Poll of the Day > Con crud post-Worldcon

(+) Yeah! (+)

So, Worldcon in Dublin was brilliant...but now I feel like somebody ran me over repeatedly, and it seems I have full-blown flu as my version of con crud. *shivering with fever* So. How bad have you ever had post-con infections etc? And how many people did you interact with closely enough to catch their germs?

There were about 6,000 people at Worldcon; I can't tolerate more than that really, but between them, the ferries & the hotel (though that was quite a good one), I feel really awful just now. Sigh.
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what?
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I had a minor bout after GenCon, but never too bad. I had about one day of feeling really crappy and then it was mostly just an annoying cough.

My wife has twice ended up with bronchitis after cons.

rjsilverthorn posted...

I had a minor bout after GenCon, but never too bad. I had about one day of feeling really crappy and then it was mostly just an annoying cough.

My wife has twice ended up with bronchitis after cons.

Ouch! Bronchitis is decidedly not fun, I sympathise. With my underlying problems the one time I've had that ended in my dislocating both shoulders and a couple of ribs every time I coughed. Thankfully, I wasn't living alone at the time -- unlike now.

I felt bad yesterday, but today I'm so damned sick that I suspect I'll wind up in hospital by tomorrow afternoon at the latest. I can just about keep down sips of water and liquid morphine, and stave off adding opiate withdrawal to the mix, but I can't swallow anything solid at all, and between a badly upset stomach and the fever I'm fighting, I seriously considered taking my bedding to sleep on the bathroom floor for the coolness and proximity. The big problem is that I have dysautonomia as one of my underlying chronic illnesses, and dehydration is blackout territory for that. Worrying.

It's peculiar though, I seem to be the only one in the convention Facebook group to have been dosed this badly this time.

@Lorthremar - Con crud is the convention-goers' nickname for the colds, coughs & flu many people pick up after closely interacting with a big group of people from all over the world. It's rather like freshers' flu. I don't usually get it this badly; last time I was in hospital as an in-patient was 6 years ago, and the last bout of flu, last year, was combined with sinusitis and a double ear infection. I'm just grateful I don't get it often, but I wondered how many others catch con crud on a regular or semi-regular basis.

(Also, this is the longest & most coherent post I've written anywhere all day.)
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never been to a convention
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Now that I think about it, I've never been sick during or because of a con. And I've been going to several a year for years now.
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Have never heard anyone call it con crud. It's always con flu. Do they call Influenza crud over there?
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Zareth posted...

Have never heard anyone call it con crud. It's always con flu. Do they call Influenza crud over there?

I've never heard of it referred to as con flu.

Zareth posted...

Have never heard anyone call it con crud. It's always con flu. Do they call Influenza crud over there?

Not generally. I've only ever heard it called "con crud", at British and European events, though Worldcons tend to have a more international member mix.
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Phew, home from hospital this afternoon and glad of it. Though now I apparently have to deal with an infestation of fruit flies in my apartment instead. Damn them!
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