Out of nowhere, I have a cough. As near as I can tell it was caused by a bowl of raisin bran, but that makes as little sense to me as it probably does to you. I’ve been coughing all day, a cough both dry and phlegmatic all at once.
Around noon I decided that I had a headache and took to ibuprofen, but they didn’t help.
In the evening, Kris and I watched Rushmore for the gazillionth time. “Feel my forehead,” I said midway through.
“It feels normal,” Kris said. “Are you sick?”
“I don’t know,” I said. “Where’s my temperature gauge?”
The temperature gauge was not upstairs, so I waited until after the movie to find it. By then I was shivering uncontrollably. I am shivering uncontrollably now. My body is cold, but my ears (and forehead) are burning. The temperature gauge says I have a fever of 101.4, my highest temperature in 4-1/2 years. (My normal body temp is between 98.0 and 98.2.)
I am cold. And coughing. And going to bed.
11:40, end of first sleep cycle: 103.0. Parched.
I can only recall having three severe fevers in my adult life now. The first was soon after Kris and I graduated from college. We were at my parents’ house for something or other, and I had to drive back to Salem. Not Fun.
The second was the above-mentioned Bad Soup incident, which occurred on the morning of the Fellowship of the Rings premier.
This is the third. I do not like a fever. I do not like it.
Hot water bottle, pal! If you don’t have one, you need one!
John
1:15, end of second sleep cycle — 102.7. I am hot. I am burning up, no longer shivering.
102.3
101.6, splitting headache, sore throat
Hope you feel better. Let me know if I can do anything.
Sure hope you’re coming in to work… we are without a truck driver today (also sick).
Nevermind… I actually got a hold of Nick… he’s coming in early.
I’m sorry you’re sick, J.D. Do you need to get to a doctor?
Also, Jeff, thank goodness for Nick, eh?
Well, the fever broke lat in the morning, but now it’s back up to 102.3. Jenn called to give me advice (which I appreciate — thanks, Jenn), and tells me that if I’m shivering — which I am now — it means the fever is rising.
We Roths don’t like doctors, but I’m sure going to see one tomorrow if this doesn’t go away.
Get better, J.D.!
Say, aren’t you supposed to be at a LAN party tonight or something? 😉