So... who's worried about the flu?

[Awimoway]

Okay, I'm a worrywort, I know. And most news agencies like to spread FUD because it sells, regardless of how true it is or isn't.

But I've got young kids and a not-so-formidable immune system myself, and I don't need to keep hearing news stories about an impending flu epidemic. We're overdue, you know. Haven't had a nasty wave since 1917, and they traditionally hit about every 70 years.

I just don't like it. I know this (link) (http://www.weather.com/maps/activity/coldandflu/index_large.html) never looks this bad so early in the season.

I wish I'd gotten a flu shot when they were available in my county.

[voicegy]

So you decided not to get a flu shot. Why?

I never get a flu shot...and I don't get the flu. Wash your hands often, keep your hands away from your face, and stop watching the news. :)

[Awimoway]

I moved last summer. I didn't really know when and where here until it was too late. I have gotten them in the past.

[voicegy]

I didn't mean to be harsh in my last post, as your immune system is compromised and you have children. Honestly, if you are concerned, please stop watching and reading all the screaming stories about the end-of-the-world flu season (it's media hype at its worst) as that will actually increase your worrying and chances of not taking care of yourself. Keep your and your childrens' hygene up, and be aware of you and your childrens' surroundings...good common sense will get you through it. And for God's sake, don't go running after that Flonase crap that they're hyping as an up-the-nose non-needle flu preventor...that's another corporate BS game that's only designed to increase dividends of
GlaxoSmithKline stock holders.

[Doctor Q]

Originally posted by voicegy
Wash your hands often, keep your hands away from your face, and stop watching the news. :) I didn't know you could get the flu from watching the news! ;)

You can take precautions, but if you come in contact with people outside your house, which is pretty hard to avoid, you are playing the odds if you don't get a flu shot. Between 1 out of 5 and 1 out of 10 Americans typically get the flu during the flu season each year. I got a flu shot this year and avoided the flu despite being around half a dozen other people who caught it.

[MacAztec]

The news has scares every year, this year they picked the news.

It was sharks a while back, then kidnappings, etc.

[Awimoway]

Originally posted by voicegy
I didn't mean to be harsh in my last post, as your immune system is compromised and you have children. Honestly, if you are concerned, please stop watching and reading all the screaming stories about the end-of-the-world flu season (it's media hype at its worst) as that will actually increase your worrying and chances of not taking care of yourself. Keep your and your childrens' hygene up, and be aware of you and your childrens' surroundings...good common sense will get you through it. And for God's sake, don't go running after that Flonase crap that they're hyping as an up-the-nose non-needle flu preventor...that's another corporate BS game that's only designed to increase dividends of
GlaxoSmithKline stock holders.

No offense taken. I love the news. The FUD element appeals to me the way some people enjoy horror movies or roller coasters. I can't avoid the news and I don't really blame them for my worries. I just wondered if anyone else had given it much thought.

In fact, I really wonder if we are "due" for a flu epidemic on the order of, say, 1917. The ability of infectious disease to spread and kill has been greatly reduced since then. And although we're still susceptible to the flu and it does kill some poeple every year, I'm not sure it will ever be the kind of epidemic it has been sometimes in the past. I just don't know. I don't think we can know.

That being said, I think this year does seem worse than usual. If SARS (which isn't influenza, but it's similar) gets loose during the winter months, it could be very bad.

[Gymnut]

Already caught it, hopefully I'm done. Incidently, came down with the flu after receiving the flu shot, 24 hours before. Arrrgggggh!!

[wdlove]

The flu is on my mind, but I'm not really concerned. I got the flu shot last month. Will have a better chance even if the more virulent from comes around. Staying out of crowds will help. But the most important and simple is frequent handwashing.

[Makosuke]

I don't usually bother with flu shots, but I did this year for the first time--people have been sick all over the place where I am and my wife just spent 5 days straight in bed, bumping up against a 104 degree fever whenever the Tylenol wore off.

I seem to have been lucky enough to have fought off that strain (I was kinda sick, but not that bad), but I'm flying later in the year and I REALLY don't want to spend my entire vacation in bed. So, I bit the bullet. Now if I can just go another week until the immunity kicks in, I'll be (relatively) safe.

