Live from the St. James Infirmary

[constance]

*SCREAMS*
*RUNS AROUND IN LITTLE CIRCLES*

About an hour ago, we got a message from our HR department telling us that someone in our company has tested positive for TB and is awaiting test results to discover whether whether the infection is active or not. So we have every last one of us spent the last hour by (1) speculating on who it could possibly be, (2) becoming as expert as possible in the space of one hour, and (3) PANICKING OMFG ARE WE GOING TO BE QUARANTINED I AM CRAMMED INTO A BARELY-AIR-CONDITIONED DISEASE INCUBATOR FOR EIGHT HOURS EVERY SATURDAY I HAVE A SON WITH ASTHMA MY KIDS JUST WENT BACK TO SCHOOL OMG OMG OMG.

From a practical standpoint, considering who everyone thinks it probably is, there's not much chance that my department will be infected. But still there is this small part of everyone in the building which is saying to them, right at this minute, NO REALLY I AM GOING TO DIE JUST LIKE CAMILLE COUGHING BLOOD DELICATELY INTO MY HANKIE HOLY SHIT I AM TOO YOUNG TO DIE.

So. How's your day going?

Comments

[coco-palmolive.livejournal.com]

You know, ever after I read Sontag's Illness as Metaphor, I always wanted TB. Aside from the blood-coughing, she made it seem really rather old-school glamorous.

Are they going to keep you penned up there until they find out????

[coco-palmolive.livejournal.com]

Also. MAYBE IT IS YOU.

[laurelwood.livejournal.com]

But remember Ruby Gillis in one of the Anne of Green Gables sequels? She was described as having such a lovely complexion- snowy pale with a "hectic flush" and glittering eyes. You'd be omgcoughcoughdying, but you'd be picturesque!

Also, how utterly weird that I'm on my way right now to get TB tested (because I'll be coming into contact with the nation's children and it's imperative that I prove that I'm not bristling with disease!). Best of luck that you get a clean bill of health. I'm standing by, though, in case you need anyone to wipe your brow with a hankie dipped in rosewater and read to you out of a book of poetry as you languish on a chaise longue amidst the summer's roses.

[somniesperus.livejournal.com]

*coughs delicately*

[alkaloid.livejournal.com]

As I understand it, the biggest problem with TB in this day and age is making sure patients finish their medicine?

*smokes inappropriately*

[dahlia-777.livejournal.com]

Oh dear. How scary. Quarantine sounds bad all by itself. Hope you are OK.

[sunkentreasure.livejournal.com]

I know a girl who tests positive for TB, and has all her life, but has neve shown any symptoms. Never shown symptoms to the point that she's been through med school and is a doctor now. I don't understand.

[font.livejournal.com]

Yikes. I hope that you are safe and well as always, and I hope that your coworker has a relatively easy time of it, and at least gets some small intellectual pleasure from the whole ordeal. You will let us know when you find out if you will need us to keep the shades perpetually drawn from now on, yes?