Advice your Mother Would Approve of...How to Deal with Re-Fresher's Flu

About a year ago my Mum told me I sounded like death warmed up, ‘NO’ I croaked, it’s just fresher’s flu! It was about the same time when shops increased their pro plus reserve, GPs endured hung over, sniffing, spluttering students and newsagents cashed in on low quality lager, cheapy cider and home value vodka as students flooded in for Fresher’s week. Take it from someone who’s been there, done it and worn the booze stained t-shirt, it’s not pretty. If I dare say it, it’s worse than man flu!

Editor’s Note: If vague on the symptoms of Man Flu please refer to video below:

Just in case you’re being misled, the goodness in the veggies you had last week and that vitamin C you get every time you have a vodka and orange, will not suffice. We all need some warm chicken soup, a cosy dressing gown and a hot water bottle now and then: for only £6.98 for the Boots extra comfort bottle, who cares if they tell us we need to man up and strap a pair on? Being warm with comfort food is so worth the sarcastic comments (Blokes- If you don’t mind spending a little extra you can get a bright pink one with pompoms and matching snuggle socks just for £12- Bargain from M and S, or Marks and Sparks as my Grandma would say).

If you fancy it, give the screaming, shouting and singing a rest (sometimes). Don’t be fooled into thinking that husky voice is sexy, it’s not, and it’s painful. And as family will tell you it’s self-inflicted, the sympathy vote is a no go. Power naps are not as rewarding as proper sleep itself and shock horror, those little iron and vitamin tablets under your mountain of books/bottles/clothes/wrappers do actually work, so try taking them: 2x30 tablets for only £2.54 from Holland and Barrett - but don’t go on any ‘popping pill’ type websites! You can also try the multi vitamins from £3.91 in Superdrug- they have a wide selection.

You don’t really want that drunken fag and is that extra shot of apple sours really necessary? I know we all say we can match our friends’ drinking abilities but let’s think about it... can we really match our 90 kilo rugby mate’s expertise? Probably not but we’ll die trying! Well no, we’ll just feel worse in the morning and really give that fresher’s flu a helping hand. Once you have found your limit, stick to it! On top of all this flu, don’t catch an STI-remember to take your good friend Johnny out with you to the shindig.

If you’re past the point of advice and your nose is drooling more than your mouth did when you saw the 6 foot blonde here’s where to go:

For Oxford Brookes University students: http://www.brookes.ac.uk/student/services/health/information.html

For Oxford University students: http://www.ousu.org/welfare/student-healthcare

Charlie Burridge