My flu shot logic is basically this: assuming you don't need one because of being older or having some other problem, then just ask yourself, providing you can afford one and they're not in short supply, whether you mind the chance of spending two weeks feelling wretched. If two days of a sore arm and a few bucks is worth avoiding nastiness every few years, go ahead. If not, forget it.

[wdlove]

I'm sorry to hear about your wife and family members. Did they also get the flu shot? Sadly no vaccine is 100% effective. Were that actually diagnosed with the flu. Other viruses can mimic the flu.

[jefhatfield]

i also got the flu, but there was not much in the way of respiratory problems outside of maybe a dry cough which was not that persistent

the high fever and basic sluggishness was the key symptoms...the medicine, tamiflu, was worse than the sickness and did very little to stop the flu, imho, and i still have the dry cough and some sluggishness later which i found is common

it's not like a bacterial infection where antibiotics can come in and decimate the symptoms of sickness right away...the anti-viral tamiflu works very subtely and i still ended up with a missed week of work which is the most i have been sick in many, many years

this flu is having its worst hump happen early where usually it doesn't get worse until later in the december thru march season

anyway, i just heard abc news say that this flu will attack many, but it won't pose a serious problem to most of those who get it...but every year the flu kills a lot of elderly and this year can prove to be one of the worst years in that sense

[bousozoku]

People around the Orlando area are going crazy, according to the news. Of course, they have been running out of injections but I think the injections are helping to mutate the flu for the next year. Yes, I'm having positive thoughts. :D

I'm hoping it's not as bad as it looks.

[pseudobrit]

I have to get a shot on Monday. They've restricted the vaccine to the elderly and people with health conditions.

I've asthma and almost died from the flu about four years ago because it bruised my lungs so horribly.

[rainman::|:|]

i got one at work, they did everyone one day... i kind of regret it now, because i don't really like the concept of healthy people getting immunized against a non-lethal (again, to healthy people) disease... yeah i know it sucks to get, and it wreaks havoc on businesses, but flu shots are not going to erradicate the flu, as happened with things like smallpox. so i wonder how long these immunizations can continue before something bad happens... like a new strain hits that's resistant to vaccine and twice as deadly. and now there are people out there that *need* flu shots and can't get them, because people that don't need them got it. i wish my vaccine went to some elderly person somewhere that would be really devistated by the flu, like get-pnemonia-and-be-hospitalized devistated, instead of me not having the inconvenience of feeling like crap for a few days.

so basically i don't think anyone should worry about it, unless they're actually at real risk. but don't believe the media when they want you to panic.

pnw

[latergator116]

As long as I dont throw-up, im ok. I have a throwing-up phobia. (even though I've only done it twice.)

[Doctor Q]

Originally posted by latergator116
As long as I dont throw-up, im ok. I have a throwing-up phobia. (even though I've only done it twice.) The people in my family who got this flu haven't had "stomach problems", thank goodness. They've gotten headaches, bodyaches, and fever, but no throwing up. Of course, with little or no appetite day after day, there ain't much to throw up anymore anyway!

[latergator116]

The people in my family who got this flu haven't had "stomach problems", thank goodness. They've gotten headaches, bodyaches, and fever, but no throwing up. Of course, with little or no appetite day after day, there ain't much to throw up anymore anyway!

Ok. Thats good to know. As long as I don't throw-up or have stomach problems, I'm not too worried. Ill just try to be as careful as possible and wash my hands frequrntly. Thanks Dr. Q, you gave me much releif.

[coopdog]

I will never get a flu shot. I don't care if I get the flu. I don't see why everyone his getting so worked up over it.

If you die from the flu, that's too bad.
:rolleyes:

[pseudobrit]

Originally posted by coopdog
If you die from the flu, that's too bad.
:rolleyes:

Well, that's a bit insensitive, especially since a few people here have said they could in fact die from the flu. :rolleyes:

I guess it follows that you do not wear your seatbelt either?

[jadariv]

As I sit here scrolling through MacRumors, I am sipping tea and thankfully on the hind end of a week long battle with the flu.

