I know, I know, I was supposed to be writing about New Zealand the next couple of blogs. But indulge me!
There was the year during our statewide conference for 500+ that I joked I should have a hand sanitizer strapped to my belt alongside my trusty walkie talkie. Alas, I did not. I got strep throat the next day. And then this week, after attending a power networking event called speed dating for mentors (intriguing, right? How could I resist?) I woke up the next morning with the flu. The Flu, folks. What am I, 8 years old? No, I'm a 34-year old woman living with an autoimmune disease. Who used to take extra precautions like the OCD-germophobe I am. But this week I got lax, so now I have the flu layered on top of that cold that's been with me since coming back from New Zealand.
Tips to Avoid my Luck (in other words, what I sarcastically keep telling myself like Monday-morning quarterback):
- Get a flu shot.
I did not, with the bland excuse that many years ago when I did, I got the flu anyway. After suffering the past week, I will now get a flu shot every year for the rest of my life! - Sanitize, sanitize, sanitize!
Yes, I know all the research about how over time it makes our bodies less resistant. But if you have an autoimmune disease, I still believe it's your best buddy during cold/flu season. I use it when leaving a store, after shaking hands or opening a public door if I can't avoiding touching the handle. - Get Your Zzzzz'sI was not sleeping the best, thanks to a prescription cough syrup for my cold that hyped me up. And I can tell, several days into not sleeping, my immune system starts to weaken. It's important for anyone with IBD to stay as well rested as possible. And yes, I know how difficult that is sometimes! (or all the time!). Check out my post on melatonin and sleep for more.