It hasn’t been a month and you are already experiencing Fresher’s Flu. Don’t worry, I have got you covered!
Firstly, it is extremely normal to get this strain of the flu, everyone at uni gets it at some point, so you don’t need to get stressed because I got the fresher’s flu just the week after I came to my university. This is so common among students as you are being exposed to a new environment, and initially the university is extremely busy, leading to the spread of germs.
How it feels
You may feel tired the whole day and like you want to do absolutely nothing except laying on your bed. Your throat may feel uneasy, and you might experience a running nose but trust me, it all feels difficult in the beginning and it gets better as you start to take some precautions and do certain things that prevent it from getting worse.
What helps the most
Firstly, I know coffee is life (especially for students), but having some hot water is what will help you get through the day as it will hydrate you faster and feel more soothing for both your throat and nose. Trying the steam method with a towel and boiling bowl of water should help clear your sinuses too. Add some Olbas oil or menthol and using this method twice a day will make you feel better even faster.
I understand that taking care of yourself along with student life might sound difficult to balance alongside late night study sessions, initial fresher’s events, and the excitement of making friends, but with some precautions and care, you will be able to enjoy everything without missing out.
Food and immunity boosters
Having home-cooked meals (and not instant noodles!) is rather helpful as they give you the nutrients you require to increase your immune system.
Fresh fruits and vegetables, and having hot water with lemon and honey, works wonders!
Recovery and medication
Fresher’s Flu usually lasts only a week, but if it gets worse, I would suggest you look at some medications and contact your GP.
One medicine that really pulled me through and became a staple within my personal First Aid kit was Lemsip - one of my friends in the UK introduced me to it, and within 2–3 days I could see the results and improvements. So, if you haven't added this to your shopping list I highly recommend you stock up on it!
Some other handy bits to have include multivitamins, cold and flu tablets, paracetamol (for the cough headaches) and some throat losanges.
For an extra dose of sympathy, make sure to phone home!
