]

Sept 15, 2014 9:12:57 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

Well, many jobs don't offer paid sick leave, or combine sick and personal leave together, and don't get much of either. So you are right, that staying home sick is a luxury for many.

As I posted in February, I got the flu when I was on a trip for work. By the time I was sick, I was already on travel status. My employer had already paid money for me to be there so I went ahead and dragged my aching body to work, then flew home. I would have called in sick if I wasn't on travel status, but I was.

Travel is the worst, especially planes. Closed space, dry air that's constantly recirculated.  If you' feel like you're coming down with something you go anyway, even if it's vacation, because the airlines (other than Southwest) will bleed you mercilessly in the form of additional fees if you dare to change your schedule.  Business, of course, is even worse if a lot of people have changed their schedules to meet with you or you're on deadline.  Oh, and most of the people who serve you (flight attendants, airport employees) are in jobs that don't pay if they stay home sick. 

I've been lucky in that I could work form home on the are days I was communicable with something for the last few years.

I did have to keep DS home from a performance of The Nutcracker at Lincoln Center the year he came down with chickenpox.  The doc really read me the riot act on that and said it could be a disaster if he sneezed and was across the room from a pregnant woman.  We'd paid for the tickets as well as bus transportation in and out.  We sent a friend and his mother instead.

[wvugurl26]

I never knew how badly I was truly allergic to cats until I spent 3 hours on a cross country flight with one two rows in front of me. I was beyond sick when I landed in Baltimore.