At the earliest sign, I take a very high dose of zinc. Later that day, I take a very high dose of C. That is usually the end of it. Sometimes, I have to dose myself that way for up to three days.
During those three days, I ask for help. I want very, very, very spicy food, generally hot and sour soup with extra peppers, but sometimes just chicken soup (I think it is called Tom Yum) with extra peppers. Sometimes just a plain chicken soup with extra, extra peppers.
I drink all the fluids. I drink kettles of tea:, mint, sarsaparilla, horehound, cinnamon, and I used to do hot chocolate made from cream, butter, bittersweet chocolate and cayenne pepper, but I have not in years. I take Ibuprofen for inflammation or Tylenol for fever. When fever spikes, I encourage it with hot fluids and bed rest including bundling up in a comforter. When I can't take it anymore, I bathe, get someone else to change my sheets, put on a clean shirt, socks, and panties, and get back into bed with ice cold water, cold compresses, cold sports drink, and wait for the fever to go up or down to decide what to do next.
I sleep. I sleep all the sleeps. I typically gain weight when ill because I just eat and sleep. I don't have much of an appetite, but as long as I can still taste, I can make myself eat, and my instinct is usually that food will help. I rarely get very sick, and don't stay sick long, so this all seems right to me. Illness weight gain is generally reversed within one menstrual cycle.
