Flu season...

[brainpause]

There have been a couple of other threads about the flu, but I wanted to post this also.

Please wash your hands after contacting other people (handshakes, doorknobs, whatever).

Holly has the flu, and I've never seen her this sick. Other people at work are coming back from it, and they still sound sick. It is just awful this year.

Again, handwashing is one of the best things to prevent disease transmission. In addition, I'm spraying Lysol periodically throughout the house, and using Clorox wipes on doorknobs, fridge handles, sink levers, etc.

Please keep Holly in your thoughts. She's missing a lot of school (and I miss her, as I'm living upstairs for the time being).

Larry

[Flacamper]

Brainpause,
 
We'll keep Holly in our prayers.  I know what she is going through.  I'm on my fourth day with this stuff.  I've had no more that 5/6 hours of good rest since Saturday.  This morning, I couldn't sleep so I thought I would play on the puter for a minute.  Good idea to wipe/wash everything.  When I can drink, I dring bottles water and  immediatley throw the bottle away.  I use the same bowl for chicken soup and it is washed by itself to keep it away from the other dishes.  Better safe than sorry.  Do not want Pam to get this suff.  One of us feeling lousy is enough.

[brainpause]

We spent a few hours in the ER tonight, from 230 am to 500 am. Now I'm at work on almost no sleep.

How would you like for ME to look at your EKG today? :eek:

Larry

[NightOwl]

Larry, I'm so sorry to learn that Holly has been struck by this stuff.  She has my prayers for a quick recovery.  I sure hope you dont get hit by it.  Obviously being young and healthy and taking all the  sensible precautions possible  does not always help.  Please let us know how you both are doing.

Unfortunately, we're all going to be paying the price eventually for all those who constantly went  running to their doctors at the first sign of illness (like my BIL & SIL) and whined to the doc "just gimme some penicillin for this." (Sometimes they just called up and said they didnt feel good and wanted him to call the pharmacy with an antibiotic order.)   Didnt matter that it was usually a cold and antibiotics do NOTHING for that--the jerk (and he IS) gave it to them anyhow.  

All over the country over the years this was repeated a few million times and now we have all these really hideous  strains of anti-biotic resistent bugs.  And now we ALL have to pay the price for the stupidity and selfishness of such people.  (And I  mainly blame the doctors for this--many lay people didnt know about this until recently but any decent doctor ought to know that anti-biotics do nothing for a cold virus and has a duty to tell his patients so.)

Did you hear the report about the accompanying staph problem in kids now who can come out of this flu season (if they live) with permanent brain, heart, and lung damage?  How is THAT for scarey!

Everytime some fool sneezes or coughs in my face I want to behead them.  They obviously have no brains to lose anyhow and would never know the difference if I lopped them off at the neck.

[brainpause]

Just for clarification, overusage of antibiotics makes bacterial strains of "bugs" more resistant. Influenza is a viral infection. This year's flu shot isn't working very well, because the strain is different. Viruses replicate fast, and it has replicated fast enough to be different from the shot's strain.

That said, I agree with your comments about antibiotics, except that they don't apply to the flu!

Microbiology class dismissed! :p

Larry

[angelsmom10]

Just for clarification, overusage of antibiotics makes bacterial strains of "bugs" more resistant. Influenza is a viral infection. This year's flu shot isn't working very well, because the strain is different. Viruses replicate fast, and it has replicated fast enough to be different from the shot's strain.
 
That said, I agree with your comments about antibiotics, except that they don't apply to the flu!
 
Microbiology class dismissed! :p
 
Larry

:confused:  darn... class dismissed and I didn't even catch on.  Hope it's not on the final exam :J
 
 
I used to get strep throat constantly growing up and was alway given penecillin for it, and eventually, it stopped working.  
 
I'm starting with something, and I just wish it would come and get over with.  I have stomach problems for the past 2 weeks (just contantly feeling like nothing wants to stay in - one way or the other).  I've been having really bad migraines the last 2 days.  Over the weekend spent 90% in bed (alone!).
 
Sorry to hear about Holly, hope things start to go better

[NightOwl]

Just for clarification, overusage of antibiotics makes bacterial strains of "bugs" more resistant. Influenza is a viral infection. This year's flu shot isn't working very well, because the strain is different. Viruses replicate fast, and it has replicated fast enough to be different from the shot's strain.

