What do you do when you have flu?

[Sparrow]

Yup, I've got the lurgy. Just wondered what y'all do when you are really sick. Today is the first day I have been able to sit upright without the room swaying. I had to fight both cats for the sofa - they won and most of the day my nose was pinned to the upholstery whilst they got comfy on the wide parts. Last night I had a big bucket of hot lemon barley water laced with brandy. I slept, but had enebriated dreams. Gusts and Northwesterlies through the night didn't help. Now I have the nightmare of missing two days of my course and wondering if I will pass my assessment.

[JerseyLily]

Hi Sparrow,

Do feel for you. Keep up the Brandy nips, or better still a drop of the hard stuff: whiskey straight down the middle! You won't even know you've got the dreaded lurgy.

;)

[sheddie]

My daughter was up all last night and been sick most of the day too.I have told her to just try to sip boiled water.

[JerseyLily]

This will sound odd, Sheddie, but equal parts sugar/salt in boiled water will settle the stomach and up her electrolytes. Tell daughter to hold nose and throw it down the hatch in one gulp!

[Oola]

Zinc, vit c, lots of fluids, fresh air, soup, eating stuff with onions and garlic in (more vit c and good stuff)! I always find that if I'm not getting progressively worse after the first few days, unfortunately it's just a case of going through the motions and waiting for it to do it's thing. Blehh!

[jazzactivist]

Flu is miserable, so I feel for you, Sparrow, and your daughter too, Sheddie. When I have flu I find that making my own lemon and honey drink with the juice of two lemons, a tablespoon of honey, top up the mug with boiling water, and then add 2 traditional Beechams powders does the job pretty well - especially if you drink it just before bed. Then cover up well and sweat it out during the night. Keep going with the drink and Beechams until you feel better. I ended up with this method through a process of elimination of all other pharmaceutical and complementary medicines and it seems to work quite quickly. I hope that you feel better soon.

[Sparrow]

Thanks guys, I feel much better just listening to the remedies!

I have sat for the last hour at our French Windows with the doors slightly open. Both cats have joined me to sniff the air, so I'm getting lots of company too.

[Rosie]

I hope you are feeling better sparrow. Paracetamol helps me - and hot soup.

I have an odd question - has anyone heard of flu - when referring to influenza - being spelled flue.
someone told me this is a British way of spelling the word flu.
sorry - I know the question is weird.:rolleyes:

[SummerSkye]

Hi Sparrow, hope you are on the mend. My mum always opened the windows wide when we were sick, no matter the weather, said it blew the germs away.. we survived! Lots of fluids and rest is the best thing, plus some home made chicken soup if you can lay your hands on some.

[SummerSkye]

Hi Rosie, I have never come across that spelling except for flue as in chimney flue.

[Sparrow]

Thanks Summerskye.

Hey howz the packing going? I'm really good at moving, but am glad to be roosting now in NZ. I hope to be here a LONG time.

[Crocus]

Hi, I've never had flu, so I don't really now what it feels like! Son had flu a while back, had med. from dr. but she also suggested a lot of bed rest, vit. C and 100% fresh orange juice. I'll remember all of these flu tips. I know that chicken soup helps a lot with either flu or just a cold. Hope all our flu patiens get well soon! An imaginery rose bouquet from this side of the old pond! :)

[Sparrow]

Thanks Crocus, could you make that a really strong smelling bouquet as my nose is stuffed up too:-)

[Crocus]

Hi! I'll do just that! I'll add a few drops of rosewater to enhance the smell!

[Redstart]

Rosie: a flue is in the chimney and 'flu is an illness. The illness ('flu) should NEVER be written "flue".

Get well soon Sparrow. And if you know you are starting with 'flu a hot drink of elderberry syrup will minimise your symptoms - it prevents the viruses from replicating. I have it with lemon juice squeezed in.

[Healing Hands]

Hope you feel better Sparrow and your daughter too Sheddie.

I just go to bed and sweat it out, drink lots of water, lemon and honey, barley water, soup, anything liquid really. I hate being ill I get so frustrated with the things I should be doing, but that is nature taking its course and telling us our bodies need some time out!

[franbee]

Well, there's the old story,
'a cold lasts a week if you treat it and seven days if you don't', so it's just a matter of trying to stop the symptoms in the meantime. I just take a remedy from the chemist, drink plenty, and rest if possible. Fran.

[Rosie]

Thank you - just had problems with sock puppet on another forum. Those people drive me mad.:(

[sheddie]

Dear Healing Hands my daughter has been so ill and has just ate her first piece of toast, I am praying it stays down she is so weak.She is not a one to want any fuss but she has rang home so poorly - it's a worry being a mum isn't it? X

[Crocus]

:)Hi Sheddie, I do hope she feels better this morning? :)

[gothfairy]

I have had true influenza once in my life and was ill for six weeks, four of that in bed. If I get what to 'normal' healthy people is a headcold, for me it turns almost influenza-like and I am confined to bed at least a week. I know if I get true influenza again, as opposed to what some people mistake for it ie a very bad head cold, then I will be in bed even longer, maybe even hospitalized, due to other problems and no immune system. It is the only reason I dread this time of year.

[Crocus]

Hi Gothfairy, I've never had flu, so I don't now at all what's it like. I had bronchitis quite a lot when I was little, and then last year I also had bronchitis. For two weeks I was really feeling quite ill. This year I was quite fortunate not to get it again. I truly hope that you wil not get the dreaded flu this year!! :)

[sheddie]

Thanks for all your kind wishes for my daughter, it has really knocked her out all week and now is turning into a head cold. I haven't known her be this ill since she was a child.i feel worried about her, but distance and OH make it impossible to go and help.She just says " I'm ok Mum, but how are you?" guess I must have done something right!!

[Sparrow]

Thanks ladies for all your advice and good wishes. I am happy to report that this morning (we are now in Saturday), I was able to make a trip to the weekly farmer's market. It was lovely to be out in the sunshine.