MNHQ needs your avoiding/surviving winter sniffles advice and tips.

[AbbyMumsnet]

It's that time of year when the lurgies hit with a vengeance. So, regardless of whether you've survived unscathed so far or spent New Year's Eve under the duvet, clutching a hot water bottle, we'd appreciate your advice/tips etc on how to avoid colds, sniffles et al - and how to lessen the impact if you or your family does get hit by a horrible bug. What weird concoctions do you take? Cider vinegar? Sambucol? Whiskey? Do you swear by echinacea or some other strange herb grown in a yurt? And what happens in your home if ebola, sorry, we mean man-flu, strikes your poor partner becomes ill? Do world's collide? Do let us know your thoughts.

Thanking you kindly.

Stay warm - not hot, keep nose, neck and chest warm - when they are cold the bloods not pumping the antibodies there so effectively so you are more susceptible to 'catching' a cold.

Eat fresh fruit and vegetables or top up you vits ( B,C and Zinc)
Try blueberries cooked in with your porriage - Delicious exploding pops of sweet goodness - house favourite here!

Nip a sniffle in the bud with some echinacea.

Don't get run down (if at all possible - including don't get a hangover!!! ) ...sleep lots

Generally drink lots of water - try splashing some hot from the kettle to make a glass of cold water easier to drink.

If you do get a cold - Manuca Honey, Ginger and Lemon with warm not boiling water.

Brush your teeth - hot lemon and honey - not good for teeth at all

Hahaha! Well, they don't give birth so tough! If they need to sacrifice a bit of zinc for the sake of our health, I say do it!

(missed you! How've you been? And how's the dreaded tax return?)

As you can see I'm experimenting with my identity...don't think it'll last much longer, though. I quite like Merry.

tax return??? oh, ahh, yes, I'm supposed to be doing that, aren't I...

not too well, you might say!

And there I was thinking that was the reason I'd not seen you around lately. Bad, girl, bad girl!

Well I've managed to extend my working day to 11.30pm by spending more time on mumsnet than actually trying to earn a living, so I can hardly talk . I think I must've left my i-discipline-pod in the washing machine...it's not working any more!

Man Flu

• treat with all available drugs on the market, a bottle of Lucozade (- like there mum used too!), cans of tomato soup some crackers and most importantly -

DESERTION - leave them on there own whilst you do something better - for days if possible!!

wmmc, "Face the fact that it will all be over in five days and retire to bed with paracetamol/ibuprofen/tissues/fluids."

It bloody won't, you know - there's a 3-weeker (non-vomiting) around atm

Eat lots of garlic
Eat lots of Ginger
Burn all used tissues
Open the windows for 10 minutes every day
Wash hands a lot or use anti bac gel particularly after handling cash( filthy)
Clean got phone and computer mouse&keyboard with anti bac.
Get outside for a while every day and breath some fresh air
Rest

Hi sally what's with the namechange?
I'm well thanks-hope you and sis had a great Xmas
Will look out for your new name now I know it!off to bed as I'm up at 6 tomorrow-nightmare but have to drop dh to airport. Let's have a natter soon
Nighty night

Wear a lovely warm hat in bed and cover throat and ears with scarf. Yes! Sweat is great, get your temperature up to kill the bugs off.

Take vitC and zinc at first signs of a cold. Ginger, fresh and ground raise the body temperature.

If you smell nitrous oxide on anyone's breath, hold you own breath and turn away to breathe - their nose is making this gas to kill bugs they already have and they are infectious. Nitrous oxide smells 'cold' and metallic.

Wear gloves in public, and on public transport. Or, press all buttons in public with the back of and and wash hands when you come in.

Don't use money - use your cards.

Get the flu vaccine if you are compromised in any way.

Go to the doctor if one bottle of cough medicine hasn't shifted the phlegm. Pneumonia lives on that phlegm in your lungs, you probably need antibiotics if you have a lot of phlegm, and have had a productive cough for longer than 10 days. bring a sample of the phlegm in a bottle for the GP to send it to the labs for a more accurate diagnosis.

