Thank you, Bayer!

For Cold or Flu

Doctors Recommend:

1. Rest in bed
2. Drink plenty of fluids
3. Take  2 aspirin to reduce fever and relieve pain

That was a Bayer advertisement on television when I was a little girl; I can remember it still.  Straight forward, logical recommendations. It seems like this advice has been squeezed out of our busy, hurry-up lives.  I wonder why?

When a little girl, I remember, under the care of my mom, following this advice.  If I was sick (which was very rare) and at home, Mom tucked me in bed, brought me orange juice, hot tea, or water, and gave me 2 aspirin.  Then, I slept or read or, the best option, Mom came and sat with me for a while. She held my hand or read me a story or just talked. Having her there was really comforting.  By next morning, my happy, healthy self was back running around, full of energy and sparkle.

Today, no one is allowed to be sick.  If we are, run to the doctor, get antibiotics, and  return to the usual hectic pace without even a slowdown.  Or, we just power through. The malaise, not surprisingly, seems to linger on and on.

Well, today, a stomach flu laid me low.  When you are vomiting, you can’t really go into work.  Very inconvenient to be turning green and running for the bathroom every half hour!  I stayed home, wrapped up in a quilt and rested on the loveseat; drank as much fluid as I could handle; and took pain relievers to help with an accompanying, splitting headache.  I watched some t.v. and dozed most of the day. I didn’t have energy or desire for much else, even this slice. Several family members stopped by to see how I was doing and cheer me up.  I don’t think I’m 100% right now, but I am mending fast.

As I followed what doctors recommended from the 1960s, I got to thinking that this is the way recuperation should be when sick with colds or flu (or some stomach bugs): rest in bed (or on the loveseat), drink plenty of fluids, and take pain medicine as needed.  I’m glad I did.

Thank you, Bayer!