When Doc gets Sick
Old Doc is sick today, but don’t feel sorry for me. It is just laryngitis, and it’ll pass. As Indie would say, it’s just a thing.
I didn’t stay home, ’cause I don’t know how not to go to work. (That is if you call it work- it’s just doctoring to me- no heavy lifting involved.) I’ve been lucky. A couple days out in the third grade for the mumps, and two Fridays post cataract surgery is all I have missed through the years. I’ve been at this business long enough to know your luck can change overnight, so I ain’t bragging. I’m just thankful for my good fortune.
For the most part I am against sickness, not that I have much control over it. I will say one thing for it, though. If we were never ill, we could not appreciate being well. When ever I am sick, I always think of my patients and friends afflicted with a chronic illness. They live that way every day, and the good days are the exception. I reserve my sympathy for them; they have it far worse than a guy like me who only deals with it sporadically.
A doctor needs to be sick every so often. If for nothing else, we need to be reminded what out patients go through. And I’ll be well in a week or ten days; just in time for Neuse River’s next gig.
Dr. B
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January 12, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Feel better, Dr. B! Must be hard not having a voice while doctoring…
Being sick isn’t a good thing generally – however, I always have this sort of odd desire to get a little sick once or twice every winter just so I can miss school/work for a couple days and rest. Then, if I ever do get sick – which really isn’t often – I’m reminded just how NOT fun being sick is and I resolve to never wish for it again. Until the year after, when I forget…
January 12, 2009 at 1:02 pm
ms. slightly,
The ‘no voice’ issue is indeed the big problem- makes communication difficult, and it is hard to dictate charts.
If I were retired, I’d probably curl up and read a book- still a productive day, but I wouldn’t have to talk.
I guess being sick is like the change in seasons- we wouldn’t know how pretty spring is without the rough winter.
Dr. B
January 12, 2009 at 3:50 pm
It’s a wonder docs don’t get sick far more often than they do. I know, as a teacher, that I get sick quite a lot from being exposed to all those college kid cooties. Well, let me rephrase that; I USED to get sick all the time. I’ve resorted to some clean living and a daily vitamin and I’ve been pretty darned healthy (knock, knock) so far…
January 12, 2009 at 4:20 pm
mrschili,
I go for the clean living too, but all those bluegrass guys who drink white lightning seem to never get sick.
Dr. B
January 13, 2009 at 7:27 am
Take two aspirin and drink plenty of water. Physician, heal thyself. – Ted
January 13, 2009 at 7:40 am
Ted,
I will take your advice and forward your co-pay or a book/CD package when they are ready- your choice.
Dr. B
January 13, 2009 at 7:39 pm
I can’t accept the co-pay. Practicing medicine without a license. Guess you’ll have to send me a CD. Incidentally, we drove through the Neuse River Basin today. No sign of you anywhere. – TL
January 13, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Ted,
A CD it is. I was over at the Nursing Home with Indie today. He is getting excited about the book.
Dr. B