That said, I agree with your comments about antibiotics, except that they don't apply to the flu!

Microbiology class dismissed! :p

Larry

Larry, sorry, I  wasnt clearer--didnt intend to give the impression of connecting the current anit-biotic mess with the flu & the question of "curing" or preventing it.  Most people dont know that anti-biotics dont  kill viruses of any kind--unless there is some exception I havent head of and I admit it wouldnt surprise me at all.)  

And, yes, indeed,  one of the major warnings of this flu season is that there are other nasty strains making the rounds which are NOT prevented by the flu current vaccine.  My understanding is that this year's vaccine was  created based on educated "guesses" made by  preventive health professionals many months ago according to what was showing up  then in the orient (China?).

Okay, Larry, microbiologic corrections? additions?  (Great thing about this board is how much useful information, not camping-related, is available  here for us   from having someone like Larry around!)

[Nick]

Make sure you take care of yourself if you come down with this too.  I tried to keep working and such and ended up with pneumonia.  Now after several weeks I'm still not feeling 100%

[Acts 2:38 girl]

We spent a few hours in the ER tonight, from 230 am to 500 am.

In the ER because of the flu?  This is to scary, I really hope we escape this year

[brainpause]

Yes, in the ER for the flu.

Nightowl, I don't want to give the impression that I correct everything on here! (I can't stand it when that happens to ME)

Anyway, most of medicine is "odds" and educated guesses!

Larry

[Acts 2:38 girl]

I think Holly needs lots of cards to make her feel better!  

[NCSunshine]

Please tell Holly to get well soon and I pray you do not get it.

Wednesday of last week my 3yr old was diagnosed with the flu, Friday my 10yr was diagnosed along with me and I was put in the hospital for dehydration and flu.  Got out Sunday.

Everyone please take Larry's advice, because this flu is the worst I've ever seen.

[birol]

I hope Holly is feeling better, it is scary to have to visit ER for FLU. When I was a kid, I was thinking that with the advances in technology and medical field, most of the diseases would be pretty easly defetad, cured etc. I now know otherwise.

Larry take absolutely good care of yourself, the last thing you two need is both of you to get it.

[vjm1639]

Poor Holly, but what a terrific husband you are to be this concerned about how SHE feels.  :>  I too got my flu shot and normally this makes me feel protected...but not this year!  Already several people in our office (that got the same shot I did) have been out with the flu.  I just pray a lot, take Echinacea even though I know scientifically it does nothing....wash my hands (keep the anti-bacterial hand gel at my desk) and just hope not to get it.  
 
Tell Holly we're all thinking of her and hope she feels better really soon!!! Also...tell her this is one time she does NOT need to share with her hubby!

[NightOwl]

Yes, in the ER for the flu.

Nightowl, I don't want to give the impression that I correct everything on here! (I can't stand it when that happens to ME)

Anyway, most of medicine is "odds" and educated guesses!

Larry

Larry, I NEVER  got that impression from you, but after all, health care IS your field and I respect that, and feel you have always cared more for being sure information is as accurate as possible than for tooting your own horn.  And my wording could easily have been misunderstood by someone not as knowledgeable as you are.

Your remark about medicine being mostly "odds and educated guesses" struck a chord of remembrance of a very similar remark.  Some years ago, the life of our youngest DD was saved by a man  at UMich Hospital  named George Morley, Jr.  (later became President of The American College of  Ob/Gyn) For a weekour baby's life life hung in the balance.  After it was clear she would live,  I thanked him profusely for the knowledge and experience he had dedicated to saving her   ..  

He was quiet for a minute and then said thoughtfully , " Well, actually, the practice of medicine is still really more of an art than a science--sometimes you just have to go with your best guess and leave the rest to prayer and luck."

Local health  providers are all out of vaccine and DH and I did NOT  get flu shots so you can imagine we will be as careful as we can.  (We had colds & sore throats when it was time to  get the vaccine and so last week when we  were well and began to try to locate a source,  we were told by everyone--"sorry, we are out and they cant send us any more."

Reading of our friends here who have already been seriously  struck  by this  is a sobering  experience.  I just pray that everyone will soon be well.