Put me down.

I'm suffering with the cold from hell.

There is coughing and sneezing everywhere people gather here now.

Hope nobody is contagious over the internet!?! Had first flu shot this year. When picking up prescriptions at w-mart was told, because of my AGE... thank you very much??... I could get it free. Had no real reason not to get it. Had been knocking on wood for YEARS about never getting it. Frankly, figured I wouldn't get it and would be a waste of $?? After getting sick and spending 5 days in hospital at the end of October, thiink getting it was a good thing. I was so beat down when I went into hospital, think germs would have just been waiting at the door for me!

I am so sorry that so many of you are sick. It seems like all kinds of ailments are going around- stomach bugs, laryngitis, sore throats and pneumonia.

DH and I in the sick bay club too. DH finally went to doctor today after coughing for a month. He is taking Z pack for bronchitis. I wrenched my lower back reaching into the dryer on Christmas Eve, then made it worse standing on a tile floor while wrapping presents for several hours. All the standing while cooking and serving Christmas Eve dinner didn't help. I am much better now after three days on pain killers and muscle relaxant prescribed by the PA at the walk in clinic. So far the grandkids are fine but one of my daughters is coming down with something.

I hope everyone recovers in time to ring in the new year with gusto.

Day 3 here with just the stomach thing....No one else with it, so what's with that? Tomorrow will be better!

DH brought home a nasty head cold from a conference last week. Day 10 today and he is finally starting to eat again. I started getting it the day after Christmas, on top of the broken ankle I got on December 20.

Got my flu shot about a week ago. It takes 2 weeks to be effective.

Was in ER last Monday. Have been sick (breathing problems) for 2 weeks, trying to handle it myself using my nebulizer, Prednisone (have script on hand) and resting. Just got worse. Finished my Prednisone on Sunday and ER doc started me with a much larger dose, 50mg a day for 5 days. See my primary care doc tomorrow morning. have improved, but not totally. Headed south on Saturday, will stay at sons house and celebrate Xmas with kids and grandkids on Sunday. Monday off to Florida. Will have to go to Urgent Care for my allergy shot as soon as we get there. all ways something.

Healing prayers for all.

Oops, I spoke too soon. One of my grandsons has a tummy bug.

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Mdln, so true about handwashing. To bad the entire world doesn't do that simple act more often.

However many viruses that are going around are airborne. Sigh.

The boys have been home on Xmas break and knock on wood no ones been sick, but once the 3'rd rolls around and the boys return to school it will all start. I just recieved a letter that several children in the school have the chickenpox and 3 diagnosis of Mumps..the mumps is what worries me.

Handwashing helps prevent the spread of airborne diseases.

Everyone I know is coughing now, and not just in my city. Something is making the rounds and it's damned annoying. I don't gave any signs of infection, just a cough that won't go away. Thank God for guafinisen!

I'm down with flu/cold for 4th day, sore throat, aches, sneezing, tummy issues, drainage, how fun! No doctor visit. Drinking fluids, hot tea, chicken soup, staying warm, etc. Had flu shot.

So sorry for the of you under the weather. I thought I was coming down with a cold after the exhaustion of Christmas. i took two doses of tylenol cold and seem to be keeping it at bay.

Chisue and all, so very sorry!

Let me offer a small suggestion...in addition to mdln's excellent advice. I'm immuno challenged and allergic to almost every antibiotic. So...although I get my annual flu shot and follow all the good advice...I've found an additional act that I'm sure has saved me more than once.

I never go out shopping...or anywhere for that matter...without wearing clear colored surgical gloves. I buy them by the 100 lot box and am never without them. Most viewers...if they notice them...just think they're regular gloves. They fit snugly and are almost invisible...feeling like a second skin. In fact, they do protect my hands from the freezing temperatures. But most of all...they protect me from any and all viruses lurking about during this winter season. I put them on before I leave my home and don't take them off until I've returned home where I have the facilities to wash my hands as secondary protection.

Of course...the gloves don't protect me from inhaling some nasty but they go a long way towards keeping me relatively healthy throughout the entire flu season. Since establishing this procedure many years ago...I haven't had more than the annoying mild sinus issues which are the norm for me. This procedure, also, went a long, long way to protect me when I was making daily hospital visits to be by my husband's side during his battle with cancer.

Give 'em a try. You won't regret it.

No flu or cold, but I have a UTI which isn't fun. Been on an antibiotic but not sure it has worked. Will need to get checked in 14 days.

Jim -- No fair! My hair is thinning now!

We wash hands all the time; don't touch faces; had the flu vaccine; have had both pneumonia vaccines.

Some friends say they've had 'the cough' for months. We were really laid low -- and long -- by this. The first two weeks we barely crawled out of bed, we were so 'washed out'. Fortunately, I had 'provisioned' right before DH got sick -- in advance of a big storm.

