Disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer...

...that's what my life revolves around right now. :lol3:

My husband came home early from work Friday with a 102 F fever. He spent most of the weekend feeling miserable but is feeling slightly better this morning although still running a low grade fever.

I am doing everything I can to avoid catching this as I have asthma and any cold, etc tends to end up in with chest as bronchitis. I have been following around after him with Lysol wipes and constantly using hand sanitizer. He is so sick of me doing this he is threatening to start licking doorknobs. :lol3:

I've also been taking my vitamins, Zicam, and occasionally opening windows to let fresh air in when he isn't in the room.

What do you do to avoid getting sick when you are in close proximity to someone that has a fairly bad cold/flu?

It's a non issue for me now.  When the kids were still at home I tended to stick with a spray bottle filled with bleach water and a lot of hand washing both for myself and the kids.  My ex was a lost cause when it came to things like that, he had the fatalistic attitude that we would either get it or not regardless of what we did.

Licking doorknobs!     

 "Vampire Slayer's Soup".      It is REALLY garlicky.  http://www.rebeccakatz.com/recipe-box/vampire-slayers-soup   And lots and lots of hand-washing.

I have a co-worker who's got three little kids and it seems like he's ALWAYS coming to work with a cold.  Fortunately he's out in the field most days so he's not breathing his germy little breath all over the office.      I keep hand sanitizer in my desk and use it several times a day when he's around.

I keep local honey and vinegar mixed in equal proportions in a jar by the kitchen sink. I try to remember to take a dose, one tablespoon, every day.
If I feel symptoms like runny nose, scratchy throat, I take it by the tablespoon every time I think about it. If I have to go somewhere, I put the jar in a Ziploc bag with a spoon and take it all day long. Nine times out of ten, I never get sick.

Christmas Eve night, I had a temperature of 100, no symptoms of any kind. I took two tablespoons of the stuff along with one aspirin, went to bed, sweated all night, and was fine Christmas Day and afterwards. It works.

Hand washing (with soap and water) is a priority! Amazingly, about 80% of contagious diseases are transmitted through touch. But I never use those hand sanitizers - they are way over used and are so harsh on your skin and cuticles! Too many people use them INSTEAD of washing their hands and that is NOT what they were meant for. They are to be used only when regular hand washing is unavailable, and after two uses, you MUST wash your hands. If you are in your home, you have soap and water, so use it! They also kill off all the good bacteria that you need to fight off the bad bacteria. If you HAVE to use one, wash your hands with soap and water as soon as possible afterward!

Wipe down counters, table tops, door knobs, toilet handles and faucets that you use with 1/4 strength bleach/water or other disinfectant. If you are washing your hands regularly they won't become recontaminated. 

Having been a nurse for over 20 years, I think I have built up an immunity to most bacteria and viruses!  But, I take a tablespoon of honey mixed with a 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon every day to maintain my immunity. You can mix it in a cup of hot tea if you prefer. 

Zinc lozenges, Garlic and Echinacea will help boost your immune system too. 

Keep your nasal passages clear! Use a saline spray to keep mucous from collecting and retaining germs. 

Please, wash your hands after you blow your nose and properly dispose used tissues! I can't understand people who stick a dirty (used) tissue in their sleeve or purse, or lay them around the house on tables and such! (Then complain because they are 'sick'!)

Too much nose blowing will cause a rebound effect! When you rid your nasal passages of all the moisturizing mucous, your body rapidly creates more to protect the tissue from drying out. It turns into a damaging vicious cycle! 

Keep the temperature in your house no higher than 68F! Germs thrive in warm environments. That is why hospitals and groceries are always 'cold'. They are warding off the spread of germs. Cooler temps also reduce inflammation - it shrinks/constricts the blood vessels. If it's too cold for you, put on a sweater and socks. 

​Avoid OTC medications that 'dry you up'! That is ALL they do andwhen all that junk in your sinuses and chest dry up, you end up with a collection of tenacious, dried crap full of germs that promote infection! 

Stay hydrated! Drink water, juice, and tea. Chicken broth/soup will also help. There are many brands out there - Knorr’s chicken noodle, Campbell’s Home Cookin’ chicken vegetable, Campbell’s Healthy Request chicken noodle, Lipton Cup-o-soup chicken noodle and Progresso chicken noodle.

Rest is good for you, but you have to keep active too. Mild exercise will boost your immune system, keep your blood flowing and help reduce aciness and that Blah! feeling. 

A nice hot and steamy shower in the evening before you go to bed will help keep your airway passages open, ease the tension in your muscles, and allow you a better nights sleep. If you are really stuffy, avoid laying flat on your back. sit upright if possible, or roll up some blankets or comforters and stuff them under the head of your mattress to elevate your head. This promotes better drainage and keeps your airway open. 

If you are around someone who has active cold/flu symptoms - keep your distance! When someone coughs or sneezes germs are carried in the saliva and mucous and can be 'sprayed' up to fifteen feet, and then you breath it in! Provide tissues for them to cover their mouth/nose and cough and sneeze into, a trash bag to dispose of the used tissues, and have them wash their hands! IF they are using a hand-sanitizer, periodically provide them with a warm, soapy cloth to wash their hands and a clean cloth to rinse with. 

Opening the windows is great! It provides fresh, cool air and slows the reproduction of germs. 

