Sick – PhDStudent

I’m sick…I have the flu. Okay, well, I don’t anymore, but a week ago I did.
My mind automatically wonders back to a conversation I had a few weeks back with my clinical supervisor…

“You know, John, the hospital provides free flu shots for everyone who sees patients here.”
“You know, I haven’t had the flu since I was 9 years old; I think I’ll be fine.”
“You’ve never worked in a hospita.”

So at 5:00 am when my alarm went off, I only had the strength to text my grad school BFF to let her know I wouldn’t be in class.Then it was back to bed.I can sleep it off, right?I’ll be better by noon with enough time to finish the reading and go to my night class.Next thing I know, it’s 6:30 p, an hour after class started, still sick.Text friend, back to sleep.I have omitted the vomit related details.

Next day, repeat.

Next day, still sick. At this point I haven’t eaten or gotten out of bed.Come evening, I had enough strength to text my best friend.“Have the flu…need fluids.”An hour later, my bestie came to my rescue with a flu survival kit: orange juice, Pedialyte, and a variety of pills and vitamins. I swallow the pills down with a Pedialyte, and it was back to bed.

Next day.The room was no longer spinning.My stomach no longer churning.And my only complaint was that my body physically ached.At this point, it was Sunday, so I had no where I needed to be.I attempted to do some work, and was able to get about three hours in before I was back curled up on the couch.

Next day it was Monday.Missed class in the morning.Back to work in the afternoon. After that it was no choice but to force myself back into my routine schedule.So just like that, it was back to 10-12 hour work days 6 days week.

Being sick in the real world can be inconvenient, but it is not the end of the world.Your work was either covered or it waited for you to get back.If you’re lucky, you had some sick time saved up so you wouldn’t even suffer financially for being out (another key difference is that in the real world, Saturday and Sunday don’t typically require 10-12 hours of work a day, so there is nothing to worry about there).

Being sick in graduation school is a completely different ball game.First, it’s hard enough to stay afloat, just imagine what loosing 50 hours of work during the busiest time of the semester. Second, the deadlines don’t change, and that 50 hours of work need to be done now! And the 60 hours worth of work that you had scheduled for the week you return also must get done this week. Ugh! I think I’m gonna call in sick tomorrow, so I can catch up on all this work.