I know I've been scarce, and you all have been tolerant of my absence because you know I am settling into my new job. Perhaps you may be wondering how it's going?
There are some good things. I am, as you predicted, learning. There is a lot to acquire; a great deal of information is crammed into my head on a daily basis. But at least I am beginning to internalize some of the details. I have accordingly enjoyed a few successes--small but significant to me, nonetheless. These show me that I am actually getting somewhere. I am making progress, which is always encouraging.
Today, though, was a bad day, my friends. Those of you who read my first post on my new job, know that I must travel far, which includes walking a long time through extremely cold weather. The strain of this exhausting travel, coupled with the natural stress that comes with learning a new job (especially one far outside your knowledge base), made me vulnerable to the notorious cold; and as I am an asthmatic, these factors are particularly problematic.
A fine example is today's horrid incident, wherein I experienced a coughing fit that resulted in an inability to breathe. To put it simply, I quite nearly lost control. Shortly after commencing my lunch hour, I hastened from the lunch room into the washroom, where I hoped to stabilize my breathing. But this did not happen. I continued to wheeze, growing worse with every second, and at last I was forced to expose myself, for I needed to fetch my Advair medication from my bag. My face felt hot and flushed. Tears were pouring out of my eyes, and my nose ran, as I gasped and struggled for breath. After managing to take the Advair (a kind of puffer), I felt my airways open a bit; but my chest hurt terribly and I had a wretched headache, no doubt gained from a struggle that was not yet over. My supervisor and trainer were alarmed and wanted to know if they should call anyone. I refused. Instead I went to the board room where I sat on the floor until I had calmed down. As I sat, I commenced to shiver uncontrollably, so much so that a co-worker, who spied my tremors, hurriedly fetched my coat and wrap and placed them around my shoulders. I drank water and sat there a full hour past my lunch break. I reclined miserably, lamenting over this horrible occurence and what my supervisor must think.
Many people, including my supervisor, suggested I go home, but I refused. I figured that this was the real world, that I could not expect accomodations without cost. I loathed the idea of appearing sickly and weak. I did not want to seem like an employee who would hurry home when she is ill. I wanted to show some spirit, and I knew I had enough strength remaining. After that hour of rest on the board room floor, I was able to get up again, however hesitantly, and I politely but firmly asked if there were no simple tasks I could do to assist my supervisor, my trainer, or anyone in the department. I could not do much but I was determined to do SOMEthing until it was time for me to leave.
As it was, I ended up departing a half hour early. Mum fetched me from work and drove me straight to my family doctor, who agreed to examine me despite the late hour. I was prescribed another puffer, on top of the Advair. And now I am home, fully medicated and positively fatigued. I feel I cannot move and yet I know I shall. I will get up and go to work tomorrow,if I awake and can breathe reasonably well. It was, indeed, a bad day, my friends. But I suppose we all have them.
I just wish mine did not transpire on my first week of work...
2 hours 46 min ago
13 hours 14 min ago
14 hours 1 min ago
18 hours 34 min ago
1 day 2 hours ago
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1 day 7 hours ago