Public Service Announcement

The flu is rampant, people! It's true. I just spent four days at the hospital taking care of patients with flu and other respiratory illnesses. And being exposed to it, not only from patients but from other nurses who came to work with it. Yummy. I had a headache all day yesterday and was afraid that I was also coming down with the dreaded virus. But never fear, the minute I left the building and started my weekend, the headache was gone. For the love of all that is good, please don't get the flu. Please. I like sick people. They keep me employed. But the flu is just a horrible gross thing that is being spread like wild fire. So to help you out, here are a few  things you can do to prevent it.

1. Get a flu shot. Hopefully you already did that. But in case you didn't, you can still go get one. The flu shot prevents most strains of the flu but not all. One of the docs told me yesterday that Influenza B is not covered in the shot this year. For the record, I haven't seen or heard of anyone coming down with B. I would happily give you a flu shot, but they don't let me keep a stash of them in my fridge. Sorry.

2. Wash your hands. All the time. After you pee, before you eat, after you've wandered around in public. And take some alcohol hand sanitizer and stick it in your purse and your car. Hand hygiene is the main way to prevent the flu! (I sound like one of those signs that we have everywhere at the hospital, sorry.)

3. Take Vitamin C. I've been doing 1000mg per day. Try 500mg in the morning and 500mg at night. If you take a massive dose, it won't even absorb, you will just pee it all out. I think the max recommended dose per day is 2000mg. And take Vitamin D. I've been doing 2000mg of that. And a multi vitamin. Just do it. We eat the adult gummy kind. They are delish. (And now I sound like my mom. I swore as a child that when I grew up and made my own decisions, I would never EVER take vitamins. Laugh mom and dad, laugh at me.)

4. Eat some fruits and veggies. In place of greasy fast food and processed junk. Your body can fight off bacteria and viruses better if you nourish it properly. (And this week I'm pretty sure I ate fast food at least 5 times this week. Gross.) Nourishing your body properly also includes sleeping at least 7 hours per night. Do it.

5. Drink tea with honey and lemon, which are natural antiviral/antibiotics. It helps colds, sore throats, the flu, ect. And it just tastes good. At least I think so.

6. If you know that you have been exposed to the flu, ask your doctor for some Tamiflu before you have any symptoms. You can take it prophylacticly (to prevent the flu). I know because I asked a doc yesterday. If you start having symptoms (headache, fever, sore throat, runny nose, general achyness), you have 48 hours to start taking Tamiflu or else it won't really do anything. (Tamiflu=an antiviral.)

7. Don't go to work if you have the flu. Don't go anywhere if you have the flu. Stay home, drink lots of water, sleep, and get well.

Ok, that's all I've got. I hope you are having a beautiful, flu free weekend! Spring is just around the corner!