Tis the Season……Flu Season That Is

It was bound to happen.  Someone in the WWIN household was going to come down with the flu.  Usually that someone would be me.  Mike and the kids have super immune systems while I seem to have gotten the short end of that genetic stick.

How the mighty do fall.  I received a call Wednesday morning from Mike letting me know that he was coming home sick from work.  OK, let me be clear (because I guess there is a big difference).  I got a call from Mike letting me know he was taking a VACATION day because he was ill.  Huh?  In the 27 years I’ve known my husband I can count on one hand (he keeps interrupting me to tell me it’s one finger so I’m going to throw that in here) how many times he’s stayed home from work because he was sick.

He not only stayed home on Wednesday, he also “took a vacation day” on Thursday.  Who stole my husband’s body?  Oh no, we misunderstood the Mayans.  The START of the end of the world was on December 21st when The Body Snatchers invaded.  Oh the humanity!!

Here’s the part where I have to admit what an awful wife I am (he’s threatened to come on here and write a post specifically about how horrible I am).  I do NOT want to get the flu.  Let me rephrase that.  I CANNOT get the flu.  There is waaaaay to much going on at work and I have a business trip coming up I really can’t miss.

To that end, I locked him asked him to stay in the bedroom only letting him out to take sustenance (when he could manage to eat) or use the facilities.  I wouldn’t comfort him any way other than to thrust a bottle of Tylenol Warming his way and screech “keep those germs away from me!”

In all seriousness, the flu is running rampant this year and seems to be a pretty vicious strain.  While we unfortunately can’t put our families in a big germ free bubble, there are steps  you can take to keep your family safe.  If it’s to late to stop the invasion at your household, there are steps you can take to lessen the severity.

Here are some tips from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) to avoid the Flu (along with some commentary from me)

• Get the flu shot (it works – I get one every year.  The only year I got the flu was the year they weren’t available)  If the vaccine doesn’t cover the strain that’s going around (as it isn’t this year) it should still lessen the severity of the illness.
• Avoid close contact with sick people.  If you are one of those sick people, limit contact with other people (including family members).  That means STAY HOME!  Don’t spread your germs around at work, you aren’t doing yourself or anyone else any favors.  You should not return to work until your fever has been gone for 24 hours (without any medicinal help)
• Wash Wash Wash!  Washing hands is one of the best ways to stop the spread of illness.  Keep an alcohol based hand sanitizer with you for those times when you can’t wash your hands
• Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Clean surfaces.  Lysol & Clorox wipes are your friend.  Twice a day I’ve been wiping down door handles, light switches, remote controls, toilet handles, faucet handles, soap dispensers, microwave handles and buttons, refrigerator handles – need I go on?  I may be a little over zealous but cleaning surfaces is important.

If you have the misfortune of getting the flu

• Antiviral drugs may be prescribed to lessen the severity within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms.  Even if it’s to late for you to receive the drugs, having a confirmed diagnosis will allow your family to receive treatment faster.  When Belle was a baby, after being sick for a few days I took her to her pediatrician where she was diagnosed with the flu.  While we were past the window for antiviral drugs to help her, the doctor took one look at me and asked when I started having symptoms.  When I told her just that morning she called in a prescription for me.
• Turn to over the counter relief.  Acetaminophen and ibuprofen will help alleviate some of the discomfort.  Personally I like to give my family Tylenol Warming.  I started using it a few years ago and was amazed by it’s effectiveness.  There is a Daytime and a Nightime version.
• Drink lots of non-caffeine fluids
• Wear layers to keep warm
• Gets lots of sleep and rest.  Yeah, I get that we’re all super busy and we have people relying on us.  However, even superheroes need their rest.  You’ll be much more effective for your family if you take a day or two to recuperate.

I hope you and your family get through this flu season relatively unscathed.  I’m going to go now and wipe some surfaces down!