Surviving "the flu"

Or should I say flu like symptoms

Seems it's going aroun here in NYC/LI

Started with a sore throat Monday, then Fevers started Midday Tuesday. By Wednesdat, the fevers were getting silly (get up in the AM with 99, Fever would spike late afternoon at just over 102.

I've developed a post nasal drip - on one side, despite my nose being totally clear (THAT is the weird part). Nothing is controlling the darned cough (MD gave me a scipt for Promethazine), and I was shoowing SOME syptoms of a secondary bacterial infection, so he gave me a script there (he's not taking any risks with the number of comorbities I have - trust me, KG2V is NOT a healthy guy)

Anyone have any good hints - if I gould just get that PND to stop (I actually think it might be stuck mucus), at least then I can sleep - Going on the 5th day of this, and I feel horrid
(oh, and any cures have to be High BP and diabetic friendly)

It sounds fairly influenza-like. How about body aches or extreme fatigue?

I don't have any secret home remedies to pass along. But that post nasal drip may have little to do with your nose. Viruses like influenza can attack the lining of your throat. The cells eventually start to split open, releasing fluid, and leaving your throat raw. That is what is probably causing your post nasal drip and triggering the cough, although if you're starting to get pneumonia, then fluid in your lungs may be causing you to cough, too.

Unfortunately, for bugs that evade/overwhelm your body's first line of defense, you'll just have to wait for your body to identify the bugs and then produce customized antibodies in enough numbers to beat back the invaders. Typically, that takes a week to ten days to happen, so hang in there a little longer.

Stay hydrated, especially to keep the mucous in your lungs thin so you can cough it up.

Take care!

Body aches, and extreme fatique? Yep - not the worst I've ever felt, but that time resulted in a 2 week hospital stay

MD says "Might be the flu, but you did have the flu shot" and he says there is something going around right now around here. SIgh

So that's what I've caught. Was in NYC the past weekend, caught some nasty bug and felt like hell this entire week, still not recovered yet.

Not much you can do unfortunately, just have to wait it out and let your body react and catch up.

A vet I used to work for defined how to differentiate between a cold/influenza and allergies, if it interests anyone.

Cold/flu = Temperature, and none of the antihistamine-type 'cold' remedies work. There is no cure for the flu, treatments are only for symptoms.

Allergies = they tend to show up the same times each year, you don't run a temperature, antihistamines work because they are created to counteract histamine reactions (anti + histamine).

Sue

I found some interesting medical related videos for background on flu treatment (anti-virals only effective if given in the first 48 hrs) ... youtube by an ER doc posted under the name "survival medicine"

I usually try to sleep through it.

My standard strategy is to drink as much water as possible, take a long hot shower, take the appropriate symptom relief drugs and drink more water, and sleep for twelve to sixteen hours. The shower drives up the temperature, creates steam that loosens everything up, and I usually emerge feeling much better but exhausted and ready for hibernation.

I repeat it at least once a day until the viruses curl up their little toes or give up.

You can loosen up stuck mucus with fluids (well-peppered chicken soup, consumed from a bowl works well) or guiafenesin, the active ingredient in plain Robitussin or mucinex. Consider a bedside humidifier-the spinning kind is more effective than the steam kind. Topical nasal spray from the doc might help, steroids or antihistamine.

Benadryl is useful, partly as an antihistamine, but mostly as a sleeping pill-it makes almost everybody drowsy, and is pretty safe. If you can take ibuprofen, take it around the clock in doctor approved doses, to prevent the fever from coming back. It can be taken in combination with acetaminophen for both aches, pains and fever. Some docs suggest gargling with kids liquid ibuprofen, which has some topical analgesic effect.

Diabetes and hypertension are a tough pair of burdens.Hang in there, big guy.

well, didn't run a fever at all yesterday, and the choughing has MOSTLY stopped. My diaphram actually HURTS I was coughing so much/hard - well, back to bed for another 3-4 hours of sleep, then up for a 'normal' (I hope) sunday

Promethazine? That's for vomiting. Wierd choice. I mean, it IS an antihistamine, but I've never actually seen it used for that purpose. Guess I just learned something today. Thanks.

Oh, normal cold 7-10 days. Enjoy. Flu can last a bit longer, usually 14 days. Taking anti-virals shortens the duration for approx 24 hours, IF taken within 48 hours of symptom onset. Afterwards they're pretty useless (according to clinical trials). That's probably why most folks don't get the antivirals.

Hi neighbor!

If misery loves company, I'm right there with you, now in day four of the misery. Though without your other health problems, I'm managing to avoid doctors visits so far.

I'm pretty sure I caught it from my three year old. He had fever for five days, and bad coughing for close to two weeks, but his doc never found anything treatable.

Hang in there, and I second the suggestion of chicken soup - home made if possible. I just had a bowl and it made me fell much better!

Yup-avoiding people is the first step in maintaining health-that's the hidden upside of teotwawki.

My health has improved vastly since moving to FL: related to being unable to find a job in an ER, and thereby being unable to spend 12 hours each day visiting with all the bugs in town.

When you first start coming down with the symptoms, gargle with some wine. Sometimes that does really help. The idea is to wash your throat and tonsils thoroughly with the wine. Repeat a couple of times, over a few hours.

Pete #2

I've always used hot salt-water for sore throat gargle. IMHO it works better than most of the sprays. At one time I'd substitute 12 year old scotch.

Wine, I'd go for a deep red.

Sorry to hear you're feeling so bad. My grandmothers were believers in the chicken soup cure and my best friend's grandma always swore by eating raw garlic. I'm a big fan of both combined with water, water and more water. Oh, and lots of napping and hand washing.

well, I really started to feel better Saturday, and by yesterday was 'out and about' - feeling good today