I did not read the article posted. My reading skills are still a little slow (yes, this flu really slows your mental processes way down) but worldwide flu epidemics (or pandemics) like the Spanish Flu of 1917 (it was called Spanish Flu even though it came from China, all major flu viruses come from there though) will happen no matter what. Now, there have been two pandemics since 1917. One in 1958 and one in 1967. You just don't hear as much about them as they just didn't kill as many people, and don't scare as much so newspapers and t.v. don't reference them.

The flu is always going to be there. It has since all of us were kids and long before. A flu shot will protect you from the regular (what's going around this season) flu but will most likely be ineffective against a pandemic since they pop up and spread so quickly that it would be impossible to track it and create a vaccine in time.

Just be careful, take precautions (wash hands, avoid people with the flu). And take anything you read or hear in the news about it with a grain of salt (they have to sell newspapers and get ratings, so worst case scenarios usually dominate their stories.

Here is a book: The Culture of Fear: Why Americans Are Afraid of the Wrong Things by Barry Glassner. You will look at all of these scare tactics in the news very differently.

[Rower_CPU]

I'm just coming off my week-long battle with it as well. This one has been pretty bad, in terms of deaths associated with it.

There was a 16 year old here in San Diego that may have died from it a couple of days ago. [link (http://signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20031212-2159-hector.html)]

[Doctor Q]

Originally posted by jadariv
Here is a book: The Culture of Fear: Why Americans Are Afraid of the Wrong Things by Barry Glassner. You will look at all of these scare tactics in the news very differently. I haven't read the book, but I'm certainly aware of how the TV news plays up scare stories to sell their programs. Is your hairdresser trying to kill you, something you eat may be poisoning you, etc. A more realistic approach is to look at statistics. I'll bet the statistics on the flu will show it's a reasonable concern for most people, that those most at risk should heed the warnings to get flu shots, and everyone should take sensible precautions where they are most likely to catch it. Wear face masks around your house? No. Wash your hands? Yes.

[wdlove]

Washing your hands is still the primary way to prevent the transmission of diseases of any kind. Eating healthy and getting plently fo rest will help to build the immune system so that you can fight infection. Worry (anxiety) will tend to decrease the effectiveness of our immune system.

[voicegy]

Yeah, kinda like what I said in the second post on this thread.;)

'cept I admit to the ocassional Taco Bell.:D

[Doctor Q]

I read up on the flu vaccine creation process. Virologists pair a master virus and their best guess for the coming year's virus and let them reproduce in chicken eggs, which takes weeks or months. The process starts in March, so that's when the guess takes place. The long lead time makes it hard to guess the virus characteristics and the quantities of vaccine that will be required.

Techniques that can shorten the time required would let authorities react faster to outbreaks, keep up better with demand, and also use a later, and therefore more accurate, prediction.

One faster technique is called reverse genetics. It avoids the random process of reproduction because the virologists splice genetic code to build the desired virus. Another faster technique is called mammalian tissue culture, where a supercell is infected and replicates itself in fermenting vats. The cell lines are obtained from mammals, hence the name.

Both of these techniques are in use in other countries or for other purposes, but the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services is studying their use for the flu vaccine.

It's nice to see scientific research used for a purpose that has real benefits to millions of people every year.

[Frohickey]

Haven't had the flu in years... been taking 1000mg of Vitamin C and 30mg of Zinc every day.

Then, one time, I ran out of Vitamin C and zinc, and I started feeling sick a few days later, during the winter rainy/cold season.

[alset]

As George Carlin said, if you constantly worry about germs and deny your immune system practice against them a big disease will come along, and you will die because you're weak and you deserve it (his words, not mine). An exaggeration to make a point in a joke, but true. I asked for a flu shot, because my mother hassles me about it, and my doctor refused it, saying only children, elderly and those with chronic immunodeficiency need flu shots. It was a great reason to give my mother when I opted not to consult another physician.

If you expect to get sick, you will. If you take care of your body and maintain a positive attitude about your health your chances of fending off disease are much higher. Heck, I treat my body badly with smoking, drinking, late nights and bachelor food and rarely fall ill. It's often about a positive outlook when faced with germs.

Dan

[wdlove]

Originally posted by Doctor Q
[BTechniques that can shorten the time required would let authorities react faster to outbreaks, keep up better with demand, and also use a later, and therefore more accurate, prediction.

