How to manage if I get this flu?

[Redonionsalad]

I’m a single parent, no support nearby.
I keep reading with this new flu strain people can’t get out of bed for a week or more.

I’m in panic mode as how on earth will I look after my DC (5 and 7) if I do catch it?!

I’ve got it at moment and my mum took my daughter for 2 night sleepover so could get over the worst she’s just turned 5yrs.

Have simple easy meals available i batch cook so have been able to pull portions of soup and pasta out to defrost. Snacks and things to make sandwiches are useful. Make sure you stocked up on paracetamol, calpol, lemsip.

Do you know any school mums if asked id def help them out (or my mum would as she does most the school runs/after school for me. Or call school and let them know you really unwell and is there anyone who can come get the children as a good school wil support as much as they can. And least then they aware you unwell and unsupported.

It’s times of illness that makes life as a single parent brutal you have no option but to carry on whilst other parent would likely completely rest when they were unwell.

Lollies and jellies are good to pre stock and won't get wasted if you don't need them now. Have bottled water to hand ,thermometer and oximeter.
Tissues of course .

Parenting is keeping young DC alive when your back is against the wall in a crisis alone I wouldn't think twice about putting tv on and if you haven't got Disney I also think buying it even for a month is a good idea.

The flu jab takes quite a while to protect your body isn’t not instant and doesn’t prevent against all strains. Equally you get slightly poorly from it initially. If you are going to get the flu you will get it unfortunately. You manage as you have to. No help so it’s you and kids against the world. Make sure you have lots of meds. Plus tv / computers for children. It passes.

Children always behave so much better when mum is poorly. They understand it even at toddler age.

Dose up on paracetamol and ibuprofen and time will make you heal.

Any under 10 let any friends take them to school.

but yes you just have to deal with it like anything else …..

Also need bleatch spray as any vom / virus won’t go away without it. That’s why all these anti bacterial hand gels say 99% any sick then you need flash or what ever bleach spray to kill the bugs and virus on worktops / doorhandles etc always change hand towels frequently to parent the spread.

Uber eats etc can deliver in less than 30 mins so don’t sweat the small stuff

Its no different to covid and thats been doing the rounds again all year (i was bedridden for a week back in october) No point worrying. Its just life.

Worrying about it isn't worth it but you can prepare in the same way as any of us. Flu jab, freezer food, medication. If you have to be sick from work it can't be helped, looking after DC call on as much help as you can, do the minimum, get them to help if possible.

We all worry with the media hype, it's like flu every year, it's awful, you will get it or you won't. If you and DC have the Flu jab hopefully all will be fine. Xxx

I’ll caveat all this with if financially possible.

Stock up on easy foods; little cheese, yoghurts, crackers. Make sure they are on shelves the kids can reach.

Buy some small bottles of water. Again put them somewhere easy to reach for the kids. A mini squash too if your kids won’t drink water. It’ll be easier for the, to distil.

Stock up on 4/5 days for you all on para and ibu. I was always amazed how quickly the liquid calpol used to run down. Put a note pad and pen with them so you can write down when everyone has a dose of something. It’s so easy to get confused when you’ve more than one to deal with and/or you are ill yourself.

Get some anti bac and soap/stock of clean towels in bathroom.

Keep chargers to hand for tablet, laptops, phones etc so there is easy screen time for them.

Keep some changes of light clothes and underwear nearby where we you set up camp.

Keep some bin bags nearby too so tissues can be thrown away after each use and not left handing about on the arm of the sofa etc.

If you don’t have online shopping set up, do so now so you can more easily get things.

Similarly with delivreoo/uber eats etc.

Make sure your kids know now how to unlock your front door if needed. Also make sure they know your address. It’s unlikely that they will need it but it’s useful anyway.

If you’ve a trusted neighbour give them a key now and make sure you’ve exchanged tel numbers with them. If no neighbour, a trusted school mum or dad.

Surely just the same as if you catch flu or another awful virus any other year? Yours are at an age they will be ok. My worst illness was when mine were just turned 4 by a couple of weeks and just over 1. I literally couldn’t move and had to crawl to the toilet but would have to lie on the floor before and after to summon the energy to use it or get back. Older dd sorted picnic type food, thankfully had some in, changed nappies, changed dd2 in to pj’s. I slept on the sofa and they watched tv and played. It can happen anytime, not just when the msm makes a big deal. Dc will manage

@vaccinationnation great list there I especially like the idea to have a pen and pad near the meds so you can remember when they have been taken !

There seem to be so many people on MN with irrational anxiety about normal winter bugs these days. I think the government’s approach to the pandemic really did a number of some people and has impacted their mental health.

You’re unlikely to catch a debilitating version of any cold or flu. I’d worry about it if it happens rather than stressing yourself over it now. Most people have basic meds and food supplies in their cupboards don’t they?

