1

I know we’ve had similar discussions on this subject, but I just wanted to get some opinions here. Last week I had the worst head cold I think I’ve ever had in my 5 years working at my current place of employment, maybe worst of my adult life. I was off for 4 days, and I really should have been off for the whole week (I was guilt tripped into coming in by my boss). Woke up sick on Sunday (the 10th), and I only really got over the head cold by the following Sunday (17th). Then it moved to my chest. I’m still blowing my nose every 20 minutes or so. You know - those wonderful “double kleenex” blows that everyone in the office is disgusted by. Then every 10-15 minutes I need to cough up yet another giant, disgusting wad of phlegm. I’ve tried to be discreet , but I mean this is part of the healing process. I haven’t been running a fever since like 5 days ago, so I’m not contagious, and I feel good enough to work, and have been doing so, but I keep getting the “do you need a cough drop?” and stuff. No, I don’t need a cough drop, I need to cough occasionally so I can bring up this disgusting crap that is in my chest and spit it out. It’s part of the healing process. I’m more than happy to take off more days of sick time (I have literally over a month of it left - one benefit of working for the local government) if people are so disgusted by it, but it is what it is, you know?

Anyway, just kind of a mini rant. I know this crap is going around - mentioned it on my YouTube channel to let subs know why I’m not posting videos for over a week, and half of my subs have it or know someone that has had it, and it just hangs on for weeks. Am I just being a disgusting human being for needing to blow / cough up this crap every few minutes? How do you deal with this? Should I request to work from home? Feels kind of unnecessary given that I’ve been back for 4 days now.

Also, hope you’re all healthy and well - avoid this crap if you can. Wash / sanitize your hands people!

25 Spice ups
2

I’d request to WFH if you’re up to it. That way you’re 1) not grossing everyone else out by coughing up lung butter and 2) getting the chance to work in your pajamas. I think as long as one’s duties can be performed from home, they should get the opportunity.

8 Spice ups
3

Make a suggestion for the work from home. If you suspect that you’ll ever need to be out of the office for being sick it’s better that you can work from home than not at all. I find this especially true if you have an important role and they can’t easily function without you.

4

I know the feel, they dont give us any sick days where i currently work and not to long ago it was a full month of just feeling ill, I took as many excuses as i could to just work in the server room out of the way of everyone however being support hiding didnt last long.

Just glad i didnt get anyone else sick

5

I’m fortunate to spend 75-80% of my day in a quiet lab where I’m in the back office area and others are out in the main work area and I can keep the door closed and my coughing up phlegm to myself. I’ve been fighting my cold since Sunday the 10th as well, and there’s just a bit of lung butter and sinus clogging lingering. Hopefully I’ll be fine by the weekend!

2 Spice ups
6

When I am sick, I try not to go to work, if at all possible. I believe that the diseases would not spread as much if people would not go to work when they are sick. Most employees are not indispensable and can miss a few days without causing major inconveniences to coworkers or the organization.

3 Spice ups
7

Ah that sounds wonderful. My “office” consists of a “desk” area attached to a wall that I share with 3 others, about 3-4 feet apart. No cubicles, just a big open room. Everyone hears everything heh.

Sorry, sounds like you have the same crap. It just doesn’t go away, does it? I mean I feel like 80% better, my head feels fine even, throat isn’t terribly sore anymore, but this crap just hangs on.

8

Colds don’t produce fevers. More likely you had a sinus infection of some sort and all the crap drained into your chest at night while you slept.

I’ve had chronic sinus issues since I was in my teens so I can empathize completely. Normally, it’s pretty manageable but when ragweed season comes around (now), it can be a real struggle…

2 Spice ups
9

Yeah, it’s awful. And the worst part (to me) is that it’s totally screwed up my running training schedule. I am running a marathon in less than five weeks and I think it’s going to be rough since I have been unable to run with a chest full of phlegm.

10

I do not go to work when I have a fever or feeling bad with no fever, but if no fever and still coughing/sneezing I will.

11

Try mucinex with decongestant, it will help dry the phlem and help break up and metabolize the chest congestion

12

If your boss allows it I’d work from home. Depending on the severity my bosses will let me do it as long as it’s not abused.

13

I was out yesterday due to a migraine.

Here I sit…with the same migraine…at work…feeling miserable.

It isn’t contagious and it isn’t as bad as yesterdays (not puking anymore).

This sucks, but I’m here. :expressionless:

1 Spice up
14

Wouldn’t it be nice to work from home.

Unfortunately, that’s one of the downsides to working in a classified environment. No “work from home”.

1 Spice up
15

I always try to keep my sick employees away from me as long as possible. Try to work from home.

1 Spice up
16

Well if you’re functioning enough to work then I’d say ignore people who are grossed out. If it bugs them so much then have them tell management you can work from home until the phlem factory is shut down. Otherwise I’d say just stay home, if you have the sick pay and you feel like crap why make others miserable triggering their hypochondriac paranoia and interesting sound effects.

3 Spice ups
17

Got Mucinex (nasal spray was all they had) and a decongestant. Took that plus a Vitamin C booster with lunch. Now I feel really freaking loopy. Light headed / dizzy, kind of fuzzy all over. I’m no longer coughing and my phlegm production is severely reduced though, so there’s that. Unfortunately now I feel like I’m high on something or slightly drunk.

2 Spice ups
18

Some people pay a lot more money to get that kind of effect from a pharmaceutical substance. :wink:

3 Spice ups
19

Did you have to show ID for it?

20

Nope. Read up and apparently taking it on an empty stomach and with high blood pressure is a bad idea. Should just generally avoid products that contain epinepherine if you have high blood pressure I guess. Cause you know… it’s an upper.

5 Spice ups