The FLU

[Karen]

Oh, my sympathies. I got my flu shot this year, as I do every year, so have not had it, thank goodness. I only ever had it once, caught it on my way out of the hospital from brain survey many years ago, so I thought some of the misery was just part of my recovery process until I went to get my stitches out, and the resident who removed them said, "No, you have the flu!" like I should have known that!

[Freedom]

Got my flu shot, missed the flu. Did get my regular tonsilitis though, was sick 11 days with that. Sore throat, fever for the first 2 days (and chills), miserable feeling. Saw the doc, she almost laughed as she said, you know exactly what this is, right? I get it twice a year. Sigh.

[kaycountrygal]

No, I havent had the flu but I had cough, sore throat, laryngitis and a few days later I had pneumonia diagnosed on 12.25.12 (sick as a dog as the saying goes) and stayed 3.5 days in hospital. Just today for the first time in weeks I felt halfway normal. Take care of yourself.

[robinh]

Do you mean this???: cough-cough, sneeze-sneeze, runny nose, too fatigued to move and you just want to sleep 23 hrs per day, feel like you got run-over-by-a-bus-ache-all-over feeling, chills, no appetite and nothing tastes right ~~~~that kind of flu???

YES, that's the one!! Would like to say I'm glad I'm not suffering alone, but I wouldn't wish this on anyone. Taking care of the dogs is interesting too.

Sad part - I had the flu shot, but my doctor says this is one not covered....great. Not sure the cure isn't worse than the disease. That Tamiflu is mean stuff.

Now SO has it. He'll start his Tamiflu and cough syrup today when he picks it up.

[Alysser]

Sorry to hear your part of this epidemic, it doesn't sound very fun at all. Feel better soon!

I am being forced to get my Flu shot today thanks to Good Ol' Mom. -__- Not terribly excited about it, she always sneakily plans these things. According to her, it's more of a concern because I have a heart condition.

[sasvermont]

I hesitate to go out to the store on a whim, knowing that each time I enter the germ zone, I am putting myself at risk. I did have a flu shot, earlier this year. I have never had the flu and I am in my 60's. I can't believe I haven't been exposed to it. Maybe I am just lucky.

They claim the secret to this game is to wash your hands repeatedly and to keep you hands away from your nose, eyes and mouth.

When I worked in an office, I would walk around with antibacterial swipe/wipes and wipe off the copier, light switches, desk tops, phones etc. and I always kept sick people out of my space.

If you are sick, stay home or at least keep to yourself at work.

I know that my Mom is always at risk so if I am not feeling well, I will not visit her at her nursing facility. The flu goes through that place like a wild fire. They keep the temperature at 80 degrees it seems and they all still wear sweaters and have lap blankets on themselves all the time. Drives me crazy to see it all, but maybe I will become cold when I get old.

So for all those folks with the flu, stay home, rest, take care, drink lots of fluid and go to the doctor if you are not feeling better in a few days. People do die from the flu, so it is important to keep it to yourself while you are taking care of yourself.

There is always Pet Talk to hang out on..... and surfing the net.....watching TV.....reading.....knitting....sleeping..... and then go back to work.

Hugs and get well wishes to the ill ones!



Sas and her campers

[pomtzu]

There is always Pet Talk to hang out on..... and surfing the net.....watching TV.....reading.....knitting....sleeping..... .

Retired - so that's my everyday routine anyway.

I've had the flu a few times in my 60+ years, and this one isn't all that bad, at least not compared to the Asian Flu that I had when a senior in h.s. That was so horrible that I wished I would just die so that I would feel better. Yes - it was that bad !

I have a routine doctor appointment tomorrow anyway, so maybe he'll end up prescribing something for me to feel better. I need something to improve my mood most of all. I can't believe how crabby and grumpy I am and I don't even like myself the past few days.

[robinh]

I know I'm normally one of those people who will try to work through being sick. Not that I was tempted this time, but the doctor told me that "your co-workers do NOT want you there". I don't have the energy to get cleaned up to go to work so it's not even an option.

When other people are sick in my office, I'll go clean their desk, keyboard and chairs with germ killing wipes (I wear rubber gloves) and spray the area with germ killer. Then I'll go to the bathroom and scrub my hands. Hope someone returns the favor.

[Grace]

Got my flu shot, missed the flu. Did get my regular tonsilitis though, was sick 11 days with that. Sore throat, fever for the first 2 days (and chills), miserable feeling. Saw the doc, she almost laughed as she said, you know exactly what this is, right? I get it twice a year. Sigh.

Why don't you just have the tonsils removed? My d-i-l had hers out when she was almost 40. She was like you - more than one episode/year. The doctor told her all those strep bugs were living in her tonsils, and the only sure way to get rid of them - take out the tonsils. She's never regretted it.

[krazyaboutkatz]

Why don't you just have the tonsils removed? My d-i-l had hers out when she was almost 40. She was like you - more than one episode/year. The doctor told her all those strep bugs were living in her tonsils, and the only sure way to get rid of them - take out the tonsils. She's never regretted it.

I agree. I used to have tonsilitis a lot too but I was only about 5 or so when I finally had my tonsils removed. They actually had to postpone the surgery because I got it again right before I was supposed to have the surgery. Both of my brothers were a bit older when they had theirs removed so their recovery time was a bit longer than mine. I would ask your doctor about this since it seems to be a reoccuring thing with you. Good luck.

[pomtzu]

I too wondered about Sandie still having her tonsils - and dealing with the tonsillitis so often. I had mine out on my 5th birthday!!! - yup - it had been scheduled twice before and had to cancel when I first came down with measles, and the 2nd time it was mumps! - in the olden days before they had vaccines for everything! My son used to get deathly sick with tonsillitis and ear infections, and they had to yank his out before he was even 2 yrs old, tho they don't like to do it that early. My ex was in his late 20's when he had his out. Boy - was he one miserable so-and-so recovering from that!

Hope everyone still fighting the flu is starting to feel better. I saw doc yesterday and mine is just a nasty head and chest bacterial infection, so I'm on meds for that and starting to feel a little better.

[Grace]

I was also 5 when my tonsils were removed. Ellie, we were living in Cranston then, and the doctor took them out in our kitchen!!

My brother also had his removed at home - about 6 months after I did.

The only thing good about the entire experience - all that ice cream I got to have post-op

[pomtzu]

I was also 5 when my tonsils were removed. Ellie, we were living in Cranston then, and the doctor took them out in our kitchen!!

My brother also had his removed at home - about 6 months after I did.

The only thing good about the entire experience - all that ice cream I got to have post-op

OMG - that thought makes me cringe. I can just picture you on the kitchen table with that as the operating table. LOL!! At least I had the benefit of the hospital for my procedure. Yup - ice cream and jello made it somewhat worthwhile. Now they encourage roughage to speed up the recovery time, instead of babying the throat with the good things that we had, at least they did with my son after the first day post-op. Makes sense I suppose, since medical practices and ideas have changed so much. I can remember my mother telling me that she was in the hospital for over 2 weeks when she gave birth to me - and that was common practice at that time.