General Winter Help and Advice

Today I walked home from work with my other half and totally freaked at how dark it was! I always tend to stress as I know that now our clocks have gone back, Winter is coming, and fast.

I'm scared that this year I'm 'due' a sv* (silly as that sounds, I know!) but I want to prepare myself as much as I can so I have a few questions.

1. I'm currently using a Boots Anti Viral hand sanitiser but it's only 0.13% of the stuff that actually kills norovirus. Is there anyway I can buy anything stronger online without paying so much for it as it would probably come from the US?

2. I'm also looking for a similar sort of thing as the sanitiser but wipes instead, as I'd like to use them on my desk at work.

3. Does anyone know if you can take Citalopram and Phenergan together as I am thinking of buying some on Chemist Direct UK.

4. How do you all cope with it during this stressful time?

I'm doing okay-ish at the moment. I've kept myself occupied by Christmas shopping, which I've now pretty much finished and have started wrapping!

Much love :)

I take 40mg of citalopram and 20mg of phenergan every day with no side effects (at least none that Ive noticed). Until I came on this site I wasnt aware that winter was the worse time for sv* - Id always assumed that it was summer cos bacteria multiplies in heat and in my mind that meant it died in cold conditions!! Since realising Im wrong I dread getting sick. I used to love autumn and winter but now it seems to bring so much worry its taken all the joy out of it for me. I dont know much about sanitiser, I just use a cheap basic kind from tesco which I know is totally ineffective against noro. Good for you on being so organised for christmas. Im my usual disorganised self. The only things Ive bought so far are most of my chocolates and 2 small gifts for my daughter. I usually leave it till last few weeks then have to rush round like a madwoman - but I usually get it all done and havent forgotten anything or anyone so far! ha!

I've heard from people on this site that Germ-X Advanced Protection is a good sanitizer. I think most sanitizer is good, but it's been claimed that the Benzalkonium Chloride kills it. It's only 13% also though, so that may be the most concentrated available? The nice thing about the germ-x is that it's a foam pump.

no hand sanitizer beats washing your hands with soap and water.

Thanks everyone for your advice.

I will probably buy some Phenergan then. Where do you buy yours from?

Is Germ-X available in the UK? And is it expensive? The one I have currently is also 1.3% which I wonder if that's the highest you can get in the UK.

Fixxxer - I try and wash my hands as often as I can but I sometimes find I can't if you get me!

Winter terrifies me too, but I cope rightly or wrongly by only leaving the house when I need to, avoiding crowds and public toilets - hence why my christmas shopping always gets done in july!! Lol. I am hoping I can push myself to get to the girls xmas plays and parties this year x

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Originally Posted by thelittlestranger

Thanks everyone for your advice.

I will probably buy some Phenergan then. Where do you buy yours from?

Is Germ-X available in the UK? And is it expensive? The one I have currently is also 1.3% which I wonder if that's the highest you can get in the UK.

Fixxxer - I try and wash my hands as often as I can but I sometimes find I can't if you get me!

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You can get phenergan on prescription from your doctor or you can buy it OTC in most chemists in the form of sominex. I get a pack of 16 tablets (10mg each tablet) for £5.05 from Boots.

I don't think my doctor would be able to presecribe it to me. :( They haven't been too 'believeing' of my emetophobia if that makes sense?

I might try Sominex... does it work?

And Randall - I really hope you make those plays this year. We are stronger than we think. x

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Originally Posted by thelittlestranger

I don't think my doctor would be able to presecribe it to me. :( They haven't been too 'believeing' of my emetophobia if that makes sense?

I might try Sominex... does it work?

And Randall - I really hope you make those plays this year. We are stronger than we think. x

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I can't get phenergan on prescription either but I do get other anti-emetics from my dr. My dad was prescribed 10mg phenergan but not for nausea - for problems sleeping! That is why you can buy them OTC as sominex. I have found them to be very useful and if taken in high enough doses (I think the maximum you can take in any 4 hours is 50mg) they can help relax you and help you sleep which is a Godsend when n* is keeping you awake and stressed. If you do give them a go start out with just one tablet as I know a lot of people on this site say they knock them out for several hours.

i use germ x
i think thats a good one if you can get it

I agree that hand washing is the best thing you can do. But I have recently discovered the Gold Bond Hand Sanitizer/moisturizer. It has the stuff mentioned that has been shown to kill noro.. and it's a lotion too. It is awesome.. because you are sanitizing and moisturizing at the same time, so you're hands don't get too dry. I even use it after washing my hands if they are dry. Extra sanitizing. You can get it at any store.. I found it at Meijer a local store kinda like a super walmart... in the area where the lotions/sanitzers are. It's kinda expensive I think. I paid $4 for a small tube.. but it'll last a while.. and it's worth it for my sanity.