One faster technique is called reverse genetics. It avoids the random process of reproduction because the virologists splice genetic code to build the desired virus. Another faster technique is called mammalian tissue culture, where a supercell is infected and replicates itself in fermenting vats. The cell lines are obtained from mammals, hence the name.

Both of these techniques are in use in other countries or for other purposes, but the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services is studying their use for the flu vaccine. [/B]

What are other countries using this technique for Doctor Q? I certainly hope that one of these techniques will be approved in the US soon by HHS. It certainly would have to deal with the current shortage and the new virulent strain. The sad part is that American scientists didn't come up with these techniques 1st.

[Doctor Q]

Originally posted by wdlove
What are other countries using this technique for Doctor Q?I believe it was for other public health program vaccines, but I don't have the article I was reading handy. In Europe, the cell lines for the mammalian tissue culture technique come from green monkeys. Both methods are considered safe based on their use elsewhere and for other purposes, so using them for the flu vaccine in the U.S. is more a matter of logistics than safety testing. Maybe those with egg allergies will be able to get flu shots in a year or two!

[wdlove]

That would be great is people didn't have to worry about an allergy problem. The wonders of modern medicine.

Flu scare isn't keeping kids from Santa.


http://www.thebostonchannel.com/health/2708038/detail.html?treets=bos&tml=bos_health&ts=T&tmi=bos_health_1_12150012172003

Flu suffers jam ER's and doctor's offices.

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/health/2710203/detail.html?treets=bos&tml=bos_health&ts=T&tmi=bos_health_1_12150012172003

[coopdog]

Originally posted by pseudobrit
Well, that's a bit insensitive, especially since a few people here have said they could in fact die from the flu. :rolleyes:

I guess it follows that you do not wear your seatbelt either?

Only when I'm driving. Otherwise no.

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by alset
As George Carlin said, if you constantly worry about germs and deny your immune system practice against them a big disease will come along, and you will die because you're weak and you deserve it (his words, not mine). An exaggeration to make a point in a joke, but true. I asked for a flu shot, because my mother hassles me about it, and my doctor refused it, saying only children, elderly and those with chronic immunodeficiency need flu shots. It was a great reason to give my mother when I opted not to consult another physician.

If you expect to get sick, you will. If you take care of your body and maintain a positive attitude about your health your chances of fending off disease are much higher. Heck, I treat my body badly with smoking, drinking, late nights and bachelor food and rarely fall ill. It's often about a positive outlook when faced with germs.

Dan

i know that the overuse of drugs has caused a whole generation with immune systems not as strong as the baby boomers or world war II generation, who had to walk in dirty clothes thru five miles of snow to school, eat roadkill, and we never got to shower because there was no clean water, and also, we just didn't know any better...just kiddin', but

actually, the biggest fear or health concern of the younger generation is that so many children spend time on computers or computer games or forums like macrumors instead of going outside and running, playing with the dogs in the neighborhood, or playing sports, etc...

and this has caused an obese generation of kids who will be more vulnerable to heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes...when today's computer generation kids start hitting their 30s and 40s, we will have a huge health crisis and even the best medical technology will not be able to counteract our now sedintary culture

sure, we will be able to beat the protozoan/microbe based diseases, but no technology will be able to help people stuffing bad, fatty foods into their face and not exercising

i kind of wish i was born in another time, like several hundred years from now, where i could not exercise unless i wanted to and i could eat junk food all day and counteract any negative effects with a pill which will magically burn fat while i sleep:p

[pseudobrit]

Originally posted by jefhatfield
i kind of wish i was born in another time, like several hundred years from now, where i could not exercise unless i wanted to and i could eat junk food all day and counteract any negative effects with a pill which will magically burn fat while i sleep:p

Ooo ooo! They already have them! I heard an ad on the radio the other day for them! ;)

BTW, I got my shot on Monday, which should keep me out of the hospital this year. Most of the people at work and a few in my house have a nasty cold that's going around. Not me though. I've been taking my multivitamin and exercising vigorously six days a week. Natural prevention, I'd like to think.

No flu in the area yet, but at least now I'm ready.

[kylos]

In response to the title of the thread, why? Worrying won't help any. Influenza is quite common and for most people is not in any way life-threatening. I believe someone said that 1 in 10 people get the flu every year. I recently read that about 30,000 people die each year (in USA) from the flu. That seems rather large at first, but it's really only 1 tenth of one percent of affected individuals. Life and death happens. Don't worry.

