Swine Flu & Fibro??

Hi Folks,

As I was watching the news this morning I saw that there is a Swine Flu scare going on out there.  

I wanted to ask some questions and give some opinion.

Do you feel you are more suspectible to the flu with fibro, since one of our major symptoms is feeling as though you have the beginning of the flu and could possibly have the flu when you don't even know it.. until its too late??

If you get any flu bug do you feel that because of your fibro it's difficult to battle it?

What do you do to avoid flu getting the flu during flu season?

Will you get a Swine Flu Shot, if & when they become available?

I'm worried about my fibro family and just wanted to make sure you are aware of what's on the news today.  If you're not a news watcher... perhaps you should tune in. 

I don't want to create any panic here... please don't misunderstand that.  But I do think its important for my FibroFamily to take certain precausions since we have a tendency to feel flu-ish.  So, please be sure to wash your hands every chance you get.  If you're out in public & can't get to a rest room to wash your hands please use an antibacterial lotion (that contains alcohol).  If someone in your life developes flu like symptoms please contact a medical professional immediately.

Please share your thoughts on avoiding or battling the flu.

Thanks and stay well,

 

Just a tip:  I carry a packet of antibacterial wipes in my car, and I use them every time I get back into the car if I've pushed a shopping cart, touched a door handle, shaken hands with someone, etc.  Not only do you get the chemical stuff in the wipes (alcohol, maybe?) like you do with hand sanitizer, but you get the friction that wipes off germs that is similar to using soap/water/paper towel.  I use them all of the time, but especially during flu season. 

 

Of course, the first thing I do when I get home from ANYWHERE is wash my hands!   

Hugs - Austen

Since I feel like I have the flu almost all of the time, I was wondering the same thing, but the Swine Flu comes with a very high fever.  From what I heard it is the very first symptom.  Sooooo...that's how you would know the difference as I don't think fibromites spike 103 degree fevers.

Wash those hands!

Huggies

Donna

Similar to SleepyBug, I often feel feverish but my temp runs a bit low. I watch for a spike in temp as an indicator that I may be getting sick. I also have asthma and I usually notice a difference in my breathing when I'm coming down with something. As for avoidance, I know I should be more careful about hand-washing--I'm a little lazy there--but I do try to keep up my antioxidant intake to keep my immune system strong. My husband has had a couple of upper resp. infections in the past year or so that I DIDN'T catch, so I think the AC&E vites are a good thing.

I think you'd know if  you got the swine flu.  First of all, you do get a fever...and very quickly, too.  It is a respiratory illness so you will be coughing.  Also, your muscles and joints will hurt.  I know we have that already but I just bet it would hurt even more!     Vomiting and diarrhea come along with this, along with fatigue.  Even though we have fibro, I do think we would notice a difference.

 

They say to wash your hands with hot water and soap and keep your hands away from your nose, mouth, and eyes and these are great "entry" areas for the virus.

 

Now, if you think you might have the swine flu, go to your doctor.  They do have an anti-viral called Tamiflu and they have another one but the name escapes me right now.  If you are treated early, you should be fine.  Also, the patients in the US don't seem to have as bad a reaction to this virus as they are having in  Mexico.  They don't understand why, though.  But, just be on the alert and don't fool around if you are having these symptoms...especially the fever.

 

Sherrine

 

 

I won't get a vaccine if they come out with them. I got a flu vaccine (it was one that was given up the nose) and immediately got the flu, which lasted for 8 weeks, so that was that with vaccines and me. I eat a lot of organic honey, which has a natural antibiotic property and makes me feel strong. But like raw garlic, though good for you, antibiotics won't keep flu or swine flu away. handwashing = best defense as always.

I'm a microbiologist so I'll just throw my $0.02 in:

When I get sick my pain is about 10X my normal flare pain. I can barely walk. What would be just mild muscle pain for a non-fibro sufferer turns into one of Dante's circles of Hell for me. Combine this with a fever and I know that I'm sick. There's a BIG difference between a flare and an illness.

