H1N1 Flu

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H1N1

I feel very luck-our local health dept. just gave FREE H1N1 flue shots to pregnant wonem and health care workers. I got mine and only had to stand in line about ten minutes and show my work ID. !! JEB
 
I have been searching high and low for a seasonal flu shot, but everyone seems to be out of it. I asked my doctor a month ago about it, but he was out. My employer scheduled free seasonal shots for next week, but today announced it was canceled because the medical clinic had run out. I called all over after work today, with no luck.

But as chance would have it, my personal doc had just received a shipment of H1N1 vaccine. I wasn't as interested in that but I decided what the heck, might as well get it while it's available. That was about an hour ago and I feel fine.

Apparently the seasonal flu vaccine shortage has two causes: the panic about the swine flu led people who normally don't get seasonal flu shots to go to their doctors and clinics and get the seasonal shot instead because the swine flu shots weren't available yet. So, higher than normal demand. Then, the vaccine companies stopped making the seasonal vaccine and switched over to making the swine flu vaccine, which arguable is a good decision because the swine flu vaccine is more deadly. But the whole thing will leave a lot of people (like myself) unvaccinated for seasonal flu, and seasonal flu kills a lot of people every year.

I'm hoping that later on in the fall there will be a new supply of seasonal vaccine and I'll be able to get it.
 
Now another cousin has it!

Just got a note from another cousin of mine, she has the flu too, but got hit double hard -- here's part of her note:

"I also have the flu, it hit me on Saturday around 4pm and I had to work at 5, I could hardly stand, had fever and chills, swollen glands and every inch of me hurt. So I called in sick to work AND THEY FIRED ME!!!! They said I had to cover my shift or work it and I couldn't do either! I have worked there for almost 2 years and have never been sick and have never been in trouble. The NC dept. of labor says I can get an attorney, but they couldn't help me. BS!!! On the up side, I hated that place anyway!! I will apply for unemployment, but don't know how much they give to servers."

So, not only is she sick, but now jobless...
 
It's awful that they take that stance with people who are serving food to the public. You'd think that they'd want a server to stay away when she has a potentially deadly contagious disease, and then resume work when she is recovered.

She should be entitled to unemployment compensation, though.
 
Matt,

I know when someone is that ill, it is not the time to be organizing a protest.
Couldn't other folks in the family get together and put the news out to news organizations? Chip in all together and get her a lawyer? Make sure her illness is documented and then take the bastards to court and fight for justice?

Every single poor person in this country who votes against unions and decent working rules is voting against their own interests.

Let's hope she gets better soon.
 
I am at a loss as to what to do for the H1N1 shots. While I want to get them, our local health dept is out of them and the Dr's office has them on backorder.

My son has an immune disorder along with severe allergies & asthma. He is allergic to eggs so he cannot get the flu vaccinations. Nor can he get the live virus (up the nose) because it can make him sick. I need to get the shot since I am his primary caregiver. He cannot afford to get sick. I explained this to the health dept nurse and she told me that she could probably get me the live virus since I was not a in a high risk catagory. I then asked her if I got the live virus, couldn't I pass it on to my son. She paused a second and then said, I guess you're right! OMG, I was not happy! She then said I should get the live vac but wear a mask for 2 weeks.....ummmm, NO. After talking to his many Dr's, we are going to just try our best at washing hands/antibacterial gel and hope for the best. We are lucky because at this point, his school is doing pretty good with kids out with the flu.

They did say that if he exhibits any signs of it, to get to the Dr or ER asap so he can get on Tamiflu, which is the only thing that can help in this situation. He can go into respitory distress very easily (we were in the ER on Sunday with just regular asthma problems, not even the flu!).

I am not looking forward to this winter season!
 
I don't usually pass on stuff like this,

but the current thinking is that statins (like for sinking cholesteral) improve survival rates enormously.
The feds also just gave permission for a still experimental virusstatica to be used in the US, it is considerably more effective than Tamiflu.
http://www.huliq.com/3257/88229/statin-drugs-survivability-against-fluhttp://www.cnbc.com/id/33455978?__source=yahoobuzz&par=yahoobuzz
Like I said, I don't usually put too much value on such stuff, but when your back is against the wall, this might help.

Hope you all stay well!
 
Statins are evil

Their main benefit is in reducing inflammation, not in reducing cholesterol. But the side effects of insufficient cholesterol in the body are rather severe, as well.

Cholesterol is a major component of cells, and especially nervous and brain tissue. There are a lot of report of people on stating gradually getting weaker and weaker, and their thinking becomes more and more confused. I had my own run-in with statin therapy two years ago and I stopped taking them when the symptoms became noticeable (to me at least).

I wonder how many elderly people are classified as dementia patients, and how many mobility issues, are really caused by statins.
 
yes, yes

But we are talking about short term use as an anti-inflammatory, with a cut in mortality here in Germany of 50%.
That's too much to sneeze at, Rich. We are short on vaccine, we have too many people who can't take the time off from their jobs because people in American in most jobs (!) don't have sick days and can and are fired for being sick...

