Arizona has been hit HARD by the flu!! How many sick people do you know? One of my friends FB'd that he emailed in sick, and so did three other employees...and the boss! How can business NOT come to a screeching halt in the Valley of the Sun? The major symptoms are a fever, chills, body aches, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, coughing and sneezing. Lovely.
After four serious couch days with this beast back at the start of the new year, here's what I learned:
Spring for the more expensive tissue. The one with the lotion. Your nose will thank you.
Make sure you have someone close by who can cater to your whims, ice cream, popsicles, ginger ale, etc...this cannot be another sick person.
If you can eat, do, but beware.
It may seem like it's going to be a fart...don't trust it!
Ice packs for your fevered head will feel soooo good.
Quit worrying about what they're doing at work, and give your body all the rest it needs to beat what is actually a killer flu! At this time last year in Maricopa County, health officials had counted 6,633 cases of the flu. In this past week, 10,480 have been reported. And 2 pediatric deaths are being attributed to this flu!
A lot of hale and hearty individuals I know have succumbed to this virus, and it seems to be lasting between 3 and 7 days for most people. Oh btw, health officials still say to get the flu shot if you haven't already. The flu season usually peaks in mid February.
After the flu you will want to wash all bedding, pillows, sick clothes and towels with hot water. If you've had sick kids, wash their stuffed animals and toys. Open back up those blinds, and get some sunshine in the place. Open the windows, and air it out! I used Lysol on everything: the TV remotes, light switches, my cell phone, the computer mouse, the couches, and my purse handles. And I threw out my toothbrush!
But you can take it from me, Melissa Sharpe, you WILL survive this! You're gonna feel really awful, but YOU WILL be ok!