The Flu Season is Here! Surveillance on Facebook

Day 1

So this past Sunday I was suddenly struck sick with flu like symptoms. At first I thought I just had bronchitis because I woke up with a sore throat and a massive headache. I then tried to get out of bed and realized how weak I was. I decided to spend the day in bed, medicate & hydrate, hoping I'd head off this sickness. Later that evening I realized I had a fever as I went from freezing cold to hot sweats and my body felt like it had been hit by a semi-truck.

On this day, I took both Ibuprofen, an expectorant, echinacea and lots of water.

Day 2

I woke up with a minor headache and my sore throat was still there. I was still a bit clammy and sweaty, although my body was not as fatigue. I called my big brother and had him deliver some chicken noodle soup & vitamin C packets which are added to water. I continued medicating myself with Ibuprofen, the expectorant, echinacea and now the Vitamin C.

In the afternoon my fever began to rise and I realized it still had not broke. According to what I have researched one is contagious with the flu 24 hours before symptoms start and 24 hours after the fever breaks without medicine. So, I continue to take my meds, sleep and watch tv. By night fall, I'm coughing less, my sore throat is better, but now my nose is congested.

I'm writing this because in between watching tv, and sleeping, I've been checking on my facebook account and was amazed to find so many people reporting fever & sickness on their status. I realized in my area, flu season hath hittith’ the fan.

I have to admit, I've never been aware of flu season until I have gotten older and realized the amount of stress I put myself under. I have to say, I am a true believer that stress greatly impacts a persons ability to fight off sickness. When I am healthy both physically and mentally, I rarely if ever get sick and the opposite is true when I'm unhealthy both physically and mentally.

My advice: the best way to prevent sickness is to take care of yourself both physically, mentally and emotionally.