This is not helpful. Everyone is different and OP might manage fine. Did your sister's family all lie in bed soiling themselves and get hospitalised with dehydration? If not then they were able to take care of essential needs and hopefully most people can do the same unless they do need hospital, in which case help is available.

Stocking up in advance may help OP and find a neighbour or friend who could drop basic supplies in an emergency. It would be hard but you will get through if needed. Fingers crossed it won't affect you.

Wondering if I'm just exceptionally lucky as at 44 I haven't had the flu yet. Only been vaccinated when I was pregnant. The children get vaccinated and haven't had it. My partner is 49 and has never had the flu..

1. Get the jab
2. The next few meals you cook, make extra and freeze portions so worst comes to worst you have decent food you can pop in the microwave for the kids. Also make sure you have a stash of fish fingers, chicken nuggets, frozen bread, baked beans, cereal and easy snacks available.
3. Stock up on nuromol (an amazing ibuprofen and paracetamol combo), calpol, microwaveable hotties, tissues, loo roll etc
4. Don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it. I'd happily collect my kid's friends from school for a mum who was struggling or pick up something she needed from the shop.

Fingers crossed none of this will be necessary!! 🤞

Might be wise to have the flu jab, I have had it every year bar one when I got the flu and totally wiped out my entire Christmas holiday (teacher) being poorly and unable to do anything, never risking it again .

Sorry what?

You are in panic mode for something that is not actually happening to you right now?

Wash your hands
Keep your distance from people who are symptomatic
Get a flue jab
Stock up on easy prep food

As long as your child is safe and fed you will cope fine.

So they were toileting in the bed?

Why do I keep seeing threads from panicked people about flu. Seriously if flu scares you this much get vaccinated. It’s straightforward, it’s not expensive and free quite often and it would save a lot of this upset.

The didn't do it until the end of November, by which point the reception class had already been hit by flu. My two year old had the vaccine and she got off with one day of high temps and a week of grumpy snot. Me and my son were crippled, two weeks on and I still can't walk to school without stopping for breath and I normally run 35 miles a week plus the same again walking.

Talk to other parents at school and make sure you have some connections you could message if you had to who could do something like checking on you daily, perhaps taking the children occasionally. Even if you have family connections as well, there are a lot of people out there who would give you some forms of help.

Get the flu shot. I assume the kids have had the nasal spray at school, if not arrange it ASAP and you can probably pay for yours privately at the pharmacy if you aren’t eligible on the NHS or get offered it at work.
I know little kids are gross but do what you can to encourage handwashing, keep hand santizer on you.
Stock your medicine cabinet with everything imaginable for you and for them.
Make sure you have your freezer stocked with lots of easy food and pantry full of snacks the kids can grab themselves.
If you do get unwell, probably unlikely I haven’t had flu since I was 13 it’s not THAT common, then suspend your usual rules and let them binge watch TV. Needs must.
I wouldn’t be panicking before it’s even happened.

Oh that's really late! Ds got his in September i think.. DH has had his because he's asthmatic, and i called to pay for one but everywhere seems out of stock round here now 😏

Definitely make sure you are in the class WhatsApp for both dc.

I recently ended up in hospital and dh had to go away before I was up and about. I was able to send up a flare in the WhatsApp groups and other parents ran a rota to get my kids to and from both school and clubs.

Mine are older now so can easily sort food and pets etc but definitely worth stocking up with easy things and essentials. Have emergency bread and milk in the freezer.

If you have pets look into a dog walker service etc. I just threw money at this.

It’s very different to Covid, which, according to the GP I spoke to yesterday, is considered a mild strain this year.

I’m coming out the other side and it is grim. I’ve never had flu before, so I had no idea, but I’ve been almost incapable of anything for over a week now.

There is some great advice on this thread, the only thing I would add is that, even if you do get it, it may be mild or even asymptomatic. You may have already had it. Keep stocked up, I thought I was getting rid but then the symptoms returned with a vengeance earlier this week (which is why the GP wanted to see me.)

The current wave of flu has mutated away from the vaccine strain and so people are not being protected by this year's vaccine. It's a particularly nasty year for flu and the outbreak hasn't peaked yet. Flu is disabling and can be dangerous - it's understandable to be concerned about it.

I would like to get the flu jab but I've heard that it can make you poorly.

Is that nonsense?

Like everybody else, just get on with it.

that's the one occasion when you leave the kids in front of screens all day, feed them crap food. At worst, they'll eat crips and biscuits for 2 days if you are REALLy that unwell, which is unlikely.

People always exaggerate. You can feel like death, but you can always drag yourself out of bed and crash on the sofa. If you are really awful, ask someone for a lift to and from school or just keep the kids home

The flu jab is far from 100%, I don't know why people think it's a magical answer.