Because I am still All The Sick

[commodorified]

Poll #17162 The Worst

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 75

View Respondents

What is Ther Worst Viral Thing? (Based on personal loathing, not actual/potential severity)

View Answers

Head cold, the runny kind
5 (6.7%)

Sinus cold, the stuffy kind
9 (12.0%)

Tonsils/strep
6 (8.0%)

Chest cold
6 (8.0%)

Stomach bug
27 (36.0%)

Influenza (get your flu shot, everyone!)
22 (29.3%)

ETA: "stomach bug" includes viruses causing *both* kinds of digestive distress. Possibly I ought to have said "digestive system" rather than "stomach", but I am the sort of person who would rather clean up after Norovirus for a week than discuss the topic for ten minutes, sorry.

Comments

Harimad here

[(Anonymous)]

For the proportion of [misery] to [actual illness + how sick you seem to others], stuffy head cold wins. You feel loggy and spaced out and fuzzy, but to the rest of the world there's nothing wrong.

My untreated strep actually felt worse than my untreated pneumonia, at least during the active phase. The utter misery of sandpaper dry and uber sensitive throat tissues was terrible. OTOH, it takes 4-6 months to fully recover from pneumonia, so it may not be a clear win.

If you do insist on working your cold into a full-blown case of pneumonia (and stupidly getting 75% of your office sick while you're at it), I strongly recommend being a guest in a high-end hotel while it happens. So, so responsive and an infinite supply of hot water.