Cold and Flu Season

[+ not2rowdy]

We’re entering the cold and flu season. What type of regimen do you follow to increase your ability to fight off colds and flu other than the annual flu shot and trying to avoid runny nosed toddlers?

 

If you do come down with a nasty cold what do you do?

 

I try Airborne at the outset but it’s probably too late to have any significant effect.

When the cold goes to my chest I use a Vicks Warm Steam Inhaler

 

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Vicks-Steam-Inhaler-V1300/17324999

 

and Guaifenesin Expectorant to try and keep the chest crud loosened up so it can be coughed up.

[Rudynate]

I wash my hands as soon as I come home after being some place where there are lots of people - movie theaters, the gym, etc. If I get sick, I get as much sleep as possible.

[BabyBoomer]

Frequent hand washing.

 

If I do get a cold, I use Vicks NyQuil Severe Cold & Flu.

 

Don't forget to get a pneumonia shot.

 

~ Boomer ~

[rvwnsd]

I get a flu and pneumonia shot, wash my hands religiously (St Lavender of Method Soap Pump is my favorite), and take Zicam or Boiron Coldcalm Homeopathic Cold Medicine at the first sign of a cold.

[Guest]

There is some evidence, although not great evidence, that if you start sucking on zinc gluconate lozenges as soon as you get a sore throat (before you get a runny nose or cough), that the length of the cold will be shortened. For hand-washing to work, you have to wash your hands as shortly after you make contact with the potentially contaminated surface (door handle, etc.) as possible. If you touch your face between the time you touch the door handle and the time you wash your hands, the hand washing afterwards may not protect you. So I wouldn't recommend waiting until you get home (you will also have contaminated your steering wheel in the meantime). For symptom relief, I recommend naproxen sodium for pain, dextromethorphan or benzonatate for cough, guaifenescin to loosen mucous (also drinking plenty of fluids), and pseudoephedrine for runny nose & congestion. There are medications FDA-approved to shorten influenza if you get it despite being vaccinated, but they have to be given pretty soon after symptoms start, so are not practical in most situations (but can be used for prevention if someone in your household is diagnosed with influenza). The flu is very different from a cold. The most obvious difference is the temperature (usually 100 or less with a cold, over 101 with the flu), but also with the flu you muscles get very sore, and it's difficult to move. One also doesn't get much of a runny nose with the flu. People with colds are usually walking around; those with the flu have trouble making it out of bed. Other ingredients, such as the ingredients in Airborne, echinacia, and vitamin C, have been studied and are not helpful.

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8678384

[Guest]

http://www.idph.state.il.us/images/coldorflu2.jpg

[Guest]

[Guest]

http://www.ehealthstar.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Flu-cold-symptoms-chart.png

[bigvalboy]

My doctor told me once that when you are dressed, the only entrances into the body are your eyes, nose, ears, and mouth....soooo, keep your hands off your face. Wash your hands until you feel friction, double your fluids (even though it might be cold outside) and get more sleep than you normally would.

 

AND most importantly, have at least two Gin and Tonics every night, just to take the edge off. (OK he didn't really say that, I just added that last part)

[jjkrkwood]

I find catching something is mostly unavoidable, so I dont stress, and go with the flow... If I get sick, fluids, Halls cough drops, chicken soup and as much rest as I can.

 

And look forward to a visit from the doctors.

 

 

 

http://www.18twinks.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Big-Dicked-Doctor-Fucks-Twink-Bareback-3.jpg

[jjkrkwood]

If you get a sore throat....ice cream is soothing....

 

http://static.socialitelife.com/uploads/2015/07/31/2015-hot-shirtless-men-12312015-14-675x636.jpg

[MikeyGMin]

I have come to believe that not touching your face can make a huge difference. I've tried for years to train myself rather unsuccessfully not to do so.

 

Was recently discussing this very topic with a co-worker. She is convinced of the same thing. She said that she almost never gets sick while her husband gets a cold several times a year. They both have corporate jobs and live with the same two germ factories a.k.a. children. I'm sure there are other factors, but she firmly believes a lot of it is because she trained herself at a young age not to touch her face because it would mess up her makeup.

[+ Funguy]

The not touching the face-thing is very important as is washing your hands as often as you think about it and even carry hand sanitizer for those times you can't wash.

 

Unfortunately the Flu vaccine is only about 60ish% effective (the nasal spray was even discontinued this season because it was only 3% effective last season). ANYBODY with chronic illness should get the vaccine regardless: e.g. asthma, heart disease, cancer, other lung diseases, etc. etc. etc.

Over 60 should also but many don't and wind up in the ER. And yes, there are deaths every year from the flu - adults and kids!

