To ask for advice from you all..:

[TheJones]

I’m out tonight and can’t cancel - I’ve got that blooming virus that’s going round- cough, upper respiratory type thing. Any advice on how to get rid of it or mask it quickly. I would honestly cancel but I’m hosting and doing a speech and people have spent a lot of money. Any help great-fully received! I will be able to stay out of everyone’s way as I’ll be on stage and make a run for it once my parts done.

There's no way of getting rid of a virus quickly. You can mask the symptoms with cold/flu capsules and strepsil type lozenges but you'll probably still feel quite crap 😔 can you wear a mask to prevent spreading the virus? Obviously not while you're giving a speech! I would definitely try and keep my distance from people and bring some handkerchiefs to cough into.

I'd rather the host cancelled than risked making me ill over Christmas

Plus the more you battle through illness the more likely you will get severely ill - body needs to rest

There has to be someone who can stand in for you. Nobody is 100% irreplaceable.

Why are you even contemplating passing on your virus to a room full of people at Christmas??!!

You need to find a replacement. You can't make others sick abd ruin countless family Christmas celebrations with your virus.

Is your speech written? Someone else can read it.

Please don't spread this illness.

Obviously it would be best to cancel but if you're determined not to...

Gargle salt solution. Stream warm salt solution through your nose (with a neti pot if you have one, otherwise with a small teapot etc).

If you can repeat this at intervals throughout the event, even better.

This will hopefully reduce the viral load you breathe out.

At this time of year people won’t think twice of there not being a speech because someone’s unwell - and will be more grateful you didn’t pass it on.

Can you do it remotely? I've got some hideous cough / virus at the moment, I wouldn't inflict it on event before Christmas. You can't make a virus go away in an afternoon.

If the Queen can cancel engagements for a respiratory tract condition, I think you can too, @TheJones . 😁

We're very sorry but it is that time of year, the guest speaker is unwell and has been unable to attend, she didn't want to infect you all the week before Christmas!

Done. Nobody will give a shit.

Yeah I’ve cancelled it . I don’t want to do it - im in bed, I can’t do it and I agree I’d be pissed off is someone passed me something. I’m also grim- coughing etc.

It’s strange though isn’t it - social pressure to not cancel or feel guilty when you’re poorly! I bet everyone is glad it’s not on as they’re also poorly and need to get ready for Christmas!

It's the right choice, now rest up and hopefully you'll be better yourself by Christmas day!

OP, I had this recently and felt hideous. One thing that I really noticed help me was bronchostop. Either pastilles or syrup, you can get in supermarket. Expensive but well worth it. Hope you feel better soon

That’s I’ll get that. I could tell I would get poorly before Christmas- I love Christmas but the amount we have to do / events/ school stuff / present wrapping etc! Just sends me under and my body makes me stop! Hope
you’re better now

The social pressure to carry on is stupid - I hate all those "take this and then carry on your day" ads - it just means people pass on bugs , people fail to get properly better , it's naff

Hope you feel better soon