How do you prevent the flu from coming on?

[Lostmessage]

I live in sub zero weather and I feel the flue coming on.

Is there anyway to prevent it or do I just sit back and deal with it.

I have a high fever, sneezing, chills and I ache all over.

[POed_Ex_Repub]

1. Don't they distribute flu vaccines?

But that may not help if you think you already have it.

[Lostmessage]

4. I am afraid of them

I am sick now and it's hard when you are alone because you don't have anyone to run to the store for OJ and medicine.
I am aching all over and I have chills all over my body.
I couldn't get a cab two days in row and I had to walk home from work which is about 10 blocks. I didn't have my gloves on and I feel so sick.

[LastKnight]

7. you need to get it 2 weeks ahead of time

for it to do any good, and it doesnt do anything once you have it. and eveyone i know that has gotten the shots has gotten the flu. i never get a vaccination and only get it every few years

-LK

[LastKnight]

2. sleep... fluids... vitamin suppliments...

especially vitamin C... i donno if it actuially does anything but it cant hurt. lots and lots of sleep. and fluids... its a broken record but its the only thing that really works for me.

-LK

[Lostmessage]

6. I am going to bed in a little while

I have no vitamin C, juice or anything in my house so that means no matter how sick I am I will have to go to the store in the morning.

Thanks for you suggestions.

[Maddy McCall]

3. Go to the emergency room or to your doctor tomorrow morning

and get a prescription for flumadine or tamaflu. These are antivirals that will reduce the severity and duration of your bout.

I started Tamaflu when symptoms first appeared, and I was over the flu in about 5 days. Others I knew dealt with it for about two weeks.

Get thee to a doctor first thing tomorrow AM.

[Lostmessage]

5. Thanks

I can't afford to miss anymore work. Last week I was out with a bout of depression.

[MercutioATC]

8. Oscillococcinum supposedly works really well.

www.boiron.com

I've known a few people that have used it and they swear by it.

[haele]

9. Too late, it's come on...

Best thing to do to prevent getting the flu is to make sure you get enough quality sleep, try not to stress out, make sure you get enough quality food (fresh meats, veggies, fruits) during the day - especially those higher in the vitamin B & C, calcium, protein, proper fats (poly unsaturated, if I remember correctly), manganese and potassium - a good soup or stew, especially home-made - is good.

If you already are getting the flu, the best thing to do is to sweat it out. Just sleep and drink plenty of liquids. The main thing is to watch the fever; make sure it doesn't get too high for a sustained period of time. Keep your caffeine and alcohol intake to a minimum; black tea, coffee, colas, cream soda or mountain dew, beer, wine, etc are no-nos - they'll only give you half the hydration you think you're getting when you drink them. Stick to juice (especially cranberry, citrus, or grape) lemon-lime or ginger-ale type sodas, or the sports drinks. For food - fruit, broth and crackers are always a good choice when you're sick.
Your temperature probably spike up between 101 and 102 a couple times; at those times, start downing liquids (especially juice, Gatorade, pedialite)like crazy and use a cold washcloth or alcohol rub on your core body parts (head and torso) to bring the temperature down - it's especially important to keep the body temperature around the brain and vital organs from getting over 103 degrees. If following these procedures, you're over 102 degrees for more than an hour, go to the emergency room ASAP.
For fever migraines - especially the ones that make you want to puke, use either strong, pure, lavender oil or Vick's vaporub under the nose, on the forehead and around the ears. Within 10 minutes, you should feel well enough to be able to keep liquids down.

Our family has gone through this flu already this winter, and we've found it's best moderate the fevers while letting the flu run it's course than try and "treat it" to keep from having to miss work or go back to work earlier than you should.
On edit - We've also found that when we "sleep it off" rather than try to work medicated, we get completely over the flu and the contagous period quicker; usually within a week.
Personally, I've always found that if I don't take at least one or two days off to sleep off a fever or flu, even when "medicated", I continue being sick for two or three weeks afterwards rather than just the few days.

Good luck.

Haele

[grasswire]

10. it is hard to have it alone

...with no one to take care of you and the necessary errands for supplies.

Is there a grocery that will deliver? Some stores have web sites where you can place an order, and they deliver the next day. Some of them offer free delivery on your first order. You could get your juice, soup, tylenol, kleenex, whatever.

Or will a cab pick up an order for you that you place by phone somewhere?

It's especially hard if you are low on money too. If another DUer lives close by, perhaps someone would bring you a bag of groceries.

Remember that advice is available right here. There are lots of surrogate moms to tell you what to do.

[grasswire]

11. one other thing..

..If you have a runny nose, you don't have the flu. Just a bad cold.

[Lostmessage]

14. I have a stuffed up nose

But I keep trying to unstuff it.

[Lostmessage]

12. The security guard is going for me

The security guard in my building gets off of duty at 3:00pm and I offered him $20.00 dollars to do a few errands for me and he is going to make the run.

Thanks for being so considerate and caring.

[DS1]

13. A rope

[pitt71]

15. Unfortunately

....death is the only sure way to prevent it.

Makes the flu sound not so bad, huh?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

16. Take zinc, Vitamin C, and spicy food

and then go to bed.

Get well soon!

[Lostmessage]

17. I don't have any rope

Thanks

[HEyHEY]

18. Tell it your boyfriend is really big

[Lostmessage]

19. Did I miss something?

:shrug: