<p>I thought there was a major problem this morning when my D called me - her voice sounded somewhat serious- turns out her roommate is sick and she's frantic she'll catch it!!!! She told me she ran to the store this morning and bought spray Lysol and disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer - they have one main comfy chair in their room (it belongs to my D) and the "sick" roommate was sprawled out on the chair w/fever, coughing and frequent trips to the bathroom! </p>
<p>Just was cute to hear her subdued panic! I told her wash hands, wash hands, wash hands. Also told her to use her "products" on doorknobs, refrig handle etc. AND reminded her to ask her roommate if she needs her to pick up a sick tray or any comfort items at the store </p>
<p>It's tough avoiding illness when you're in such close quarters!!!</p>
<p>Definitely use an Airborne type product, take vitamins and minerals, eat healthy, get plenty of sleep, and try to reduce the stress level. Keep endorphins flowing with daily exercise. Even if D catches it, if she is in top shape, it will minimize the impact. Being run down is what makes a run-of-the-mill cold into a full blown fever-raging-debilitating illness.</p>
<p>Exactly, Doubleplay. Vitamins, sleep, good food, and minimal stress and alcohol will do wonders for not catching illness or being able to handle it. </p>
<p>I don't remember, so I'm assuming your daughter is a first year. Remind her to try to be especially caring and helpful. Most students have never been sick away from home before, and it can be difficult to go from having Mom there to remind you to stay hydrated, give you Tylenol, and take care of you to being independent and alone while sick. The roommate is probably feeling lonely and stressed out in addition to miserably sick.</p>
<p>Yes, she is a first year and that's exactly what I told her - be a pal to the sick roommate!!!</p>
<p>They are on quarters, so this just the 2nd week of the quarter - luckily not exam time - good suggestion on the Airborne...I've never tried it,but this might be the right time....</p>
<p>I swear by Airborne-maybe it is all in my head, but as a teacher I come in contact with lots of germs every day! I have been using it the past few years when I feel a cold coming on (or when lots of kids are sick) and I really think it has reduced the number of colds I have had. Just be careful not to have too many a day as the Vitamin A level is high and using it too often gives you way more Vit. A in a day than you are supposed to have.
I would also suggest trying to air room out by opening window when they are out of room and even keep it open if it isn't too cold. Maybe some fresh air will kill those germs.</p>
<p>We take airborne here too. It doesn't work for everything -- it didn't help when my D had strep, for instance, but it tastes good, and at least you feel like you're doing something.</p>
<p>We feel that it has reduced the number of colds in our household. We also feel that it really shortens the severity of symptoms and length of a cold that has already begun. We have fought off what we felt would turn into colds by taking this when we feel the beginning of a sore throat.</p>
<p>Yes...Airborne is AMAZING. With all the schools I've been in and out of and planes I've been on, it is just short of a miracle I haven't gotten a nasty cold the past several falls. That stuff works!!!</p>
<p>We usually take it as soon as someone starts to feel a little <em>punky</em> -- you know, scratchy throat, a little achy, etc. Also, airborne is good to take before you get on a plane.</p>
<p>Also, we sometimes take something called Emergen- C. We buy both of these things at Trader Joe's.</p>
<p>We don't get many colds here, and I have been able to <em>ward off</em> things, I think, by taking one or both of these things the minute my throat starts to feel a little scratchy.</p>
<p>They also have a "generic" version of Airborne-Walmart brand-that is several dollars less than Airborne. I usually buy that and it seems to work just fine. As others have said, when you start feeling like something is coming on, you can begin taking one every 3-4 hours it says, although I usually only use it 3 times a day. You dissolve it in small glass of water and the orange version reminds me of the Tang drink when I was a kid. First time I convinced husband to try it before a trip, he thought he was supposed to swallow the tablet! Don't think he could have gotten the thing down!</p>
<p>My medicine cabinet is full of all kinds of things since D is in audition season for colleges. She has Airborne - but do be careful about taking more than one or two a day. An overdose of vitamin A is possible. She uses the Zicam nasal swab too - doesn't like the lozenges.</p>
<p>Yes, I concur - Airborne does seem to work. My son takes it away at school on a once-a-week regimen and hasn't been sick at school yet. It can be pricy though, for a whole family. I'm going to check out the Walmart brand!</p>
<p>"Suggest she, and her roomate wear masks, in addition th the Airborne. They can be found near the bandages at Walgreens, and at other RX's."</p>
<p>My husband and I were in a class to get ready for his then upcoming bone marrow transplant. When you are getting a bone marrow transplant it is of the utmost importance that you not get sick. With such a weaken immune system even a cold could kill you. One of the ladies in there was wearing one of those masks you can get at Walgreens. The nurse pointed out that mask had a useful life of somewhere between 15 and 30 minutes. After that it was not doing any useful filtering. If you are planning on using those types of masks, you better really stock up.</p>
<p>Aren't we being a bit over the top with the mask idea? Its not the plague for pete's sake! The advice regarding taking extra vitamin C, washing your hands and eating right are all important. Walking around with a mask on is a bit ridiculous if you ask me. The roommate probably feels bad enough.</p>
<p>I thought the mask idea was a joke. However, I am sitting here stitching together bubble wrap to make a body sized wrap for my D. I keep breaking needles though and every now and then I go on a popping spree and have to start all over.</p>
<p>S's roommate is sick too! I haven't suggested the mask idea yet. He already thinks I am a bit protective, I wonder if he would laugh or think I had really lost it. I am asking him to make sure his roommate stays hydrated, etc. Hopefully, it won't get passed to S because finals are coming.</p>