Still Sick

[rowyn]

I'm still sick, which seems to be about as far as my mind can get for things to write. I've got another five minutes or so left on my lunch break, though, so I'm trying to think of something worth setting down. You'll be the first to know if I come up with anything.

I've been drinking a lot of hot tea for the last twenty-four hours or so, since when I'm sick, hot tea -- or even just hot water -- is about the only thing I can stand. The trouble with tea, though, is that it spends way too long at the wrong temperatures. It's too hot for the first half hour, and too cold after an hour and a half. As soon as I finish one cup, I make another, but there's still this long period of waiting for it to steep and cool until I can really gulp it down again. Sigh.

That used up my five minutes. Guess I didn't come up with anything. Better luck next entry!

Oh, wait, I did think of something I wanted to ask: Is a cold contagious before you show symptoms, or only after? Or does that vary from cold bug to bug?

Comments

[gen.livejournal.com]

I am truly starting to believe that a cold is contagious wheveter it damn well wants to be ;)

[zaimoni.livejournal.com]

Oh, wait, I did think of something I wanted to ask: Is a cold contagious before you show symptoms, or only after? Or does that vary from cold bug to bug?

I would think it varies.

There are over 200 known cold viruses :( Worse, no more than 70% of colds have a diagnosable virus.

Orthomyxovirus cold viruses are closely related to influenza A/B. The flu is infectious 3-4 days before the first symptom.

SARS may be considered a coronavirus Supercold. It seems powerless to infect anyone (from another human) before its first symptoms appear. [Alas, infectious carnivores have no visible symptoms]

[ltwarhound.livejournal.com]

Sounds like we need to track down a mug 'hotplate' for you, I found those to be less annoying than the heating elements you put in the drink.

[kelloggs2066.livejournal.com]

Hope you feel better soon!

[caffeinewabbit.livejournal.com]

To my knowledge, viral infections are contagious at any time you're a carrier - meaning both before and after the symptoms show up. For some infections, you can continue to be a carrier for a short time even after you've beat the infection.

On that note: Get Better! :)

On Colds and Contagion

[telnar.livejournal.com]

My vague recollection (from a low quality source) is that the peak in one's ability to transmit a cold occurs well before the peak level of symptoms.

[minor-architect.livejournal.com]

The trouble with tea, though, is that it spends way too long at the wrong temperatures. It's too hot for the first half hour, and too cold after an hour and a half.

You have just neatly summarized my mother's own complaint with hot tea. I, on the other hand, take after my father, and am able to slurp down hot drinks with hardly a complaint. Every time he drinks coffee it seems to be scalding. What an odd skill to have. ;-)

[rowyn]

I envy you your m4d l33t tea-drinking skillz, you know. I think my tongue is permanently scalded from this past week of drinking too-hot liquids. :)