What Are You Doing To Stay Healthy This Winter?

I’ve had several people ask me what I do to stay healthy during the cold and flu season, and it’s difficult when we have fibromyalgia and/or chronic fatigue. Our immune systems can be compromised, we may not be able to exercise, or eat right. Getting out and being around others and exposed to healthy germs to build up immunities so that when we’re exposed to unhealthy germs often isn’t easy, either. My husband has had three bad colds this winter, and it’s taken all my energy to fight off all his bad germs. Because I’m allergic to the flu vaccine, I’m not even able to take advantage of that small comfort.

Each of us have to find the customized regimen that works for us.  The very best thing any of us can do is to wash our hands frequently.  It seems too simple to say, but washing your hands in hot water with soap and scrubbing for 20 seconds is really the best way to stay healthy.  And yes, 20 seconds is important.  That's the time it takes to hum or sing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star or Happy Birthday or Yankee Doodle or the ABC Song (those were all the suggestions at our recent support group meeting - no fair singing fast, either; then you just have to sing it twice!).  People look at me strangely in public restrooms because I'm singing Happy Birthday, but then you all know I'm a little strange anyway!  Rinse your hands, dry with a paper towel.  Turn off the tap with a paper towel, then use the paper towel to open the door of the restroom.  This is what medical professionals are taught is proper infectious disease control.

Do those antibacterial gels work?  They're better than nothing, but handwashing works best.  If you can't wash your hands, then a gel is ok.  But the constant use of antibacterial product actually makes you more susceptible to drug-resistant "super-bugs" according to infectious disease control expert testimony to the FDA.

Here’s what I’ve found works for me:  For the flu there are several things that are in my regimen.  One that I can't live without and that I start at the first sign of imbalance is Oscillo-coccinum.  You can get it at the health food store or PCC.  I also take L-Lysine all winter long for the immune system.  There's also a supplement called Wellness Formula by Source Naturals that is wonderful for the immune system.  I also take copius quantities of vitamin C, up to tolerance, which means until the diarrhea starts.  A nutritionist also told me to take a B-complex three times a day, but I haven't had the flu since he told me that. 

Protein is also important when you're sick (when we're well, as well), but even more so when we're sick.  Any form of protein you can handle, even if that's only scrambled eggs.  <o:p></o:p>

And juice.  Orange juice is good, but my favorite, since I'm so susceptible to bronchitis in any form of illness (flu or cold) is from Trader Joe's (PCC and the other stores that carry organic also have some like it) is a Lemon Ginger Echinacea.  It's like Lemonade with a kick.  I drink at least a bottle or more a day while I'm sick.  I figure that's the liquid requirement that they talk about us needing while we're ill. 

That plus chicken soup.  A doctor friend suggested the Manischewitz Matzo Ball soup mix as the best, and now whenever I get sick my husband runs out and makes me up a batch.  It's the only thing he can cook and he is so proud of himself.  

This usually heads off any serious flu if I catch it early enough.  There you have it.  My regimen for the flu. 

I also have a regimen for the cold which includes many of the same things, with a few different supplements that are "cold" specific, like ColdCalm instead of Oscillococcinum, and Zicam every four hours.  Plus Vicks Vapo Rub (yes, mom knew best), a personal steam inhaler, menthol lyptus cough drops (they really do clear up the sinus passages and soothe the throat) and some other OTC & prescription meds because of my chronic bronchitis problem.

It's miserable when we get sick.  We hurt more, we feel worse, we take longer to get better, and if we have pre-existing conditions, like bad lungs in my case, we can be down for the count for months (it can take me three months or more to lose a cough).  And since they don't prescribe antibiotics for bronchitis, but expect your body to just fight it off, and we don't have the reserves to fight it off that other people have, we have to have a regimen to help us along.  That's why I work really hard to keep my immune system as hardy as I can, because I know I can't afford to get beat up by germs because I'll really get laid low.