When I was learning CPR, the doctor who taught us said we'd do damage to the victim we were trying to help. If they survived, they'd be OK with the cracked rib or two and the contusions, etc....as opposed to being dead.
 
Of course the risks vs. the benefit must be weight for every medication. Chemotherapy uses a cocktail of quite toxic chemicals, but people survive because it is calibrated to allow them to survive when (hopefully) the cancer cells don't.

But too often doctors seem blindly to prescribe indefinite courses of medication without any apparent concern over the bad side effects the medication might have. In the case of statins, I think most people assume that an elderly can't move or is foggy because of their age or a generic condition like "arthitis" or "dementia" - not because they've being slowly poisoned over months or years by their medications.

There probably needs to be some research done on a statin that reduces inflammation without disrupting cholesterol production. Cholesterol is, most likely, a red herring.
 
I agree with Rich

that our knowledge of statins and cholesterals is not nearly as comprehensive as we like to think it is.
Since I first read about their usefulness in flu' treatment last week, have since read that here in Germany, there are now recommendations to hospitals to use them in both H1N1 and the 'normal' flu'.

We are talking about people who are so ill, they are either in the hospital or their doctor would put them there if they lived in civilized country which actually gave a damn about its cititzens, not about long term use. Just as the hysterical red-nex were flipping out about proplyne glycol (which they eat by the ton in their baked goods) and aluminium, mercury and formaldyhde...so we have to be careful to differentiate between a dead body and a limited course of treatment with some otherwise not so nice stuff.
 
I am an internist in California. H1N1 vaccine is supposed to be distributed free of charge to physician offices (offices may charge a fee for administration---i.e. compensation for time, registration, paperwork, supplies---but may not charge for the vaccine itself) via the county health department. I placed online orders two months ago and have not seen a single vial. We are keeping a call-back list of patients who need the vaccine, so that we may immunize them in an expedited fashion once the vaccine is available.

Our hospital requires all health care workers to have been immunized for both seasonal and H1N1 flu by 1 November or else they must wear an N95 mask at all times inside the hospital. Since no one has received H1N1 vaccine for adults (the health department did provide inhaled vaccine for children), no one who works at the hospital has thus been immunized for H1N1 and must use masks effective tomorrow. Vaccine status is ascertained by decals which are applied to one's ID badge holder when the vaccine is given at the hospital (or documentation of outside vaccine administration is acceptable).

I've had three patients hospitalized with H1N1 and all three were under 24 years of age. Hospital time ranged from four days to two months in ICU; all survived. This is no joke, particularly for those below age mid-30s. Older patients seem to do well at home with Tamiflu. On Thursday I saw a mid-40s gentleman who'd received seasonal vaccine at work a month ago. He had 104 (40C) fever and "looked like flu". Either he had H1N1 or his seasonal vaccine didn't work. He was raised in the UK and didn't emigrate until his mid-20s, so I don't know what he was exposed to in UK (vs same age US raised peers). He did very well with Tamiflu and called Friday to say he was improved. The only other middle-aged H1N1 case I've seen was a diabetic lymphoma survivor who cleared up at home on Tamiflu.

Our health dept is overwhelmed trying to process all of the swabs sent for H1N1 testing and is asking practitioners to submit specimens only for hospitalized patients. If I see a patient in the office who "looks like flu", I treat accordingly, since outpatient treatment of mild to moderate flu, whether seasonal or H1N1, is the same.
 
I heard on the news last night that a young girl who had H1N1 in California was improving, and even said she felt better. 90 minutes later, she was dead. I speculate it was a cytokine storm.

Perhaps the statins suppress that part of the immune response (a form of inflammation, I guess) and that is their usefulness in treating H1N1 type viruses. I think I still have some of the statins I was prescribed two years ago. If I get a bad flu I might just take a few. But the very fact that they can reduce a powerful immune response indicates to me another reason why they should not be taken routinely.
 
That poor child.

Her poor parents.
I wonder if the red-nex and knee-jerk Republicans are paying attention to just how poorly the US is dealing with this crisis compared to the rest of the first-tier nations? It's not enough to compare the US to some banana-republic and pat ourselves on the back, we have to compare things to Europe and Japan.
 
Just an update -- I've been very busy for a few days, but my cousin in NC is doing much better, but still jobless. Panthera, it would be interesting to take on the fight, but ultimately at this point in this country it's a loosing battle. Plus, at least half of her 11 siblings are unemployed or underemployed. This is the worst I've ever seen things.

Back on topic. my sister-in-law had the regular flu last week, came home early last Monday and spend pretty much all week in bed. She thinks it was just the regular flu. I've been very busy the last week and have been eating fast food daily, something I never normally do, and I had serious reservations about doing so, just to avoid any potential for the flu. Unfortunately my hunger won out and I ate much too much Mc D's Wendys' and Taco bell. It will be good to get back to normal this week, as along as I don't get the flu...
 
The handling of the H1N1 vaccine is also in complete disarray here in Canada, they waited till the last minute, everyones confused and lineups are terrible at the clinics offering them. They initially weren't letting family doctors give the shots for fear of wastage but now they are so I'm booked in a week this Thursday for mine.
 
