This week my blogging schedule was all out of whack, why.... the flu. Across America hundreds of thousands of us are suffering from the flu this past week. It has become known as one of the worst flu seasons of the decade. Enough of the CNN report... here's a few ways that you can take care of yourself while you're sick with this mess. Some of these I figured out a long time ago when I was on my own and in the Navy and had to get better quick or just be stuck in the barracks all weekend, and some of these I have just learned from friends and family, or just through figuring it out on my own. I am not a doctor, this is strictly advice given by me who suffered through that nasty crap last week, and is still suffering...
Way back when I was in the Navy there wasn't a swab test that could instantly determine whether you had the flu or just a really nasty cold. Now there is one, and as annoying and uncomfortable it is, if you're doctor wants you to get it, do it. Ok, you've got the flu, grab yourself a mask, yes a hospital mask (your doctor will have tons of them in their office) and put it on, you sure don't want to share this mess with anyone else. Don't be the Typhoid Mary of Manhattan, I don't care if you look goofy just put on the damn mask. It's people like me (I have eschemic cardiomyopathy which makes having the flu kind of dangerous), that thank you for donning that mask. On the way home I have a list for you to pick up....
1. In the grocery aisle of your local drugstore... some chicken broth, Tabasco Sauce. If you know you don't have it at home, some garlic powder or garlic salt (the garlic salt is a bit garlic overkill, especially if you are on a cardiac diet).My great-grandmother's sore throat cocktail consisted of a cup of warm chicken broth with at leas six sprinkles of Tobasco sauce in it, as well as some garlic powder. The combo may burn a little, but it works wonders.
Load yourself up on chicken noodle soup, my recommendation is the low sodium Progressive Chicken Noodle. If you have a wonderful person in your life willing to make you soup from scratch, good for you. I have been blessed with such a person, but reality here, the he or she in our lives may not also be overwhelmed with taking care of you, but kids, themselves (they might be sick as well), or just not know how to boil water. So be safe and grab at least four cans of soup, stay away from the Ramen noodles as they are just MSG and salt and really awful for you.
Load yourself up on chicken noodle soup, my recommendation is the low sodium Progressive Chicken Noodle. If you have a wonderful person in your life willing to make you soup from scratch, good for you. I have been blessed with such a person, but reality here, the he or she in our lives may not also be overwhelmed with taking care of you, but kids, themselves (they might be sick as well), or just not know how to boil water. So be safe and grab at least four cans of soup, stay away from the Ramen noodles as they are just MSG and salt and really awful for you.
2. To accompany the Tamiflu your doctor may or may not prescribe you might want to load up on a decent cough syrup (unless also prescribed), a saline nasal spray, and either some throat spray or lozenges. Now don't click off this blog when I say this... buy yourself some Vicks Vape-O-Rub... yes, that all too Not so sexy perfume of the ill. This stuff when slathered on your feet and covered with socks works wonders with cough. If you are feeling particularly wheezy in the non-breathy department, slather it all over your chest. Yes, ewww, but trust me, you will be able to breathe, hence you will be able to sleep.
3. Stock up on boxes of tissues... you will need it.
4. Chapstick, of lip balm of your preference. Your lips will be chapped, and all that decongestant will have you all dried out.
4. Chapstick, of lip balm of your preference. Your lips will be chapped, and all that decongestant will have you all dried out.
Now that you're home and snugly tucked in bed be sure your Netflix, Hulu and HBONow subscriptions are up to date as binge watching is definitely something to help you at least get through this yuck with some thread of your sanity left.
Your phone, put it on do not disturb/mute. Now is the time you need to tune out the outside world. When dealing with the flu you don't need drama, you don't need telemarketers harassing you, and you certainly don't need your boss and or co-workers (if you have them) calling you with work drama. You need to say NO to the outside and YES to rest. Hydrate, hydrate, and hydrate some more. Keep that water bottle filled and drink, drink drink....
Your phone, put it on do not disturb/mute. Now is the time you need to tune out the outside world. When dealing with the flu you don't need drama, you don't need telemarketers harassing you, and you certainly don't need your boss and or co-workers (if you have them) calling you with work drama. You need to say NO to the outside and YES to rest. Hydrate, hydrate, and hydrate some more. Keep that water bottle filled and drink, drink drink....
Self care is the essence of getting through the flu nightmare. Now I need to get myself to sleep... another vital part of your self-care... For me... now on to day 9... ugh.
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