Friday 16 September 2005

Pic of the day: I have been blessed... with reasonably good health for someone with my age and lifestyle.

Sickness and health

Yesterday I was sick, but it did not kick in fully after I was already at work. I wasn't exactly productive, but I didn't go home either. (Actually trying to travel for an hour would be a bad idea right then, since my digestion was highly unstable.) I am better today, and had no problem doing my job. And a good thing too, because we had a lot to do. Normally my job does not require much physical work, but today did. I was pretty worn when I returned home. Also for the same reason, it would have taken a lot to keep me home today, since what we did was pretty unique and important. (I can't talk about it though. Non disclosure agreement.)

I haven't been home sick much lately, really. I'm not proud of that, just thankful. Also it made me think of something. Normally I have this vague idea that my health was excellent until a few years ago and that it is now steadily deteriorating. I still think the first part is true. But looking at my years-ago entries (I have written this journal for 7 years after all, although the first months are lost) I realize that I have been sick at random times all these years. In fact, if anything I was more often home with sickness before.

To be honest, I believe that it took less for me to call in sick. If I felt vaguely queasy in the morning (and I often did, since I did not consider the possibility of acid reflux and ate large meals late in the evening). If I felt a little dizzy, weak and disoriented (and I often did, because I did not get enough sleep). Overall, I think I was more sensitive. Perhaps there is a slow change going on, too subtle to see from season to season. I hold my body to lower standards.

I still dislike my job, and I still have lots of fun at home. And I am decidedly less social now than before, this at least is noticeable. Even in online games, I now spend most of the time alone. You don't get much less social than that. So I hardly miss my job when I am home. But I think I feel the obligation to show up more strongly. Though in a rational manner: If I suspect that I am spreading infection (for instance from a strong head cold) I'll rather take a day or two off than make the whole office sick. And if I think staying home will help me recover faster, I'll do so. But I'm not looking for a chance to stay home, much as I love it here.

I probably still have three weeks of vacation left, perhaps four. I usually spend vacation days on sick leaves when I've used up the days I can take without a notice from a doctor. (I am not sure how this is done in other countries, but here in Norway workers need a paper from their state-assigned doctor if they are to stay home sick for long, or for more than a certain number of days a year. I don't even remember how many days. One of the bosses keeps track on them, and if I'm home more than that I won't get paid for those days. This happened some few years ago.)

And actually, this summer - after I recovered from the Horror Weeks - I have been healthier than for years. I cannot expect it to last. After all, the one thing we know about life is that it ends. But I'll try to chase my luck by doing mostly the same things I have done this summer: Eat little fat, exercise regularly and do boring things before bedtime. Like writing this kind of journal entries...