Jesus, the flu season

[Aerows]

I've never caught it, but I feel like my bones are aching and my nose is running like a river. Sickness NEVER fells me. Jesus this flu is evil.

I've had a headache for 2 days, and ibuprofen is the only thing keeping the fever back. I've been knocked on my behind.

[Aerows]

1. anyone got any remedies?

I feel like I've been hit by a truck since early yesterday. It hits like a damn freight train.

[HappyMe]

4. Try some TheraFlu.

Keep drinking plenty of water, get under the covers.

[Aerows]

5. I'm FREEZING!

That's the part that sucks. I feel like I can't get warm no matter how many clothes I put on, and I'm wearing two pairs of socks, thermal underwear and pajamas.

[HappyMe]

12. Oh, I'm sorry.

If you have a room mate, an SO or a friend send them to the store -

Chicken broth or soup and crackers
TheraFlu
whatever kind of juice you like
cough medicine (in case that starts)
Advil
some soothing tea, if you like tea

Take care, Aerows.

[Aerows]

16. Already on tea

and broth, and Advil. I can't really take much cough medicine because I'm allergic to one of the ingredients in it.

I have a fever and I'm alternating between freezing, wanting to step into the freezer it is so hot, and then it's freezing again. This is a very unpleasant bout of the flu.

[ananda]

21. That's the normal course of a fever.

Your body is doing very well, just what it's supposed to.

[Aerows]

27. Well that is good news

I alternate between shivering and sweating, but I'm trying to keep myself full of fluids (decaff unsweetened iced tea).

[arthritisR_US]

26. My daughter and I both used a heating blanket

at times and she even took warm baths at times, said it helped warm her up and sooth her aching bones and joints.

The headaches were so nasty that we even resorted to taking T3's for them.

We also did apple cider vinegar and honey.

Please take care

[Aerows]

28. The headache is awful

the freezing my behind off isn't much better. I think a hot bath sounds awesome.

[arthritisR_US]

33. My sister gets migraines and she said the headaches

from this flu were the worse she'd ever had so that says a lot. Everyone I've spoken to mentions the damn headaches.

Steph swore by those baths. How crappy that you have this damn thing! You know my most healing vibes are being sent your way.

[Aerows]

46. I appreciate your healing vibes

I'm really particular about the medicine I can take since I am allergic to many of them. I have to just tough it out when I don't feel well, and well, this qualifies as not feeling well. I wish the damn fever would go away.

[kentauros]

6. Broth made from dried shiitake mushrooms.

At least, that helped me break a fever from 104 down to 99

Also, Earth Clinic for home-remedies

[Aerows]

11. This is awful

I was just saying that I never get sick, and now I have this crap and it has hit me like a brick to the head.

[kentauros]

15. I do get sick sometimes,

such as a nasty cold I, and half the office, got last November. No one here is sick so far, though.

I know that various mushrooms have good healing and immune-system boosting effects. Paul Stamets has written about this for years.

I hope you feel better quickly, once you find a good remedy

[sharp_stick]

10. Not a lot

other than the usual:

Stay as hydrated as you can, if you become dehydrated the symptoms could get worse. A lot of the younger people we'd see in an ER for flu were really dehydrated and could go home as soon as they were pumped full of fluids.

I know it's not really that good but I like Gatorade (sugar free) when I have a sore throat, it seems to go down easily and it replaces some electrolytes.

I prefer Aleve (Naproxen) to Ibuprofen but your mileage may vary.

Try not to do anything and get as much rest as you can.

Hope you feel better soon.

[Aerows]

13. Is dehydration what is causing me to feel like I'm freezing my behind off?

Or is that just the stupid fever?

[sharp_stick]

19. It's probably the fever

Fever and chills are usually your body resetting the thermostat, that's why you get one following the other.

If you've only been sick for a day or two you probably aren't dehydrated yet unless you have diarrhea or are vomiting.

If you can avoid diarrhea or vomiting and can get fluids down you should be able to avoid dehydration.

[Aerows]

24. I drink a lot of unsweetened iced tea

and I think it is helping. I love milk, but I've been told not to drink it when you have the flu, so I have been refraining, and just drinking a lot of tea.

[eShirl]

29. Elderberry (syrup, tea, wine, whatever)

http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20031222/elderberry-fights-flu-symptoms

[RagAss]

55. I use high doses of vitamin D3 for 4 days....

[HappyMe]

2. A guy we know from the bar

healthy 28 yr. old was in the hospital for 2 days with this. It's really bad this year.