It's a bit early for the regular flu, I gather.

I have read that the H1N1 flu can be spread from person to person even if they are 10 feet away. All it takes is a cough or a sneeze. So I think this one is going to spread very fast, esp when the really cold weather hits and people are more confined in restricted spaces.
 
The CDC is holding off on its big ad-buy to push the vaccine until the supply finally catches up with demand, probably in December sometime the way things are going now. I know the manufacturers are doing everything they can to get it out the door but the darn thing is just not cooperating. There seems to be a better supply of the mist vs. the injectable kind, and IIRC that's because you can get many more doses of vaccine per "egg" (literally) of mist than injection.

And one last thing for the mercury-fearing types -- there is more mercury in a typical can of tuna than the fully-preserved vaccine shot.

60 Minutes did a good piece on the manufacture of the vaccine -- I've posted a link below.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-27083_3-10388169-247.html
 
My daughter was diagnosed with it today....

My daughter felt slightly bad yesterday with a sore throat and mild fever. By this AM, she had a 104 fever, no voice, sore throat, body aches, and coughing. Went to the Dr for the H1N1 test and it came back in less than 1 minute (usually takes 5-10 minutes). Had to wait on the pharmacy to make Tamiflu for her since they were all out of the kids version of it. She is really sick and she NEVER gets sick.
Since my son has immune issues, Dr said that we must take his temp every 3 hours to make sure he is not starting a fever. If he gets it, he will immediately start Tamiflu and be placed in the hospital. He already has a sinus infection so this would be icing on the cake if he gets it! UGH!
Think positive thoughts for us and that no one else in the house gets it. She is upstairs and the rest of us are down stairs. I am cleaning like a mad woman!!!!
 
Get some masks

Heather get some of the surgical mask to wear in her bedroom and even in the house. Dr's here are saying to do this. My youngest son his wife and daughter all had the H1N1. Son went back to work too early and had relase over the weekend and had to go to the emergency room Saturday. The Dr. there told him not to go back to work until next Monday.

You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
 
My son had it with 104 fever that tapered down to 101 then 99 and finally broke on day 8. MAKE SURE you keep an eye out for secondary infections, especially pneumonia! It took Jacob 17 days of antibiotics to shake the case he got at the same time, and that was just upper-right lobe!!

Be careful and good luck! Let us know when you're all in the clear.
 
WOW!

That was a long time for recovery!!! She had a 101 fever this AM and now has no fever but I suspect it's from the Tylenol she is taking for the pain in her throat. Her cough is nasty too. I already told the school that she will not be there at all this week and possibly not next week. I have heard too many people who have had replapses and have gotten super sick. They do think she might have strep throat because of how red her throat was. The rapid test for strep came back negative but that always happened to me and I had to have my tonsils out about 5 months ago.
 
Well keep in mind that Jake's 8 days was without Tamiflu but still on Motrin/Tylenol-- he is an otherwise healthy kid with no underlying medical conditions so our pediatrician decided to skip the antivirals due to the potential side-effects and just keep an eye on him. My wife is an RN who works at that practice part-time so he had very close observation at home... she's the one who spotted the first signs of pneumonia and took him in for confirmation, in fact!

Shockingly, none of the rest of us caught it in spite of being on home-quarantine for a week. I don't think I've ever washed my hands / wiped surfaces / used germex / done laundry (everything he wore/touched/breathed on) as much as I did that week.

We've all been vaccinated now so that risk should be past for us. But there is still a *bunch* of it going around down here.
 
Well, it happened......

Yesterday I picked my son up from school and his teacher said that he complained of a sore throat. We came home, took his temp and he was at 101. Called the Dr and made an appt for this AM. He is having breathing issues but nothing major at this point. I have steroids and albuterol if anything flares up. The sad part is that he has a sinus infection and an ear infection too. His temp is at 103 now with Tylenol/Advil. :(
Started the Tamiflu and he's sleeping now. My daughter is much better, with only tiredness and a cough left (which the Dr said might last 2 more weeks). She is not going back to school until Monday at the earlist, depending on how she does.
I can only hope I don't get it as my husband is out of town for work (as usual, when something like this happens, he is NEVER here! Lucky I guess!)
Thanks for all the good thoughts and sharing your experiences with me. :-)
 
Flu

I am currently suffering with it. Started with hiccups on Sunday which lasted until Tuesday and I thought something weird was going on. Then I started feeling weak, headache and chills. I thought it was just a usual bug and some cold&flu powders would sort it out. But on Wednesday i really went downhill and had a sudden fever and vomiting so called our flu hotline we have set up in the UK and got Tamiflu. I am feeling better today but cant do much other than stay under my duvet. At least i'm not being sick anymore so hopefully i'm over the worst now
We seem quite well set up in the Uk as far as this is concerned. There is a hotline to ring, they authorise the tamiflu and you have a flu buddy fetch it for free from a collection point in your nearest town. The vaccine program is underway across the country, I was due to get mine this week as a healthcare worker i'm first in line but now it got me first lol
Steve
 

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