Antiseptic washes are okay, but DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES use anything with triclosan in it. NEVER. This is common in lotions, washes, wipes, sprays, etc. The contribution of antibiotic resistance from triclosan has been documented by the CDC.......especially in E. coli. If you must have antimicrobial gels or wipes make sure they are alcohol based. Plain soap and water, when used correctly, are the best defenses against illness.....as well as keeping the hands away from your face.

I work for the state health department and we are urging caution, but not panic. States and the feds have effective programs which are being initiated JUST IN CASE. This includes stockpiling Tamiflu which has shown to be effective at lessening the progression of this flu. Check your state's health dept. web site for updated information on your area.

It seems that we have a health scare in the media every year. This is not to say that a "big one" will never hit, but we shouldn't latch onto and panic over every outbreak. We have been living with and evolving alongside microbes for millions of years. They will never go away (nor should they every go away).

Hi Donnaeil! I'm also in Seattle!

I have a friend who suffers from chronic, life threatening cellulitus from abusing all those anti-bacterial products.  They kill the good bacteria along with the bad and now when he gets it, he is in intensive care every time, on Anthrax anti biotics as he has built up such a resistance to most other medications.  We need germs to survive.  I saw a doctor on the news that said the best thing you can do for your children is to let them play in the dirt...and get them a long haired dog to combat allergies and build up a resistance to disease.

Just read the label on a can of Lysol, or any spray disinfectant. Make sure it doesn't enter the blood stream or mucus membranes.  "hazardous to domestic animals and humans.  Do not allow to penetrate clothing.  Wear saftely glasses or safety shield for eye saftey.  Wash hands before eating or drinking, or handling food.  Wash clothing after exposure to this product."    Yet in the commercials, they show some woman spraying telephones, high chairs, door knobs etc with this stuff.

Soap and water is my choice.  An occasional rinse with Purell if I'm somehere where I can't wash my hands is okay but in my humble opinion, slathering that stuff on everything is dangerous.

Huggies

Donna

I agree children should play in the dirt and have big hairy Dogs. Cats are good to protect against future cat allergies. I have friends who were anti anything unhealthy when their children were young. A few of the children were afraid to eat anything that they considered unhealthy or unclean. Many developed allergies and food intolerances.

The funny thing is they felt my children were living dangerous lives since I did not clean them as often as they did theirs. We had the fewest illness outbreaks.

We, humans, have lived with dirt and bacteria since our beginnings.

There was one study performed, decades ago, in South America. A comparison was made between those children who received sterilized formulas or breast milk from very clean moms against those who lived in the slums from unclean bottles, sources and body parts. When an outbreak of a virus occurred, the ones from what were considered then the filthiest conditions, survived.

Donnaeil, the unclean mom who had cars, dogs, birds, oh my! , lol

If anything, it may take our eyes off of this recession/depression.

Donnaeil

Oh, Patti, I hate to see you so worried.  Have you ever had the flu?  I did one time.  I've had many colds with fibro but, when I got the flu, I sure knew it!  I could barely move.  I was not only sore but also so extremely fatigued I could barely get out of a chair to use the bathroom.  I would get up, get in a comfy chair and sleep all day long.  I was so miserable.  There was a big difference in how I felt.  So, I do think that you will know if you contract this illness.  Also it is a respiratory illness and you will also have a high temperature.  So, try to relax and don't worry about something that might not happen.  Just be vigilent and keep those little hands washed and away from your face.

 

Sherrine

I wish that people who are sick do stay home from work and keep their sick children there also. This I prefer to happen everyday regardless of what is going around.

Unfortunately, families that are stressed financially do not have this option. Not every one has sick days from wrok. sigh.

People who have had Type A vaccines in the past and Type A types of influenza ar more resistant to this strain. This may be another reason the cases are milder in the States and countires other than Mexico.

Please try to relax Patti. Fear is horrible, I know, I have felt it many times.

Donnaeil