Stages of the flu (you DON’T want to get the flu this year, trust me!) February 28, 2008

I have identified the three stages of the current flu epidemic.

The first is the PRE-FLU: You generally feel like crap, nothing makes sense, and you don’t know why you’re feeling so bad because you’re pretty sure you’re not sick.

Next is the ACTUAL FLU: One day about two weeks or so of feeling like crap, you start to feel pretty darn good. You go about your business as usual, until one day you feel like you’ve been hit by a Mack truck, then backed over by the same. This stage lasts about 5 to 7 days. You WILL miss work, school, and other outside activities because you really aren’t giving a shit by this time.

Finally, there’s the POST-FLU: You feel well enough now to resume your regularly scheduled life… except for the annoying as hell cough you’ve seemed to have developed. I don’t know how long this lasts, because I’m still going thru this stage, though I’ve been told that two weeks is a conservative estimate.

The above is based on my own and others experience, and is mixed with liberal doses of sarcasm and humor. If you really are sick, I strongly suggest you hie yourself to your doctor and get checked out.

Some things that will make having the flu easier:

• Stay hydrated.
• If you are tired, sleep. Sleep is good.
• Take all medicines, whether over the counter or prescription, according to the directions on the label or your doctor’s instructions.
• Have others do for you. In other words– delegate.
• Once you start feeling better, take an extra day to make sure that you really are well. You don’t want to pass this on to others who haven’t yet had the flu.

Above all, listen to your doctor! If he/she says you’re too ill to go to work or school, then stay home!

I might also suggest getting the flu shot in the fall, especially if you are young, have a chronic illness, or are elderly.

I’m not a doctor, obviously, so consult with your physician about ANY illness.

That’s all from where I sit.

–MorelaterZ–