Money-Wise Monday! - Cold and flu season tips

Funky Monkey back from hospital

   Having two sick kids this week reminded me that it's cold and flu season again. As soon as the school year has started and all their activities are beginning, they bring nasty bugs home. My kids are not only good at receiving cold and flu germs but are excellent at passing them around too. So, usually by the end of one week most of the family is sick, and sometimes other people like friends and relatives. The question is how to deal with the flu and cold bugs before you need a trip to the doctor's office and before you need to administer any medication?
   I have learned the need to tend to sick kids before it escalates in 2006. Funky Monkey got a nasty bug and became sick out of nowhere. It started when we were driving somewhere and all of a sudden he started throwing up. Fever came soon after and Funky Monkey was really sick. Over the next few days he spent most of his day in a bed feeling miserable. I administered fever reducing medication and little bits of food and drink that he would accept. Unfortunately, on the third day, at night, he became lethargic, his eyes became sunken in and he didn't look good overall. At this point he was refusing any liquids and not urinating at all.
   We had to put him in diapers, although he was already potty trained for months (it was a good thing we had some left over), since he was too weak to use the toilet. That night we decided that we needed some professional help and took him to Emergency room. Since he was just 2 years old, they took us in right away and tended to him. The nurses were were kind and helpful and administered IV with some fluids and gave him stronger fever reducing medication. Funky Monkey was so out of it that he didn't even know that they were inserting a needle into his little arm. They then wheeled his bed into a room and took some blood samples. He slept in the hospital room while we waited for results. I sat next to his bed and tears rolled down my cheeks. I was so very afraid for the first time in my life. He looked so frail and pale. Daddy sat next to me with his arm around me trying to comfort me. We were both very silent.

Sick Monkeys in bed

   We sat there for maybe couple of hours when the nurse came in and told us that they are moving Funky Monkey into children's ward. I asked about the tests, but she said that the doctor will be in soon to explain everything to us. I walked beside his bed as it was being rolled into the elevator and we went up to the third floor. The children's ward was very colorful with lots of flowers and butterflies on the wall. It would have easily passed for a nice preschool room if not for the sick little kids in each of the rooms and their despairing parents. We walked into a little room and sat in the chair. Funky Monkey moved few times but he was still asleep when the doctor came in. She told us that the test all came back negative and it looks like he just caught a virus and got dehydrated. He suggested we stay until he gets better and possibly spend a night there. Unfortunately, they have a policy that only one parent can stay the night with their child. I hated that rule because I wanted Daddy to be there too. It was about mid-morning by now and the sun rose up. I prayed really hard that Funky Monkey would shake it off and get well.

Little Monkey not feeling so well.

   After having been asleep for about 8 hours he finally woke up. He had enough strength to sit up, and nurses came and took the IV out of his arm. He finally talked to us and I was so happy. He was still not well but he was thirsty, so we begun by giving him some water to drink. Once we were sure that he was able to keep that in, the nurse suggested we bring him some crackers from their cafeteria room and frozen Popsicle. He ate them in little bites, but he didn't throw them up anymore. He was still sleepy and I held him while he took little, short naps in between little bites of food. Over the course of the day he got better and when the doctor came in in the evening we told him that he is now eating, wetting his diaper, and even had a bowel movement and we want to take him home. We never did have to spend the night in there since he got better. I tell you, did I ever count my blessing that day. I was just thankful to have my son back.
   One thing I learned from all of this (besides the most obvious of how blessed I am to have healthy kids) is that tending to cold or flu the right way in the beginning can prevent the sickness from escalating. I am not a fan of taking medication unless they are necessary. Some doctors are quick to prescribe antibiotics and then we have antibiotic resistant bacteria that are real problem. And beyond that, antibiotic medications mess up gut flora and cause tummy distress that takes few days to weeks to regulate itself. Antibiotics are helpful, but only after all other options are exhausted and should be used only as a last resort. Fortunately, there are many ways of helping your body fight off a bug without reaching for the medicine cabinet.
   When we help our kids fight off bugs it is important to note that unlike medicines that work to suppress symptoms (cough syrups, fever reducing medications) home remedies are meant to work to boost the immune system and help your body fight off flu or cold bug. Symptoms, like fever, are not necessarily bad (although we hate to see our kids suffer) and they are meant to fight off the bug. I only administer fever reducing medication when my kids fever goes above 103 degrees F (or 39.5 degrees C), and when my kids are visibly affected by it. Fever is a body's way of giving a cold or flu bug eviction letter, so we don't necessarily want to reduce it too quickly. What I do concentrate on is making sure that my sick kid gets plenty of fluids and rest. One of the best home remedies for cold or flu is simple tea with lemon and honey. Making just the right cup of beneficial tea is an art, and I remember my grandma teaching me how to make one when I was just a little girl. So here is the recipe for the best flu and cold fighter out there:

