Is there a bug going around?
 

For the past two days, I've felt rather "blah." My throat is somewhat sore and my body has felt hot (though I doubt I have a fever). I thought I would come down with the flu, but for now I have retained only those few symptoms. It did get much colder here recently, but I don't know how that would affect me besides making my joints stiff. I live in Florida.

There is always a bug going around. You could talk with a Doctor.

Exactly.

If whiskey and honey doesn't knock it into submission. Then a course of Theraflu and Alka-Seltzer Plus will.

Whenever I'm sick, I OD on fruits and veggies nonstop. I only get sick around once a year now despite having a weakened immune system from my heart surgery and endocarditis. Really, eat right and you'll feel better in no time.

Also, everyone says that Airborne is good. I don't care for it (1 orange = 1 airborne), but if it works it works.

There are dozens of little viruses that circulate every fall and winter - just part of life.

Sudden cold and extra dryness in the air dries out the mucus membranes in your mouth and nose (and elsewhere, but those are the pertinent ones here), making it easier for something to invade your body and proliferate. Stay hydrated, check your temperature to see if you have a fever, and go from there. It happens frequently when you're in a warm/hot environment that's normally very humid (like here in FL) and it's suddenly cold and dry.

And there's always something "going around". That's a silly question. lol

I frequently get flus and colds mixed up. I'm unwilling to call a flu what it is because it sounds more... dramatic. And the rest of humanity wants you to downsize any sickness you have. It could just be the dry air like Analog says, but I feel like it's more than that. Though my extensive use of tramadol the night before certainly didn't help. I doubt Airborne does anything myself. I'll have a glass of orange juice instead, thanks. Funny how this bug hits me right after I went to a clinic that was giving out flu shots.

So what other mucus membranes get affected? Oh wait, I don't think I wanna know...

Ahem... I have the "one of those other membrane" afflictions currently, along with three to four nosebleeds a day, sinus congestion, headache, etc. Stupid drop in humidity. Happens every change in seasons... right before the SAD kicks in.
There always is and forever will be a Bug.
My friends got all freaked out about the "SuperBug" that was "found" in Jacksonville.
Had me worried until I found out it was just MRSA. That's nothing. It's everywhere.
You come into contact with millions of Bugs every day.
Come work with me in the pediatric hospice and palliative care program.
There's some scary shite.
I've been exposed to all of it. And only caught a suspected case of MRSA that went away on its own and a lot of colds/viruses.
Eat, sleep and drink. You'll be okay.

Flu is more dramatic...whereas a cold comes along and casually sticks around, the flu hits you like a speeding train, knocks you on your ass and won't loosen its grip. Both can give a fever, but the flu fever is usually higher with chills, sweats, etc. When you have the flu, there's no mistaking it.
Colds, you might get bronchitis-flu, you might get pneumonia.
I've heard you can get a 'mild' flu-like illness after getting that shot. I'm supposed to get those and pneumonia shots, but I'm leery of them.
In between the cold virus and flu virus is another, but I can't remember its name. It hits harder than a cold, but isn't as dangerous as the flu.

Yeah, and people are supposed to realize when being temporary paralyzed isn't normal. But I didn't. I didn't catch the massive thyroid disease or Crohn's either. Or that heart attack back when I was 14 (well I figured that, but I downplayed it). This is what happens when you grow up in a screwed-up family.

I'm not saying it's the dry air that's causing your problem, I'm saying it's the dry air that allows the "bugs" to get in easier, and then also to proliferate more easily. The dry air by itself isn't the culprit. :)

I should also mention that if you're taking any medicines, especially those prescribed to you, you should consult with the prescriber before taking anything. This includes over the counter and "supplements" (herbal stuff, like Airborne).

Airborne, more than anything, is a giant helping of Vitamin C, along with a few herbal things that aren't proven to do a damn thing. One or two formulations also have zinc, which promotes healing time. Vitamin C or Airborne-style products are most effective when taken at the onset of the cold/flu.

For me personally, I have a bottle of 1000mg vitamin C caplets that just sits around. The bottle comes with 100 in it, costs maybe $6 or so, and the shelf life is until September '09. Can't ask for a better illness remedy that isn't an antibiotic or actual chemical (like sudafed, benadryl, or robitussin, for example). When I'm feeling something come on, I take one. Vitamin C helps boost the immune system to fight new infections. It won't keep you at a "super immune" level if you take it every day, it just doesn't work that way. It always amuses me to see people who take the Airborne nearly every day. It's massively overpriced for what it is, and it's not really going to do anything special when taken daily. :)

Come to think of it, did you have these flu-like symptoms before or after taking the tramadol, and have you taken tramadol before in the past?