Always an interesting read, but this one gets a big eye roll. ‘Man flu’ is real. My husband of 53 years is currently nursing a cold and acting like it’s Ebola. As usual he’ll get my sympathy, help, lesser workload, etc but this cold doesn’t warrant the disabled list.
Leslie, I agree. Please see my response to Mary below. I suspect that if men had menstrual cramps, developing effective treatment would be a priority for medical research and funding. Women are accustomed to working when we feel like crap, and we might righteously roll our eyes those who seem wimpy compared to our expected standards.
I am thankful God has allowed me to be "generally healthy." My wife passed away at 85, giving us 62 years of togetherness. I am now 87, still volunteering at a food bank on three different days of the week, working in my son's yard, lawn, and garden when it is not raining, looking forward to even fishing some this spring. I feel good but have a harder time getting up when I am working on my knees in the yard. Life is a gift of God, but each needs to do what is best for their body. May each of us try to live in a manner that pleases God. God bless you and your writing.
I hope you are following the interesting research on sex difference immune responses that has been highlighted in the search for long COVID treatments. Males can have a much more severe response to the acute infection yet lower risk for post "long" syndromes. Whereas women appear to have a milder acute infection yet are at higher risk for post acute "chronic" or even autoimmunity. (Look at the work of Sabra Klein, Petter Brodin, Michal Tal).
Perhaps the "man flu" is telling us something. The need for lots of rest is giving the immune system what it needs to overcome the infection.
Great article as usual, I did not know that there was such a thing as “man flu” however I am a Boomer in my late 60s and I think it is just another stupid social construct from the feminist movement and insulting to men. The flu is the flu is the flu. I think all the points that you made in your article about when men are sick are spot on. I will tell you my personal pet peeve though. As a nurse with 44 years of experience, I get annoyed when I point out things to my husband about his health or things that I am observing that are detrimental to his well-being and he blows me off. We women, by and large, are really effective and empathetic caretakers. We are also accustomed to shoving our own pain and discomfort down, because we have to take care of children or maybe older adults who depend on us. We do this during pregnancy and while recovering from childbirth, when we are sick ourselves while trying to take care of sick children, or when we’re getting up and taking care of our family and our homes when we were up the night before nursing a baby every hour. I think that’s where some of the resentment comes in when men get sick and take a complete (and likely legitimate) break from all of their responsibilities . I would love to hear some thoughts from your readers.
Mary, I think women, in general, become adept at ignoring our own needs, and at meeting our daily obligations, even when we are suffering debilitating pain. As a young teenager in the mid-1960's, I had menstrual cramps so painful that I would vomit, but my doctor told me to just take Midol, and accept the pain as part of being a woman. He didn't offer any effective relief, but told me it would likely get better after I had a baby - not much comfort to a 13-year-old! So I learned at an early age to push through pain and power on, without expecting help or sympathy. I barely missed a day of work through 2 pregnancies, and after childbirth, I took light duty for a week, until (physically and emotionally exhausted, with anemia from blood loss, episiotomy stitches, and still bleeding postpartum), I resumed taking care of others. So I think you are correct in labeling the "man flu" issue as resentment that men often are able to focus on their own needs when they are sick, while women often power through, neglecting their own needs, and WITHOUT RECEIVING TRUE APPRECIATION for what it really costs us to keep going through pain and exhaustion, in order to care for others. Knowing that your efforts and sacrifices are not truly appreciated is a recipe for resentment.
Always an interesting read, but this one gets a big eye roll. ‘Man flu’ is real. My husband of 53 years is currently nursing a cold and acting like it’s Ebola. As usual he’ll get my sympathy, help, lesser workload, etc but this cold doesn’t warrant the disabled list.
Leslie, I agree. Please see my response to Mary below. I suspect that if men had menstrual cramps, developing effective treatment would be a priority for medical research and funding. Women are accustomed to working when we feel like crap, and we might righteously roll our eyes those who seem wimpy compared to our expected standards.
I am thankful God has allowed me to be "generally healthy." My wife passed away at 85, giving us 62 years of togetherness. I am now 87, still volunteering at a food bank on three different days of the week, working in my son's yard, lawn, and garden when it is not raining, looking forward to even fishing some this spring. I feel good but have a harder time getting up when I am working on my knees in the yard. Life is a gift of God, but each needs to do what is best for their body. May each of us try to live in a manner that pleases God. God bless you and your writing.
I enjoy reading your article. And have to smile. Ok, I will give my husband a break!
I hope you are following the interesting research on sex difference immune responses that has been highlighted in the search for long COVID treatments. Males can have a much more severe response to the acute infection yet lower risk for post "long" syndromes. Whereas women appear to have a milder acute infection yet are at higher risk for post acute "chronic" or even autoimmunity. (Look at the work of Sabra Klein, Petter Brodin, Michal Tal).
Perhaps the "man flu" is telling us something. The need for lots of rest is giving the immune system what it needs to overcome the infection.
Great article as usual, I did not know that there was such a thing as “man flu” however I am a Boomer in my late 60s and I think it is just another stupid social construct from the feminist movement and insulting to men. The flu is the flu is the flu. I think all the points that you made in your article about when men are sick are spot on. I will tell you my personal pet peeve though. As a nurse with 44 years of experience, I get annoyed when I point out things to my husband about his health or things that I am observing that are detrimental to his well-being and he blows me off. We women, by and large, are really effective and empathetic caretakers. We are also accustomed to shoving our own pain and discomfort down, because we have to take care of children or maybe older adults who depend on us. We do this during pregnancy and while recovering from childbirth, when we are sick ourselves while trying to take care of sick children, or when we’re getting up and taking care of our family and our homes when we were up the night before nursing a baby every hour. I think that’s where some of the resentment comes in when men get sick and take a complete (and likely legitimate) break from all of their responsibilities . I would love to hear some thoughts from your readers.
Mary, I think women, in general, become adept at ignoring our own needs, and at meeting our daily obligations, even when we are suffering debilitating pain. As a young teenager in the mid-1960's, I had menstrual cramps so painful that I would vomit, but my doctor told me to just take Midol, and accept the pain as part of being a woman. He didn't offer any effective relief, but told me it would likely get better after I had a baby - not much comfort to a 13-year-old! So I learned at an early age to push through pain and power on, without expecting help or sympathy. I barely missed a day of work through 2 pregnancies, and after childbirth, I took light duty for a week, until (physically and emotionally exhausted, with anemia from blood loss, episiotomy stitches, and still bleeding postpartum), I resumed taking care of others. So I think you are correct in labeling the "man flu" issue as resentment that men often are able to focus on their own needs when they are sick, while women often power through, neglecting their own needs, and WITHOUT RECEIVING TRUE APPRECIATION for what it really costs us to keep going through pain and exhaustion, in order to care for others. Knowing that your efforts and sacrifices are not truly appreciated is a recipe for resentment.