March 12, 2013

• Cog in the machine

  Since neither [Cosmo] nor I can drive, going to the doctor’s has become quite a futile exercise. As soon as we’re well enough to haul ourselves onto public transit, we’re probably well enough on the way to recovery to not require a doctor.

  That said, most common illnesses require bed rest most than doctors and meds, but it would be an annoyance in case going to the doctor actually became necessary.

  =====================

  I was hit with the flu last Friday evening. It was the works – muscle soreness, fever, sharp throat pain, head congestion, etc. I lost my voice for a couple of days too. But yesterday night I couldn’t breathe without starting a round of coughing, which made sleeping really impossible, so I finally agreed to see a doctor in the morning. Cosmo made the appointment call to the university clinic for me while I slept in until about 9 am.

  Despite not sleeping very much overall, I actually woke up feeling much better. Some of my voice had come back. I still felt like Ron Weasley when he got hit by the Slug-Vomiting Charm however, on account of coughing up toxic-looking phelgm every hour (Thank you J.K. Rowling for the perfect metaphor). Also entertaining: my abs are actually sore from coughing.

  I noted to the doctor that I was feeling better, and she remarked herself that I would probably be coughing into the next week.

  Then she told me that I should’ve gone to my 8:30am class this morning and taken the quiz instead of resting and sleeping in.

  Well fuck! I spent most of the weekend not being able to do more than sit while my head spun. Just the thought of solid food made me want to puke. I only started feeling normal today, and I didn’t know I would before waking up. Nobody hates missing school more than I do – I didn’t get straight fucking A’s by sitting on my ass! I didn’t really need the doctor’s note because the quiz I missed today was only worth about 0.5% of my overall mark, but I still think I deserve a fair chance.

  Since when was it the doctor’s job to ensure good capitalistic workers who put in no less than 10 hours of labour each day? Since when did doctors prioritize moving students along the university machine over minimizing the spread of infection? Nobody wants to hear me blow my nose through lecture or to see me cough up a slug-phlegm in class. Even if the university system necessitates the mistrust of students because there are often 300 people in a class, I should not be humiliated (she practically called me lazy) for being obviously sick and desiring a proper recovery. As if playing catch-up weren’t enough of a bitch already.

  I’m feeling super jaded and bitter. Since when did health-care practitioners become totally unconcerned with the maintenance and promotion of good health? 

  • 6:17 pm
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