Health Specialist Post

Hello Sisters,

As the new RS Health Specialist I wanted to let you know that if you have any questions call me, e-mail me, or catch me after church; my contact information is on the visiting teaching list. If I don't have an answer for you right then I will do some research and get back to you with in a week.

Right now as we are in the middle of flu season I wanted to offer some information. First of all the flu (this years flu is also called the "H1N1 virus" and if you would like you can translate my word "flu" for "H1N1 virus" and the same basic information applies) is not something that makes you throw up, gives you an upset stomach or anything else along the GI lines. Speaking from past experience the flu feels like a train ran you over and gave you a cold. Symptoms usually sound something like this: Fever, Aches, Pains, Headache, Chills, Dry Cough, The need to sleep under a warm blanket and just NOT MOVE for hours and hours at a time, and usually a little whininess or whineness. Onset is usually quick, you go from feeling fine to feeling as though someone used your body as a punching bag with in 3-4 hours.
If you or your spouse come down with this variety of symptoms, I'm sorry, really sorry, but here is what you do. WASH YOUR HANDS! This will decrease the risk of your spouse catching the flu, also wash everything that the sick person touches (bedsheets, teddy bear and video-game controller etc.). Then, Call me! I will bring sympathy, Tylenol and chicken noodle soup. Unfortunately there is not much else you can do; an antibiotic will not help-the flu is a virus, the myriad of vitamins (C, Zinc, Euchinacea, or others) might help, but then they might not. Fortunately the flu usually only last a week sometimes up to two weeks so you will be OK just stay in bed and give it some time.

Shalee