The Flu, and Other Nasty Delays

I just spent the last three days in bed. Relaxing, lazy vacation? No. The flu.

On Tuesday afternoon I drove home with a mild stomach ache, dizziness, and a headache. This I thought was just due to hunger. I had not much of an appetite all morning (This should have been the first clue. I am always hungry!). By the time I made it home the only thing on my mind was getting to bed. I had at least a couple hours before opening the studio, plenty of time to shake off this feeling.

3:30: A half hour until class time and now I am in full downward spiral; fever, chills, nausea, head pounding, vertigo, fatigue, the works. I cancel my classes and return to bed. Maybe a couple more hours in bed?

Around six o'clock, I decide soup is a must. I decide this while I am still horizontal and under several blankets and one warm cat. As soon as I remove the covers I realize soup is an expedition!

I spent the evening on the couch watching Fruits Basket with the kid, playing Dead Rising, and watching documentaries about the Conquistadors. Consuming homemade chicken/ pork/ carrot/ leftovers soup and any hot liquid I could conjure. This did not help at all.

When I finally gave up and took to the refuge of the bed again - now six blankets deep - I decided medicine might be required. Medication and I do not have a friendly history. I am below average as an adult, which I am pretty sure according to the medication standards is more in the 140 - 200 pounds range. My loving husband assures me that two Ibuprofen will cure all and not kill me though. So, down the hatch. Yes. Hallucinations about sinking boats and god knows what else, plus body temperature pitches that leave me alternately frozen and soaked in sweat tell otherwise.

The next two days were more of the same so I will not delve into the continued nightmarish details. I will say though that I heard a ton of interesting home remedies. I tried them all.

Baking Soda and water - three times per day
The idea behind this is that the acidity of the body is the cause of illness. So, consuming a base should help.

Result: Feeling pretty good. No tummy ache, head clearing a little. Not much else.

Mint or Green Tea - just keep it coming
These particular teas are supposed to flush the system of whatever is dragging you down.

Result: Like a million trips to the bathroom! Coughing up lung gunk, which was a good thing.

Alka-seltzer - as directed
With the added power of the baking soda base and the instant fizzing medicine release, this should cure anything faster than anything.

Result: Dry sinuses like OMG!

The clear pattern here is water. Good old H2O and time. See while the body will heal in its own way in its own time hydration is important no matter what. While your body is working the tea, baking soda, soup, Emergen-C packets are all keeping the hydration part interesting. The best remedy, time, rest, and water, in any fancy form that will get you through the day.

But, that is my remedy, what is yours?