I think I define sick

[mrsbrown]

I shivered in bed last night until I wore mr_bassman's woollen beany. I had to overheat my knees before my feet would warm up enough to let me sleep.

I took panadol on waking and ibuprofen 2 hours later. Panadol 4 hourly after that and I'm thinking about ibuprofen before bed.

I don't have a hanky anymore, I have two wet rags.

I've finished an (admittedly close to empty) canister of ventolin.

My major achievement for the day was ten minutes on Autocad and an email to the Barony.

I read three books on timber framed housing, 'cos that's what I could do while lying on the couch.

I'm also completely over being horizontal, but my body will make me again soon.

I'm sick and I don't think I'll be going out tomorrow.

Bleurgh.

Comments

[auntyyolly.livejournal.com]

You are sick. You probably have the flu. It hit Sydney first and I got it. Six weeks later I am still not yet recovered. I am a tough bastard who gets over things quickly, so trust me when I say that this is not a flu to be trifled with. In fact, I am putting on my aunty hat.

Do:
* take lots of fluids, some of them with salts (if you're eating normally that should be fine, if not, add in a sports drink a day as the virus eats up your sodium and electrolytes, which is not good for you.)
* stay in bed. You need to sleep.
* not go near other people that you like.
* eat even if you don't feel like it and even if it's just small amounts.
* sleep sitting up so the snot doesn't fill up your ear canals.
* take the chesty cough mix that breaks up the snot on your lungs and helps you expel it faster.
* go to the doctor if you start to feel quite bad, and be insistent (because while antibiotics are useless against the flu, apparently Tamiflu is quite good).

Don't:
* soldier on and slaughter yourself while infecting everyone else.
* let your ears get so blocked that you burst eardrums coughing (am I ever going to let go of the fact that my J did this? No, I think not.)
* let anyone else in your household catch it, you need them to look after you! (This is where I went wrong. Kick the menfolk from the beds!)

Above all, get well soon. It's horrible, but a great chance for any tall children that may be in the house to earn eternal gratitude by feeding you hearty soups and warm teas.

[splodgenoodles.livejournal.com]

I heartily second this list.

Oh and another do:

If you want to do the Tamiflu thing, do it right now. It's something you've got to take when it first hits - or so I've been told. And it might be a bloody good idea what with the asthma and all -you are probably at a higher risk for complications.

[mrsbrown.livejournal.com]

Thanks for all the advice.

I don't think I have the 'flu. I have been immunised and the headache I have is mostly from the pressure of coughing. The lethargy is just the fever.

Just a warning, I drank out of tenbears hipflask on Friday night. I hope vodka can kill germs, 'cos I was just getting sick then so was probably at my most infectious.

[splodgenoodles.livejournal.com]

Oooh...it didn't start with a vague queasiness I hope?

There is an influenza strain going round that isn't one of the ones that they've made a vaccine for- that's part of the reason it's a bad year apparently. But it's also sudden onset.

Thanks for the warning. 10B seems to be fine and I'm assuming that unless he develops it himself I'm probably okay...colds don't have asymptomatic carriers do they?

We're going away tomorrow...*crosses fingers*

[montjoye.livejournal.com]

and a big "Get Well Soon" card from me too. I agree, it is not fun. I send many wellness thoughts in your direction, saving a couple for my own still healing lungs.

[astemudfoot.livejournal.com]

I'm sending you wishes of wellness. Whenever I'm sick I sort of feel greatful for the excuse to rest. It sounds wierd, but it's the only chance I get to sit around and do nothing. I have permission (from myself) to cancel my commitments, read junky magazines, watch bad but entertaining daytime television and knit something simple like a hat. It's a bit like a holiday from my busy life.

So even though you feel like crap, enjoy the rest.... while you can.

[mrsbrown.livejournal.com]

I like this advice. I've been meaning to do some knitting, and "haven't had time"

[villana.livejournal.com]

I saw a thing on tele that said they were trialling a flu shot that you take once you've caught the flu. Some kind of virus inhibitor that stops the virus growing and lets your body fight it. Apparently you get better within a couple of days (rather than 3 weeks if you have THE REAL FLU)

Anyway, the trials are here in Melbourne - could be worth ringing around the hospitals to see which one. You could help the advancment of medical science and get relief!

Otherwise, you could just bunker down and eat chicken soup =)

Get weel son
=)

[(Anonymous)]

Relenza is the australian developed equivalent to tamiflu. It's supposed to be better than tamiflu (but tamiflu is american so it must be better!). It should also be a household name by now, but isn't - Biota is sueing Glaxo over lack of promised publicity.

It's been tested and available for about 8 years now. It's not very cheap, but once you start loosing workdays, it's quite affordable. You have to have it within the first 3 days of the flu, and it reduces it to a couple of days maximum. The doctor has a test for flu before you can use it. No nasty injections - it's an inhaler. It works on all flu strains (unlike vacinations). Many doctors don't think to prescribe it because they didn't get the free drug company pen. Oh, but it may not be suitable for asmatics.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zanamivir

Mind you this is all 3rd hand (I did work in the same department as some of the people who developed it, and my parents are Biota shareholders as a consequence), I've never had true influenza myself, just lots of nasty colds.

[villana.livejournal.com]

nah that's not it... the thing on tele was definately an injection.

[hnpcc]

Ah, I think I might have just gotten over what you've got. You have my sympathy.