Avoiding sickness

[ruinexplorer]

The flu season is bad this year and doesn't look like it is letting up (at least in the US). We have had discussions here in the past on how we choose to stay healthy in this hectic profession. I was reading this brief article about keeping healthy, especially with shared equipment and technicians who frequently are in different cities (conventions). I was wondering if anyone has been looking if anyone has had success with avoiding the sickness this year?

I had a houseful of sick family just before Christmas this year. I mostly avoided it (some sinus issues for a day and a half). I made sure that I was taking the Zicam tablets and using a neti pot as soon as I knew what I was dealing with. I make sure to use alcohol wipes regularly on non-porous surfaces as well.

Anyone taking precautions (at home, work, school) to keep this at bay? Sage for the evil spirits?

 

[josh88]

I am getting over it right now. I self medicated with a bunch of honey bourbon lol. We're talking about having someone come in and give everybody flu shots actually AT work next season.

 

[Quillons]

Wash my hands, wash my hands, wash my hands, wash my hands...
I've also started eating oranges more frequently and I've been trying a bedtime yoga sequence in the hopes that I'll fall asleep faster and get more sleep overall.
The first wave of tests seems to be happening around the 2nd week of February, so I still have a little time to prepare. Definitely seeking recommendations of what I should sacrifice to which gods!

 

[ruinexplorer]

I am getting over it right now. I self medicated with a bunch of honey bourbon lol. We're talking about having someone come in and give everybody flu shots actually AT work next season.

I have also been known to self medicate that way. It seems particularly helpful for a sore throat.

I am not an anti-vaxxer by any means, but the one year that I got a flu shot was the year that I was sick the most and worst that I have ever been. I know that it is likely a coincidence, but I have never had another shot and most seasons I get by without a sniffle. I absolutely advise for those at risk that those at risk should get the shot. My mother-in-law had the shot this year and she still got sick, but it didn't seem to get as bad as it could (she's in her late 70's).

 

[Amiers]

I was raised to roll in it. While I still maintained the Chris Traeger mentality in my head.

Of course drinking massive amounts always helps too. Not that I suggest this to the novices of the group but for my generation and plus it seems to work.

Sickness is 3 ( knock on wood) times a year at best and normally it’s 2 sniffles and 2 ima died and kill someone for touching me thing.

Mind over matter and such things helps with it.

 

[RonHebbard]

I have also been known to self medicate that way. It seems particularly helpful for a sore throat.

I am not an anti-vaxxer by any means, but the one year that I got a flu shot was the year that I was sick the most and worst that I have ever been. I know that it is likely a coincidence, but I have never had another shot and most seasons I get by without a sniffle. I absolutely advise for those at risk that those at risk should get the shot. My mother-in-law had the shot this year and she still got sick, but it didn't seem to get as bad as it could (she's in her late 70's).

@ruinexplorer I suspect by your definition I'm "an anti-vaxxer by any means". When I moved in with a lady in Burlington, Ontario in 1980, I moved my medical allegiances to a new doctor as my previous doctor who I'd been with since my birth in Hamilton, Ontario died shortly after I moved to Stratford in 1977.
To my point: The doctor I went with in 1980 asked me a myriad of questions regarding illnesses I'd had, and survived, in my youth. Among these were mumps, whooping cough, scarlet fever, measles, and German measles. Based on my info', and two or three blood tests, my doctor decreed I should NEVER subject myself to a "flu" or "influenza" vaccine for the remainder of my days. I followed his advice and, so far so good, for 37 nigh on 38 years and counting. That's my tale and I'm standing by it.
Toodleoo!
Ron Hebbard.

 

[ruinexplorer]

I had the measles as an infant (before the MMR was scheduled). After that, I have had four MMR vaccines and for whatever reason, I still don't test immune to measles. So, I do get rather annoyed at the people who don't get vaccines because they don't believe in them. I don't have an issue if someone has been told by a medical professional to stay away from a vaccine due to health complications. My desire to not have a flu shot is not by recommendation of any doctor. I have had several suggest that I get one, especially since I work in an area with a lot of international visitors. As I don't get sick, but my family does, I sometimes feel like Typhoid Mary.

