I do not play a doctor on TV but, know something about viral illness.

So does everyone if you listen to Grandma and think about what you already know.

Remember, the other Swine Flu of the mid Seventies?

How about SARS and Avian Flu?

Many persons in my locale, Orange County, Califo-nia have antibodies against West Nile Virus and never knew they were ill from the deadly mosquito borne virus.

Colds, Flu, similar diseases. Not Ebola. Not HIV, HCV, HPV etc.

Cold and flu, ones like adenovirus.

And the infamous Influenzia Espania of 1919 or so,

SARS, West Nile, etc.

Consider:

1) If one is not a newborn, old, or otherwise ill - survival is almost assured barring stupidity ala Jim Henson of Muppets fame. Healthy man who did not take his viral illness seriously.

2) If one is healthy and not age extreme, it is not the virus that gets you, but the bacterial pneumonia or meningitis that will kill you, ala Jim Henson. Bacterial pneumonia was the major cause of death during the Spanish Influenza (Influenzia Espania)

3) So consider acquiring a Pneumovax - pneumococcal aka pneumonia vaccine and meningitis vaccination too.

4) If you trust, Tamiflu - keep it handy. Start at first pondering of, am I getting sick. Those hours of intervention really help effectiveness.

5) Hand washing, soap and water kills virus and the major means of communicability. Touch something contaminated, touch face.

6) Recirculating air buildings, airlines etc are contagion boxes.

For the Sick :

A) Water, Water, and more water. Pee Clear. Keep hydrated.

B) No achy, pain, fever medicine, Sweat it out. Achy, pain, fever medicine as tylenol, aspirin, advil inhibit fever via inhibiting white blood cells. Not good. British studies have proven clinically relevant.

C) Ask the pharmacist for a pseudoephedrine / guaifenisin combo medicine such as Mucinex-D or Congestac to treat congestion, cough or mucous membrane inflammation as invites bacterial infection. No anti-histamine.

D) Chicken Soup and high protein diet.

E) Bedrest 24 hours beyond the end of fever. PJ's no clothes. Even a sunset sweaty period counts. If that is not possible, then try use honest energy. Meditate or nap to recharge. Put feet up to take energy requirement of gravity off body through out the day.

F) Hot toddy. Mulled wine. is helpful and less damaging then aspirin or tylenol.

Anyone have ideas for viral illness?



Moi

Since the last note we are deep in the Swine Flu epidemic.

Our modern schools with their recirculating air systems have guaranteed the epidemics best vectors. Children.

Of the children becoming seriously ill or dying of the virus and not secondary bacterial infection, I ponder - in the early days of their illness, where they at home in their bed with a parent? Or off to day care?

If one is very, very concerned, get a Rx for Tamiflu and keep it with the linen where it is cool and dry and no light. At the first wondering, am I getting sick, start it ! ! & ! And go to bed. Hours count.

Doing so may really change an illness that would take over a week to get better to a day or two.

Tamiflu is only allowed to say, one day less illness,

but my trick is starting it early.

Good Health to the Membership

Moi for Common Sense Rx and Illness Prevention

Maybe I am the first Eunuch to be diagnosed with the N1H1 Virus. The cough has been here for 3 weeks already and they expect me to have the cough for another 1-2 months. The cough makes for loosing of nasal congestion. Fever? Not sure, because the lack of T makes me have hot flashes now and then anyways. Is the hot flashes I have N1H1 or the fact that I am a Eunuch.. Ugh.. Dunno.. But I do know that I am definitely tired of the cough as it tires me out at times.

Avoidance is always best. To avoid getting the flu: Become a hermit and stay indoors and permit no visitors. Live alone. But if you must go come in proximity to people: Wear a face mask. Wear gloves. Don't eat or drink in public. If you don't live alone, continue wearing face mask and gloves at home and prepare all your own meals, sterilize cooking surfaces, cookwear and utensils. You may be looked upon as quite odd, but your risk of getting any sickness will be greatly reduced. Flu gains access through the mouth and / or nose. Trying to live a normal life in society makes it very difficult to avoid germs. As far as I can tell, one almost has to become an obsessive compulsive to avoid being infected.

