The Low Down on the Swine Flu. . .

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ekpolk

ekpolk

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. . . is actually very simple. Don't get it. Seriously, I'm just getting back on my feet, having picked up this awful bug about two weeks ago. Notice my lack of presence here the last ten days or so? That's 'cuz I've been sleeping almost non-stop for ten days or so.

Obviously, this is not a medical advice site, and NOBODY should look for that here. With that disclaimer, again, I'm just getting back from a lab-confirmed case of H1N1.

You don't want this bug. Get the vax if you can. If you even think you're getting sick, GO TO YOUR DOC AT ONCE. For most adults, it's just a bad flu. Problem is, there's a slice of the population, not well defined at all, for which this thing can easily prove fatal. Don't let yourself go too far down the road without intervention. Again, I'm not kidding, if you start to get bad sick, GO GET MEDICAL CARE AT ONCE. This bug can (and probably will) kick your butt!
 
I sure hope you are feeling better EK.

The vax was just approved and the clinics opened yesterday here. There was an 8 hour wait. People were lined up 3 hours before the clinic opened.

My pregnant wife and our 2.5 year old are getting it today or tomorrow. We'll be in Yuma in a few more weeks staying about 4 miles from the Mexican border. Don't want to take any chances.
 
Sorry to hear that you got the flu. Flu sucks, period.

Last time I had the flu was back in '95. It was a week of pure he**. (details only via PM)

Glad that you're feeling better!
 
I am generally anti-vacceine (sp?), because there seems to be a lot of evidence of them being as harmful as they are helpful. While some may obtain better odds by having it than not (folks who exist in highly public places, dealing with infected folks, etc.), I am not convinced that most are.

That said, don't get it. Take all the correct precautions, stay extra clean, take your garlic, fluids, vitamins, etc. Try to avoid large crowds and do shopping during off-hours, etc., if possible.
 
Don't have that option I work at a hospital. Although knock on wood we've had cases since the beginning and none of us has got it yet. I'm more worried about my boy getting it if I would happen to come down with it. I'd have to drive down to the farm and take care of myself oh what fun that would be.
 
I'm taking extra precautions and keeping my hands clean. To be honest, all the indications are that it is no more dangerous than the usual seasonal flu. The media hype is just insane. I live near NYC and I have yet to meet a single person who's had it.

*shrug*
 
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
I am generally anti-vacceine (sp?), because there seems to be a lot of evidence of them being as harmful as they are helpful. While some may obtain better odds by having it than not (folks who exist in highly public places, dealing with infected folks, etc.), I am not convinced that most are.

That said, don't get it. Take all the correct precautions, stay extra clean, take your garlic, fluids, vitamins, etc. Try to avoid large crowds and do shopping during off-hours, etc., if possible.


Actually... There is NO "evidence" of vaccines being harmful. In fact, every study points to the contrary. NO study has EVER proven that vaccines can be harmful. And yes, vaccines do work, and this can be quantitatively measured through blood tests. The DO NOT cause autism, they DO NOT cause neurological problems.

Read a textbook about immunology first before you contribute to the nonsense being propagated by many who have no idea what they're talking about.
 
Originally Posted By: Familyguy
I'm taking extra precautions and keeping my hands clean. To be honest, all the indications are that it is no more dangerous than the usual seasonal flu. The media hype is just insane. I live near NYC and I have yet to meet a single person who's had it.

*shrug*


Everyone stay cool now. You need to be way more specific than just throwing out "all indications", whatever that means.

What concerns me is not the hype, per se, but rather that the "hype", publicity, or whatever you want to call it, it not well focused. For most people, you're right, H1N1 is pretty much like a "seasonal flu" (however one might define that, given that every year, we're pretty much dealing with a new set of bugs). The real problem with H1N1, and a problem that's been very poorly publicised, is that for some people, H1N1 is a devastating killer.

The REAL problem, IMO (and I'm not a medical pro, I'm just parroting the explanation my doc offered last week), is that so far, medicine has been unable to define well who the unlucky "some people" are for this bug.

While it is true that the "seasonal flu" can be a killer for anyone, this one seems to have a worse downside risk (aka death) for certain folks. All of us have to make our own choices about defensive steps (the vaccine one was easy for me -- I was too late and now, I've "vaccinated" myself, so to speak...) we are comfortable with.

I will remain firm, however, in my recommendation that anyone who thinks they're getting the flu this year needs to NOT mess around, and at least get looked at. If you're a member of the "unlucky slice" of the population, this one can put you in a casket, very quickly, unlike more "routine" variations of influenza. All I'm saying is that with this bug out there, this year is NOT the time to be complacent. By the time you realize that you're not fighting off a "routine flu," it may well be too late to stop it from killing you.

Be careful.
 
Originally Posted By: ekpolk
[snip]While it is true that the "seasonal flu" can be a killer for anyone, this one seems to have a worse downside risk (aka death) for certain folks.[snip]


This statement makes no sense to. You say that the seasonal flu may kill you but H1N1 is worse - it may kill you. Help me out here!
 
