<p>I know this is hardly significant compared to all the serious things people usually post about, so it can count as a whine if you like. But, typical me with my bad luck and bad timing. I take this week off as a vacation, one lousy week, my first vacation in two years, and although J. and I had a wonderful time up in the Berkshires from Friday until Monday, I’ve felt awful since we got back Monday evening, probably the worst I’ve felt in years not counting illness related to Crohn’s Disease, or the aftermath of my surgery last summer. It’s probably just a bad head cold, but still, these things do tend to hit me pretty hard, maybe because of my apparently wacky immune system. And what with sore throat, congestion, cough, fever of 101 (despite taking advil at every opportunity), excruciating pain in my neck whenever I try to turn my head to the left side, and occasional dizziness, I haven’t left my apartment since we got back, and haven’t been able to do any of the things I’d planned to do even in my apartment, like finally finishing unpacking, hanging pictures, etc. I haven’t even been able to concentrate enough to read, so I know things aren’t right!</p>
<p>The one thing I"m happy about is that, knock on wood, J. hasn’t come down with whatever it is, even though we shared a hotel room and were together the whole time. He’s at my ex’s house in NJ since yesterday, and I told him not to come in to be with me tonight and tomorrow; the last thing I want is for him to catch something from me.</p>
<p>Maybe I’ll feel better tomorrow (I had hoped to go down to the NY Public Library to get some genealogical research done that I’ve been meaning to do for a long time, and then meet J. after he’s done at the museum where he works twice a week). But right now, all I’m hoping is that in the next hour or so I can get up the energy to drag myself to the nearby supermarket before it closes, since the cupboard is almost bare. At least it’s within walking distance, because I don’t think I could drive right now.</p>
<p>Donna, I would really suggest a visit to the doctor, or even the ER. A fever that’s not going down, plus the neck pain, is more than just a head cold. You know how we worry, so please take care of yourself!</p>
<p>Not to scare you but they are finding mosquitos with West Nile Virus all over Connecticut. Fever, malaise and stiff neck are signs of the virus; maybe you should get checked out. Just a though. Hope you feel better.</p>
<p>Yea, I’d say a bad head cold doesn’t give you a fever of 101 while you’re also taking ibuprofen. Probably something viral that’s more than a cold, but I’d get it checked out, sooner rather than later. Once your system is run down fighting something viral, you are more susceptible to picking up something bacterial, too.</p>
<p>Our son has been in western MA all summer and reported that there were very few Mosquitos. He didn’t get sick at all and I haven not heard of any issues outside eee and meningitis but those were in southern MA I think.</p>
<p>Did you spend time in the woods?</p>
<p>I have had awful allergies this summer. Itching eyes and congestion but no fever. Perhaps there is more than one cause.</p>
<p>I hope you are feeling better, Donna. My son was miserable for nearly a week last week. Similar symptoms. Horrible cough, however. I finally talked him into seeing a doc. Sinus infection. Zithromax has pretty much cleared it up in 3 days. The cough syrup is letting him get some peaceful sleep . I think he would have cleared it on his own, but not for a few weeks rather than a few days.</p>
<p>Donna…hopefully, it’s just a passing virus. But a painful neck and fever - hmmm - I would get it checked out with a doctor…today if you can. At least give your doc a call. Both are symptoms of meningitis and, if by chance that’s what it is, the earlier you get treatment the better. Better safe than sorry. Hope you feel better soon!</p>
<p>Please get tested for Lyme disease. You do not have to have noticed a tick bite or rash; Lyme is rampant in woodsy areas like the Berk’s and if caught quickly can be cured with antibiotics. But it can mimic many other diseases and so get going in your system if you don’t catch it quickly. You have to advocate for the test, and best to ask for the Western blot (I think it’s called) test. There are many false negatives. But any summer illness with fever especially after being in the boonies should perk the Lyme antenna. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks, everyone. I was going to call my doctor if I didn’t feel better this morning, but the fever was down a little when I woke up, and now (after a 3-hour nap this afternoon!) appears to have disappeared completely. As have the stiff neck, sore throat, and most of the congestion. All that’s left is complete and utter exhaustion.</p>
<p>So I guess it wasn’t any of those illnesses people have mentioned. Although apparently West Nile can sometimes be relatively mild and take only a couple of days to run its course. (The thought of meningitis did cross my mind last night because of the pain in my neck, which I don’t recall having before as part of a cold, but I decided that if that’s what it was I would probably have gotten significantly worse by then, since it had already been 48 hours or so.)</p>
<p>When I was a child, my mother used to classify my illnesses of this sort (worse than a cold, but outside of flu season) as a 24-hour, 48-hour, or 72-hour virus, depending upon duration. I have no idea if she made those terms up to reassure me, or if that’s how people actually used to talk 45 or 50 years ago.</p>
<p>I’m still extremely annoyed, though, that I ended up spending three days of my 1-week vacation in bed!</p>
<p>DonnaL, I would still get tested for a tick-borne illness pronto, as a previous poster suggested. My husband had one of them (possibly Lyme disease, possibly erlichiosis) last year with no memory of a tick bite or signs of a rash. He was very ill but reluctant to go to the doctor. He was glad when he did, though, because it responded to antibiotics right away. If he had waited a few days longer, the infection could have caused permanent nerve damage.</p>
<p>I don’t suppose you could get those vacation days retroactively reclassified as sick days, and still preserve some vacation days for another time? (I’m assuming an incredibly cooperative employer here…)</p>
<p>Donna, I’m glad to hear you are doing better! I second the posters who recommended getting checked out by a doctor, who can also provide a little note that might magically turn your vacation days into sick days. And take it easy, young lady - bed rest and lots of chicken soup. :)</p>