 

Myth: you cannot get flu from the vaccine! What often happens is that it takes several weeks for the vaccine to become effective and some people happen to get sick within that period of time - thus blaming it on the shot. Get it early! (sort of like, 'vote early and often')

 

Tamiflu must be taken within 48 hours of symptoms in order to do any good - it does not cure the flu but shortens the time of symptoms. Those who seem to get sick every year might want to speak to their MD's and have a Rx ahead of time - almost every year we (eg pharmacies) run out of stock. When you have only a 48 hour window it can be useless to try ll over town when you feel like shit! Please do not take it unless you really have the flu and you are sick as a dog.

[whipped guy]

Door handles are a source of contamination. I try to use an automatic door if there is a choice. Also if I open a door I try to grab it in an area that one would not be prone to touch if they were opening the door routinely... Of course there are so many things that one touches such as shopping carts... and money that folks have sneezed on and otherwise contaminated, etc. That's why I try to only use credit cards.

 

Either way I then wash my hands when I get home or when I am in a position to do so. There is the Happy Birthday rule: take as much time as it takes to sing Happy Birthday to yourself TWICE while you are washing your hands.

 

I also try not to touch my face. As for not putting things into my mouth I am very careful about that... The only exception is when I hire... Yes!! There are certain exceptions to every rule.

[+ not2rowdy]

Addition to my original post.

 

When the sinuses are clogged this Neilmed Sinus Rinse Kit has helped to irrigate the crap out.

 

http://www.cvs.com/shop/health-medicine/cough-cold-flu/nasal-care/neilmed-sinus-rinse-kit-prodid-385631#/!

 

Read and follow the instructions carefully - the idea is to flush the sinuses without pushing mucus into your eustachian tubes. It is a gross, messy process but often offers near immediate temporary relief.

[+ sniper]

I had the real flu exactly once in my life. It was so far beyond any cold I ever had that I've gotten the shot every year since. And I've come to the conclusion that the people who claim they "got the flu from the shot" have never actually had the flu and have no clue what they are talking about.

One other thing I do is wear gloves even if it's not that cold when riding mass transit this time of year. Subway poles are toxic.

[Whitman]

If I do get a cold, I use Vicks NyQuil Severe Cold & Flu.

I haven't used the Severe Cold & Flu version, but NyQuil Cold & Flu Nighttime Relief definitely helps me get a good night's sleep when I am under the weather.

[Guest]

And I've come to the conclusion that the people who claim they "got the flu from the shot" have never actually had the flu and have no clue what they are talking about.

Every time I hear some jackass give me that stupid "got the flu from the shot" line, I smile broadly and try to calmly explain how that just isn't possible. Deep inside I want to shake the person and tell him what an idiot he is....

[Rudynate]

This year, the flu shot made my shoulder unusually sore. Usually it's barely noticeable, but this year, it really ached. I was wondering if the formulation is different.

[+ not2rowdy]

My understanding is the vaccine is pretty much reformulated every year. Many months in advance there is a gathering around the Ouija Board to make a best guess of what the most likely flu varieties (there are 100’s of them) will be the most prevalent the coming season. They pick a dozen or so, the die is cast, and the vaccine goes into production.

[+ sniper]

This year, the flu shot made my shoulder unusually sore. Usually it's barely noticeable, but this year, it really ached. I was wondering if the formulation is different.

probably a bad tech. I just got mine at the pharmacy didn't feel a thing.

[Guest]

This year, the flu shot made my shoulder unusually sore. Usually it's barely noticeable, but this year, it really ached. I was wondering if the formulation is different.

It's interesting how different it can be from year to year. I'm not sure if it's the strains they pick, or the manufacturer/pH of the injection? We give both the FluLaval brand and Fluzone depending on what floor we're working on. The latter is intended for older folks, but it's just more immunogenic. This is a list of some flu vaccines: Fluzone, Influvac, Vaxigrip, Fluarix, Fluvirin, FluLaval, Agriflu, Flubio. I must admit I've dreamed that there was a really serious flu strain that killed anyone who wasn't vaccinated. It would only kill the dumb-ass patients who thought they could get the flu from the flu shot, and I'd have only compliant patients left in my practice. Oh, I'd never wish it for real...

[Zman]

My approach is usually to get a flu shot but then get the flu anyway .

[+ sniper]

Zman, are you sure it's actually the flu and not just a bad cold? I had the real flu exactly once when I was 25 and thought myself indestructible and it made me realize many people, myself included to that point, have no freaking clue what influenza is. I had never in my life felt so ill I had trouble standing up before. I spent about three days in bed with a raging fever, EVERYTHING hurt - the light from the window hurt my eyes, and I actually thought death would be preferable to living like that. So when people say they get it every year I tend to think they're mistaken. (Or it's possible you had a milder case because of the shot).

[+ sync]

This year, the flu shot made my shoulder unusually sore. Usually it's barely noticeable, but this year, it really ached. I was wondering if the formulation is different.

 

For me it has varied, some years I have had soarness, but most times I have not.