topic Re: 5 flu facts from NPR in Community Chat

5 flu facts from NPR

cherry — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 21:55:43 GMT

I am so afraid of getting the flu. I had such a bad case of it last year, and I always get a flu shot

We aren't going to the hospital for our daily walk, until flu season is over. They say the shots are not very good, but still think you should get one

I think the cold weather might have helped keep people inside, and perhaps reduced some flu exposure

Stay well everyone

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/01/09/576772534/facing-down-flu-5-things-to-know-now

Re: 5 flu facts from NPR

Love my grandkids — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 21:57:52 GMT

I'm 69 and have gotten a flu shot as long as I can remember and the last time I was sick was winter of 2006 when I had a bad cold.

Have never had the flu. I stay out of crowds as much as I can during the winter. The shot may not be 100% effective but I'd rather take my chances.

Re: 5 flu facts from NPR

ALRATIBA — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 21:58:18 GMT

I'm just getting over something my doctor called "viral infection." I slept for three days!

Re: 5 flu facts from NPR

cherry — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 21:59:45 GMT

I was so sick last year, with the flu, and I dread to think how much worse it would ,or could have been for me ,without my flu shot

Re: 5 flu facts from NPR

OKPrincess — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 22:18:52 GMT

DH and I both got the flu shot and have every year for as long as I can remember. We just bought two of each item: nasal spray, mentholatum, allergy eye drops, Nettie pots, carmax for lips. That way if and when we get sick, we don't share these items for fear of passing it on. At least we can have some comfort until getting to a doctor.

Re: 5 flu facts from NPR

cherry — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 22:21:03 GMT

Has anyone used Tamiflu? Did it help you recover sooner?

Re: 5 flu facts from NPR

jubilant — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 22:40:59 GMT

I came down with the flu (type A influenza) the day after Christmas. I know it was type A because I was swabbed at a clinic. I lived through the body aches, fevers, and coughing. I am still coughing a little. I have a neighbor who has had a lingering cough for 6 weeks. She had the flu shot....I didn't.... so it is different for every one. The neighbor that had it for so long continued going to work. I stayed home for a good week or more, resting and taking in plenty of fluids and nourishing food which is what the clinic doctor was telling people to do. I was given Tamiflu but I only took it for two days as it ended up making me nauseous and took away my appetite. I started eating again and pumping fluids the day after I stopped the Tamiflu and started getting a little better each day. I took extra vitamin C also. If anyone does get this rest....rest....rest..drink more fluids....don't rush back to work. For most people around here it is a 1-2 week deal.

Re: 5 flu facts from NPR

Trinity11 — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 22:41:39 GMT

@cherry wrote:
Has anyone used Tamiflu? Did it help you recover sooner?

@cherry, I took Tamiflu but ended up with a secondary infection anyway. I ended up on Augmentim. I had the swab test so it was definitely the flu. All told it took 3 weeks to feel well again but I still cough at night.

Stay well!

Re: 5 flu facts from NPR

cherry — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 22:47:45 GMT

@Trinity11 the cough is always such a bear to get rid of. I was taking 5 different meds for it. I think when you are diabetic ,they take it a bit more carefully ,as far as giving you meds. I got stuff I refused to finish, like steriods.

They were terrible for me. I couldn't sleep while taking them

Re: 5 flu facts from NPR

LTT1 — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 23:27:26 GMT

The doctor’s office today said they always advise people not to fly/cruise right after the holidays. She said all it takes is 1 sick person on a plane or ship and everybody gets sick.

She said so much illness at this time of year “makes her business.”

On the news Sunday night here, they reported record flu outbreaks and the ineffective vaccine...they said to still get the vaccine.

@cherry

Thank you for the article link —- very interesting.

For cough and effective... in Guard by doTerra. But not for diabetics i would think.

