2018 - Cold & Flu Season

[JohnyMac]

Well with all of the reports that this years flu season is as bad as 2009's I thought we needed a section where folks can check in and share. (Share - Good God, I am turning into a flaming snowflake!)

So far since lets say USA Thxgiving, the worst that MrsMac and I have received was a cold. Specifically, the cold I came home with from the Shot Show this year.

I am now 100% fourteen or so days later after first seeing signs of the cold but Mrs Mac is only 80% or so.

Locally as has been reported on the AM radio, the hospitals are full and are shipping less severe and recovering cases to facilities other than hospitals like rehabilitation facilities and some local FEMA type comm centers. With that written, at least locally, there has been minimal deaths due to the flu though - I think only (sorry) one or two.

Now with that written, a friend of our groups son and extended family have the flu and have been recovering in-house with the help of a family member who is a nurse at the local hospital. The bummer now is, she has come down with the flu too. She even had the flu shot. This is my shocked face 

Anyway, there has been some local ad's requesting people to...

1) Stay home if you do not need to go out,
2) If you have a cold or the actual flu, stay home and not be spreader, and
3) Focus on the usual ways to avoid a airborne illness, e.f wash your hands often, use hand sanitizer often if
    your do go out and avoid crowds.

How are you faring this season??

[Jackalope]

I'm still getting over a cold that has been hanging on for a couple of weeks.  My problem is once I get a cold, it usually transforms into a sinus infection, which is where this one seems to be headed.

Mrs. Jackalope is in the midst of a cold too, which she most likely obtained from me.  We both got a flu shot this year as a precaution.

I've been avoiding going out except to work, and I generally work alone.  I'll be glad when this season's cold season is over, and Spring arrives.

[JoJo]

 No-one I know has had or has the flu but what we've had is a cold that lasted four weeks as my wife did and in my case six weeks and it put me in the hospital.
The doctor's at first thought I was having a heart attack. They ran all kinds of tests and came up with the conclusion that I had a virus in my lungs. While I was in the hospital there were patients in the halls waiting for a room. I waited 24hrs there a bouts for my room which was a ward with other patients.   
 We both got our flu shot in October 2017.

[JohnyMac]

Sorry to hear of your illnesses Jackalope and JoJo.

MrsMac got over her cold that she got from me in 14 days or so however she has a continuing stomach issue issue that has caused her to have diarrhea for about five days and did not respond to all of the things that usually does in this instance. In short I broke down and took her to the Doctor.

The Doctor theorized that her immune system was down due to the cold I gave her and she picked up the stomach virus somewhere outside the home.

She is recuperating nicely and as I mentioned earlier about 80% there.   

[Erick]

I had something for 3 weeks in December.
I usually express symptoms less than most so I suspect it may have been "the flu"as I was more debilitated from this an a usual "cold".

[Kbop]

get well! & and the rest of you stay safe!

[JoJo]

 I hope your feeling up to snuff now.

[JohnyMac]

Erick, I remember you were under the weather in December. I hope all is good now.

There are a few common symptoms when you have the flu. If you do not have them then you do not have the flu. A few of those symptoms are:

> Fever,
> Stomach issues, and
> As Erick mention, incapacitated.

I read somewhere that this seasons flu shot, missed the mark of pre-identifying this seasons flu strain. 

[Erick]

I read somewhere that this seasons flu shot, missed the mark of pre-identifying this seasons flu strain.

Thanks to all for the well wishes.

As for Johns remark its right on.

Fun Fact:
For years we were told getting an off-strain inoculation does not have a protective effect.
I am not an MD but know a thing or two about molecular biology so I always disgreed with our medical folks on this and always held that some protection factor exists even if the strain is missed and even if it is minor.
Thing is the medical folks generally dont want to say anything that wont hold up in a peer review or over promise..

Now that in recent years the strains have been missed suddenly they tell us about "some possitve effect" for having been inoculated .(which I agree with)

But this is what it took.
BTW I get my Flu shots religiously I get as many shots as I can on anything.. Today's environment is so much less infectious than the environment humans are designed for I welcome any extra challenge to the immune system that's not at  a level that might kill me.