Originally Posted By: ekpolk

What concerns me is not the hype, per se, but rather that the "hype", publicity, or whatever you want to call it, it not well focused. For most people, you're right, H1N1 is pretty much like a "seasonal flu" (however one might define that, given that every year, we're pretty much dealing with a new set of bugs). The real problem with H1N1, and a problem that's been very poorly publicised, is that for some people, H1N1 is a devastating killer.


Again, sorry that you got sick, but I can't help but feel a general sense of apathy other than taking the extra precautions mentioned. Seasonal flu kills 30-40,000 people in the US every single year. And that's with lots of "at risk" people getting the normal flu shot.

The flu sucks. It can make you miserable for a week or two and it can even kill you. I haven't seen any convincing evidence the H1N1 is any more "deadly" than plain ol' seasonal flu. So the media hype is a bit silly. It's great in that it gets the word out on cleanliness and steps to take to stay well and treat the flu, but other than that...surely there are more important things to report on in the world. I'm almost starting to miss the balloon boy....
 
I don't want to get involved in a dispute over immunizations, but what I do recommend is that people do not believe everything they read on the internet, but instead take medical advice from medical professionals.

If you are going to make a decision on behalf of your child (who depends on you to get it right) to ignore the advice of health authorities based on something you've read on internet, you really owe it to them to at least speak to an M.D. about it.

If you want to ignore medical advice on your own behalf I would fight to protect your right to do it.
 
The best fight is to not let yourself get run down and THEN get infections. As our bodies are biological machines, the best way to treat everything is to treat yourself as a machine and always take in the fluids and nutrients we all should be doing. I had a bone marrow transplant in 1998 and many times other family members get sick and I don't, when the cards are supposed to be stacked against me. I work with the public and handle money, so hand washing and being careful is only half the battle.
 
I'm still recovering from some flu virus. Mucous emissions by the gallon, decongestants and fever reducers taken perpetually only contain it in higher than recommended doses. Secondary symptoms that would not be unlike CHF.



I do not want to see my she-devil doctor. She'll have me on a ventilator and I'll be helpless against her.
 
Everybody mentions washing hands. The other important thing to watch out for is to keep your hands away from your face.
 
Originally Posted By: Familyguy
I'm taking extra precautions and keeping my hands clean. To be honest, all the indications are that it is no more dangerous than the usual seasonal flu. The media hype is just insane. I live near NYC and I have yet to meet a single person who's had it.

*shrug*


Be glad you're in an area that isn't hard hit yet.

Around here there are a number of schools that have been closed because absentee rates are over 30 percent for teachers and students. My wife works for a legal firm with around 300 employees. They've had an absentee rate of 30-40 people every day. As many of the employees who can are working from home to avoid the spread of H1N1 in the office.

We have some friends who have a 7 year old daughter who was hospitalized for 6 days (and nearly died on days 2 and 3) because of H1N1. Around here it's rather unusual for an otherwise healthy 7 year old to nearly die from the seasonal flu. Maybe it's different in your part of the country.
 
Glad you are better ekpolk. Like Gary I am still excreting tons of junk from nose/lungs. I should have gone to the doc but IO didn't want to be with tons of other sick dudes.
 
Originally Posted By: benjamming
Originally Posted By: ekpolk
[snip]While it is true that the "seasonal flu" can be a killer for anyone, this one seems to have a worse downside risk (aka death) for certain folks.[snip]


This statement makes no sense to. You say that the seasonal flu may kill you but H1N1 is worse - it may kill you. Help me out here!


OK now, let me be perfectly clear. I was NOT suggesting that "seasonal flu" was a walk in the park. It's obviously not. My doc's take is that for a certain group, H1N1 appears to be even more dangerous than the normally dangerous flavors of flu. And aggravating that aspect is that the "certain group" does not seem to be as well defined as may be the case with other strains.

Look, this is nothing to panic about, but nor is it something to take casually. Not that my recommendations carry much weight, but I'd recommend going about one's business, but I'd also be more inclined to seek help if I found myself getting very sick, very quickly.

EDIT: Oh yeah, one more thing -- it's a nitpick, but you really should make sure you're not in a glass house before you start casting stones. That first sentence could do with a rework. . .
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: Familyguy
. . .
The flu sucks. {indeed, it does...} It can make you miserable for a week or two and it can even kill you. I haven't seen any convincing evidence the H1N1 is any more "deadly" than plain ol' seasonal flu. So the media hype is a bit silly. It's great in that it gets the word out on cleanliness and steps to take to stay well and treat the flu, but other than that...surely there are more important things to report on in the world. I'm almost starting to miss the balloon boy....


Well, the problem I see with this is that the "average Joe" out there has effectively zero access to reliable medical literature and statistics, such that he can meaningfully (or sensibly) say things like "I've seen evidence". . ." or "I have seen no evidence. . ." about things like swine flu.

As "sheeplike" as it may sound, the best that the average person can do with an issue like this is rely upon trusted sources of good info. By that I don't mean the news media (though sometimes the news is reliable). I happen to have a very good doc, who has a very effective staff. They actually take the time to explain things factually. They're also clear about when one thing or another is their "take" or opinion. I certainly value the opinions of the other members who post here, but unless I'm confronted with obvious evidence that my doc is wrong, I'm going with his explanation. "Regular" flu = bad; H1N1 flu = extra bad. But again, no need to panic about either bug.
cheers3.gif
 
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