# I'm back at work for the first time since I got sick ... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 15, 2015, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-back-at-work-for-the-first-time-since-i-got-sick/717733 "2015-04-15T14:21:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-back-at-work-for-the-first-time-since-i-got-sick/717733/1 "2015-04-15T14:21:21Z")
… and I’m already exhausted. It’s only been two hours. I don’t feel sick exactly, but just reading reports has taken all my energy. Any advice other than mainlining coffee? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-back-at-work-for-the-first-time-since-i-got-sick/717733/2 "2015-04-15T14:27:21Z")
Ease into it slowly. Take your time. Do the easy stuff at first, like catching up on email. You don’t need to be at full speed for a while yet. ETA: And take care of yourself. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-back-at-work-for-the-first-time-since-i-got-sick/717733/3 "2015-04-15T14:46:27Z")
I don’t think that caffeine will help you at this point. In fact it might make it worse by making your heart race and nothing else move faster. Just do what you can and realize it’ll take a little time to get back to what you feel is normal productivity. If your superiors find that unacceptable then they need to let you take more time off. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-back-at-work-for-the-first-time-since-i-got-sick/717733/4 "2015-04-15T14:49:27Z")
What did they finally diagnose you with? Are they okay with you returning to work so soon? Pushing through discomfort and exhaustion does the opposite of promoting healing, as I assume you are aware. Aren’t you cruising to end up back in hospital? (Impatient as I was to recover from my hospital stay, the prospect of having to return there, acted as a huge deterrent to pushing myself through exhaustion.) ---
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-back-at-work-for-the-first-time-since-i-got-sick/717733/5 "2015-04-15T15:17:23Z")
Viciously berate someone, then fire them. Now is not the time to show weakness, done properly, they’ll fear you unto their dying day! And it’ll give you a little pick me up. 🙂 (glad you’re getting better) ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-back-at-work-for-the-first-time-since-i-got-sick/717733/6 "2015-04-15T16:15:58Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > What did they finally diagnose you with? Are they okay with you returning to work so soon? > > Pushing through discomfort and exhaustion does the opposite of promoting healing, as I assume you are aware. > > Aren’t you cruising to end up back in hospital? (Impatient as I was to recover from my hospital stay, the prospect of having to return there, acted as a huge deterrent to pushing myself through exhaustion.) It was an infection of some antibiotic resistant bacteria. Can’t spell it. I called a staff meeting so my managers can bring me up to speed on what I’ve missed. Soon as it’s done I’m calling a cab and going home. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-back-at-work-for-the-first-time-since-i-got-sick/717733/7 "2015-04-15T16:50:23Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I called a staff meeting so my managers can bring me up to speed on what I’ve missed. Soon as it’s done I’m calling a cab and going home. I was going to suggest just that. Can you possibly do another few half-days? That will get you to Friday, and you can then rest up over the weekend. ---
**Author:** ![jayrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@jayrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayrey)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-back-at-work-for-the-first-time-since-i-got-sick/717733/8 "2015-04-15T16:52:45Z")
> [@GrumpyBunny](#): > > I was going to suggest just that. Can you possibly do another few half-days? That will get you to Friday, and you can then rest up over the weekend. Yes, yes, yes. Start slowly, a couple of hours a day. Add a hour as you feel yourself getting stronger. If you push too hard, you’ll end up going backwards. I know you already know that, but it never hurts to be reminded. I’m glad you’re back on your feet. Now, go home and put those feet up and rest! ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-back-at-work-for-the-first-time-since-i-got-sick/717733/9 "2015-04-15T16:56:46Z")
Hey, congratulations! Not about the exhaustion of course, but about getting a start back on life. You had us worried there for awhile. Anyway, as others have said, ease back into it. You’ve been on a rough ride. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-back-at-work-for-the-first-time-since-i-got-sick/717733/10 "2015-04-15T17:58:10Z")
You’ve just been in a fight for your life, which is always exhausting. Worse, it was presumably won by pumping your body full of poison and winning by attrition. Now that you’re over the disease, you have to recover from the cure. Your body is spending a lot of energy behind the scenes to fix stuff and clean up the mess. Resting is the best way to help it get on with the job. I’d guess that both the illness and the treatment also knocked your guts for a serious loop. You may not be getting as much out of your food and drink as you’re used to, and that might also be affecting your energy level. Maybe check with your doctor to see if there’s anything special you should be eating (if they haven’t already made recommendations)? Be nice to your intestinal allies–they’ve had a rough time, too. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-back-at-work-for-the-first-time-since-i-got-sick/717733/11 "2015-04-15T18:13:05Z")
Close the office door and escape out the window. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-back-at-work-for-the-first-time-since-i-got-sick/717733/12 "2015-04-15T18:31:58Z")
I’d just echo the advice of those above, and wish you ever-better health and increasing energy, O mighty **Skald**. > [@Loach](#): > > Close the office door and escape out the window. Yes. And use the jetpack you concealed behind the drapes. What else is it there for, anyway? ---
**Author:** ![excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e8c25b/32.png) [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/excavating_for_a_mind)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-back-at-work-for-the-first-time-since-i-got-sick/717733/13 "2015-04-15T21:39:16Z")
Don’t go in in the morning, if you can help it. Go in after lunch. Everyone else will have begun to slow a bit and you will be fresh. If you go in at 1:30, it’s easy to just put in half a day. If you go in at 8:00, you’ll be there all day. That’s what the doc told me when I hurt my back so bad that I could barely walk. He was right. When I tried to leave early, somebody always stopped in or something always came up. When I went in after lunch, everyone was in a good mood and most of the daily crises had already occurred. Glad you’re back. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-back-at-work-for-the-first-time-since-i-got-sick/717733/14 "2015-04-15T21:47:26Z")
Half days are the way to ease back into work. At least for the first week back. Preferably afternoons. Glad to hear you’re feeling better. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-back-at-work-for-the-first-time-since-i-got-sick/717733/15 "2015-04-16T00:36:03Z")
Joining in the advice above and adding my gladness that you’re --------- feeling better. (I nearly said “almost normal” and then I remembered who we’re talking about 😃 ) ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-back-at-work-for-the-first-time-since-i-got-sick/717733/16 "2015-04-16T00:50:13Z")
I eased back in after those 4 days in the hospital and surgery recovery back in 2013. Two weeks of afternoon half-days. No rushing in the morning and better traffic made it much easier to re-adjust and be productive. Glad you’re better! ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-back-at-work-for-the-first-time-since-i-got-sick/717733/17 "2015-04-16T13:28:59Z")
Glad you’re back! Best wishes! ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-back-at-work-for-the-first-time-since-i-got-sick/717733/18 "2015-04-16T15:47:42Z")
Glad to hear it, **Skald**! Be sure to pace yourself and listen to your body. Keep on getting better! ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-back-at-work-for-the-first-time-since-i-got-sick/717733/19 "2015-04-16T16:11:16Z")
Thanks for the good advice, everyone. Yesterday kicked my ass sufficiently that I’m not trying again until Monday, and it’ll have to be afternoons only for a while. Too tired to post. Ciao. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-back-at-work-for-the-first-time-since-i-got-sick/717733/20 "2015-04-16T16:31:28Z")
rest up and get your strength up for work. rest up for here too. i expect a poll with recipe option. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-back-at-work-for-the-first-time-since-i-got-sick/717733.md?page=2)