 

[Amiers]

You could carry it to them sure. But in our industry if you are not generally that sick person you have a tough skin to it.

It’s one of those touch raw meat and wipe your face moments.

But then again I won’t touch a door handle to save my life. Weird ticks I guess.

 

[ruinexplorer]

Yeah, maybe the 5-second rule has been my source of vaccines.

 

[mikefellh]

I get the flu shot EVERY year, and never had an issue. Also (since I hate fruit) I have 1000mg of vitamin C (Emergen-C or Redoxon) every few days, or twice daily if I'm feeling run down. And as already stated, washing hands!

 

[gafftapegreenia]

I am just now in the final stages of getting over the flu, I've had it all this last week. Its particularly bad this year, everyone at work is sniffling and the director is upset that he can't work on scenes that need work because they've been so busy with understudy rehearsals. I've never gotten the flu vaccine, but I think I might get one next year. I took my first sick day in 5 years Wednesday. I was just so exhausted I didn't want to move. Someones THAT is the tough call to make. I know I could have drugged up and dragged my butt through work Wednesday, but without that full day of rest I bet I'd still be feeling crappy.

Rest as much as you can, eat as well as you can, avoid binge drinking, and WASH WASH WASH your hands. Use an immune booster if they help you, I like emergency-c and echinacea pills.

 

[josh88]

I have also been known to self medicate that way. It seems particularly helpful for a sore throat.

I am not an anti-vaxxer by any means, but the one year that I got a flu shot was the year that I was sick the most and worst that I have ever been. I know that it is likely a coincidence, but I have never had another shot and most seasons I get by without a sniffle. I absolutely advise for those at risk that those at risk should get the shot. My mother-in-law had the shot this year and she still got sick, but it didn't seem to get as bad as it could (she's in her late 70's).

I also think antivaxers are crazy, but I haven't had a flu shot..... ever. should I? yeah, has it been offered freely multiple times? yeah. probably not the best choice but my immune system is pretty hardy. I rarely get REALLY sick. I've only been totally laid up once in the last 10 years and thats through teaching, and my wife who teaches a different group that goes to 3 schools and living with my sister in law who works at the hospital and brings all kinds of crap home. Our industry is tough when much of what we do is only doable by us. sure someone could fill in, but so much is lost in the transition or explanation, its a tough call whether to power through it or figure out another option.

 

[BCAP]

The flu season is bad this year and doesn't look like it is letting up (at least in the US). We have had discussions here in the past on how we choose to stay healthy in this hectic profession. I was reading this brief article about keeping healthy, especially with shared equipment and technicians who frequently are in different cities (conventions). I was wondering if anyone has been looking if anyone has had success with avoiding the sickness this year?

I had a houseful of sick family just before Christmas this year. I mostly avoided it (some sinus issues for a day and a half). I made sure that I was taking the Zicam tablets and using a neti pot as soon as I knew what I was dealing with. I make sure to use alcohol wipes regularly on non-porous surfaces as well.

Anyone taking precautions (at home, work, school) to keep this at bay? Sage for the evil spirits?

Here are some paranoid things I do:

I cringe when I have to roll up cables laying on the floor walked over by anyone who might have just come from the restroom. Ever since I got pneumonia, today I use a pair of cheap work gloves from Home Depot. People laugh, but when my setup or take down time is interrupted to do [fill in the blank] I find myself needing to wash hands less.

I do not touch the console unless my hands are washed. If I'm asked to use someone else's console I try to clean it first with mildly damp rag when no-one's looking.

I do not eat in the vicinity of work surfaces, makes a nice bed for transferring germs.

The best thing one can probably to is to avoid touching your face, rubbing eyes, mouth, nose, etc.

So far (knock on wood...) it seems to be working.

 

[TheaterEd]

I haven't had a flu shot..... ever. should I?

