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H1N1 . We hear and see that word everday these days. We're bound to keep on hearing it for quite sometime because colds and flu season has begun.

I used to stressed during this time of the year during my son's infancy, toddler-hood and preschool years. I couldn't help myself. He spent the first 132 days of his life in the neonatal intensive care unit and was dependent on supplemental oxygen for five months after. His lungs were so frail and scarred that a simple cold or flu could potentially kill him then. So little man would have to get flu shots every season as well as monthly Synagis shots from October through April to help protect him. The family washed our hands until it seemed like we had lost several layers of skin. Mommy would glare at every person in Target or Safeway or church who was hacking up a lung...How dare they come out in public and potentially infect my son! But now Daniel is a strong, active, robust 7 year old and the past three winter seasons has been cold and flu free, even when other family members were struck down by viruses. I'm no longer fearful but my family and myself still get our annual flu shots and practice the best defense to protect us all and that is handwashing.

Yet in spite of our best defenses, I still got sick, very sick. Early last week, I began to feel rather tired and achy and by day's end I was beyond achy, feverish, dizzy, nauseous and coughing a dry, hacky cough. My darling husbnad insisted I keep to myself in my bed lest I continue to expose the rest of our circus act. But he didn't have to insist too much. All I wanted to do was stay under the covers in my soft, warm bed. 

As the days continued on I was getting no better. In fact I felt much worse. Nibbles of dry toast and sips of water and herbal tea was all I could manage. Soon one of my girls joined me in the sick room with similar symptoms. It was then that I called our family doctor. The verdict? We had H1N1. Most likely a mild case of it but all the same we had it.  He advised strict bedrest along with alternating doses of tylenol and motrin for our fevers and body aches as needed and staying well hydrated. He stressed to us it was very important that we continue taking in lots of fluids and resting as much as possible. No problem because all we wanted to do was sleep.

Three days later, my darling daughter was fever free and feeling better...lucky! Mom was still very sick. Thankfully no one else under the Big Top was showing any signs or symptoms. After six days with no improvement I decided to call my doctor again. This time after examining me he agreed that I should be feeling better but it seemed that I developed a sinus infection along with the H1N1 virus. He added antibiotics and a decongestant along with his previous instructions.

Today, nine days after the onset of the first symptoms, I am FINALLY feeling like myself again. I'm not ready to get out and run 2 or 3 miles in anticipation for a 5K race next week but I feel more like healthy me.

The H1N1 pandemic is indeed real folks. I don't believe we should become hysterical in spite of the newsworthy cases we are hearing and reading about but we need to be aware. We need to take precautions to protect ourselves and our loved ones by frequent handwashing, covering our coughs and sneezes with our sleeves. If recommended and available, we should seriously consider getting ourselves immunized. And if we find ourselves or our family sick we should, first of all, not panic but practice common sense treating and supporting our symptoms.

•  STAY HOME! Seriously, stay away from school, the workplace, church, shopping centers, crowds.
•  REST, rest, rest. Your body needs to rest in order to fight off the infection and recover. 
•  Consult your physician for advice. They may or may not prescribe medications but know that antibiotics do NOT kill a flu virus and Tamiflu (with all its side effects) is only effective when given during the early stages of a flu virus. Treating the symptoms, in most cases is all that anyone can do with a flu virus.

•  Drink plenty of fluids. It seems the most important way to get through this viral infection is staying well hydrated. Most of the complicated cases we hear about in the media became that way because the person was dehydrated. Again, a well-hydrated body can fight off infection and recover far better than one that is dehydrated.

For more information about H1N1, preventing it and coping with it check out Flu.gov. Here's to your health, your family's health and mine!