First Time With The "flu"

[loco-ladi]

Well, Its been a long time since I have been sick with the Flu (give or take 5 years)... and I am so NOT prepared...

immediate problems are the headache, temp, aches and pains...

Any solid words of wisdom or should I just shoot myself and put me out of my misery! Right now the shooting myself sounds like the better alternative, I had forgotten how much "fun" this was.

By the way I bleached the screen before hitting send so none of you will get sick

[jerseyangel]

You poor thing I'm just getting over it myself...the last time I caught the flu was in 2003.

I got by on Extra Strength Bufferin, hot tea and lots of rest. I couldn't sleep much at night with all the shivering and congestion, but still rested as much as I could.

The cough has been the worst part of it for me--I've been using Robitussin Honey-Lemon cough drops and Robitussin DL Cough Syrup. I swear, I hate taking any cold meds, and haven't used cough syrup in I can't remember how long, but after a week of coughing day and night, I'd have tried anything! I feel like I was born with this darn cough! Also soothing (but I found not up to flu-strength coughs) is spoonful of honey. And, chewing gum is a good change from cough drops and helps quite a bit, I've found.

Wish I could offer more--keep downing liquids and rest Hope you feel better soon.

[Phyllis28]

No advice, just hope you get better soon.

[BRUMI1968]

Folks around here (Pacific Northwest) swear by Elderberry as a remedy for colds/flu. Lots of folks take it whenever they get exposed to colds, just to be sure. I have a throat spray, but have also taken syrups. Honey upsets my stomach, so I can't do the honey ones, but boy do they taste good. Look for one from Europe. Sorry I forget the name.

[HAK1031]

I'm getting it myself I think I can't remember the last time I had it, I must have been a little kid! But I can't stop shivering and everything hurts...so I'm kinda thinking I've got it. Actually, I might never have had it...I got flu shots a lot bc I used to have bad asthma. At any rate, it's no fun! We can be sick together though!

I love tradicional medicinals throat coat tea with honey. It's really yummy and soothing on the throat because it's made from slippery elm bark. I also use it before vocal auditions and performances it's yumy

[loraleena]

There is a homopathic remedy called Ocsicillium that is supposed to be very helpful if taken in the beginning. I gave it to my son in the fall when he had a 102 fever and he was better in 12 hours. I could not find any last year when I got the flu for the first time since 94. Of course I came down with it on day 3 of my week vacation in Florida. Spent the week in a hotel room bed with 103 fever. The docs gave me tamaflu which helped me get over it quicker. The only reason I took it was in the hopes of salvaging my vacation. But, was still sick the whole time. I would stick with natural stuff like what I mentioned above and Elderberry and Zinc.