I think Tamaflu really helps, but I don't think a doc will give it to you "just to have on hand." I like to have juices around and jello and some good cough drops. I haven't had the flu in years b/c I get the shot, but I've sure had colds and sinus infections. It's the pits!!

When my husband went to the doctor last year with the flu, he told him to sip (alternate) on gatorade, jello, and soup broth. Vernors always tastes good too. I made sure I had those items on hand this fall...just in case!

For the stomach flu the best thing is to always drink!
Sips are best.

I found this:

The most important thing to do is to rest the stomach and intestines. You can do this by first eating nothing solid and drinking only clear liquids. A little later you can eat soft bland foods that are easy to digest.

If you have been vomiting a lot, it is best to have only small, frequent sips of liquids. Drinking too much at once, even an ounce or two, may cause more vomiting.

Your choice of liquids is important. If water is the only liquid you can drink without vomiting, that is okay. However, if you have been vomiting often for a long time, you must replace the minerals, sodium and potassium, that are lost when you vomit. Ask your health care provider what sport drinks or other commercial electrolyte replacement drinks could help you replace these minerals.

Other clear liquids you can drink are weak tea and apple juice. You may also drink soft drinks without caffeine (such as 7-UP) after letting them go flat (lose their carbonation). Chilling the liquids may help you keep them down. Avoid liquids that are acidic (such as orange juice) or caffeinated (such as coffee) or have a lot of carbonation. Do not drink milk until you no longer have diarrhea.

You may start eating soft bland foods when you have not vomited for several hours and are able to drink clear liquids without further upset. Soda crackers, toast, plain noodles, gelatin, eggs, applesauce, and bananas are good first choices. Avoid foods that are acidic, spicy, fatty, or fibrous (such as meats, coarse grains, vegetables). Also avoid dairy products. You may start eating these foods again in 3 days or so, when all signs of illness have passed.

Coldeze losenges, lots of liquids, water,soups,etc,. Try to get as much trest as possible. Don't exercise when you're ill. It seems to make the virus stronger.

I try to keep meds for fever, sinus and lung congestion all the time.(Tylenol, Sudafed, Mucinex). NyQuil is a wonderful do it all for night. I sure do rest good when I take it.:) Mylanta, Pepto-Bismol and Imodium for the tummy. I also try to keep some Phenergan for nausea. My motto is NIP IT IN THE BUD IF POSSIBLE. I have stayed out of the drs office many times by not waiting to treat.

When I am congested, I love Hot and Sour soup.
Get your rest NOW. It really speeds up recovery and often you can shake some bugs without getting the full blown symptoms.

stock up on the above stuff but also all the things that bring you comfort whether it's food things, books or crafts so you are ready for some downtime activities. i always keep a supply of most things mentioned above just in case plus i think maybe that wards off my colds LOL. in the last few yrs i finally came to the conclusion it's better to stop and take off work early in an illness then wait till i'm on deaths door from over doing it, shortens the duration of illness. so get your rest early! ~ liz

At this time of year, rushing around for Christmas, we don't get enough sleep and eat too much junk food. Stay strong by getting enough sleep and eating nutritious food, and you won't fall victim to all those illnesses going around.

I've had the Flu twice and I know that's what it is from the horrific body pains. If you catch it within the first 24 hrs., then Tamiflu is amazing. I'm usually pretty good about 2 days later! But, yes, MD's won't give it to you just to have on hand. Get yourself to your MD and he'll prescribe it if you have the Flu. Lots of rest goes without saying!

You need to make a BIG sign:

No one home, Go Away Flu!

:)

Really all messages above already say everything. I sure hope, you are feeling better today, and no flu entered your house!

Moni

Thanks Moni, I do feel somewhat better although the weatherlady was correct about the ice and rain today. Mom just called and said it was very windy and 60 degrees where she lives, not to far from you.

My throat hurts, nothing I can't handle though. DH finally decided put some recessed lights in the livingroom corners. I'll come to life just for that reason alone. I've been waiting for years! lol

Thanks Moni, I do feel somewhat better although the weatherlady was correct about the ice and rain today. Mom just called and said it was very windy and 60 degrees where she lives, not to far from you.

My throat hurts, nothing I can't handle though. DH finally decided put some recessed lights in the livingroom corners. I'll come to life just for that reason alone. I've been waiting for years! lol

Chicken soup, or broth
Jell-O, Popsicles, Gatorade ,and Sprite.
Soft tissue, or moist wipes, depending on
what end is causing the problem.
For a sore throat, gargling with salt water,
works best for me.
Congestion I use Vicks, Mucinex, and cold drops.
Get plenty of rest, and wash your hands, a lot.

I always keep Gatorade in the basement. I also keep bottles of flavored water on hand along with ColdEeze, Tylenol, Imodium AD, and everything else I can think of. I always get flu shots so I don't worry much about the flu.

sure hope you don't get this cold i have! no voice and runny nose...upper conjestion...