I've noticed the gardeners do not get infected.

The garbage men stay healthy too.

Outside, fresh air living.

Spending hours and hours inside recirculating air buildings is not very smart.

Green buildings are a cause of this epidemic, probably qualifies as a pandemic now.

Moi

nullorchis (imported) wrote: Fri Oct 23, 2009 1:28 am Avoidance is always best. To avoid getting the flu: Become a hermit and stay indoors and permit no visitors. Live alone. But if you must go come in proximity to people: Wear a face mask. Wear gloves. Don't eat or drink in public. If you don't live alone, continue wearing face mask and gloves at home and prepare all your own meals, sterilize cooking surfaces, cookwear and utensils. You may be looked upon as quite odd, but your risk of getting any sickness will be greatly reduced. Flu gains access through the mouth and / or nose. Trying to live a normal life in society makes it very difficult to avoid germs. As far as I can tell, one almost has to become an obsessive compulsive to avoid being infected.

Your point of view certainly has merit, and at one time I thought pretty much the same as you do, but then I took up a different philosophy. I watched George Carlin's little bit on germs, and even though George Carlin's bit was just a comedy routine, the is in fact a large bit of truth in what he suggests. Basically, my new philosophy regarding germs, and most anything else, is that constant exposure to some pathogens is actually GOOD for the immune system.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnmMNdiCz_s

No philosophy is to be taken to extreme, and this philosophy does have it's exceptions (e.g. hepatitis c, HTLV4/AIDS, carcinogens), but overall, the human body is a LOT tougher and more versatile and adaptive than we have been led to believe. Additionally, I strongly believe that the human mind is much more adaptive than we have been led to belive, even as we get old, we are always able to learn new things. I try to live my life by this philosophy though I have become somewhat of a hermit, I do always try to meet new and different people, listen to new and different music, think about things differently.

Ultimately, I do believe that to be truly healthy, physically and mentally, we need to have ocaissional exposure to new and different (and sometimes hostile) things. Not all new and different things are ultimately good for us, I do NOT believe for one second that "That which does not kill us, makes us stronger." As I said, there are some exceptions, but for the most part we were meant to explore and learn for as long as we live, and our bodies and our minds are quite up to that task.

I think I got it for the last few days.

Please let me know if these symptoms sound familiar.

I believe I had a modified response due to being 61 and a swine flu vaccine in the Carter era.

It started with soreness in the throat muscles under the tongue. Weird.

Went on to sinus and throat which lasted only a day or two before leaving for the chest and general body blahs. Half a can of Campbell's Chicken Rice soup too filling.

Anyone experience similar ills?

I ordered my surgical mask. I am a religious hand washer, soap and water so I am sure I got it by all those wonderful people who cough and sneeze freely.

My personal treatment is no Aspirin, Ibuprofen or Tylenol, No No No.

Real Sudefed and or Ephedrine - in Bronkaid tabs and Mucinex.

Water enough to pee clear.

Stay warm, stay prone.

Stay healthy all, it feels better.

Because I am an asthmatic, I am notified by post every year, to go to see the nurse at my local healthcare facility, to receive my 'flu vaccination. During my visit two days ago, I was also given a swine 'flu vaccination, for the first time, and so I had an injection in each arm.

On the patient information leaflet that I also received at the same time, there was a long list of possible side effects of the swine 'flu jab, divided into the categories of Very Common, Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare.

In the Very Common category, was listed headache, tiredness, fever, aching muscles, joint pain, itchy skin rash, shortness of breath, swelling of the face or tongue, and pain, redness, swelling, or a hard lump at the injection site. The swine 'flu vaccine caused me a slight ache in my arm for two days but otherwise I have not been aware of any other side effects.