It’s a Cold...It’s the Flu...It’s...It’s Nothing

A few nights ago I suddenly awoke from my sleep, rolled over and saw that it was four o’clock.

I was so tired, but not so tired that I couldn’t worry. Yes, the moment I awoke I began to worry. About two things.

First, I worried that I wouldn’t be able to get back to sleep and would be extremely tired at work the next day. Then, I noticed my throat was hurting, so I began to worry I was getting sick.

Was I worried a cold was upon me? No, of course not. I had a cold last month, so my first suspicion was that it must be the flu. Not only was my throat hurting, but I also felt warm and very weak (like you do right before you get sick). Plus, I hadn’t gotten the flu shot, so it was the only logical explanation, right?

The next morning I didn’t feel horrible, but I also didn’t feel good. I rushed to the computer and searched WebMD (a favorite Website of the worrywarts I know) for flu symptoms.

Fever? Nope. Headache? Nope. Coughing? Nope. Aches and pains? Only a little. Weak and tired? Omg! Yes! Extreme exhaustion? Um, I don’t think so.

Despite the fact that I answered most of the questions negatively, I still thought I was coming down with the flu. I was tired and had a few aches and pains, so I thought it was only a matter of time before the flu attacked my body.

All day long at work I worried about coming down with the flu. I loaded up on Cold-Eeze and confided in fellow worrywarts at the office.

“How do you know when you’re getting the flu?” I asked one of them.

“It suddenly hits you,” she said. “You ache all over, and even wearing your clothes causes your body to hurt.”

Nope, I didn’t feel nearly that bad (thank goodness!). But I began to wonder if I should have gotten the flu shot this year. I had gotten it twice before because I was traveling abroad and didn’t want to take any risks. Of course, I had worried about the vaccine causing me to actually get the flu - or at least a little sick - but the only side effect I had was a sore arm.

Chicken noodle soup can help you feel better when you're sick. Too bad it can't help worrying.

Besides the fear of the vaccine actually causing the flu, I have heard other arguments for not getting the vaccine. Some people I know refuse to get the flu shot because they worry whatever else is included in the vaccine could harm them more than help them. There are also people who believe that vaccines are more of a moneymaker and sometimes may not even prevent the flu. Then, there is what I think is the most convincing argument: Our bodies are fascinating and built to fight off intruders. With a little vitamin C, zinc, and rest, the flu virus might be destroyed before it does any real damage.

But then, I also know people who get the flu shot every year and never have any problems with it. They say they have suffered from the flu before and never want to go through that again; the risk of getting the shot is better than the risk of getting the flu.

With so many different views on the flu shot, what is a worrywart to do?

Copyright © 2011

Picky Eater

“What does this look like?” My friend, Kim, delicately picked at her salad as she asked the question.

My friend, Amber, and I looked at each other uneasy before our eyes darted to her salad. The object in question did not look like lettuce or any other vegetable. What set it apart from the usual salad contents was the eyes. Yes, eyes. Oh, and the antennas.

She carefully removed the insect from the salad and laid it on the table. After a closer examination, we determined that it was a grasshopper.

Several days ago I had a similar experience as I sipped soup from one of my favorite restaurants. First, I found what I thought was an eyelash and removed it from the soup. I told myself not to panic because it very well could have been mine. Plus, I was so hungry and my lunch break was nearing its end. Then, a couple of minutes later, I discovered a dead insect in the soup. That’s when I put the top back on the container and threw it away.

Now, most people probably never would have found the insect in the soup. It was tiny and very well could have been mistaken for one of the soup’s ingredients. As a worrywart, though, I take the label “picky eater” to another level and examine my food before I eat it.

I’ve tried to trace this obsession with ensuring my food is safe to eat, and I think I’ve traced it. About ten years ago, my friend, Rosie, and I were eating at a restaurant where I had a fish sandwich. After I had a few bites, I noticed fuzz on the bread. There was just not one piece, but so much of it that Rosie and I joked that there must be such a thing as “hairy bread.”

I casually pushed this incident aside, thinking that it was an isolated incident. Soon afterwards, I noticed - without even really looking - that pieces of fuzz can be found on food at many restaurants. Which types of food do I normally notice fuzz on? Bread, chips, and French fries - unfortunately, the food I crave when I’m starving.

I know that fuzz and dust particles are constantly swarming in the air and there’s nothing we can do about it, but it just makes you wonder: How long has the food been sitting out if there was enough time for pieces of fuzz to fall on it? I know I’m a picky eater, but I really don’t want to be eating fuzz or dust along with my French fries. Doesn’t sound very appetizing or healthy.