We keep Gingerale on hand...it's a natural stomach relaxer...like everyone said...sips are the best...

Hope you feel better soon Toni...there's just nothing worse then that awful achy feeling!

Regarding Tamiflu--don't you ALL have it on hand? DH's employer (one of the largest employers in the nation) made sure every employee and family member has a supply. It will keep for 5 years if properly stored. And if by any chance the bird flu hits, it will be imperative that we all have some in our homes. Apparently, if it mutates to a human-to-human bug it will roar through the population very quickly, supplies of meds will be low, and the illness is so severe that it will be next to impossible for someone sick with it to get out to the drug store anyway.

Of course, you should be able to get a prescription for it from your dr. so you have it on hand, just in case. I'd strongly recommend that each of you do. It's good for any kind of flu, not just bird flu, and if the bird flu hits, having the med in your home could mean the difference between life and death for you or a family member. And if you don't use it? It's pretty cheap insurance, right?

I got a flu shot this year, but I've already had a cold that developed into bronchitis and required a trip to the doctor. She prescribed antibiotics. I still have some congestion in my chest, but I'm over the worst of it.

It might be just my MD but I don't believe here in NC the MD's will give you the Tamiflu "just in case". Wish they did. though. It'd be great to have for that just-in-case-time. I don't believe people will take it if they don't need it. Maybe it's illegal to do here.... My DD is sick right now. Has a bad head cold. Every year this seems to be what she gets. Last year it lasted from Nov. through April. Really bad. Couldn't get rid of the cough. MD was very concerned. No pneumonia. Did have horrible sinus infections non-stop.

Orie--have you had her tested for allergies? Have you had your home checked for mold? A cold that lasts all winter, probably isn't a cold, so much as something in your house that's making her sick once it's shut up for the winter. We have hot air heat, and I tend to have problems all winter long (I take 2 allergy meds year round, actually).

Things to have on hand just in case you get a cold or flu:
Tamiflu - within the first 48 hrs.
Humidity  humidifier or simmer a pot of hot water on the stove.
100% natural juices: apples, prune, grape (avoid juice coctail because it has sugar)
chicken bouillon cubes
canned chicken soup
Create you own homemade soup with fresh herbs and let it simmer all day.
fresh fruit  bananas
niti pot - salt and distilled water for sinus irrigation
gargle with warm salt water
soft tissue - kleenex
fresh ginger or ginger spice
fresh garlic
Echinacea
elderberry extract
mullein  brew a tea with dried mullein leaves
lungwort herb
colloidal silver  gargle
Vitimin C
Chelated Zinc Lozenges  or cough drops
medicated chest rub with eucalyptus
peroxide  put a few drops in each ear.
Things to help with sleep:
Melatonin
Tylenol PM
Benadryl
I know there are plenty others. Please help me add to this list.

I get a flu shot every year.

I get a flu shot every year now, too. Not perfect, but pretty effective.

Never understood how you were supposed to get to a doctor when you have the flu. (The real flu, not the various colds, stomach bugs, etc. that people call flu.) When I've had the flu, it's come on fast (once so fast I couldn't drive home from work) and has knocked me flat on my back for days. The only way I would have made it to a doctor's office was in an ambulance.

My doctor doesn't prescribe Tamiflu just to have around, either.

And to answer your question, I always keep a couple of two-liter bottles of ginger ale around for when I get the flu. It helps with the high fever and with general fluid replacement. Plus, it reminds me of my mother and makes me feel good!

When my husband got the flu, I drove him to the doctor. There was no way he could get there himself. The doctor prescribed Tamiflu, which worked really well.

Keep fluids in the house. Pear juice is an excellent expectorant.

Get a flu shot. The year my husband did not get a flu shot is when he got the flu.

So no one else's employer is offering the flu information program and meds that DH's is? I'm really surprised by that. It's been a huge thing at his work--meetings, workshops, an informational film; then each family member had a visit with a dr. where he explained the proper time, use and storage of tamiflu, and handed us each our own personal supply.

Maybe it would be a good idea to approach either your employers or unions, to see if they could offer this program? If the bird flu does hit in the next years, it's going to be extremely serious, and unless you're prepared for it, you run a greater risk that you or someone in your family will die from it. It's got a rather high mortality rate, unfortunately. And in the meantime, if you have the tamiflu available, you could save yourself a trip out to the pharmacy when you aren't feeling up to it.

I hope you are feeling better now, Toni. I never have much in the way of meds in my house. But then I haven't had the flu in many years. In fact I can't even remember when I had it. I've never had the flu shot either. But I would think that having lots of drinks on hand and a big pot of soup would be great!

if you truly want to plan ahead, take the flu shot<?B>