I hope some of this helps! Stay healthy and wash your  hands!

betsygee said:

Licking doorknobs!     

 "Vampire Slayer's Soup".      It is REALLY garlicky.  http://www.rebeccakatz.com/recipe-box/vampire-slayers-soup   And lots and lots of hand-washing.

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Do you use the magic mineral broth when you make it? I think Aaron would really liek this and it would help him. I *think* his stomach would be able to handle this now. A few days ago, not so much. :lol3: He's moved on to coughing and nose issues now.

blueyedgirl5946 said:

I keep local honey and vinegar mixed in equal proportions in a jar by the kitchen sink. I try to remember to take a dose, one tablespoon, every day.
If I feel symptoms like runny nose, scratchy throat, I take it by the tablespoon every time I think about it. If I have to go somewhere, I put the jar in a Ziploc bag with a spoon and take it all day long. Nine times out of ten, I never get sick.

.

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I may have to see if he is willing to give this a try. He did growl "No more" at me this morning when I suggested something to him. :lol3:

Fyllis said:

Stay hydrated!

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Does whiskey count? :lol3: They other day during the storm he was here curled up in a ball, feeling awful and then Abby started vomiting. I just gave up at that point and mixed myself a drink. :lol3:

I'm allergic to cats, so I am constantly washing my hands, especially when I pet her or touch any of her stuff. No one goes through more hand soap than me.

Abbysmom, If you can find a solution, please let me know!!! 

I am just like you. I have asthma and each cold develops into sinus infection, bronchitis, etc.. I never get just a 'cold'

I have tried everything. I like the idea of vinegar and honey. 

Actually I found a home remedy for a cough syrup: apple cider vinegar, honey, ginger and a tiny bit of water. I am thinking of trying that next time. 

Good Luck!!     The whiskey couldn't hurt.... think hot toddy!!!

One of my friend's believes in vitamin C... been there done that....

tried zinc..tried airborne...nothing keeps you from getting it....

Wash my hands often, and every time long enough to recite the ABCs (including the "now I know my ABCs..." part at the end!). They say that is the best way to measure the 20 seconds you need to wash. I don't do hand sanitizer. I usually up my Vitamin C in the winter but I didn't this year. I also didn't get my flu shot yet, every time I even think about it, I get a cold. And I have asthma that is THANK GOD under control now without meds. I'd like for it to stay that way! The flu tends to change that though so yeah, no flu please!

AbbysMom said:

 

betsygee said:

Licking doorknobs!  

  

 "Vampire Slayer's Soup".  

   It is REALLY garlicky.  http://www.rebeccakatz.com/recipe-box/vampire-slayers-soup   And lots and lots of hand-washing.

Click to expand...

Do you use the magic mineral broth when you make it? I think Aaron would really liek this and it would help him. I *think* his stomach would be able to handle this now. A few days ago, not so much.

He's moved on to coughing and nose issues now.
 

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The magic broth looks good, doesn't it?   It has lots of good nutrients in it.  But no--I used organic vegetarian broth.   

How's your husband doing, Karen? Any better? And how are you holding up, trying to take care of him? I hope you don't get it, too!

Winchester said:

How's your husband doing, Karen? Any better? And how are you holding up, trying to take care of him? I hope you don't get it, too!

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Thanks, Pam. I woke up with a scratchy throat and runny nose. :hmm: Hoping it is just allergies. :cross:

He's still home today. He's been getting very tired every afternoon. He was up a good portion of the night with an awful cough and a nose like a faucet.

Poor Aaron! I love the "licking the doorknobs" crack! :cross: that he hasn't given it to you.

Other than washing my hands very frequently, I air out rooms throughout the day and try to get as much exercise as possible in the fresh air myself.

We've moved on to pink eye today. I'm keeping up with the disinfecting.

The had sanitizer and wipes are really harsh on my hands. I keep a bottle of the sanitizer in the car and all the trucks. I keep it in my purse. We use it so much, our hands are rough. Now we are trying to use lotion every time we use the hand cleaners. It helps.

Oh I hate pink eye!!  

With kids around; i'm always washing.  I do use bleach wipes on the door knobs and things if we've all been sick recently.  DD had a cold last week and she passed it on to me by Tuesday.  I made the mistake of giving her my chapstick before we went out in the snow on Sunday.     I have no one to blame but myself.  It's actually not that bad of a cold; just congestion I'm trying to break up with meds, a sore throat and the worst part is the tiredness.  I took 2 naps yesterday and still slept all night.  

I usually save hand sanitizer use for when we are out and about.  Or when I'm picking out meats at the grocery store.  

MoochNNoodles said:

Oh I hate pink eye!!  

With kids around; i'm always washing.  I do use bleach wipes on the door knobs and things if we've all been sick recently.  DD had a cold last week and she passed it on to me by Tuesday.  I made the mistake of giving her my chapstick before we went out in the snow on Sunday.  :doh3:   I have no one to blame but myself.  It's actually not that bad of a cold; just congestion I'm trying to break up with meds, a sore throat and the worst part is the tiredness.  I took 2 naps yesterday and still slept all night.  

I usually save hand sanitizer use for when we are out and about.  Or when I'm picking out meats at the grocery store.  

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I hope you feel better soon.