They think I jest ...

[blamebrampton]

For anyone who has ever read any of my Australia: it'll kill ya posts and thought to themselves "Oh Brammers, you and your comedic exaggeration for effect ..." , I bring you this genuine news story from what passes for quality press in these parts. And you can have the link as is, since the untouched humour is immediately apparent.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/jogger-attacked-by-kangaroo/2008/09/01/1220121130240.html

You expect this sort of thing in the rural glades of Canberra (which is quite a nice city, so long as you either like roundabouts or are in no hurry), but not in Melbourne. tomatoe18 , your teacher told the truth!

It is the first day of spring here and Sydney turned on a splendid day of sun and blue skies. I still have influenza, because it's influenza. The chap at work, where I was vaguely functional for six hours, kept telling me that he'd had a really bad cold recently. "Yes," I said, "but I have flu, which is not the same."

"That's just a bad cold, isn't it? Are you on antibiotics?"

"Influenza is a different virus family to the set of viruses that cause colds, but both are viruses so neither respond to antibiotics," I told him, a little testily.

"Gosh, how do you know all this stuff?"

I resisted the urge to cough on him.

But I have to confess that is more than I did this morning on the train when a man decided that he could fit into the over-crowded carriage if he just leapt at my back and sent me careening into a (fortunately sturdy and understanding) young woman. I was fortunate to be pointing my face away from her, so my gasp of virus-laden air went over his outstretched hand, not any part of her. And then, I am ashamed to say, I sighed deeply over the side of his face. Be alive little viruses!

The train home made up for it, though. At Wynyard the sweet sound of a girlish soprano spilled pop ballad through the underground station, taking me back to one of my early Australian summers where I was on a train that stopped at St James to encounter a five-part harmony a cappella version of Like A Prayer. There is something very lovely about the sound of children singing (and the acoustics of underground stations are enough to tempt me, too).

I stopped to pay my Visa bill since I was at the nearby station rather than waiting for the train that stops across the road from my home. While I was in the bank I decided to change the PIN to something I can remember without having to look at the slip of paper hidden cunningly in one of the many books on my many shelves. I accomplished this, but not before the bank girl attempted to lend me half a million dollars and asked for my advice on successful relationships. That was an odd conversation, even by my standards.

Comments

[daybreaq.livejournal.com]

You are absolutely correct that antibiotics won't work for influenza. Antibiotics are for bacteria. And until very recently treatment for viruses was pretty much to let the body do it's job and support the body to do it's job by reducing stress on it. (i.e. Lots of rest and fluids and good nutrition. You really shouldn't be working. I know that's often impractical; believe me I know. A few years ago I tried to mask influenza symptoms by pretty much overdosing on ibuprofen so I could keep working. My kidneys kinda started to rebel a bit ... no permanent damage fortunately. It was an incredibly stupid thing for me to do and I knew better.) In recent years, there have been much development in antivirals including ones for influenza. The current antiviral of choice is oseltamivir. It's called Tamiflu in the US. Since it is still under patent, it is probably Tamiflu in Australia as well. The twist is you need to start taking it within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms or it doesn't really work so it's probably too late for this particular bout. Still, I figure it's worth you knowing for the next time. As you pointed out, it's usually easy to tell the difference between a cold and influenza. So next time as soon as you feel those telltale aches and chills coming on, call your doctor to get an antiviral.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

You know, I did a story on Tamiflu last year and it never even occurred to me that I should seek a script for myself. I can be a little thick that way.

I stayed home and slept again today. So far the long periods of unconsciousness interspersed with fluids and vegies with eggs have been helpful. Will see how things look in the morning, another early night tonight.

Thanks for the very good advice, I'll do my best to follow it. At least I'll never accidentally overdose myself, drugs feel so weird in my bloodstream that I tend to say no, so a couple of paracetamol is the extent of things, particularly after last week's four aspirin (I am SO hardcore!). Very glad to hear that your ibuprofen experience caused no lasting damage!