Kathyg -- The Z-pack didn't even *dent* this stuff for me. Prednisone did zip, though it has worked fast when I have had a sinus infection. I can barely tolerate Levofloxacin 500 MG and can't do 750MG, but *this* is finally helping. I still cough when I turn over in bed, but my energy is improving. (Not looking forward to a 14-hour travel day.)

Wish everyone a speedy recovery. We haven't come down with anything yet, knock on wood. I am surprised because we ran a lot of errands over the holidays. It seemed like every place we went, people were coughing including my doctor!

Maybe it is because we are outside a lot due to warmer weather here in California. Even aired out the house with the back door left open a few times. My mom, when we lived back East, use to do that mid winter no matter what the temperature to get rid of "stale" air. She believed that is what made you sick.

FYI - the missus is a Geriatric Nurse Practitioner (retired and loving it). Her go-to antibiotic was Kelfex. I have used it in some situations and it worked.

lindaohnowga.....sorry. ugh. :(

Everybody else, hoping you all get better soon too. I thought I was coming down with something a couple weeks ago but whatever it was went away. Today I just feel like I have an allergy of some sort. I hope.

Nice Pneumonia article

www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/national/health-science/why-does-it-take-so-long-to-recover-from-pneumonia/2016/12/30/cc4f9ca6-b5ad-11e6-b8df-600bd9d38a02_story.html

I hope everyone who is under the weather is feeling better soon!

So far, so good at our house. Hubby and I have been diligent about hand washing and staying away from those who appear to be sick. We are boarding a cruise ship on Friday and are determined to be healthy so we can enjoy the trip.

Past history has proven that the moment I let my guard down the cold germs pounce, so I plan to be vigilant.

We both had it along with the neighbors . We finally got past it but the cough lingers . I have been on daily low dose antibiotics for several months now . Doc decided to continue with them during this cold and flu season since I am immune suppressed . It is hard to get over things when the immune system is not healthy . There's a stronger z pack than the regular one that's the one I usually have to get and it really works pretty well . I drink an envelope of emergen-C every day mixed with a little orange juice . I take a good multi vitamin and a few others including b12 and c and echinechia . I try not to go out and mix with people when there's a lot of sick going around . I have been ordering my groceries online and picking up at the pick up area . Unfortunately hubby has to go to work and he is the one that came down with it first .

Feel better those of you who are under the weather.

The N95 disposable respirators can help protect you and others.

If you're shopping or doing errands and you hear people (kids?!) coughing, gurgling and sniffing, get outta there!

Shop when no one is around and sniffling kiddies (who touch everything, haha) are asleep at their homes.

Use a tissue, then toss it right into the trash. I have this friend who I've not seen in a while, who would use a tissue, then return it to her pocket. I cannot express how that practice makes my skin crawl. Ich. It's worse than when people put their (been everywhere) handbags on a kitchen counter or dining table. (Hello.)

Stock up on all sizes of that alcohol-based hand sanitizer. I buy large bottles to refill the purse/pocket sized bottles.

I so abhor catching a head cold, that I can seem a little too Howie Mandel. However, it truly bugs me to come down with a head cold and the exhaustion and discomfort and time lost is a drag. If someone, in cold season, calls and wants to stop by, I listen for the cough, or the sound of a tissue being removed from the box. Maybe that's a catch in their throat that I hear? Didn't they tell me the week before that little Larry-Bob had a horrible cold? Hmm. Geez, sorry, we're painting the kitchen again -- perhaps another time.

Here is the CDC influenza update link:

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/

See if the cooties are beating a path to your neighborhood.

Sounds like some of you are really struggling. I'm so sorry and hope you feel well soon.

Have a tip to help in preventing a cold or flu. Be sure and use the wipes on shopping cart handles.. I was pushing my shopping cart and noticed a women with a little boy sitting in the "seat". He was so sick he should not of been out . Looked like he had a fever and was crying, coughing and his nose was running. He was wiping his nose with his hand and then holding on to the back of the cart. If they don't have the wipes to use ask for them.

Day 10 of a nasty cold. I'm just glad it's not the flu (knock wood!). I'm also glad it didn't start until the day after Christmas.

One complication is that because of a sudden increase in nosebleed frequency and duration, I haven't been able to blow my nose with this cold, nor use the neti pot. Still, another difficult nosebleed kept me up last night. The earliest appointment I could get with an ENT was January 31.

I'm pretty careful while shopping (hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes, etc.), but I did a lot of hugging (and some kissing) at holiday parties.

I've been sick since last Wed. Went to the doc in a box Monday and got 2 shots and 2 prescriptions. They didn't put a name to what I have but I tested Neg. for flu. My symptoms suggest Scarlet Fever. I thought I'd be well by now but I only feel a tiny bit better. Stuffy head, runny nose, muscle aches, rash, red tongue, headache, fever.