The Flu - What helps you?

[Heath]

This is my 8th day with the flu now.  My symptoms have changed, but not really gotten better.  I would go to a doctor but I have no health insurance.

Everything I have read says rest and drink some fluids.  Everything I drink goes through me.  I have been staying in bed the most I can.

What helps you when you have the flu?

[Stella]

Do not do not do not do not do not drink a few glasses (ok several glasses) of    and then top it off with liquid Tylenol cough and cold nighttime poison.    I  'd all night in a semi-conscious state. 

Bundled up on the couch sleeping with a cuddly boxer puppy who takes power naps did make me feel a little better though.   

As far as a sore throat:  Rold Gold pretzel rods or salty David sunflower seeds.  Same concept as gargling w/salt water.  I kept those by my bed because the mornings are the worst for me when I have a sore throat.  My two pesos.

Congestion:  wasabi

[OverCaffeinated]

I'd do the same as I do with a cold, eat. Feed a cold, feed the flu, same thing. I usually knock my colds and flu out in just a few days. Try menudo, it's great for hang overs too. Not the music, the mexican soup.

[Grampa]

tequila...beer and a nyquil chaser

hey..... that sounds like a George Thorogood song

[Turf]

tequila...beer and a nyquil chaser

hey..... that sounds like a George Thorogood song

Tequila is how i get though most illnesses, works fantastically for sunburns

drink liberally, wake up naked in a forest....but you feel good damnit

[swampduc]

This is my 8th day with the flu now.  My symptoms have changed, but not really gotten better.  I would go to a doctor but I have no health insurance.

Everything I have read says rest and drink some fluids.  Everything I drink goes through me.  I have been staying in bed the most I can.

What helps you when you have the flu?

Corticosteroids like prednisone or Medrol can knock that crap out pretty quickly, and are dirt cheap (less than $15). An IM injection of Celestone works best, though. I know you don't have insurance, but if you think you can scrape up enough for a single visit to one of those urgent care places, you'll be feeling better in a day or two. Call the clinics in crappy neighborhoods; they'll probably have the lowest visit prices 

[Bun-bun]

Time is really the only cure.
I feel for ya. I just got over a cold/flu last week, it hung on for almost ten days. Sudafed every 4-6 hours until bedtime, then Nyquil. My virus mutated into bronchitis, which I knocked out with a course of Amoxicyllin I picked up the last time I was in Mexico.

[Jarvicious]

A humidifier does wonders for my throat and sinuses at night.  Even when I'm not sick I sleep better with one around.  I too dig on the booze+night time hallucinogen+ comfort food.  What kind of symptoms are you having?  I had the "flu" a couple of months ago that lasted about 3 weeks, but it was never bad enough that I had to miss work and it had the oddest symptoms.  Treatments depend on the symptoms.  I was on a steady diet of alternating Nyquil and Dayquil. 

Do not do not do not do not do not drink a few glasses (ok several glasses) of    and then top it off with liquid Tylenol cough and cold nighttime poison.    I  'd all night in a semi-conscious state. 

snip

+1  One of the worst nights of sleep I had was on an "OD" of Nyquil.  I took about 4 times the normal dosage (I'm a big dude) and  I figured I would be unconcious for 12 hours.  I ended up sleeping poorly for about 6 all the while having some of the most jacked up dreams I've ever had this side of bad pot.  Nyquil is your friend, just be careful. 

[superjohn]

I've been suffering through the flu this week as well. I just drink a lot of water to avoid getting dehydrated and eat easy food. Stuff with breads and starches. The obligatory chicken soup.

For the help sleeping through the night, I've found honey mixed with bourbon and then added to a small glass of milk is nice.

[Grampa]

Tequila is how i get though most illnesses, works fantastically for sunburns

drink liberally, wake up naked in a forest....but you feel good damnit

the nighttime, sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, fever, where the hell did this dead stripper come from medicine

[Porsche Monkey]

A bottle of Nyquil and a bottle of Jaegermiester not necessarily in that order.  Then again I am not normal.

[Le Pirate]

I slept alot and took the Theraful warming syrup every 4 hours. Some tea with a little honey does wonders for the throat inbetween naps. also, lots of gatorade for fluids and electrolites.

took me about 4 days to get back to work....about 3 weeks to finally get over the symptoms

[OT_Ducati]

two shots of Dr McGillicuddy's

[Heath]

We I ate some solid food tonight and so far it's still in me lol.  Going to take the Nyquil and hopefully I won't have to rush to the bathroom in the morning like I have been doing lately.  I have to work Saturday - Wednesday this week.  Hopefully I will do better then last weekend when I kept having to take breaks and was snappy towards customers.

[Nitewaif]

Lots of sleep, gatorade, chicken broth with rice in it (easy on the stomach), toast, applesauce, saltines.  Treat the symptoms with OTC stuff like nyquil or theraflu.  Alternate Ibuprofin and Tylenol for fever and general achiness (if these meds aren't in the flu stuff you take). 

Be careful with humidifiers.  Clean them well every day.  We stopped using them in hospitals because it was discovered they were aerosolizing germs in the appropriate sized droplets to go right into your lungs. 

Good luck!  I hope you heal up soon!