To quote Nicholas Cage, “I’m not going to tell you a pack of lies to make me look good, I’m just going to tell you what happened.”

It all happened so fast, this is what I remember…

The day began as any normal morning, when out of nowhere the tell-tale signs of impending doom began to rear their ugly head.  A slight burning at the back of my throat was gaining strength.  I knew there would soon be a raging inferno rivaling the great fire of London.

By lunch I was coughing as if the Hulk was pounding his green fists through my rib cage, perspiration, high temperature and running nose… this had become my reality, why me who had I wronged in a previous life!?

Miraculously I made it to the end of the day with everything turning cold.  Was this the end?  I’m too young to go this way!  I got to the front door… SANCTUARY!  A glimmer of hope, I staggered to bed remembering my fallen brothers, man flu had struck.

Secure in bed, my wife administered treatment.  A single tear rolled across her cheek, I could see the fear in her eyes.  She knew I had practically high-fived the grim reaper.

Lying there unsure of my future, a pharmaceutical meet-and-greet taking place in my belly, I nodded off to sleep.

The next day I arose like a phoenix from the ashes, one hundred percent!  Luckily, my will to survive had kicked in, and I fought my way back from the edge of the abyss.  I had danced with the devil and lived to tell the tale.  I don’t know what all my wife’s drama and panicking was about!

Tips and tricks to help your other half recover:

• Catch it early: Prevention is better than cure, despite your partner’s best efforts at bravado, administer medication early.
• Load up on Vitamins: Multi vitamins are highly effective at staving off the claws of man flu.
• A sympathetic shoulder goes a long way: put up with the moaning, groaning and complaints.  I know it’s a HUGE pain in the butt!  However, a little bit of tenderness takes the edge off.
• The combo: combine creamy chicken noodle soup and chicken-flavoured two minute noodles! My wife’s idea, this salty, soft concoction is sure to pep up the afflicted.
• Sleep: let him rest, rest, rest!  Everyone knows this one!