I haven't gotten the flu since I was a young child and I never felt the need to get the flu shot. I work in a high school and before that I worked at a greyhound station while attending college with over 35,000 other students. What I'm saying is, I generally don't get sick.
That being said, ever since having a child I have started getting the free flu shots offered at work every year. My immune system obviously can take it, but I won't risk it with him. I have gotten the flu shot every year for the past two or three years. It doesn't seem to effect me at all, but if it helps keep the flu out of my house I'm willing to do it.

 

[Amiers]

Here are some paranoid things I do:

I cringe when I have to roll up cables laying on the floor walked over by anyone who might have just come from the restroom. Ever since I got pneumonia, today I use a pair of cheap work gloves from Home Depot. People laugh, but when my setup or take down time is interrupted to do [fill in the blank] I find myself needing to wash hands less.

I do not touch the console unless my hands are washed. If I'm asked to use someone else's console I try to clean it first with mildly damp rag when no-one's looking.

I do not eat in the vicinity of work surfaces, makes a nice bed for transferring germs.

The best thing one can probably to is to avoid touching your face, rubbing eyes, mouth, nose, etc.

So far (knock on wood...) it seems to be working.

Your level of paranoia is top notch lol. It’s glad to see other people have a touch phobia.

 

[RickR]

Recent research shows virus bodies in 'aerosols' far beyond the 3-6' cough range. We're talking anywhere in the same HVAC system, one can easily pick up a highly contagious bug like influenza. And that such viruses can last 48 hours on some surfaces.

I understand paranoia, but we are all doomed anyway.

 

[josh88]

I haven't gotten the flu since I was a young child and I never felt the need to get the flu shot. I work in a high school and before that I worked at a greyhound station while attending college with over 35,000 other students. What I'm saying is, I generally don't get sick.

My rule is pretty much the same, once I have a kid I'll start getting one, because then its less about my own sickness. I was in the same boat when I was teaching, between teaching at my school and working with a few others as well as my wife's teaching I was pretty constantly exposed to 4 or 5 school districts worth of "pollination"

 

[ruinexplorer]

Hand sanitizing wipes are my friend. We keep a tub in the car as a precaution after going to public spaces. I keep one at my desk and wipe all surfaces that I know sick people have touched. If I don't know, I choose not to worry about it.

 

[CJB]

The flu season is bad this year and doesn't look like it is letting up (at least in the US). We have had discussions here in the past on how we choose to stay healthy in this hectic profession. I was reading this brief article about keeping healthy, especially with shared equipment and technicians who frequently are in different cities (conventions). I was wondering if anyone has been looking if anyone has had success with avoiding the sickness this year?

I had a houseful of sick family just before Christmas this year. I mostly avoided it (some sinus issues for a day and a half). I made sure that I was taking the Zicam tablets and using a neti pot as soon as I knew what I was dealing with. I make sure to use alcohol wipes regularly on non-porous surfaces as well.

Anyone taking precautions (at home, work, school) to keep this at bay? Sage for the evil spirits?

The best advice I heard given to a cast by a nurse was to keep your hands away from your face . . . the virus will be on your hands.

 

[kendal69]

I used to get a flu shot every year in August, and like clockwork, I would get the debilitating flu during the entire month of December. That was OK since December was always slow for me. I went to see my doctor and he explained his secretary died the week prior from the flu shot. He scolded me and NEVER get the flu shot. Hmmm OK, he thoroughly scared the you know what out of me. That was 20 years ago and I have never had the flu since I stopped getting the shots. I also never shake hands, I do the fist bump, and I never ever touch the handles of any shopping cart and take advantage of the free wipes to clean the handles and use the wipes to always be between my hands and the handles. Lastly, I've learned to never touch my nose and face during flu season. It's hasn't turned me into a germaphobe as much as being aware of how disgusting people are with their hands. Well, maybe it has made me a germaphobe - because every time some coughs or sneezes around me in a restaurant, I exit stage right. My brother doesn't believe me, and gets a flue every year even after a shot every year. This year the flue put his wife in the hospital for three days. All this works for me so I'll stick with it because last time I had it so bad it nearly put me in the hospital and now that I 'm up there in years I think the bad flu like I had in the past would not be handled well.