Well, ladies and gentleman, flu season is here.
I know how much we have going on at the moment, considering the drop/add period just ended, and our schedules are now cemented into ISIS. In about a week I’ll probably be banging on the bars of my Calculus 2 jail cell begging Study Edge to come and rescue me.
So we’re busy with school, extracurriculars and, more importantly, our social lives, which are back in full swing. I hate to say that this is where the danger lies.
Our immune systems have been compromised thanks to the most recent isolation period: Winter Break.
Before mid-December our bodies were used to the Gainesville atmosphere, and by “atmosphere” I mean a pool of thousands of students all jumbled together within a few miles of mossy space. We were adapted to the rough climate, our bodies ready to fight off any and all germ attacks, especially those crawling around Turlington Plaza. But then we went home and rested on the couch for a straight month, eating cookies and enjoying treat yo’self time thanks to our doting parents.
Via: joemartinfitness.com
It’s almost too late for those of you without flu shots, because I, along with, I’m sure, many more of our peers, have brought the flu to Gainesville.
Three days before break ended I had a sore throat and a headache that turned into a whopping 104 degree fever that left me paralyzed in the fetal position with a cold wash cloth glued to my forehead. My entire body shook with the chills and I had no desire to eat any food for a good 72 hours. That’s how I knew my illness was bad, because I’m a bottomless pit when it comes to breakfast, lunch and dinner.
A few years ago I had it for the first time and six months later chunks of my hair fell out, a horrible symptom of the flu. You’d think at that point I would have learned my lesson and stuck my arm out at the nearest doctor in hopes of receiving the magic juice that prevents this illness.
If you don’t have your flu shot yet, here’s how to avoid a predicament that is 100 % heading your way:
Via: someecards.com
Grab your insurance card and head down to the nearest CVS or Walgreens. Drugstores basically have their own handydandy doctor’s offices, and they’ll diagnose you with the flu based off of your symptoms. If you get there within 48 hours of first experiencing the horrors of your predicament, they’ll be able to give you Tami-Flu, a set of pills that will stop your symptoms a few days before scheduled endtime. There is a small fee at the end but trust me, what you are getting in exchange for your money is worth each and every penny.
You can get a flu shot at any CVS or Walgreens. If you want a location that’s more walking-accessible, flu shots are given at the campus infirmary, too.
The people most likely to get the flu are between the ages of 18 and 24, according to my trusty CVS physician, so they recommend getting your shot in September before you head back to college and make out with everyone.
Good luck if you suddenly find yourself feeling feverish. I recommend a lot of Advil/Tylenol, and drink buckets of water. I apologize for carrying my germs back with me, but I couldn’t miss out on all of the syllabus week fun. Happy flu season!
Photo courtesy of DigDang!
