I've got the flu

JOhnH said:
I am panicking about trying to go to sleep tonight. I have a hard time breathing standing or sitting, but when I lay down it is torture.
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I feel for ya bud, but for your sake and your family, if you survive the night go see a doctor..!!!
 
Let'sgoflying! said:
GWS, John.
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Thanks,
I think. What does GWS mean?

Well, I survived the night. It was actually better than the past three or four nights, and I feel a good bit better today. I was able to walk out to the driveway to get the newspaper and say hello to a passing neighbor. I still have a nagging cough, a slight headache and some sneezing, but nothing like it was.
 
A colleague got shingles on her face. It took out an eye and some facial nerves, she now wears an eye patch and can't move half her face. Sort've like if Sylvester Stallone played Nick Fury.
 
steingar said:
A colleague got shingles on her face. It took out an eye and some facial nerves, she now wears an eye patch and can't move half her face. Sort've like if Sylvester Stallone played Nick Fury.
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Man that sucks! That almost sounds like bells palsy as well..ugh I was fortunate I had no lasting problems. Mine was a small patch by my ear. I hope having it once sure equates to not having it again though.
 
wrbix said:
Now there is a convincing, evidence based argument. Best you got, I suppose.
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Oh, sorry, didn't know I was trying to convince anyone, just one man's experience is all.
 
steingar said:
A colleague got shingles on her face. It took out an eye and some facial nerves, she now wears an eye patch and can't move half her face. Sort've like if Sylvester Stallone played Nick Fury.
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The Primary Care Physician I went to at the time suggested I get the shingles vaccine. He told me that 10%-15% of folks who get shingles have persistent nerve damage from it.
 
Vern B said:
Oh, sorry, didn't know I was trying to convince anyone, just one man's experience is all.
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Oh, sorry, it appeared that you were countering my earlier statement that the vaccine does not cause "the flu", just the experience of the entire public health community is all
 
wrbix said:
Oh, sorry, it appeared that you were countering my earlier statement that the vaccine does not cause "the flu", just the experience of the entire public health community is all
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"public health community" meh


I was refused to be treated for an painful, acute condition by my long term medical practitioner because I said I did not get a flu shot , was not interested in getting one, and refused to sign a form saying that I refused.
 
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The vaccine may not cause the flu but it can and frequently does cause flu like symptoms albeit less severe than the flu. then there are the less common yet much more significant side effects not yet mentioned. These are some of the reasons many choose not to get a flu shot.
 
paflyer said:
"public health community" meh


I was refused to be treated for an painful, acute contrition by my long term medical practitioner because I said I did not get a flu shot , was not interested in getting one, and refused to sign a form saying that I refused.
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I have been refused medical treatment because I do not have traditional health insurance.
 
paflyer said:
"public health community" meh


I was refused to be treated for an painful, acute contrition by my long term medical practitioner because I said I did not get a flu shot , was not interested in getting one, and refused to sign a form saying that I refused.
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I'm curious, why refuse to sign a form saying you've refused the shot?
 
jsstevens said:
I'm curious, why refuse to sign a form saying you've refused the shot?
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I don't recall what else it had on it but I was offended that I was required to sign it, or get lost. General principles.
 
FastEddieB said:
Personal anecdotes are worthless. And of little interest.

Post hoc ergo propter hoc is a known logical fallacy, one for which you’ve apparently fallen.
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Wow, some of you guys are pretty full of youself. I go by personal experience, not saying what I do is for everyone, but it works for me. I do know the vaccine for the swine flu back in the 70's had it's flaws, and no doubt the process to make such vaccine is better now. I just don't want to be that sick again for that amount of time, I also haven't put my finger over a burning match since I tried it as a kid. I only related my experience because others did. I would probably still be taking that vaccine if not for the bad experience, and I am not alone. It is not ignorance but distrust (and the fact it has been ok not to take it for 40+ years). You guys are right, of course and I am wrong in my opinion (of course), and I will now back out of this conversation hat in hand.
 
FORANE said:
The vaccine may not cause the flu but it can and frequently does cause flu like symptoms albeit less severe than the flu. then there are the less common yet much more significant side effects not yet mentioned. These are some of the reasons many choose not to get a flu shot.
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The vaccine is "giving" you the flu. That's the whole concept behind vaccination.
 
FORANE said:
The vaccine may not cause the flu but it can and frequently does cause flu like symptoms albeit less severe than the flu. then there are the less common yet much more significant side effects not yet mentioned. These are some of the reasons many choose not to get a flu shot.
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I used to frequently get the flu after getting a shot. Then I wised-up and quit getting the shot at a doctor's office and instead started getting them at a pharmacy or other "non-doctor's office" setting.

It wasn't the shot that was giving me the flu, rather it was all the sick bastages sitting in the waiting room with me as I waited for 30 minutes or an hour just to get the freakin' shot.
 
timwinters said:
I used to frequently get the flu after getting a shot. Then I wised-up and quit getting the shot at a doctor's office and instead started getting them at a pharmacy or other "non-doctor's office" setting.

It wasn't the shot that was giving me the flu, rather it was all the sick bastages sitting in the waiting room with me as I waited for 30 minutes or an hour just to get the freakin' shot.
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I spent an hour waiting for a blood draw last Friday. Sure enough, felt like crap all weekend.
 
timwinters said:
I used to frequently get the flu after getting a shot. Then I wised-up and quit getting the shot at a doctor's office and instead started getting them at a pharmacy or other "non-doctor's office" setting.

