Clobbered By The Flu

[jyl]

So, this weekend I was clobbered by a flu-like something-or-other.

Started feeling it Sat evening, was in fever-and-shakes mode by early Sun AM, basically stayed in bed, alternating between shivering-cold and sweating-hot, for the next 24 hours. And for the following 12 hours I was still unsteady on the stairs and felt like my IQ had been halved. Sure glad I didn't have anything important to do during those days.

When you guys/gals feel a flu-thing coming on, what do you do? Is there any way to make it shorter?

And is there any merit to "breaking a fever"?

[Dan in Pasadena]

Been there, done that, got the T-shirt as the expression goes. Had it a few weeks ago. I hunker down, drink LOTS of water - to wash out the bugs. Aspirin, Theraflu works pretty good but nothing really stops the aches completely. You'll wear out your nose with Kleenex so use those tissues with the lotion in them. Best of luck.

[MichiganMat]

Drink.
Drink booze.
To excess.
It really chases the bugs away.

[bell]

maybe it was peanut butter.....

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01563.html

had one of the recalled pb jars in my cupbard, luckily all is well now.

[nostatic]

I've got something a lot less virulent, but annoying just the same. Felt like something was nipping at my heels for like 2 weeks and finally it went to scratchy throat, runny nose, and slow descent into the chest. Thankfully no fever or chills though...

[jyl]

My bugs tend to be debilitating but brief. 24 hours bedridden is my norm. I think I prefer that, versus many days of illness.

Anyway, what about that "breaking a fever" thing? Any docs willing to comment?

[livi]

How do you mean "breaking a fever" ?

Working in the Pediatric scenery (a viral Las Vegas) creates a funny situation. Always surrounded with all those little bugs - I am never really sick, but then never really well either. Much like toddlers - continuously running nose but never fever, ache or tired. A never ending trench war, as it were.

[jyl]

By "breaking a fever" I mean going to bed all bundled up (i.e. pajamas, bathrobe, lots of blankets) and staying that way even after the chills pass, even after you're hot and sweaty. Usually I wake up the next morning, wet with perspiration and feeling drained, but fever is gone.

I think this is sort of an old wives' remedy, I do it by accident (go to bed all bundled up because feel cold, then simply never bother to remove any layers before falling asleep). I don't know if it really works, or if the fever simply runs its course in 12 hours regardless, or if fevers tend to go away in the morning anyway.

[many944s]

I have had that virus WAY too many times! I am currently fighting off something that I picked up on a flight home from Cali. It has been around for about 2 weeks now and is not bacterial... yet. Runny nose, sinus congestion, but nothing in my lungs, it's a strange one.

Anyway, I have found that 1000mg of Vitamin C in the morning, with another 1000mg before bed helps alot. Chase the evening vitamic C with a couple of Miller Lites. The next morning I usually feel great.

FWIW,
-Nick

[azasadny]

This flu season has been a bad one at our home. We drink lots of water, Gatorade and green tea. Get plenty of rest and dress comfortably, not too bundled up, just enough to avoid chills. Don't eat until you really feel better and take a hot, steamy shower each day.

[tabs]

I don't know anyother way of BREAKING a Cold/Flu then sweating it out..and I hate it. Thats your bodys immune system mounting the attack on the bugs.

I picked something up right after Thanksgiving..Saturday night to be exact..I started coughing, which is normal for me here in LV in the winter...fking dust etc...anyway Sunday I started feeling tired and achey, so I knew it was something more...It didn't put me down, but made me miserable for 2 weeks. I never sweated it out so I had the inkilingt that it wasn't gone but hiding. Sure enough2 1/2 weeks later on the Saturday before Christmas there it came again..and lasted another 2 weeks of misery. I mean it moved from my nose to my throat to my chest and finally I was hoarse for a coupla days. I still have crackling in my ears and feel dizzy when I stand up..

[stomachmonkey]

Gallons of water, herbal tea, Theraflu helps take care of the sore joints, and I also "sweat it out". I think that a lot of fluids help you flush your system. I pee 20 times a day and sweat like a pig but like you I can get most of it out in 24 hours.

[Moneyguy1]

Hippocrates even knew that heating up the body (within reason) helped in certain illnesses.

[Nathans_Dad]

Increased body temperature does help the immune system in several ways. First many organisms do not replicate as well in a hotter enviroment, second white blood cells have shown increased movement rates and phagocytosis (eating the bad bacteria) in hotter environments.

That said, I'm not aware of any study that showed that suffering through a fever made you better any quicker than taking tylenol and being comfortable.

[syncroid]

I got slammed with this flu/cold like virus as of last Sunday. First symtom was a slight cough. Within 24 hours every joint in my body felt like I had been hit by a bus. My upper chest felt like it was filling up with liquid. (luckily it hasn't rooted in my lungs) My body temperature went from freezing to burning up. I am over it for the most part but am still coughing alot. My doc gave me some Motrin for the body aches and a codeine based cough syrup for the cough. Lots of fluids and lots of rest. Time to catch up on movies.

[targa911S]

Two big shots of bourbon or whiskey in a coffee cup. Add 1 spoon of sugar. add warm, not boiling, water and take two asprin, drinking it all quickly. Go to bed and sweat like hell.

[stomachmonkey]

Interesting reading.

http://www.boston.com/globe/search/stories/health/health_sense/022900.htm

[HardDrive]

Use the '2 hats' treatment.

Get a hat and a bottle of whisky. Put the hat on the post of you bed, get in bed, and start drinking the whisky. When you see 2 hats, you'll feel much better.

[jyl]

Art, you reminded me, the feel-better of last resort for me in flu periods is a hot bath. No matter how terrible I feel, soaking in a hot bath makes me feel better, long enough to get into bed and fall asleep. Hot shower is okay but sometimes just standing up is too achy and dizzy.

Otherwise, I also drink gallons of water and, if I have the energy to make it, hot tea and broth-like soup. I never seem to have Theraflu around when I need it, so make do with whatever we have - Tylenol and so on.

On the "breaking a fever" thing, sounds like others do it too.

Now, what about the "starve a cold, feed a fever" saying, or is it the other way around?

I don't get this one. Colds and flus don't affect my appetite all that much, I still want to eat, although nothing too challenging. Sushi not welcome.