[Aerows]

3. I'm the picture of health

and this has surprised me knocking me on my ass completely.

[Rex]

7. Worst flu season eva.

I read that it is not the same strain of flu we are use to each year. Caught it last November and I haven't had the flu in years! At first I thought it was my chronic allergies...until the fever and sweats. I wish I had some good news, I had to ride it out for about 2 weeks and could feel it reoccurring (or at least trying to) over the next several weeks after.

[arthritisR_US]

8. Please be sure to keep yourself well hydrated.

[SugarShack]

9. Airborne!! The large tablets you drop in water!

Get this right away! It comes in gel caps and a tube like container that holds 10 disks like large sweet tarts. They come in orange or cherry. you drop the fizzle tab in only 4oz of water....it takes like two minutes to totally dissolve...then guzzle it down.

Do this when you purchase it,,,,take one before bed...take one first thing in the morning. It's an immune booster developed by a teacher who was always subjected to the kiddie germs. It's a real boost! That's why Im telling you to take one and get a good nights rest..then one in the morning for the day.

try this....Airborne drop in water large tablets.

[Aerows]

22. Like alka selzers?

That kind of fizzy stuff that helps both the fever and the stomach issues?

[Whisp]

14. I don't thnk we can give 'medical' advice here.

and if this is locked I will understand.

Chicken Soup! and lots of other liquids (not booze!)

And about ibuprofen - there is a reason you have a fever - your body is fighting the invaders and sometimes it's best to let your bod do it's work instead of sending in help. But if you rarely get sick it's probably okay. Relief is important too.

I think we, generally, stuff too much drugs in our bodies every day when we don't really need them. I know people that don't have any real sicknesses that pop pills all the time - to sleep, for sinus, for yellow toenails, omg. it's frightening!

okay! lock me now!

Hope you get well, Aerows. I haven't had a flu for a long time but I remember well how it can make you feel.

[Aerows]

18. I'm just complaining, mostly

I feel like I've been hit by a truck.

I'm not particularly asking for medical advice, just the normal things you need when you have the flu. It's not like I'm asking for the cure for rabies or something .

[Whisp]

31. o darn. And I have the cure for rabies somewhere in my index card box...

[Aerows]

38. I have one too

it's here in my index card box that includes recipes to dispel anthrax, chicken pox and oh wait, here is a recipe for rabies

[dkf]

35. I think my Dad had this and his fever went from 99 to 103.6 in 2 hours.

Which scared the bejesus out of us...

He started with Tylenol but that wasn't good enough. Once he got the Advil it started coming down pretty fast. I was ready to go to emergency if it hit 104.

My point being...don't try to let the fever sweat itself out. This one gets to dangerous levels.

[Aerows]

39. The fever isn't anything pleasant

that is for sure. Mine was worst this morning, but I think it is finally under control. Or at least I hope it is.

[dkf]

41. For my pops the beginning spike was the worst.

Once it got under control at least that worry was lessened.

Then the concern was pneumonia.

Take care of yourself. I feel for you.

[Aerows]

43. The fever is the scary part

it's about as enjoyable as getting flayed alive over hot coals.

[dkf]

51. And it's scary to watch.

My mother said she had never seen anyone with such a violent case of the chills.

[Warpy]

17. I think I've got partial immunity to it already

because I caught it before the middle of November, which is when I usually get the jab. It lasted the full 18 days it's supposed to, but my temperature wasn't really high and the glop I coughed up for almost three weeks stayed clear.

Since there was so little to treat, I didn't go to the doc and so I'm not part of the statistics.

Flu is a serious illness when you catch a strain you've never been exposed to. It requires bedrest and lots of fluids and laying out of work until the fever is down. Once the fever is down, you are no longer contagious and can go into work hacking and wheezing and scare the hell out of everybody else without making them sick.

And yes, the one that the jab didn't cover is one of the more serious ones. As I said, the average time to cough your head off is 18 days before you are finally rid of it completely.

Sometimes when you get knocked on your ass, it makes the most sense to stay there. This is one of those times.

[Aerows]

20. 18 days of this?

Oh my God. Please tell me no.

[sharp_stick]

25. Shouldn't last that long

The worst of it should be over in a few days and the flu itself gone in a week or two.

A fever and productive cough that lasts longer than a few days would probably send me to the doc, to check for pneumonia.

[Warpy]

48. No, just a few days of aching, headaches and high fever

It takes the 18 days to cough all the fluff out of your lungs once you're feeling better.

