It's a long time since I have posted in here but I do read the forum a lot.
It's concerning that this virus seems to be hitting people with health conditions the hardest. Obviously no one will no for sure the effects this virus would have on us if indeed any of us catch it, so my question is regarding the Flu. I haven't had the Flu in years and don't take the Flu jab at all as I have read it can give you the Flu?
Should I be taking a Flu shot as I have Sjogrens? Would I be more at risk of complications if I had the Flu?
Thanks
Hi Douglas,
Like you said, since I have Sjogren's the flu seems to pass me by... I'm not worried about the Corona virus as I feel our immune system is already ramped up.
But I would be cautions if my condition would be compromised by ailments, especially concerning lungs, heart, arteries, diabetes and those weakend by cancer. From what I've read the already vulnerable are most at risk from Corona.
Having the flu might complicate things. On the other hand, the flu jab often makes people sick too. So you'll have to weigh the pro's and con's.
Personally I've never taken the flu jab & haven't had flu in over 20 years (maybe due to my daily dose of 3.000 mg vitamin C?). So for me I feel it's unnecessary, but it's a decision each person has to make individually.
Edited: to add vitamin C.
I take the flu shot every year. News thru Nexus Magazine indicates that high doses of Vitamin C help to slow or stop the virus. 3-5 grams I would imagine. The report said 50 tons of C was being shipped in. Old and sick people, especially males seem to die from it.
Hopefully our ramped up immune system as you say will protect us all from the worst of it. I will be sure to buy some strong Vitamin C when I am at the shop and I would get enough food and supplies to cover a few weeks quarantine anyway as this thing could out of hand. Better safe than sorry.
I get the flu shot every fall and never have had an issue.
I have never had a flu shot. I never got the flu. I don't catch colds.
I read they are using plaquenil to combat coronavirus. I have been taking for years maybe it works...
NO flu shots for me.
It won't help with the corona anyway.
I'm not even sure I would take any vaccines they might develop for corona.
Quote from: jazzlover on February 27, 2020, 08:13:48 PM
NO flu shots for me.
It won't help with the corona anyway.
I'm not even sure I would take any vaccines they might develop for corona.
Me either..
Coincidentally, I've taken high dose Vit. C (3.000 mg) ever since I was diagnosed with Sjogren's. That probably contributes to staving off the flu too.
I'm also a frequent hand washer (with warm water as I'm allergic to most soaps). Just as a precaution I've ramped that up now. The WHO says washing your hands is more effective than wearing a facemask (for the general population, in a medical setting it might be different).
Good luck to all :) !
I was an RN in my former life and never did get a flu shot. I had mixed feelings about it but no one had never tried to discourage me about it. That was until we had a flu at the long term care facility I worked at.
This was the craziest flu so I have to tell somebody!!! The people started out with the sniffles and colds, cough, etc. They started almost dropping like flies. It spread really fast. We had to put a sign on the door saying no visitors. After a couple of days the people would get what we called the "dropsies". It was so crazy. The staff would call for more staff in the dining room half way through the meal. The people with the dropsies would be almost on the floor. They would get so weak and droopy that they would slide like a wet noodle almost out of their wheelchair. If they had a restraint or Posey belt on they would slide also and that is unsafe.
So we would have all these people sliding out of their chairs who needed to be put to bed...all at once....and at the same time. Of course we did the best we could with out lifts and 2 or 3 people lifts. Sooo, that is really the one flu I remember the most cause it was so weird. Those of us who hadn't had our flu shots had decided to get on the next year.
I have gotten one every year since..and that was at least 24 years ago. I didn't get diagnosed with autoimmune til after the year 2000 ands had been having symptoms since 1964. I don't get the live virus and have little if any aching, etc. Thanks for listening. Irish
I get a flu shot every year these days. I'm 65, have some asthma, SJogrens and Diabetes, sooooo........
I also think taking a multi vitamin might help boost your immune response, so I do that daily. My B12 and folate levels are finally back up!!!
No flu shots for me. It will not help.
I heard from several different docs on TV today that they think some people have a genetically predisposition protecting them from these bugs. We can all hope we have that. Good luck all. Also, they say people of high risk should stay away from crowds.......I think most of us don't have a very active social life anyway. Irish
I have no social life it was just me and my mom. Then my grandson moved in and my son moved in he and his girlfriend had a baby and they moved in.
I have a big house too big for me I was planning to sell and downsize this year but coronavirus had other plans...
The healthy young people are in and out working and going places all the time. I had to go behind them multiple times a day disinfecting the doors light switches sink... They exhausted me.
I found this stuff Microban 24 hr protection and I use it on a a day now and lysol in between. Hoping it works.
I really wish they had somewhere to go so I can be alone and safer.
The baby has a birthday Saturday and her mom is coming to visit, they knew they had to get a hotel cause I'm not trying to put myself at anymore risk.
I can't go to baby birthday party cause I'm limiting my social network.
I just wish I had an RV parked in my drive way lol 😆
I think this whole corona thing is quite weird. I say that because everyone on the news is talking about it, warning us about it, explaining how to avoid catching it, yet I don't know anyone who has it. I know there are some folks that have it, and some have died, but it just doesn't seem like it's any more dangerous than any other flue we've had in the past, and they're acting like it's something out of "The Stand" by Stephen King. What am I missing?
Corona Virus is a virus family designation: SARS, MERS, the common flu (which can be over 100 different viruses) and the common cold, among others, are ALL Corona Viruses.
COVID-19 is the name of the current novel (new) Corona Virus which has moved from animals into humans. Because it is new, no one has acquired any immunity, so that makes it a bit scarier, of course.