I also know it may seem like a silly thing to worry about to some people, but I don’t want to ingest something that might make me sick or harm my body. As far as I know, I’ve never actually gotten sick from the food I eat, but the possibility’s out there. And if there’s one question that nags at worrywarts, it’s this: “What if?”


P.S. - A few days ago, it only snowed a little and didn’t stick to the roads. After I wrote the previous blog, I still worried about the snow affecting my plans. Then, the day before the snow showers, the weather report showed that the snow would be cleared out by the next morning.

I could have continued worrying about the snow sticking to the ground and making the roadways slick, but I didn’t. I kept telling myself that everything would work out, and it did! It was great not having that added load on my back!

Copyright © 2011

Draining Worries

Water gushed from the top of the water heater. A pool of liquid began to form in the containment pan beneath it.

It was only a matter of time before the pan would overflow, eventually soaking the hardwood floors.

“What are we going to do?” I asked my husband as he calmly evaluated the situation.

“We’ll have to call a plumber,” he answered.

It was nearing midnight, but I insisted that we call one right away. After speaking to two plumbers, it was determined that we needed to turn off the heater as soon as possible - and that a plumber would not be able to fix our water heater until the next morning.

How were we going to take a shower? Brush our teeth? Use the toilet?

My husband decided to turn on the water for only five minutes. Just enough time for me to take a quick - very quick - shower and fill a couple of bottles with water. Thus, the crisis was slightly averted  - until the next day.

Turns out the water heater needed to be replaced instead of fixed, which was going to take longer and more money. My husband wasn’t worried, though. While he had never installed a water heater before, he just knew he could do it.

I, on the other hand, had doubts and began to worry. What could possibly go wrong? I wasn’t exactly sure, but I just knew there was something that could go wrong! He ignored my suggestions of calling a plumber, and lo and behold, my brilliant husband successfully installed the water heater!

The next day at work, Todd called me.

“Hey,” he said. “Remember that time you didn’t think I’d be able to install the water heater and I did?”

I couldn’t help laughing at his joke - and myself. Lesson learned: have more faith that situations will work out for the good.

I’m going to try to put this lesson to good use, too. It could snow again later this week. Instead of dwelling on how the snow could affect my plans, I’m going to try to think positive. This week, it will not snow!

Or, if it does, it will only be a little.

Copyright © 2011

Why I May Never Visit Australia

Here I am at the U.S. Open in 2005.

Every January I find myself watching the Australian Open and wishing I could be there, enjoying the warmth Down Under.

In fact, one of my dreams is to attend every Grand Slam: the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open. I’ve traveled to France and England, but unfortunately, I wasn’t visiting those countries during the tennis tournaments. I have been to the U.S. Open in New York, though, so only three more Grand Slams to go! (Actually, I’ve been to New York City twice, and do I have some stories from those trips that would make for some good blog posts!)

But back to the Australian Open. Since this tournament is located on the other side of the world, I fear my dream of visiting every Grand Slam will never come true. Yes, the expense and ability to take a significant number of vacation days from work are important factors in whether such a lofty trip would be possible, but there’s one other factor I consider when I dream about traveling to Australia.

Blood clots.

Yes, blood clots.

Several years ago I heard a story on the news about a woman who died after a long flight to Australia. The cause of death? A blood clot.

Well, as you can imagine, I freaked out when I heard the news. I immediately turned to my computer and searched everything I could find about blood clots and how to prevent them. You would think that learning the facts (i.e., not staying immobile on long flights helps to prevent blood clots) would comfort me, but instead, it caused me to worry even more. Why? Because sometimes there’s just nothing you can do to prevent them, and sometimes the symptoms don’t appear until it’s too late. Go ahead. Google “blood clots,” and you may become as worried as I am about them (sorry if I’m giving other worrywarts more to worry about!).

So now, even when I’m on a two-hour flight, I make sure I get up and move around the plane at least once. I even roll my ankles at my seat, just for safe measure. If I take these kinds of measures on a two-hour or eight-hour flight, can you imagine what I would do traveling to Australia? Heck, I’ve even been rolling my ankles while sitting here typing this blog!

Last year I did get some worrisome news when I went to the doctor. Supposedly, one of my legs has a vascular condition. Of course, I asked the doctor if it could lead to a blood clot, and he assured me that it wouldn’t lead to that. I still can’t help worrying about it, though.

But maybe if I did go to Australia I would stop worrying so much about everything. During the Australian Open, the sports commentators kept saying that Australia is the land of “no worries.” I like the sound of that.

Now, if I could just get there safely...

Copyright © 2011