I'm Sick

Help me someone, everyone, anyone.... I woke up so early with the flu. I'm 6 weeks out and don't know what I can take. Yesterday I was feeling GREAT, but when I woke up in the middle of the night I was feeling horrible. I'm actually worried that I wont be able to keep water or protein down. Does anyone know if I can take Theraflu? What should I do? My hubby is NO help When I woke him up at 3:30 all he said was "take some medicine" and then he rolled over. I don't have anything I can take here at home. All I have is Advil and Alieve. My 4 kids are going to steam roll over me today and all I want is my mom. I kow I'm having a pity party but I hate being sick because at my house you get NO sympothy (spelling..sorry) Your not even allowed to feel bad. It's crap, I know. All I can say is...HELP!

So sorry that you're sick Last year I had the flu really bad during school vacation week. I took the week off to have some fun with my girls and ended up on the couch the whole week. I know what you mean about having no sympathy about being sick. I had four children under the age of five and remember those days very well! There is no easy way to get through times like this. I know. I had a husband that was not only useless, but abusive as well. As soon as he left the house for the day, my day began to get better. I'm not sure what the ages of your children are, but I might have a few pointers for you while you're sick. First, keep it simple! Keep your household at the lowest level of functioning that you can. Let them eat cereal out of the box instead of getting up and pouring milk, washing bowls, etc... They'll survive. Lunch, they can have peanut butter sandwiches. No bread? They can eat it off a spoon. Dinner? They probably won't even eat dinner because if you're out of commission, they've been snacking all day anyway. One day of lousy nutrition won't hard them. Relax! Tell everyone you are sick. Make an announcement and then grab your pillow and head for the couch. If you have little ones, gather them around you with toys, blankets, snacks, movies. Tell them they have to stay and keep you company. Older ones (anyone 1st grade and older) has to occupy themselves. Tell them to make you "get well cards" and collages to cheer you up. That will take up some of their time and it I promise it will bring smiles to your face! Don't worry about the mess they will make. You can clean it next week when you feel better. I hope some of this helps you. I didn't have RNY, so I don't know what you're able to take. I'm a lap bander. Honestly, I don't think there's anything that exists that can help with the flu. You just have to ride it out. I'll be thinking of you! Good luck this week! Nella

That was a great post Nella and I can use all of your info. My kids are 9 to 2 and yes today they can fend for themselves, hubby also. I think the pillow and couch thing will work today. I'm feeling like I still need to get my exercize in (it's the only time I have 2 myself) but other than that I should be resting! Thanks!

sonja. I agree with Nella...but make sure you get in your protien and water....sip tea, and broth...keep hydrated, and take tylenol. Call your primary doc above all. It does have to run it's course, but you have to treat the symptoms. And if you run a fever you can dehydrate very quickly. CALL THE DOC Cissy

Try drinking as much as you can so that you do not become dehydrated! Dehydration can be very serious, especially since you had WLS not that long ago. You don't want to end up in the ER needing IV fluids! In the meantime, put a call in to your general practioner as soon as possible, even on Sunday, someone will call you back. Hope you feel better!

Sonja, if it's the true Flu that you have, if you can get to the PCP by first thing tomorrow morning you should still be within the window of time for them to administer anti-virals which should shorten the duration and severity of the Flu by a lot... otherwise the flu can knock you out of commission for 7-14 days depending on the strain of flu you caught. Some examples of anti-influenza meds that the doctor can give you are amantadine, rimantadine, zanamavir and oseltamivir. However, in order for the flu to be treatable these medications need to be administered within 48 hours of coming down with the flu. However, they'll also need to administer a rapid flu test to confirm it's the true influenza virus, and which strain you have. I work for a company that does influenza research so I can completely sympathize with how misreable you must be feeling. Also since the true Flu is so contageous, getting on the anti-virals early might prevent the rest of the fam from catching it too. These days the flu is treatable, not like years ago. In the mantime as long as the OTC (over the counter) meds contain Acetametophin (ake the molecule in tylenol) then you should be just fine. Stay away from the advils and aleves though (in other words, anything containing ibuprophen or naproxine), and of course stay away from anything containing asprin. Good luck and I hope you feel better very soon!!!