I’m about to be taken down by the flu…

Agree
You have to keep cracking on with it religiously but it works.
All my family have had flu over Christmas and I've been using it once a day going into work where filthy people cough their bloody germs everything ,no tissues 🙄
Nothing, tiny tickle and Im on it straight away

The flu jab was £21 so I figure worth it compared to the cost and misery of flu.

I do think it should be free for everyone mind you. Seems like a no brainer

I’m not sure, but it is interesting!

my teen ds refused to use it and he came down with the cold 🤷🏼‍♀️

I'm really lucky this year. Normally I'm absolutely knocked out by flu, or any illness. My son has the flu vaccine at school (the nasal one) and I don't qualify for the free flu jab but can't really afford to pay for one either. My son got a cold just after Christmas, then I got hit with a really bad cold (but not quite flu level) and now my mum has the actual flu and she's really struggling with it. Normally it's me who gets the most ill, then my son is ill but not too poorly and my mum gets something for 24 hours then it passes completely.

Feeling grateful for my seemingly better health but sad that other people are struggling so much.

I’ve been laid low with this since 13th December AND I had the flu jab.
Cough eased up about 5 days ago. It’s been brutal. Rough AF right over Christmas.
From one single mum to another - best of luck.

Echinacea every day over winter. Increased at first sign of symptoms. My parents also did this in their older years and were rarely ill.
Sterimar nasal spray to wash out virus/bacteria - and help you breathe.
Saltwater gargle for throat
paracetamol and ibuprofen (if ok to take ibuprofen) to hand but having a fever in an otherwise healthy adult is actually useful - makes you feel shit but is your body’s way of fighting off illness/shortening the illness. I try to limit antipyretics if I can.

Beedn doing this for nearly 20 years and have only had a couple of days off work in the past 10 years and no flu at all in that time. Very rarely get anything more than a mild cold, even when my kids get heavy ones.

No doubt will now get the flu of my life having said that.

Good luck im on day four and am dragging myself around. Was in bed by 6pm last night.

This
The stuff is amazing, I've been using it every time I get early cold symptoms this year and I haven't had a full blown cold since - no pun intended! I always have a bottle in the cupboard. It's not the same as simple saline spray. Something in the active ingredients slows down the replication of the virus in the nasal passages so your immune system has time to attack it before it spreads to the rest of you.

Bloody hell, that's hard work. I had it last month and couldn't have faffed about like that, could barely move. Beechams all in one cold and flu remedy, and lots of easy stuff like pots of soup , and whatever simple to prepare food DC likes, he can survive on Ready Brek or tinned pasta for a couple of days if necessary. Good luck.

I work in paeds, been surrounded by it since October/November. ( positive swab) Had the jab. Haven’t caught it…. yet. I was hoping we had seen enough pre christmas as things had calmed down. Obviously spiking back up after new year! Not sure how effective the vaccine was as was a hybrid strain apparently.

It’s actually a myth that you can’t take too much vitamin c, you absolutley can and it can cause side effects.

Imnot saying don’t have enough vitamin c but we don’t ‘ just pee it out’ if too much.

Use Vicks first defence nose spray as often as you can. I think supermarkets sell it and chemists. It won't completely stop it but it will reduce the severity potentially

That’s really interesting - I have a nasal rinse kit and I’ve started using it after I’ve been to busy places where I’m exposed to coughs/colds because I read ages ago that the viruses take hold/reproduce in the nasal passages. I have avoided colds this autumn/winter apart from the one time I travelled abroad and didn’t take my kit with me (came down with it three days after the flight) I shall carry on with this!

Tbh you might not get hit as hard.

My dd had it over Christmas and her cough went on for two weeks, she was really rough. My DH caught it and had a headache and cough for 48 hours, and then nothing! It doesn’t affect us all the same way. I do actually wonder if it’s covid as that’s exactly what he was like when he had that twice and we had to test for it.

I would gargle with soluble aspirin for the throat, take paracetamol and cross your fingers.

@Inthefuturenow

Interesting - that’s exactly what happened to us symptom-wise. Bad cold followed by the longest cough I’ve ever known. I started with the cold mid Dec and I’m still occasionally coughing up gunk in the morning (sorry TMI.)

So now I’m thinking we’ve all had Covid. My youngest didn’t really cough though, he just vomited and has tummy upset and sat on the sofa for a full week. Totally lost his little appetite too

Interesting. Would the saline spray be like the sterimer ones?

Might not be flu. I had a bad cold followed by a 5 week cough and the Dr said it was COVID, says his whole family had just had it and it was presenting as a bad cold followed by a long lasting cough this winter. I now have pneumonia and pleurisy and am on antibiotics and steroids. He said flu came and went early this year and they're seeing much more COVID.

It certainly doesn’t cover all strains - sorry you’ve been so unwell. But most people with flu have not had the jab and this year it’s been so widely promoted as so many children are spreading it and coming down with it.

Seriously people - get the flu jab. You will have a bad cold rather than a week in bed crawling to the toilet.

You might be ok, fingers crossed. Mine was lurking after dd was ill but I've managed to keep it at bay, just feeling worse at night but feel better today.

Also I had a flu jab booked in November but boots cancelled because they'd run out 🙁

I feel for you. I started with it on 20th Dec and only just started to feel human yesterday. It’s been awful.
plenty of fluids and rest when you can. Just eat what you can. I think I lived off
toast and butter!

I had the flu jab in October but have been in bed with this flu thing since last Wednesday.

Easy meals (ready made).
Snacks the toddler can reach, buy some pre pared fruit or veg if you can and put on bottom shelf of fridge,
Dont panic if toddler misses out on “proper” food for a meal or two, As long as they are fed.
Paracetamol and some ibuprofen (if you can take) to alternate to help keep any temps down, eg 10am para, midday ibuprofen, 2pm, para etc, but remembering the max doses per 24 hrs for each. And I’ve no idea what that is, sorry!
Plenty if tissues close by and plastic bags to use as bins to throw away after each tissue has been used.
Make sure a trusted family member or friend has a key for your house and agree to check in with them over the phone morning and evening.
Paper and pen close by listing when you’ve had your meds (easy to get confused especially if you have to administer any to child too).
Buy some individual bottled water to keep next to sofa and bed so you do t have to move to keep hydrated
Get the chargers close by so any screen time can be increased without hassle.
Get some kids books and toys nearby wherever you decide to camp out.
Get some ice pops (great for the throat pain).
Good luck!

I’m in the exact same position day one throat, buzzing ears jaw ache and about to go down!

I did so much work today knowing I wasn’t feeling right, my son who’s 21 has it but he’s been up and about so not bed bound just feeling rough and sleeping lots with a bit of a temp so I’m praying have his level of immunity.

I’ve got my ginger honey, first defence, lemsips and tomorrow I’ll send DH for the night nurse as I haven’t slept tonight.