These surface wipes sound good: http://www.phillipsdirect.co.uk/disi...1kok6fsj256vq6

These sound good also. This page doesn't say anything about noro but the MediZar's own web page does, but didn't give an opportunity to buy them: http://www.scottmedical.com/index.ph...product_id=453

These actually sound better than Milton wipes; Milton's website has a page on Norovirus but I didn't find it that helpful. It was sort of weaseling out of saying most of its producs kill noro - implying they did but not really specifying it. Except their sterilising solution, of course - that DOES kill noro. the Milton hand gel is 'better' than most others at killing noro but not foolproof. I tend to go for Mentholatum Responsebeta.

Any sanitisers with 0.13% or more benzalkonium chloride should be fine, so don't worry about getting a really higher concentration - there's no need, and in fact it's quite a toxic substance in high concentrations so I doubt you'd find it.

I've bought Phenergan using the brand-name Phenergan at my local pharmacy, so it is out there. If you buy it online, use a reputable website with a pharmacy-registered logo with the green cross symbol. I think chemistdirect is fine like that so no problems. But Avomine and Sominex are the same stuff, work just the same. Avomine is slightly less drowsy I think but it is still promethazine, it's just in a different 'salt'. Don't get reliant on taking it too often, if you can help it, cos you don't need to, and it can make you really drowsy. I have cinnarizine (Stugeron) which I think is also pretty good, and far less drowsy-making :) Don't take it often but have it there just in case, usually if I'm going on a long journey. Sorry for all the waffle xxx

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Originally Posted by cinque

These surface wipes sound good: http://www.phillipsdirect.co.uk/disi...1kok6fsj256vq6

These sound good also. This page doesn't say anything about noro but the MediZar's own web page does, but didn't give an opportunity to buy them: http://www.scottmedical.com/index.ph...product_id=453

These actually sound better than Milton wipes; Milton's website has a page on Norovirus but I didn't find it that helpful. It was sort of weaseling out of saying most of its producs kill noro - implying they did but not really specifying it. Except their sterilising solution, of course - that DOES kill noro. the Milton hand gel is 'better' than most others at killing noro but not foolproof. I tend to go for Mentholatum Responsebeta.

Any sanitisers with 0.13% or more benzalkonium chloride should be fine, so don't worry about getting a really higher concentration - there's no need, and in fact it's quite a toxic substance in high concentrations so I doubt you'd find it.

I've bought Phenergan using the brand-name Phenergan at my local pharmacy, so it is out there. If you buy it online, use a reputable website with a pharmacy-registered logo with the green cross symbol. I think chemistdirect is fine like that so no problems. But Avomine and Sominex are the same stuff, work just the same. Avomine is slightly less drowsy I think but it is still promethazine, it's just in a different 'salt'. Don't get reliant on taking it too often, if you can help it, cos you don't need to, and it can make you really drowsy. I have cinnarizine (Stugeron) which I think is also pretty good, and far less drowsy-making :) Don't take it often but have it there just in case, usually if I'm going on a long journey. Sorry for all the waffle xxx

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cinque you always know what to say don't you? amazing. :) io've got some things i can look in to tonight. :) xxx

I am beginning to feel like an alien emet realising how many meds and sanitisers people are using because I take nothing - no anti-emetics, anti nausea, no anti anxiety remedies. Having said that I should point out that i'm used to functioning on a default setting of minimal to moderate nausea anyway so anything above that is usually pure nerves which I overcome out of necessity if outside or distract away if at home (not an easy trip but do-able). Ever tried extreme smiling ? Don't laugh - it has often worked for me ! :D

I heard that once, that smiling can get rid if sickness, so sometimes when I feel ill and REALLY deperate, I start smiling my face off, even though my eyes are huge and streaming tears! Lol it must look really funny when I do it though...