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Tips for staying healthy durin cold/flu season

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 12/21/2017 10:06 PM (GMT 0)
Does anyone have any helpful tips on staying healthy during the winter months? I get remicade infusions every 6 weeks and it seems to set my immune system to zero. If I’m already coming down with something or feeling run down, I get knocked fully down. And what takes normal people the 3-5 days to get over a common cold, takes me 2 or more weeks. Ugh! I know we can’t take echinacea & I recently read we shouldn’t take elderberry. I prefer natural remedies but don’t want to take anything harmful. Does anyone have anything that helps them? I live in the midwest and feel like I’m doomed during the winter months. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.
Posted 12/22/2017 3:10 AM (GMT 0)
In the past (pre-UC), I've had good response to taking Airborne 3 times a day at the very first hint of a problem, and continuing it until any symptoms have died down, but tapering the dosage until I'm down to one per day for several days more.

Didn't seem to work this time, I came down with a nasty cold yesterday, but it hit me out of the blue, with no warning.
Posted 12/22/2017 11:43 AM (GMT 0)
I also take Airborne. It works well.
Posted 12/22/2017 12:27 PM (GMT 0)
Does airborne contain echinacea? Michelejc & FlowersGal? Thank you for the tip.
Posted 12/22/2017 5:08 PM (GMT 0)
The best thing you can do is follow the same protocol hospital workers follow. Be vigilant about hand washing after touching frequently touched objects like door knobs and shaking hands. As most colds and flus are spread through objects such as that. Most doors are handicap-accessible without round knobs, so you can use an elbow to open them.
Posted 12/22/2017 9:00 PM (GMT 0)
Be careful how much vitamin A you are getting in Airborne. It is very easy to overdose when using Airborne.

Vitamin A toxicity is serious. Please be careful.

I would second the idea of washing hands and avoiding commonly touched items like door knobs, cell phones, etc..
Posted 12/22/2017 9:55 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you KCFLY.
Posted 12/22/2017 11:05 PM (GMT 0)
Research That I have read in the past says proper vitamin d is important for flu resistance. Pre-UC I noticed a difference on how often I got sick once I started supplementing in the winter time.
Posted 12/23/2017 12:49 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,
So I have just tried something called Vicks Nasal Defense. It is an antimicrobal gel that you put in your nose and it supposedly doesn't allow the germs to "stick" and also makes it a bad ph for the germs as well. I used it when my son had a cold and I didn't get it but I can't say for sure if it was the Vicks or not. Anyway something to look in to. I had to buy it online on Amazon b/c it is sold in the UK and I am in the USA. Check out the reviews though, they are pretty good.

Let us know if you try it. Also the usual hand washing, avoiding sick people, stay hydrated..yadda, yadda.
B
Posted 12/23/2017 2:50 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much for the tip hateuc! I’ll try it.
Posted 12/23/2017 4:10 PM (GMT 0)
I would recommend to have sauna regularly . It works for me.
Posted 12/24/2017 12:51 PM (GMT 0)
probiotics since most of our health lies in the gut.
Posted 12/24/2017 5:23 PM (GMT 0)
Probiotics won't help with a cold or flu....but keeping gut health balanced certainly is a good thing. We ingest a lot stuff that could be not so good.

Wash hands often, clean your cell phone, be aware of what you have touched and imagine who would have touched it and with what before you.....

Oh, and don't eat from communal open bowls of goodies that arent wrapped and people run their fingers through it to grab a handful..ugh...

q
Posted 12/26/2017 1:58 AM (GMT 0)
Loose leaf sage and lemon thyme tea, vitamin c & d, and drops of oregano oil to halt some infection quickly. All of these, of course, if suitable to your system.

Cut down on sugar.

Rub black seed oil on neck and chest.
Posted 12/26/2017 2:02 AM (GMT 0)
I am new to UC but not to weaken immune systems. The obvious stuff everyone is saying. Other things that my ENT actually helped me with...gargle with salt water or original listerine but the thing that helps me the most when I feel a cold coming on is nasal irrigation with a non-iodized salt and baking soda. I use once a day in the fall a spring and twice a day when I am fighting something.
Posted 12/26/2017 3:19 AM (GMT 0)
I am with ipoop and quincy, lots of hand washing. Don't touch your face. Don't share food or drinks of course. I am not sure any of those OTC preventatives do much, but they probably don't hurt.
Posted 12/28/2017 1:39 AM (GMT 0)
My kids have had some nasty colds this winter and so far I have avoided all of them. I have been using two cold-eze lozenges a day while my kids have been sick. Also washing my hands a zillion times a day!
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