At least this year I didn't crack a rib.

[Le Taz Hot]

23. It's too late now but

next time, when you feel the flu or a cold first coming on, and I mean FIRST coming on, start taking Echenachia (sp?) and Vit. C. I take three capsules every 4 hours, plus a vitamin C plus some Tyelenol for the symptoms. You'll still come down with the virus (it's already in your system) but the severity and duration will be reduced by 90%. I've been doing this for YEARS and the only time I get sick is if I don't start the regimen soon enough.

I know doctors will poo-poo all this but it doesn't matter. There have been too many times that I was the only one left standing while everyone else was unable to get out of bed.

Btw, I JUST did this. Monday I started feeling achy and feverish, coughing, asthma kicking in, etc. Got home, started the regimen, rested Monday and Tuesday and I'm on my feet today. Still taking the pills and will for a couple more days, just to be sure.

[Aerows]

40. I took vitamin C caps

I don't have Echinacea. It hit me so fast, it really didn't matter.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

30. You've never caught it before now...

Hope you're at home, getting lots of rest.

[Aerows]

36. I am

I can't help but do so because I am worthless. I am freezing my butt off, and have a headache from hell.

[Jazzgirl]

32. I feel you Aerows.

I left work Friday feeling like a truck ran over. Went home and got in the chair and my head felt like the truck was running around in it. Was up and down all night because my head would stop up and it wouldn't quit hurting. I ran a fever for 3 days. I am just coming back to work today and no one will come talk to me.

[arthritisR_US]

34. Aww, I understand where they are coming from but

how lousy for you. You need love right now and we are here for you

[Jazzgirl]

37. Thank you so much.

[Aerows]

42. It kicks you in the butt

and then keeps on kicking. I hear you. I'm with you, though. I'm going to have to stay home at least until this fever dies down.

[HarveyDarkey]

44. I thought this was going to be a review of a movie sequel

[Lone_Star_Dem]

45. I'm sorry you caught it.

Knocked me on my butt this year, too. Rest, seriously push fluids and keep up the ibuprofen. I hope you feel better soon.

[MuseRider]

47. This is why I get a flu shot and hope to god I don't get a different strain!

Drink lots of water. LOTS. Tea and coffee are bad, they often have theophylline or theobromine or something like that that cause you to diurese, pee a lot. Water and clear broth are what are recommended.

Flu sucks worse than almost anything. A week to 10 days and you will be past this. Keep up with your Ibuprofen if that is what is working for you. Try to eat or drink something with some calories and nutrition in it.

EDIT: NOT 2 weeks I hope, a week to 10 days is what I meant not what I typed. Get well, it comes on fast and feels like the worst thing ever but you won't be able to get this particular strain again this year.

[darkangel218]

49. Just came down with the flu last night

Worst headaches ever, now I started caughing. No work or school for the rest of the week
I guess the worst is still to come so I'm bracing myself.

[DollarBillHines]

50. I last suffered from flu in 1968

until this year.

It kicked my ass. I coughed so hard that I cracked a rib and it was downhill from there.

Like you, Aerows, I have an almost unbeatable immune system but I wilted under this one.

Hang in there and out-last it.

[chervilant]

52. Poor wee soul

I am so glad that so many DUers have shared their flu fighting strategies with you. I've only had it once, when I was teaching math in middle school. I was in bed throughout Christmas break and three days into the Spring semester. I know that I made myself drink lots of fluids, including orange juice. I used echinaceae and goldenseal. I found out about Airborne after I got better.

I'm gonna go out on a limb here: my mom used to give us hot toddies when we were sick with strep. Lots of fresh squeezed lemons and honey in hot water with a dollop of Jack. It helped my sore throat and helped me sleep.

I wish I could give you a big hug! Stay in bed and take good care of yourself!

[revolution breeze]

53. Baby girl on day 4 of fever

We both started on Tamiflu on Monday, hubby has a great immune system, mother had her shot, mother-in-law is sticking to her "herbal remedies" booze and whatever her doctor in Texas advises. Daughter was supposed to perfrom at two Mardi Gras balls this weekend but since she gets dizzy trying to take a shower, that is definately out. So glad my oldest is staying with friends until this is over.

[cherokeeprogressive]

54. I sincerely hope you get better soon.

I haven't had a flu shot in my adult life and can't remember the last time I was sick (knock wood) but from what I've heard all my friends say it's really a bitch.

Be Well Aerows.