I confess. I tend to be a bit of an optimist when it comes to illness. I always think, "Nah....I won't catch that." I swear by my netti pot (well maintained and cleaned thoroughly) and stick with my natural home remedies as often as possible. There are two things in the world of everyday illnesses that I'm more likely to get (speaking from experience) and that's pink eye and stomach bugs. I almost never get colds and the like...until this year.
This cold and flu season, I have been a wreck. Coughs, colds, sore throats, sinus infections....all viral causes. I'm still just as active and eating relatively healthy, drinking a lot of water. I haven't changed much but something has changed. Something in my body chemistry has affected my immunity. I'm proactively seeking ways to boost it in the coming months so next cold and flu season won't be nearly as bad.
This morning was my peak. I woke up with a nasty case of pink eye (I'm guessing it's viral) to accompany the nasty cold I've had. I also have a lovely ratcheting cough that is so severe that I'm throwing up. I know....you're jealous. It's okay. I'm not much of a "run to the doctor" kinda gal but this might be the reason to do it.
So what's the best thing I've heard in all of this craziness....."You should've gotten the flu shot." I'd like to address that right here and now. 1-Not a SINGLE illness I've had this season has been the respiratory flu (knock on wood). It's been a cold or a sinus infection....a virus. There are plenty of viruses beyond the flu. 2-The flu vaccine only covers a strand or a couple of strands of the flu. There is widespread news coverage saying that the strand that has been hitting our area in waves isn't even covered by the flu vaccine. 3-The flu shot would not help the pink eye I woke up with. In fact, if it's viral, NOTHING will cure it. It's got to run its course. 4-I've done the flu vaccine. Twice actually. Both times I had wicked nasty reactions to it. I've no desire to do it again.
With all of that said, here are my top ten things you shouldn't say to a sicky.....
10. WELL STAY AWAY FROM ME. Obviously I'm not planning to come over and lick you. Come on now. Be realistic. Sick people (in general) know that they're contagious.
9. YOU SHOULD BE AT HOME IN BED. Well clearly if I had that option I would be. Sick days aren't a luxury that everyone has.
8. YOU SHOULD DRINK SOME ORANGE JUICE OR SOMETHING. Yes, yes I should. However, vitamin C doesn't cure your virus. A virus is a virus. It can definitely help boost your immune system.
7. GO LAY DOWN AND REST. Absolutely, rest is important but I'm a firm believer in moving around some and getting your blood flow going. Also, for a single mama, "rest" is relative.
6. YOU BETTER GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM/URGENT CARE. Really? Unless my symptoms are so severe that I can't handle them at home, I'm not going to the emergency room. Why? Emergency rooms are for....wait for it.....emergency patients. The doctors? Probably. The ER...keep dreaming.
5. IF YOU GET ME SICK, SO HELP ME GOD.... Look, I'm feeling rotten enough. Again, I'm not planning on licking you.
4. WHY ARE YOU COUGHING INTO YOUR ELBOW? THAT DOESN'T WORK Actually, it's the recommended way to cover your mouth currently. Look at it this way: at least I'm covering my mouth when I cough in some way, shape or form.
3. YOU SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN THE FLU SHOT. Guess what? It's not always the flu. Like I said above, even if I DID get the flu shot, there's not a guarantee that the flu strand I get would be covered by the shot.
2. YOU BETTER GO GET AN ANTIBIOTIC FOR THAT. This is another pet peeve of mine. Just so we're clear, antibiotics do NOT help viruses. A virus is a virus. It has to run its course. Antibiotics can sometimes help some of the side effects of a virus (ear infections, etc) BUT overuse of antibiotics can cause you to become resistant.
1. YOU LOOK LIKE HELL. This is my absolute favorite. Of COURSE I look like hell. I feel like hell too....just so we're clear.
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