On Wednesday morning I woke up with a bit of a cough and a deeper voice than usual – but I was functional – and it slowly progressed. For a while I felt like I had a sock wedged into my lungs. Then a sock in my lungs + three kittens in my sinuses.
I have a scratchy voice and a cough, my ears are plugged, I have a sore throat, and a runny nose.. and I am supposed to be heading to Toronto tomorrow for a conference that lasts ’til Tuesday. A conference that I was looking forward to attending and at which I am moderating a panel presentation (though it will not be problematic for them to replace me, easily). One of my co-workers is presenting and I really wanted to see her do it, and provide moral support too!
So, I have a dilemma.
I could go and hope that no one notices my red, runny nose, coughing, and ridiculous voice. I could also pretend I don’t notice the dirty looks people are giving me as I honk and wheeze. Maybe I’m not even contagious at this point! My energy levels are okay, but not perfect, so I’ll likely be tired while there. The good things are that I will learn stuff, I will probably have some fun, and I can collapse in my (own) hotel room on Sunday and Monday nights. Most of the people there are people I don’t see much (other than a few co-workers).
Or I can stay home where I can sleep in my own bed, get better faster and avoid possibly getting other people sick. No long drive to Toronto. I can wear my jammas! I will not be known as “patient zero”. But I’ll miss the entire (annual) thing.
By Sunday morning, I need to let the organizers know if I’m not coming – so they can cancel my hotel room and get someone else to do the thing I’m responsible for doing.
I am really and truly conflicted. Help!
Updated to add: the conference will have some people in attendance with HIV and others with compromised immune systems. I do not necessarily know who these people are so it’s not possible for me to avoid them completely.
Should Violet go to the conference despite being sick?
- No (57%, 8 Votes)
- Yes (29%, 4 Votes)
- I'm not sure - I'll leave a comment (14%, 2 Votes)
Total Voters: 14
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Don’t people expect to get sick at a conference?
Bring some Purell, a box of tissues (and a place to dispose of them) and pretend everyone has cooties and don’t touch them. All should be fine.
…and if not, you’re exercising everyone’s immune system.
Bring your jammies for your hotel room.
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It occurs to me, belatedly, that I should note that the conference may have people in attendance who have compromised immunity. I will go update that.
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Much of the time viruses are most contagious before the major symptoms appear, so that even though people may shun you, you aren’t as big a threat as they think.
Do you have Zicam available in Canada? It works best at the onset of a cold, but its still really effective at relieving them. If its available, send Coffee to get you some right now, and you’ll notice the difference by decision time tomorrow. Another cool thing I found during a really bad cold a couple years ago were these gumballs that were like cough drops, eased the throat pain n cough with the fun of blowing bubbles. Can’t remember the name, though.
Kittens, really? I saw my doc yesterday for the usual whatever the hell is wrong with me thing, but also mentioned I thought I might be getting a sinus infection, or else an african pygmy hedgehog had crawled up my nose in my sleep.
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Violet, could you wear a mask? That is the only way that I would go if I was concerned about exposing people to a cold when their immune system could be comprimised.
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That may be an option. Can your ego handle a mask? It would hide your brilliant smiling face!
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Wearing a mask would let people know that you have an illness and they would have a choice in staying at a distance.
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Don’t go. For your own health and for the safety of those with compromised immunity. I work with someone who ALWAYS comes to work sick despite the fact that my company offers something like 24 sick days per year. She thinks it’s funny that I avoid her. I fucking hate her.
If you do go, I know you will be careful and respectful, but as you said, you don’t know who the compromised ones are. -
Even though I’m a terrible workaholic and am loathe to do anything that could be even remotely construed as shirking an earlier agreed to responsibility, I think you should cancel and let someone replace you.
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