long weekend

Most of this weekend I've spent in bed, but not even remotely in a good way. Looks like my good luck could only hold out so long, because I finally got sick. Of course, getting sick is always the making of a perfect storm. I suspect the agents to blame are: absurd 180 change in weather (went from 80s to 40s), spring allergies, examination time and exam-related stress.

We had a histology exam on Friday morning at the ungodly hour of 8AM, and I tried my best not to hack my lungs out in front of the computer during the exam. Fortunately, I was sitting in the front of the computer lab so I probably missed my classmates' many death glares.

Which leads me to my next epiphany about medicine and medical students. Medical students hate getting sick. We dread it. We pray it won't happen to us. We avoid it, well... like the plague.

Imagine the following scenario, which I've seen go down countless times since October:

Student #1: Hey! How are you doing?

Student #2: Oh you know, I'm doing okay. Well actually not so good. I think I'm getting sick. *sniffle or cough*

Student #1: (Taking a GIANT, indecent step backwards.) Oh really? That's... really awful. (Still moving away.) Well... hope you feel better soon! (Disappears around the corner.)

(The funniest thing is when this exchange happens in an elevator!)

Okay, so I have been both Student #1 and Student #2 in these scenarios, and each time I feel perversely guilty for being either character. As the sick person I feel bad showing up for class and potentially getting others sick. As the healthy person, I feel bad for running away from a sick classmate. Okay, so maybe my friend doesn't need me to nurse them back to health, but surely I can do the decent thing and stick around to talk with them and offer some help?

The worst case of this pathetic scenario I've experienced happened a few months ago. I have a med student friend who comes over every single week for a weekly lab meeting. This one particular week, I was in rapid recovery from a bad sore throat. It was an acute sore throat, with no other associated symptoms.

This particular afternoon as my friend entered the living room, Andrei also came out of our room and asked me if my throat was feeling any better and if he could get me some tea. My friend was in the middle of putting down her backpack when she heard this, and she literally froze. Then she wheeled around and snapped, "Xu! Why didn't you tell me you were sick!"

I think my mouth must have fallen open. It's just a sore throat, and I feel better, I stammered meekly. "Well still," she said, "you should have told me!"

I was a bit in disbelief. Should I now phone everyone I plan to see the next time my throat hurts? So that they can... take some prophylactic Vitamin C before seeing me? Or avoid me entirely? I was not only confused, but totally offended by this reaction. Suddenly I felt like I was the inconsiderate one.

So here is my bottom line:
We are training to be DOCTORS one day. As in, people who are routinely exposed to microbes of every kind! Bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, MRSA, VRSA, VRE -- we will see all of these AND MORE at the hospitals we will be working.

But most importantly, we will be doctors who (get this!) will be interacting with sick people every single day! Wow, brilliant. So while I understand trying to avoid sick people and attempting to save yourself from a potentially time- and energy-draining recovery from being sick... realize that sick people are people too.

And besides, you'll look like a total asshole to the sick friend or patient you're running away from.