It wasn't the shot that was giving me the flu, rather it was all the sick bastages sitting in the waiting room with me as I waited for 30 minutes or an hour just to get the freakin' shot.
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There is probably a lot of truth behind that.
While the flu vaccine doesn't give you the flu, it does challenge your immune system. While your immune system is being challenged (for a short time) you may be more susceptible, but even then the effects of the flu would probably be reduced by the presence of the vaccine, and your stronger immune reaction.

Another factor that some people think the vaccine gave them the flu is that people generally get vaccines during flu season. And there are undoubtedly a lot of people exposed to the virus prior to the vaccine.
 
JOhnH said:
Another factor that some people think the vaccine gave them the flu is that people generally get vaccines during flu season. And there are undoubtedly a lot of people exposed to the virus prior to the vaccine.
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Or wait until they start feeling bad then go get a flu shot from Walmart. Too late.
 
At a restaurant Sunday with my wife and a couple other folks. People are walking towards the exit. Little girl about 11 or 12 walks next to me, turns her head and sneezes. Right into my ear. I immediately jump up and run to the restroom. I turn on the hot water and I boil my ear, neck and the side of my head clean with soap and water. I walk out to the foyer and pump my hand full of sanitizer and apply a few layers to the side of my head.

My poor wife is crying because she knows what a germaphope I am. She followed me into the restroom and fortunately no one else was there. The hostess asked me what was wrong. I told her what happened and also informed her we do not want the food that is on the table anymore.

The hostess is just horrified, especially since my wife took over the explanation, and when she gets excited her englis is sometimes not so goodlier.

The manager came out and explained there is nothing she can do since it was not an employee that sneezed in my ear. I said no problem, this is a small town with small town syndrome. (everyone knows everyone elses business) Since we did not finish our meal, actually we just started eating, the manager was kind enough to comp our meal, even though she made it perfectly clear that she was not happy to do that. I told her I will be happy to call the health department. Which I did and complained about the bathroom. I will only go into a public restroom in an emergency.

I don't really blame the little girl. She was probably taught to turn her head to cough or sneeze. She just probably wasn't taught to not sneeze on folks.
 
I’d just wipe the snot off my ear and keep eating the food. Haven’t been sick in years and absolutely never worry about people’s germs.

Understand it’s not that simple for the folks that are bothered by such things.
 
I figure other people's germs make my immune system stronger, like vaccines. :p

I don't tend to get sick often, so my theory is confirmed, for me. I can see how others can and do have different viewpoints, however.
 
Be sure to get the quad or 4-way version of the flu shot. The ordinary flu shot has three varieties. The three way was 100% paid by my health insurance. Last year, the four way was a $5 upcharge. This year, there was no upcharge.
I asked around & all the health care professionals get the four way version.
If you are 65+, the flu shot is a somewhat different formula.

I got my flu shot today. No need to get it sooner, since flu season will intensify next month and I’ll have a more recent dose which will still be strong during the height of the flu season.

The brake lights on my truck keep me from getting rear-ended. It’s not a guarantee I’ll never get hit from behind, but everyone agrees having brake lights will help.
I look at the flu shot the same.
 
jesse said:
I’d just wipe the snot off my ear and keep eating the food. Haven’t been sick in years and absolutely never worry about people’s germs.

Understand it’s not that simple for the folks that are bothered by such things.
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I use to be just like you. It didn't bother me a bit when in the army or living in central America.

But living with other pilots in Alaska and flying sick people off the reservations here in NM did it for me. Or to me.

I am fine when I am away from people. But get me near strangers and there I go again.
 
Everytime I used to tell the CO (aka the wife) I've got flu she would give me "the look" roll her eye's and tells me to "man up"....she would inform me I had nothing more than a common cold or I would be in bed flat on my back looking and feeling like I'm at deaths door...I guess she was right because when I did actually get the flu I really thought I was about to meet my maker...and it took me 3 or 4 weeks before I came out the other side.

These days I'm first in line each Fall to get a flu shot. I still get common colds but they are a breeze to get through compared with flu !
 
Everskyward said:
I figure other people's germs make my immune system stronger, like vaccines. :p

I don't tend to get sick often, so my theory is confirmed, for me. I can see how others can and do have different viewpoints, however.
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I asked an elementary school teacher friend once how she kept from getting sick all the time, since little kids are the world's best disease vectors. She said her first few years she was sick all the time, but then she had been infected with everything, had immunity, and didn't get sick anymore. Truly that which does not kill you makes you stronger.

To be honest, fear of microbes is easily one of the stupidest fears imaginable. With apologies to my fellow pilot, there are more bacterial cells on your skin and in your gut than human cells in your body, and most of them are capable of causing pathology under the right conditions. Every surface of everything you touch is covered by bacterial and fungi. Many of the foods you eat are made through microbial fermentation.

There is no avoiding microbes and viruses whatsoever, they're part of the world, just like plants, air, and vegemite. You will be infected by pathogens from time to time, its inevitable. Actually, getting a disease from a kid isn't a bad idea. The kid has a lousy immune system, so if they're not dying from the sickness it probably won't be so bad for you, unless you're over 40 and your immune system has taken a powder like yours truly.
 
steingar said:
I asked an elementary school teacher friend once how she kept from getting sick all the time, since little kids are the world's best disease vectors. She said her first few years she was sick all the time, but then she had been infected with everything, had immunity, and didn't get sick anymore. Truly that which does not kill you makes you stronger.
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True to a point*.

But does not allow for the fact that the influenza virus mutates. Immunity built up for one strain may not help with this year’s.


*On a similar note, it’s been shown that children raised of farms around a lot of animals are statistically less likely to develop asthma than city dwellers. The proposed reason is much like what you proffered - that challenges to the immune system early on make it more able to deal with future assaults.
 
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