When to go back to work?

[cjsmith]

If you have a cold and you feel not-100%-rotten but not-100%-healthy, when do you decide it's time to go back to work?

I'd been thinking that as soon as I don't have a fever any more, it's reasonable to go back. 99.6 this morning, so by that standard I'm still home.

Rob saw his doctor this morning & randomly asked about "the cold with a lot of coughing" that's going around. The doctor said "Yeah, I've had that for two months."

Comments

[genderfur.livejournal.com]

Well, when you're mostly better, you're essentially (but not completely) non-contagious. And when you're getting sick, you're incredibly contagious. And when you're actively sick, you shouldn't go to work because you'll pick up even more germies from the bathroom door handle.

And what amywithani said, yo. Are you having that not-very-high fever in the *morning*? Yer still sick, dude.

(Don't you get lightheaded when you have a fever? I know I do.)

(Later on, when you're well, take your temperature 3 times a day for 3 days running, and you'll know more for next time. We all have our own "normal" temps, and we all start the day on the cool side too.)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Yep, in the morning. My temp doesn't jump much as the day gets going -- well, when I'm healthy, anyway. I have no idea what the pattern is now that I'm sick. (Took temp again a couple hours ago & it was the same as this morn.)

Oddly, I don't always get the symptoms people associate with fever, even when my fever is high. When I hit 103.8 a couple of years ago all I felt was tired. Other times I get the whole set of stuff: aches, lightheadedness, and feeling too hot or too cold. I just never know. (This time: tired. Lots of tired.)

[nosrednayduj]

Don't forget when you're establishing your baseline that women jump half a degree when they ovulate and drop back down when they start their period. My baseline is like 97.0 (first half), so even 98.6 is a fever for me!