Weddingbee boards

Everyone around me is getting sick and being a "hero" about it. My manager had a bad cold and went to work, anyway-- where I came into contact with her. My fiance has had a slight cold and has kept going to work, and he hasn't gotten any better. Now I'm sick, and when I went to the health center, the nurse there was coughing too! 

Last week, my professor had bronchitis and held class, anyway. Our class is so small that he has been holding it at his home, though, so he didn't have to go anywhere-- and he could've just kicked us out if he felt too poorly. He said he wasn't contagious anymore, and he wasn't really coughing anymore.

And now I'm sick. Yesterday was the worst. I was coughing and sneezing almost constantly, and my nose was running continually-- I had to have a box of kleenex next to me all the time. I'd gone through a whole bag of cough drops. My ears were completely plugged. And off and on I'd have this splitting headache behind my eyes. I had a slight fever. And I didn't have ANY energy. I just felt totally crappy, and my FI thought that if I went to my night class, I might pass out or at least doze off or something. He said that I sounded like Phoebe on "Friends" when she's pretending to be Joey's agent on the phone. So after much debate, feeling crappy, thinking groggily, and feeling totally guilty about it-- I didn't go to my night class-- the one with the professor who'd held class when he had bronchitis.

I sent my professor an email to let him know I was sick and wouldn't make it, and today I find that he didn't email me back. He did, however, send an email to the class, which started out, "Those of you who were present know that we didn't get to..." This is what I'd expect if I had just skipped class without being sick and hadn't emailed him about it. Do you think he's mad at me for not going to class when he was such a hero about holding class with his bronchitis?

Maybe I'm a wuss, ok? If so, I don't think I should be downgraded or made to feel bad for that. How was I supposed to contribute to class when all I'd do is distract people with my constant coughing and sneezing and nose-blowing, and I was so groggy that I couldn't keep my mind on track to finish a paragraph of reading? I'm just sick of people being such heroes about their illnesses and then getting ME sick! Everyone keeps saying that once you show symptoms, then you're not contagious anymore. How is that supposed to work? Aren't you still coughing all your gross viral germs out of your body at everyone?

I already feel incredibly guilty for not going to class with my cold when my professor still held class with his bronchitis, so I hope you guys don't make me feel even worse about it. I was really hoping to get a letter of recommendation from this professor at some point. Do you think that's out of the question now? Am I not allowed to have a sick day? Do you have any suggestions? 

I'm still feeling crappy (although not as bad as yesterday), and now I'm feeling blue too. :(

The whole "not contagious if you have symptoms" thing is bogus... that's how germs spread, through signs and symptoms. I personally think it's ridiculous that people are being 'heroes', but I wouldn't get too overly worked up about it. You need time to rest so that you will bounce back and be healthier for it, more so than the rest of your class probably, because you actually took time to let your body heal.

I would give it a week or two and see how your class goes. I hope you feel better soon!

Thank you, bees. I'm back from my nap... 

I was surprised that he held class when he had bronchitis too! I think he holds class at his home because we're all grad students, there are so few of us, and he's had several of us (including me) in classes before. 

I thought the email might be directed at me because there are only five students in the class, and as far as I know, I was probably the only one absent... you know, especially after his big "I'm holding class even though I have bronchitis because I'm just that dedicated" thing.

Thank you for the reassuring words, everyone. I'm glad you think the whole "If I have symptoms, I'm not contagious anymore" thing is bogus too, junebug12! Thank you for the support, bees. I've been feeling so totally guilt-tripped. I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks you should stay home when you're sick and completely whiped out.