Or maybe I'm mixing my songs up. But basically this last week -- last Friday thru today was spent under the weather. And heavy weather it was.
I'd forgotten how nasty the flu is. I used to get sick like clockwork -- a broken, smashed clock -- every flipping year. Right around the holidays, generally, but never did a winter pass (and rarely a summer) that I was not laid low by the extremely unsexy business of flu. My immune system is a lot sturdier now days because I actually went a bit over two years -- including traveling the world -- without catching much of anything. I think this new found healthiness is due to a more sane work schedule and things like juicing, walking, swimming...suppers with my husband. A life that stretched beyond my desk and desktop.
Still. As healthy as all that is, I am not impervious to germs -- and thus the horrors of the last week.
Flu is a streaming, steaming and generally disgusting business. There is nothing romantic about it, and it really makes it difficult to function. I don't think flu is captured accurately in fiction. No one who has flu wants sex. And no one who has flu is desired by any sane person. That's the first thing writers of romance often get wrong about flu.
The second thing is how long it takes to get over flu. Even when I was a hale and feckless twenty year old, flu used to lay me low for at least a week. And now that I am a hale and not-so-feckless not-twenty year old, flu lays me low nearly as long. I will say this, I don't get AS sick nor stay sick as long. Which is kind of interesting. Or maybe not, given that I was teaching for many of my early years and children are designed primarily to carry deadly germs.
That is their main purpose in life.
I JEST!!! I AM A JESTER. A JESTOR.
Anyway. Today, for the first day in what feels like a month (but is only sevenish days), I am much improved (although the SO informs me that I still sound like an escapee from Sea World) and will soon be back at work on Murder Takes the High Road.
Murder has been lying low these last few days, engine idling while I blearily watched documentaries on things like Hitler of the Andes (I KNEW it!!!), Murder of anything moving (I concur!), Walt Disney (Awww...my childhood!!!), the Paleo diet (Rarraw!!) and the Dead Sea Scrolls ( I KNEW it!!!!).
This was the first time in history Nyquil failed me. I mean EVERYTHING failed me. Nothing could stem the fountain of my head. Ugh. So today the question is...favorite flu remedies? When was the last time you had the flu -- and what did you do about it?
Last time I had flu was 3 years ago, I hurt so much I didn't know what to do with myself. My favourite cure was codeine! On a more practical level lemon and honey with alternating paracetamol/ibuprofen and lots of warm water to drink. And warmth and rest and being waited on.... :-D
ReplyDeleteOh I love codeine!!! One of the lows of my life was when I developed an allergy to it! UGH.
DeleteI was sick like that a couple of months back. I actually called into work sick, which I never do. The last time I remember being that miserable was when I was a kid at Christmas. I'm glad you're coming back alive!
ReplyDeleteWhy is it the flu so frequently hits during the holidays? That's almost always when I would get nailed. Right between Christmas and New Years. sometimes ON Christmas. :-(
DeleteBecause Santa is a very bad man?
DeleteBecause most people run around like chickens with their heads cut off trying to do ALL THE XMAS THINGS!!! and then it's all done in one day. The body can't take that kind of shock.
DeleteAdvil cold and sinus,seems to help me. One year SO and I traveled back to Wis for the holidays. The flu hit me on Christmas eve, I have never been that sick, before or after. My throat was so sore that I couldn't talk, which I'm sure made everyone very happy. I ended up at the Doc's the next day for meds.SO makes me get a flu shot now every year
ReplyDeleteUgh. Being sick while traveling. That's horrendous. I remember coming down with the flu on a ski trip in college. THE WHOLE DAMN TRIP was wasted in bed sick with the flu.
DeleteI'm so glad you're getting better! :) I was worried. I agree about the children, though I do love them so, but they are walking petri dishes. Last time I had the flu, I was unfortunate enough to catch the H1N1 strain from one of my little students. It was the year they weren't prepared with vaccine. The last big H1N1 outbreak about six years ago. I remember being sick for about five days and thinking, 'well, at least it didn't kill me.' The next day I thought I was having a heart attack and went to the ER. Seems H1N1 is one of those viruses that can attack internal organs. Not my heart though. My stomach. It just stopped working. Long story long. It took about three and a half years to regrow the nerves that had been killed by the virus, but I did and I'm here and I'm lucky, and that is that. Though, I really miss salads as I still can't eat raw veggies. :p On the up side, I never go a year without a vaccine now, and I haven't had the flu since. :)
ReplyDelete*Touch wood*, the last time I had a really nasty flu was 4 years ago in NYC, took me two weeks to be human again. After that, I pop an "Airborne" whenever I have to go to a crowded place (pub, concert, airplane). I also wipe down my work desk, laptop and work phone in the office with dettol every day... And always wash my hands.
ReplyDeleteThough my husband always say it's none of these - it's because we don't hang out with children or friends with children :-O
No one who has flu wants sex. And no one who has flu is desired by any sane person.
ReplyDeleteThis is so true! Sadly.
I came down with a particularly vile cold 3 days into my vacation in Mexico last month. The only good thing about it was 24 hour room service and easy access to Tequila shots. I also took took Mucinex® D, which was better than doing nothing. It lasted for 2 weeks at least. Hope your recovery is quicker.
The healthiest year I ever had was the year I did a pure Paleo diet (2014). Didn't get sick once.
I had the flew when I was in my early 30's and have had things I called the flu, but I haven't been that sick since. I went to the doctor with a fever of 104 and they gave me drugs. I came home and went to sleep and lost 2 days. I am sure I must have been conscious at least part of that time, but I have no recollection of being out of the bed for those two days.
ReplyDeleteI hate to judge, but here goes... did you have a flu jab this year? http://www.cdc.gov/flu/
ReplyDeleteSince I started getting a flu shot I have been so much better and I am usually just down for a day or two.
ReplyDeleteThe big problem with cold and flu medications these days is that phenylpropanolamine has been removed from the human market.It was in so many products that the potential for overdose....well, not really "potential" since, yes, people were ODing. And that leaves us with no more phenylpro...no, I am not going to spell it out again!
It is available in veterinary medicine for treating incontinence in female dogs.....
So, there you have it....would you like that in documentary form?
I say it very, very muted, I never had the flu. A nasty cold yes, but never the flu. I don't think, that I need the experience. Have you understand flu?!
ReplyDeleteI am happy, that you feel better, but perhaps it is better to rest a bit longer? Take care, dear Josh!
I am a loather of tea. I just can't drink it. So when I'm sick, I actually drink hot orange juice. It sounds very weird, but is very soothing, and tasty (if you have working taste buds). It's best fresh squeezed, of course, and lucky for me the grocery store across the street has a fresh juice bar.
ReplyDeleteI also use a Neti pot. Also sounds weird, but keeps the sinus headaches at bay pretty well. Then of course, all those over the counter remedies, too.
Welcome back to the land of the living!
Neti pots are amazing once you get the hang of using them. Then, there is the overuse and abuse of vitamin C in all its forms.
ReplyDeleteA friend swears by drinking orange juice and rotgut brandy in a 50/50 mix until she's nicely sloshed. Surprisingly, the last time I had the flu I tried it out of sheer desperation... and it worked for me.
Hope you feel much better soon!
I can't take Nyquil. It makes my heart race and keeps me awake, in case I need any help with that. Glad that you are feeling better. I hope you are right as rain soon.
ReplyDeleteI have had the flu before, so I can relate to the pain of it. When I got the flu, I was down for a few days. I rested a lot, and I also used Theraflu. It worked like a charm. Next time you get the flu bug, make sure to consult with your healthcare provider and get as much rest as possible!
ReplyDelete