Steam is brilliant for clearing your phlegm out.
Saline water in your nostrils to clear them out and kill bugs. Use a nedi pipe to pour slaty water through your nose.

Guess who had pneumonia for four months last year?!!!

Get more sleep. I am noticeably less ill than DH who gets up an hour earlier each day.

I have discovered a magical man-flu cure (wonder if it's subject dependent though).

Go totally over the top with sympathy. Cold compresses, special soft tissues, make sure they're warm enough at every opportunity, appear to be genuinely worried and wonder aloud if you ought to call the doctors. Stroke brow. Ask in soothing tones 'how are you feeling now?' just slightly too often.

Freaks. Them. Out. Never seen such a quick recovery.

Been avoiding every ill person whilst out shopping. Hold ya breath and run. I literally have been darting through the aisles lol! They prob think 'its that strange women again!! Been eating loads of garlic esp around the school play time. We escaped through christmas through (luckily) and been doing the wash hands frequently bit. Actually thought I was getting to be paranoid about it. Dd usually gets so ill with it all but had her first flu jab this year. Any friends visit ill, get the old dettox out and open the windows. Any threat of sore throat then gargle in salt and water early to prevent infection/toncilitus.

I have noticed that I have definitely been far less stricken with colds etc since becoming a SAHM. When I do get the sniffles it is much less severe and doesn't last as long.

I am not sure of the logic here.

Maybe I worked in an unhealthily ventilated office with the air conditioning spreading germs around?

On the other hand it coiuld be that I am now more active, which in turn means I am fitter, and this somehow builds resistance.

Or it could just be that I am far too busy these days even to notice a minor cold and the worse ones just fade into insignificance with everything else going on.

LOL at chloesmumtoo btw.

When I pass someone with a cold I hold my breath for about 50 yards and walk fast too (not a convenient combo really)!
I did that even before I was a SAHM, but still had more colds when working.

My top tip is to spend 20 years or so attending every toddler group you can, helping in every class you can, and for bonus points have a spell working in childcare. You will end up with an immune system second to none and be impervious to most bugs.

My top tip is to not post on Mumsnet, asking for advice on this subject...

About an hour later I started to feel like death. That'll learn me.

fwiw (I'm not really a good example because lately I've been whinging about my 3 week old sinusitis) here's what I try to do:

1. get flu shot in October
2. keep air fairly humid (a problem with central heating)
3. drink lots of water
4. try to get enough sleep (tiredness wears down your immune system)
5. wash hands (we all do it as soon as we come in to the house)
6. eat fresh fruit & veg
7. take a homeopathic remedy as soon as 1st signs of flu/cold appear

Obviously my precautions don't always work!

elderberry tincture. Is miraculous.

Make sure you and DP/DW/DH/significant other don't get ill at the same time. The man flu hits and you have no hope of getting over the illness yourself!

Make sure the kids don't get ill when you are ill. Clearing up vomit when you have the flu is not fun.

Don't go out. Staying in is the new going out. You have tesco online and MN - what more do you need. People out there are infectious!! Avoid them!

selenium and vitamin c supplemetns -definitely noticed I'm not so susceptible since taking em as has dh. also second whoever it was who suggested water and loads of it.

plus as much sleep as you can get..

Cure for Man Flue - slam bedroom door behind you. Ignore ALL hammering on floors from above.

To prevent colds - strawberries, lots and lots of strawberries.

To cure cold - Slam bedroom door so nobody can get in. You need portable TV, remote control, laptop with internet connection, chocolate and paracetamol.

Sickness and the runs - lots of water, immodium and your address book and phone so you can cancel all engagements for the duration. Newborn nappies inside your knix are also a comfort and save many a good bed sheet.

Are people serious about washing hands and not touching things? That sounds a bit OTT to me.

Echinecha, take it at 1st sign of cold, plus take powdered vit c once a day, gets things shifted quickly.