[pseudobrit]

Originally posted by Kyle?
Life and death happens. Don't worry.

It's not death or sickness I'm averse to. I willingly and without hesitation accept the risks of many things that endanger my life and health, including playing ice hockey and driving my car in the snow.

Death doesn't scare me.
But until you've suffered over 80 hours awake with lungs so inflammed and useless that the effort to breathe was so great you could not do it in your sleep and began to suffocate every time you nodded off... well, then you can tell me not to worry.

[wdlove]

Originally posted by pseudobrit
It's not death or sickness I'm averse to. I willingly and without hesitation accept the risks of many things that endanger my life and health, including playing ice hockey and driving my car in the snow.

Death doesn't scare me.
But until you've suffered over 80 hours awake with lungs so inflammed and useless that the effort to breathe was so great you could not do it in your sleep and began to suffocate every time you nodded off... well, then you can tell me not to worry.

I'm sorry to hear about that illness pseudobrit. Did you have some kind of bronchitis or pneumonitis. I have never suffered this illness personally. The closet would be near drowning. Having taken care of many patients fighting for every breath. It is difficult to observe. It is a great anxiety producing situation.

[pseudobrit]

Originally posted by wdlove
I'm sorry to hear about that illness pseudobrit. Did you have some kind of bronchitis or pneumonitis. I have never suffered this illness personally. The closet would be near drowning. Having taken care of many patients fighting for every breath. It is difficult to observe. It is a great anxiety producing situation.

I forget what it was exactly, I think it ended up being severe bronchitis. My pulse/ox was in the 70s or lower all week if I remember right.

My asthma didn't stop bothering me for a month after that. I couldn't walk up stairs without stopping for breath for a week.

It's absolute hell to experience. Like drowning while surrounded by fresh air. You start to want to die after awhile, just so you can rest.

[wdlove]

Originally posted by pseudobrit
I forget what it was exactly, I think it ended up being severe bronchitis. My pulse/ox was in the 70s or lower all week if I remember right.

My asthma didn't stop bothering me for a month after that. I couldn't walk up stairs without stopping for breath for a week.

It's absolute hell to experience. Like drowning while surrounded by fresh air. You start to want to die after awhile, just so you can rest.

A Pulse/ox in the 70's is quite serious, suprise that you weren't in the hospital with oxygen therapy. A nomal Pulse/ox for a healthy individual is 98%.

Some Flu shot alternatives.

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/health/2714463/detail.html?treets=bos&tml=bos_health&ts=T&tmi=bos_health_1_12150112192003

NewsCenter 5's Heather Unruh reported that oscillocococcinum outsells all traditional flu remedies at Johnson Drugs in Waltham, Mass., and is the hottest selling flu treatment online and overseas.

http://www.blessednutrition.com/boironosc6dose.html

[amin]

I'm a bit concerned. I'm a physician and two of the doctors I work with have influenza A despite having been vaccinated. One was diagnosed today. I have an 8-month-old infant at home and would not like to give him the flu. I am currently on rimantidine prophylaxis given my recent exposure to both doctors during their contagious periods, not to mention the several patients I've now seen that have the flu.

[wdlove]

Originally posted by amin
I'm a bit concerned. I'm a physician and two of the doctors I work with have influenza A despite having been vaccinated. One was diagnosed today. I have an 8-month-old infant at home and would not like to give him the flu. I am currently on rimantidine prophylaxis given my recent exposure to both doctors during their contagious periods, not to mention the several patients I've now seen that have the flu.

I'm sure that you are very concerned. I wish you, your son, and the rest of the family the best health. Having your medical knowledge probably makes it just that much tougher. Good hand washing and basic protective care. I hope that you will try prayer. In the end all we can do is to turn it over to our Lord.

[Shifty]

I have a terrible cough at the moment, but hopefully, it won't turn to flu.

[wdlove]

Originally posted by Shifty
I have a terrible cough at the moment, but hopefully, it won't turn to flu.

For your sake I hope not Shifty. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids and get alot of rest. With the flu your joints would ache, headache, and have a high fever, also a general malaise.