<p>I was looking at the CDC website regarding this (I wish I could link it but I don’t know how) and it says that the greatest loss in effectiveness is in those over 65 years, and they are encouraging a stronger dose for that age bracket now. There does seem to be some benefit in getting your vaccination a little later in the season, but only if you are going to make sure that you still get it. It can’t work at all if you don’t do it!</p>
<p>Interesting Penn & Teller video on anti-vaccination trend: (language alert…a few f-bombs)</p>
<p><a href=“https://showyou.com/v/y-lhk7-5eBCrs/penn-teller-kill-the-antivaccination-argument-in-just-over?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=timeline[/url]”>https://showyou.com/v/y-lhk7-5eBCrs/penn-teller-kill-the-antivaccination-argument-in-just-over?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=timeline</a></p>
<p>I thought I’d read this year’s flu shot was more effective than last year’s, but I’m too tired to research it.</p>
<p>Some protection is still better than none if you are dealing with a stronger virus.</p>
<p>I’m part of the “Had the flu and never want to go through that again” club. I have never been so sick in my life and the bone pain I experienced was the worst pain in my lifetime. It was agonizing; I actually drove myself to the ER at 2:30 am.</p>
<p>They are reporting 6 deaths from the flu in southern western Michigan. They are reporting that only 3 people had underlying illnesses and that it is H1N1 strain (Swine flu) that should be covered with this year’s shot. There have been no deaths in northern Michigan but dozens of people hospitalized. Swine flu, if anyone remembers 2009, is the one that can quickly lead to pneumonia. Most of the people that have died in Michigan were under 60. They are reporting 3 deaths at UofM hospital as of last week. Take good care of your beau Ema…I’m sure you will as you have by getting him to the doc. Don’t hesitate to head for the hospital if he takes a turn for the worse. My youngest got a flu shot before heading for college…but my two olders have not and the oldest DID have the swine flu in 2009 and was out of his college classes and out of work for over a week and really, really sick.</p>
<p>Ema, one sign that you need to get your fiance immediate help is if he begins to rebound, then has a sudden turn for the worse with respiratory effort. In patients who got really ill and had to be intubated and put in the ICU, they had several days of improvement, then a quick deterioration.</p>
<p>Not trying to scare you as he will probably do just fine. But also want you armed with good info.</p>
<p>Sounds like you are taking good care of him. Just the first of many “in sickness and in health” episodes you are signing up for! :D</p>
<p>We have 39 deaths in North Texas alone from this flu.</p>
<p>DH is the only one in the family who has not gotten his shot. Very frustrating to me.</p>
<p>Didn’t we lose a cc poster a few weeks back to the flu which turned into pneumonia? Ugadog99? <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/theater-drama-majors/1589257-tribute-ugadog99-her-sudden-passing.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/theater-drama-majors/1589257-tribute-ugadog99-her-sudden-passing.html</a> PLEASE take the flu seriously… I happened to come down with a horrible case of bronchitis that started literally the day after I got my flu shot this past fall. It lasted almost 6 weeks, which included a week or 2 of laryngitis. At one point I started coughing up blood. But it was not the flu, which would probaby have been worse. I felt awful, but not as bad as when I have had the flu.</p>
<p>As an asthmatic and bronchitis sufferer, the flu was beyond the worst thing I ever lived through.</p>
<p>However - for some temporary relief go sit in the bathroom and run the shower hot and let the room steam up, just have him sit in there and breathe in the steam for 15 minutes. What helped me was to have my husband then pound my back to help me cough up this yucky stuff. </p>
<p>If it isn’t getting better get to the ER and get a nebulizer treatment and they can check his pulse ox levels.</p>
<p>That is good information to have, Nrdsb4. I meant to ask the doctor what signs to look for that he needs more medical attention, but I was so scattered I forgot. I figured I’d just keep an eye on his temp and his breathing.</p>