Re: 5 flu facts from NPR

Trinity11 — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 22:52:32 GMT

@cherry wrote:
@Trinity11 the cough is always such a bear to get rid of. I was taking 5 different meds for it. I think when you are diabetic ,they take it a bit more carefully ,as far as giving you meds. I got stuff I refused to finish, like steriods.

They were terrible for me. I couldn't sleep while taking them

It seems because of my auto-immune illnesses I am more prone to infections. I just started a new antibiotic for a kidney infection. Diabetes has always made healing take a little longer.

Re: 5 flu facts from NPR

Noel7 — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 22:54:08 GMT

@cherry wrote:
Has anyone used Tamiflu? Did it help you recover sooner?

Yes @cherry

I was sitting here wondering if I should mention it it to you. When I was in the hospital with Type B, i was so sick they gave me Tamiflu even though it had been longer than that. They said there were new studies showing even given late, Tamiflu could lessen the impact and perhaps shorten the time line of being sick. I was in bad shape but suffered no side effects.

Re: 5 flu facts from NPR

cherry — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 22:54:09 GMT

Can you drink cranberry juice @Trinity11? I have heard it will help. I don't know if it's true or just an old wives tale

Re: 5 flu facts from NPR

Noel7 — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 22:58:42 GMT

@cherry wrote:
@Trinity11 the cough is always such a bear to get rid of. I was taking 5 different meds for it. I think when you are diabetic ,they take it a bit more carefully ,as far as giving you meds. I got stuff I refused to finish, like steriods.

They were terrible for me. I couldn't sleep while taking them

@cherry

I am taking Coricidan Cold and Flu over the counter med for continuing cough. Its safe foe heart patients, I think also for diabetes, you can check. It really helps, I sleep better at night.

Re: 5 flu facts from NPR

Trinity11 — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 22:59:41 GMT

@cherry wrote:
Can you drink cranberry juice @Trinity11? I have heard it will help. I don't know if it's true or just an old wives tale

@cherry, I tried but it does not help. I am going in for a sonogram tomorrow afternoon. I have a kidney stone that my doctor is watching. Because of the Plavix I take for my heart, she is hesitant to treat it but I think it is causing all of the issues I am having.

Re: 5 flu facts from NPR

cherry — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 23:02:16 GMT

@Noel7 I used heaps of it last year. It didn't seem to help me a lot so I switched to a brand the druggist recommended

Re: 5 flu facts from NPR

Noel7 — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 23:09:11 GMT

@cherry wrote:
@Noel7 I used heaps of it last year. It didn't seem to help me a lot so I switched to a brand the druggist recommended

What is your brand, Cherry?

@cherry

Re: 5 flu facts from NPR

cherry — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 23:13:40 GMT

It was a Wallgreen brand @Noel7 called Mucus Relief. I had so much congestion and I wheezed constantly andd this seemed to give me some relief

Re: 5 flu facts from NPR

Bella2022 — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 23:20:57 GMT

@Noel7 wrote:
@cherry wrote:
Has anyone used Tamiflu? Did it help you recover sooner?
Yes @cherry

I was sitting here wondering if I should mention it it to you. When I was in the hospital with Type B, i was so sick they gave me Tamiflu even though it had been longer than that. They said there were new studies showing even given late, Tamiflu could lessen the impact and perhaps shorten the time line of being sick. I was in bad shape but suffered no side effects.

No although there are two different types that are going around the flu shot I received isn't going to help the other strain.last year my 42 year old daughter got the flu shot including my two grandaughters, they were sick as dogs.

if anyone decides to get a flu shot now, it takes at least 10 days to work.

Re: 5 flu facts from NPR

OKPrincess — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 23:21:35 GMT

@cherry DH and I were prescribed Tamiflu 2012? DH had the flu but got to the doctor within the timeframe of coming down with the flu. Yes it lessened the severity of the flu. The doctor prescribed it for me since we were in the same house and I didn't get the flu. Like I said earlier we get the flu shot every year. DH has asthma so he is more proactive than I am. Tamiflu is prescribed in a short time frame or it was then anyway.