Winter is here, and this year I am prepared. I had my first
ever flu shot and (touch wood) so far so good. I am usually pretty good when it
comes to dealing with winter ailments. The Farmer (who is as strong as an ox
and rarely gets ill at all)… not so much.
I am a woman who has survived over 60 weeks of morning
sickness (for which I was hospitalised twice), and I had three natural, drug
free births. So I know all about real pain. And if I say I am sick, then let it
be known that I am truly very sick.
I don't like to complain about being sick either. You just
have to keep putting one foot in front of another. My kids get fed, my house
gets cleaned, the washing gets done... etc. So it's possible that sometimes I
could be sick for over a week and no one might ever know about it.
Which brings me to the dreaded Man-Flu.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with Man-Flu, it works
like this...
1. When ladies get a mild cold, and a man contracts the same
thing, he gets something more akin to a real flu.
2. When you get a real flu (aches and pains, chills etc.)
your partner is bound to be nearly on his death bed when he contracts the same
strain.
3. Even male children/infants/babies are susceptible to
Man-Flu.
It was only very recently that I read about a survey that
had been conducted in Europe that was suggesting that men actually have a lower
pain threshold than women. Which brings some substance into the old "why
do I always seem to contract a more dangerous strain of the flu than you
Jessie?" argument. The Farmer can't help it! He is biologically destined
to always suffer more than me when it comes to the common cold. Mostly Man-Flu
in our house is greeted with eye rolls, groans of self-pity and avoidance.
Mostly. I’m not a complete monster.
Some years ago now, The Farmer fell ill with a suspected
case of Man-Flu. Five days into it all, I was becoming frustrated and edgy. I
was actually a little over it all. I finally dragged hubby into the local
hospital, carefully detailing the 'Man-Flu' symptoms and engaging in a little
friendly banter about how 'surely this attack of Man-Flu has nothing on my 60
weeks of morning sickness!' Two days later, the results were in. Food poisoning.
As it turned out, The Farmer was lucky to have presented at the hospital at
that time, as failure to have done so would have only caused more damage to his
body. His otherwise good health had been his saving grace it seemed.
So now when hubby is 'sick' I am reminded of 'that time that
he nearly died', and how I need to be a little more sympathetic. Until then, my
flu shot, a hot lemon and honey tea, and a turn in front of the wood heater
should be enough to stave off any winter chills.
I have to say I am lucky on the man flu front as my other half doesn't tend to suffer from it and if he is will quietly put himself to bed ... ahhh.
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