<p>I’ve been piggybacking tylenol and advil all day and that seems to be keeping the fever in check, he doesn’t seem to be worsening anymore but he isn’t getting better yet either. I was going to see what he did better on and try just doing one tomorrow, but the tylenol seems to be what is reducing the fever and the advil the body aches… The worst is if he sleeps and then wakes up, the coughing and breathing is terrible when he is waking up, but then it gets better and seems okay. He’s been more or less okay all day, just uncomfortable. We’ll see what tomorrow brings. I’m a little worried about how he’ll be first thing in the morning when he’s waking up and hasn’t had any medicine yet.</p>
<p>I have mixed feelings on this issue. Any new treatment may have unanticipated side effects in a segment of the population, a subpopulation which may not show up in the relatively small-scale trials that precede FDA approval. Also, it may take years for these side effects to develop.</p>
<p>However, I don’t understand why someone wouldn’t get vaccines which have been around forever, such as for the measles.</p>
<p>:confused: What?</p>
<p>The flu vaccine has been around for awhile. The method is the same, the only changing variable is the particular strain which is targeted.</p>
<p>My mom was a nurse who worked in the polio ward of a hospital in Detroit in the early 50’s. We have a picture of her brushing the hair of a young patient who is in an iron lung. My mother was a staunch supporter of vaccines … she firmly believed they saved lives. My brother had the mumps & measles at the same time, and not long afterwards he was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. The doctor believed that the illnesses triggered the diabetes. Again, my mom was pleased when mumps & measles vaccines came out. </p>
<p>I am not sure if she would be a big proponent of vaccinations for things like chicken pox and flu, but maybe …</p>
<p>I’m unvaccinated against pertussis and diphtheria – I’m severely allergic to the tetanus vaccine, and there is no pertussis or diphtheria vaccine licensed in the US that doesn’t also contain tetanus. I’ve got to figure out if there might be any options in some other country.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the pertussis waves that sweep our area are very worrisome. We have one of the highest rates of un or under-vaccinated children in my community. I’m washing my hands all the time.</p>
<p>Ema, make sure the other meds your doctor has given your fianc</p>
<p>Good thinking. I just double checked and I think he is in the clear. He is taking tamiflu, benzonatate, and he was prescribed promethazine syrup with codeine but hasn’t been willing to take it yet. I was giving him mucinex yesterday, my go to OTC for cough, which does have acetominophen but it wasn’t doing anything for him so we didn’t try it again today. I don’t really think the benzonatate stuff is doing anything for him either. He’s sleeping right now and coughing in his sleep. I think he must not be that miserable right now if he’s still refusing the syrup.</p>
<p>The thought occurred to me when he first started getting sick last night that my mom and my grandma are both still in Florida and none of my “call in an emergency” people are here. I was envisioning him being admitted to the hospital like all those people at UofM and I would have no one to call. He’s getting his shots from now on, there is no good reason to take this risk. He can build up his immune system with colds and sinus infections if it’s so necessary that we get sick once in a while, flu is not necessary.</p>
<p>You’re being a good nurse, Ema. And as a nurse, I can say that with authority.</p>
<p>I know it is worrisome.</p>
<p>Sigh…Just wait til you have kids. Then you will know what WORRY is…</p>
<p>Keep us posted on your DF.</p>
<p>10:00 news in Dallas states that North Texas flu deaths have just hit 49.</p>
<p>I don’t know how that compares with previous numbers at this time of year.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>[CDC</a> - Key Facts About Seasonal Flu Vaccine | Seasonal Influenza (Flu)](<a href=“http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm]CDC”>http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm) indicates that there are several kinds of flu vaccine available this season:</p>
<ul>
<li>Various three strain injected vaccines, including an egg-free one for those allergic to eggs.</li>
<li>A high dose three strain injected vaccine, for older people.</li>
<li>A four strain injected vaccine.</li>
<li>A four strain nasal spray vaccine.</li>
</ul>
<p>Is the strain in Texas more virulent?
Washington state has had 8 deaths.</p>
<p>Usually it is pretty much the same strain hitting across the country, they just don’t know for sure ahead of time which strain it will be.</p>