K'riq Sa
Commodore
I think I just came down with the dreaded Swine Flu, or maybe one of it's cousins. I noticed it yesterday about mid afternoon, there was a slight tightening in my throat, that later became more pronounced, and by nightfall, I started getting noticeably warmer. This morning when I woke up, my throat was starting to feel really sore, and my nose was starting to congest. My first mistake was to clear my throat and swallow the phlegm, I realized at the point I was introducing the virulent directly into the rest of my body. I immediately began a regiment of gargling with an antiseptic mouth wash, and anytime I cleared my throat or nose, I spit the phlegm out, rather than swallowing it. Had I been at home in Memphis, my grandmother would have started me doing it the minute I felt the sore throat coming on. I immediately felt better, and the soreness in my throat began going away, I just hope I started in time, and I will keep it up over the course of the day by carrying a small water bottle filled with the mouthwash, and I will gargle every 5 min or so, and will continue to do so, even after it has completely gone away.
My car has been in the shop since last Monday, and I will pick it up Mon-Tue, so I have been using public transportation since then. I have noticed a few people sick and coughing on the bus, but did not pay attention, only grumbled to myself that most of the sick people were not covering their mouths when they were coughing. I did not want to seem to be inconsiderate by moving away from them, or covering my nose and mouth, and seeming silly but looking back I certainly should have, screw what people would have thought (damn). When growing up down south I hardly ever had a cold or the flu because we were made at the first sign of a cough or sore throat were immediately made to start gargling with Listerine, and Ta Dah, no cold. So a word to the wise, start your day gargling with an antiseptic mouth wash, 3 or 4 times a day, even if you do not have any symptoms, when someone around you coughs without covering their mouth, cover yours, and at the first sign of flu symptoms, start the regime immediately, so the virus can't get a foothold on your system. Wash your hands with soap and water or an antiseptic towelette after leaving any public place, anywhere where you have had contact with outside people and things.
So lets recap:
1. Gargle at night with a strong antiseptic mouthwash before bed, so the virus can not set up while you are sleeping.
2. Do not swallow phlegm when you clear your nose or throat, spit it out into a trashcan, a napkin, or any safe place you can spit.
3. If you feel the signs of the flu coming on, carry tkhe mouthwash with you and gargle every 5 mins or so.
4. When you see someone who is sick or coughing like they are sick move away from them, and either have them cover their mouth or cover your mouth, or both.
5. Don't take chances, avoid shaking hands and just use the fist bump, use the "The flu is going around." excuse if someone takes exception to you not shaking hands.
Precautions are your best defense, and I for one do not trust the government and their cures (ie the Tuskegee Airmen incident)
be well,
k'riq
My car has been in the shop since last Monday, and I will pick it up Mon-Tue, so I have been using public transportation since then. I have noticed a few people sick and coughing on the bus, but did not pay attention, only grumbled to myself that most of the sick people were not covering their mouths when they were coughing. I did not want to seem to be inconsiderate by moving away from them, or covering my nose and mouth, and seeming silly but looking back I certainly should have, screw what people would have thought (damn). When growing up down south I hardly ever had a cold or the flu because we were made at the first sign of a cough or sore throat were immediately made to start gargling with Listerine, and Ta Dah, no cold. So a word to the wise, start your day gargling with an antiseptic mouth wash, 3 or 4 times a day, even if you do not have any symptoms, when someone around you coughs without covering their mouth, cover yours, and at the first sign of flu symptoms, start the regime immediately, so the virus can't get a foothold on your system. Wash your hands with soap and water or an antiseptic towelette after leaving any public place, anywhere where you have had contact with outside people and things.
So lets recap:
1. Gargle at night with a strong antiseptic mouthwash before bed, so the virus can not set up while you are sleeping.
2. Do not swallow phlegm when you clear your nose or throat, spit it out into a trashcan, a napkin, or any safe place you can spit.
3. If you feel the signs of the flu coming on, carry tkhe mouthwash with you and gargle every 5 mins or so.
4. When you see someone who is sick or coughing like they are sick move away from them, and either have them cover their mouth or cover your mouth, or both.
5. Don't take chances, avoid shaking hands and just use the fist bump, use the "The flu is going around." excuse if someone takes exception to you not shaking hands.
Precautions are your best defense, and I for one do not trust the government and their cures (ie the Tuskegee Airmen incident)
be well,
k'riq
. But I agree with Spot's Meow if I had swine flu I doubt I'd be able to move.
