aside from wiping down everything, i've also been stuck on the sofa...lucky for me have slip covers and can wash, but what else are you doing? i'm also replacing older bed pillows as everytime i've washed in the past never do well...

also running a humidifier with special additive, but every other filling using white vinegar....

Do you mean you are stuck indoors with sick family members, or what are we doing to avoid getting sick in general?

As for in general- There is no way after my experience in 2006 that I would not get a flu shot.

We are avoiding being in public and crowds- because so many are not couteous enough to STAY HOME if they are unwell.

We also wash our hands a lot and use hand sanitizer.

As far as for when we have a sick, contagious family member, if its a cold, we wash hands a lot, spray Lysol and try to avoid sharing germs. If it is something bad such a stomach virus, try to confine the sickie to a bedroom with a tv and their own bathroom, use lots of Lysol and when they are well, the room will get "degermed" and all the bedding washed.

Just the two of us and we've both had the flu vaccine. Praying that we are in the 63% effective group.

DH is retired, but eats lunch daily at a different local diner/restaurant so is around various people and touching stuff.

I work in the public. So far everyone at work who has been sick has stayed home. The public is different though. I did get a 24 hour bug...probably the norovirus the news has been talking about. I slept in the other room and husband was lucky to not get it too.

I do the best I can in public: washing my hands frequently and using a hand lotion with germicide in it (Gold Bond lotion with hand sanitizer). Since picking up pinkeye for the first time ever at the age of 50 while on vacation in Colorado, after washing my hands in a restroom, I touch NOTHING. If all they have is a hand dryer and the door opens in, I pull off a length of toilet paper to open the door.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: KeepYouInStitches,

DH does get a yearly flu shot, but (personal choice) the last one I had was 12 years ago. And I have not had any flu or bad cold for nearly 20 years, so I seem to have very healthy immune system and have learned to keep stress levels down. If I worked in a busy public place or hospital/clinic then I probably would have to have the vaccine.

I do try to avoid busy crowded stores, and make sure to wash my hands thoroughly after grocery or other shopping and before meal prep. Plus stay clear of sick people, in general.

One of my relatives was sick with the flu on Christmas eve and in the following week almost everyone at the party came down with it, including my 83 year old father who ended up in the hospital for 3 days. I escaped the ordeal. I attribute it to getting my flu shot, and to my frequent hand washing. I always wash my hands after I am out shopping or whatever. I always wash my hands before prepping or eating food. I probably washed my hands 4 or 5 times during our Christmas eve party. I also think I have a pretty good immune system, as I am usually the one who doesn't get sick when others do.

I couldn't tell from your post if you are sick with the flu, sjf, but if you are, I hope you are feeling better soon. This flu season is really bad, and it is no fun to be sick.

DH always gets a flu shot. I've never had one, although he has made comments several times. Last cold/flu I had (KNOCK WOOD) was in March 2009 after an 8 hour plane ride from Dallas to Hawaii. Just what I wanted - to spend half my trip with the crud!! At home, I'm not around a lot of folks so not exposed much. And, my hands must get washed a dozen times a day. Several times before and during meal prep, after meals, after necessary functions, whatever. If one of us comes down with something, we try to be aware and try to keep the other from catching it too.

The last flu shot I had, it took me a complete year to fully recover the use of my arm. NO MORE FLU SHOTS for me.
I wash my hands umteen times a day with soap. I have hand sanitizer I use when I'm out/about. I stay home more during the flu season to avoid those who are carrying it & spreading it. If I have to go out, I try to do all my errands at times most folks are busy elsewhere.
If one of us gets sick...we seperate. I spray all "touchables" with disinfectant. Bed clothes & towels get washed in HOT water...also anything like nightgowns/robes or sweats that the sick person has worn. Beds get stripped all the way down & sprayed with disinfectant.

Don't forget to wipe things like dresser/chest handles, alarm clocks...stuff like that that the sick person may have touched...lamp switches too! Oh, and remote controls to electronics or keyboards & telephones.

I can't remember when I had a flu shot nor serious illness (thank G@d), but DH always gets flu shots. We also wash our hands after being out and about and keep our distance if one of us is sick. I have always been careful in public places, especially restrooms, never touching door handles. I also disinfect telephones during peek seasons. At the risk of sounding like an extreme phobe, we must be aware of things that are commonly touched like railings (including escalators), door handles (including vehicles), phones, tablets, computers, faucet handles, food prep areas, chairs in restaurants, salt/pepper/condiments on restaurant tables, and even gas pump handles (I was reminded of this one after a recent tv segment). One of the riskiest places to contact the flu can be a doctor's or hospital waiting room. It is frequently recommended to avoid touching your face during flu season, to change your toothbrush once over the flu and to sneeze into your arm. With common sense practices we can lessen our chances of contracting major illnesses with the knowledge that there is no sure fire way to completely avoid the flu even if vaccinated. Wishing everyone good health!

we had the shots...wash our hands...