Flu panic

I’m just a little embarrassed to confess it in front of a bunch of nurses, but I feel if I embarrass myself enough, possibly I won’t let it occur again. Okay, here it’s… And I did. No reason, really, I just got busy and it kept getting pushed down my to-do list. My husband got his at work, I took the youngsters to theirs, but mine – I just never had time for that. I’m embarrassed and yes, just a little scared I’ll get sick.

I even have been reading quite a bit about this yr’s flu viruses which are “taking over the US”. I get emails from CDC with the newest numbers and maps showing flu activity across the country. Our Nursing News page has links to updates and articles on this yr’s virus. Our twittertimeline and Facebook Recently, there has also been a whole lot of news, opinions, and private stories related to the flu within the news.

Not only am I “virtually” surrounded by the virus, but my kids come home from school on daily basis with a report of who was absent or, more worryingly, who was sick in school. My husband comes home from work as a respiratory therapist with a flu update from the hospital wards. And in fact, I’m aware of each sniffle and sneeze around me after I am out and about.

My plan, which has worked well to date, consists of the standard really helpful practices: washing my hands regularly, not touching my face, getting enough rest and maintaining a healthy diet, and doing all the things I can to avoid people who find themselves sick. However, while I even have avoided getting sick to date this flu season, I will certainly be calling my nurse this week to schedule my shot!

Any other suggestions?