Tea with Lemon and Honey

Print this recipe

• 2 tea bags of tea (I find earl gray tea best for soothing throats, but either black or green tea is great)
• 1 organic lemon, sliced thinly (with peel on since lemon oils are beneficial)
• organic unpasteurized honey, or raw honey (not pasteurized since most of the benefits of honey are killed off by pasteurization)
• Large pitcher or tea kettle (at least 3 cup capacity)
• Hot, filtered water (brought to just boiling pint)

Instructions:
Bring water to boil in a kettle or large pot. Put all the lemon slices and the tea bags into a pitcher and pour hot water over it. After about 10 minutes remove tea bags and let the tea stand for few more minutes. Using a spoon, gently squeeze lemon slices at the bottom of the pitcher of tea until all the lemon juices are mixed in with tea. Leave the lemon slices in the tea for a bit longer. Once the tea cools off to no more than 100 degrees F (no hotter than a warm bath water temperature, or cool enough to drink without burning your lips) add honey to desired sweetness. Pour the tea and enjoy. It is very important not to add honey too soon as all the benefits of honey are removed by boiling process. Sip tea throughout the day. (Remember that honey should not be given to kids under 1 year of age)

   Another great remedy for flu season is home made chicken soup. When I get a chance I will post a recipe for a great way of making the soup. Sipping chicken soup many times during the day is a great way for boosting immune system. One of the best immune boosters, though, are berries combined with yogurt. If my kids are sick I usually splurge on some frozen berries (since they get sick in the winter fresh ones are not usually an option and if they are they might be less nutritious then frozen ones due to long transport), and organic yogurt. Berries are full of antioxidants and yogurt can't be beat for probiotics. Both of those will help to strengthen immune system and help with recovery.
   Another remedy that will help to fight off nasty bugs is vitamin D. My kids usually don't lack vitamin D from being outside, but when sickness strikes I give them a drop of D Drops Liquid Vitamin D3 to help them get better. I never, ever give my kids mega-doses of any vitamins since I can never be sure what the effect will be. I keep the dose of any vitamins or supplements to prescribed dose and provide variety of them. One thing we found very helpful for sore throats is Organic Elderberry Syrup for kids. This stuff is great, all natural with no side effects. One teaspoon a day is plenty for little kids to sooth sore throats. Another great product for older children and adults is Prairie Naturals Citrus Soother. I half the scoop for older kids and give full scoop for adults. This stuff is best taken before bed as it has soothing properties and can make you drowsy.  And if they have tummy troubles and vomiting, then coconut water is much better than Pedialyte which contains artificial sweeteners, artificial flavors and preservatives

   Beyond all of these remedies is one that's usually overlooked, and that is washing your hands often and encouraging your kids to wash them too to prevent spread of colds and flu. With all these remedies in place every member of your family should get over their colds and flu quicker. Just remember that getting sick is not all that bad since it strengthens your immunity and can give kids better protection against getting sick later in life!