I apologize, but I'm going to take a few days off. I'm into Week Two of a respiratory bug of some sort—it's going around where I am. A cough, low energy, and a headache. (At the window at a doctor's office yesterday I saw a sign that said "If you have a cough, please put on a mask," and I thought, well, they mean me.) I almost never get headaches.
Rightly or wrongly (I admit I have no way to tell), I believe my good plant-rich diet is helping my immune system fight the virus. I've been struck by how much worse other people are reporting feeling with this. They say it's a really bad one. I haven't been feeling all that bad. In fact for the most part I've just continued with my life—I've been aware I was sick, but I've felt like I was getting away with it.
But today I try to work and keep going around in circles. I need to rest for a day or two. It happens from time to time; I'm used to it.
I will keep working on the comments for the previous post.
Back soon! Sorry again...this is one of the problems with being a one-man band. When the drummer gets sick....
—Mike the bedraggled Ed.
Get well soon, Mike. We understand what it's like to be sick.
You thrive on originality or thoughts that fly out of your head and that is what makes your TOP articles unique.
But at times like this, I'm sure your readers don't mind a bit of cut and paste, that is if you are up to it, and give credit to the source.
Or, since you have a slew of potential contributors who stood in while you were recently recuperating from eye surgery, get some locum penmen (like lensmen) on the job. Just sayin'.
Posted by: Dan Khong | Tuesday, 14 January 2020 at 04:01 PM
Please make sure to get a flu shot if you have not done so. And if you are over 65 you can get a flu shot with 4x's the antibodies of a regular shot.
Posted by: Zack Schindler | Tuesday, 14 January 2020 at 05:17 PM
Get well Mike, when I feel like that I drink lots of hot water with lemon. Regards.
Carlos
Posted by: Carlos Quijano | Tuesday, 14 January 2020 at 05:41 PM
Hopefully it’s not the virus that gave me pneumonia, which my plant based diet did not appear to help. Keep your head down and your spirits up. Parasite came out today, so there’s a couple hours of distraction.
Posted by: John Krumm | Tuesday, 14 January 2020 at 05:53 PM
Mike, rest, hot tea, honey and lemon juice for coughs, take it easy, et well soon.
With best regards,
Stephen
Posted by: Stephen S. Mack | Tuesday, 14 January 2020 at 06:03 PM
Hopes for a speedy recovery!
Posted by: Karen | Tuesday, 14 January 2020 at 06:32 PM
We seem to share a few things in common, Mike. I too have what you describe, minus the headache, thankfully.
Mine came on at about 12.45pm on Thursday 2 January, just after my cleaning lady arrived. It was that clear cut. I'd opened the front door and breathed the strong breeze. I started coughing while she was here and it's been going ever since. I think it's improving, but slowly.
No fires near me, in Perth, Western Australia.
Posted by: Peter Croft | Wednesday, 15 January 2020 at 12:25 AM
A cheery song for a one man band.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2o2kdd_Veo
Posted by: Andy Wilkes | Wednesday, 15 January 2020 at 04:09 AM
Rest.
I had something like that. It dragged on and on.
The doc said it was "what's going around".
Me: What is it?
Doc: the "crud".
Me: What do I do?
Doc: Sit down and shut up.
It worked. Just rest.
Posted by: Luke | Wednesday, 15 January 2020 at 07:07 AM
Wishing you improving health and a quick recovery.
I certainly can wait a few days for the return of my morning dose of wisdom.
Posted by: SANDY ROTHBERG | Wednesday, 15 January 2020 at 08:48 AM
Sorry to hear you're not feeling well, Mike. Your comments on the benefits of your plant-based diet are interesting. I'm on something similar: plant-based plus fish, no processed foods.
Here's a recommendation for an interesting read on the subject of food and modern dietary habits:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Way-We-Eat-Now/dp/0008240760/ref=sr_1_1?crid=24A1AR8ZF0ZQS&keywords=the+way+we+eat+now&qid=1579101287&sprefix=the+way+%2Caps%2C142&sr=8-1
Posted by: Andrew Lamb | Wednesday, 15 January 2020 at 10:18 AM
Get well soon, Mike!
I am having something similar: I started with flu on New Years Eve, and still today I have an ugly cough around...
Posted by: Cateto/Jose | Wednesday, 15 January 2020 at 10:47 AM
Get well soon.
This is a bad season. Flu vaccine has missed the prevalent strains this year, but it would still be of partial help. I had the vaccine but still got it, though mild, and several additional bouts of respiratory viruses or perhaps bacteria since October.
Posted by: Animesh Ray | Wednesday, 15 January 2020 at 12:18 PM
Looks like you've lost weight.
Looking good.
Posted by: David Bennett | Wednesday, 15 January 2020 at 05:09 PM
Get well soon Mike. Chicken soup and movies. Have you seen “The Great Beauty” ?
Posted by: David Lee | Thursday, 16 January 2020 at 01:59 AM
It's probably the smoke from my Australia Burning. Welcome to Global Smoking. ;)
Posted by: Arg | Thursday, 16 January 2020 at 07:36 AM