1. This virus isn't as lethal as SARS, but may be more lethal than 'ordinary' flu viruses, it seems. But it is not the Plague or Black Death type thing and probably not even the Spanish Flu of 1918. It isn't clear that COVID-19 is any more contagious than the annual flu, perhaps even less contagious. I hear different things.
2. WASH YOUR HANDS many times a day.
3. DO NOT TOUCH your face (easier said than done).
4. Current statistics of the lethality of COVID-19 do NOT include cases that are so mild that the sick person doesn't even know they are sick, so the death rate is probably over- stated.
5. https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/coronavirus-age-sex-demographics/
The distribution of deaths isn't the same for all age groups. Only those over 60 and those with serious preexisting conditions are seriously at risk. The rate becomes much higher for those 80+ years old. Men are more at risk than women.
6. The effect of the measures taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is having a severe impact on the economy world-wide. This may be the greatest damage, in the long run.
7. VACCINE: It will take at least year to develop and test a vaccine for COVID-19.
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/health/covid-19-are-we-close-to-a-novel-coronavirus-vaccine/2312199/
Wash your hands, do not touch your face. Relax.
Regards, Elaine
They are just preparing us for it.
I totally agree with you Sixty. Tens of thousands die in the US every year from the regular flu.
Nexus Magazine reports a 50 ton shipment of vitamin C to Wuhan from Australia. It seems to slow or stop the spread.
Spooky2 rife machine from China now has added the kill frequencies to their database.
I have watched so much on TV for days about this virus. I have learned a lot but they keep changing a lot of it. Tonight on line I found a Dr. who was very good about explaining and drawing pictures. Complicated to me as I can't work my brain fast enough now.
Anyway, he went through a bunch of things and said that this flu (in research) seems to be fought off by zinc. The zinc is to be at a high level in our blood stream, but the doc said that if one would take it on a regular basis our zinc level would increase. He thought it would be worth a try.Also, the zinc is water soluble and we shouldn't have a problem with toxicity. He also said that the H1N1 flu seemed to be defeated more by vitamin D.
I have decided that I will just stay home more than usual when the virus starts to be more widespread. We have some cases in the cities but not widespread yet. Really, staying calm is a good idea cause getting all shook up could cause us more chance of dying from a heart attack.
My theory is that this has been a very good time to get our act together and get our countries factories making our meds and medical supplies. Everybody has been thinking someone else was keeping watch. We have had things way too good in this country. We have forgotten that we come from people who settled the land and made do with little or nothing for decades. Life is not without hardship (besides the electronic age stress). Stay well and take it easy. Hopefully by spring things will be more predictable. irish
Just to put things into perspective: in the worst case scenario (according to WHO) this virus is fatal for approx 1 to maybe 3.5% unfortunate souls who fall ill from it.
But by far and gone not everyone is afflicted!
Falling beyond the stats are those who are either immune to it or those who only show minor symptoms. THAT IS THE MAJORITY OF US!
It's not 1 to 3.5% of the whole population who might die, but only of the small group whom test positive.
Of course it's terrible for the afflicted. But on a world population of almost 8 billion, 3450 deceased is less deaths than the regular flu.
I take a flu shot religiously every year. I would never go without one! All of my doctors concur. I am a registered nurse and have great faith in science. I have also completed the two part Shingles vaccine.
I don?t believe there is any evidence that a flu shot will make you sick, but we should really be having this discussion with our trusted health care advisors.
You cannot work at any of the healthcare facilities in my area without getting a mandatory, and yearly, flu vaccine. This is done more to protect vulnerable patients, but also to keep the staff well so they will not miss work. My hospital gave them to us for free, and not taking a flu shot was never an option. You could be terminated for refusing it, and I actually full heartedly agree with that assessment.
Nothing is 100% but we should do what we can to protect others and ourselves. Have a good Sunday!
Kathy
I plan to tell my kids that if I get the C virus I will probably die. I am not hoping to die but the stats put me in that group. I never thought that with all these autoimmune diseases I would live long enough to be taken out by a world wide virus.
As an old RN I am totally fascinated in all the flu that has been in our country. I have done a lot of reading on them and there is a lot of history that we are never told. I plan on checking out the flu that has affected our country in the 1700 and 1800 next. This includes other illness besides the flu. I got interested in this back in high school when I wrote reports on the Plague and Poliomylitis. We will never be without these infections as they seem to knock down every centuries population. Irish
Irish .. I'm a bit younger than you and a bit more healthy, but I have serious doubts about my survival too. My husband is healthier than I am but his asthma is worse than mine.
I get really sick any time I get the flu or such.
I am prepared, and that is all we can do.
jazzover, We must sound really terrible to the younger generation. The thing about this c virus is that I have not heard any doctor who knows a lot about it. They are all stammering trying to tell the public what to expect.
We are all being given the message to stay calm but yet stock up with out wiping out the supplies. Everything that has been done for the sick ones in isolation has resulted in much expense. The planning is ongoing and Vice President Pence is so tired he can hardly talk trying to fly to all the affected areas.
The joke may be on us. Might not be as bad as we think and here we spent to the money. Then again it might be that the younger people will do well and the older ill people will not survive anyway.....and it makes no difference what we have done so money has been wasted.
I plan to try to stay calm and stock up on cold cereal and canned milk.....An attempt at humor!!! Take care all. Irish
I have a lot going against me too, but none of us will go until it's our time as I believe.
Hugs,
susanep
A little corona virus update from the UK.
We have 383 confirmed cases to date, and six deaths.
There is now widespread panic buying of toilet paper! I visited three supermarkets today and all had run out. It takes a virus like this to make us realise where our priorities lie.
arminata, You are so right. I went to Walmart to pick up a lot of stuff as I was running out of everything. I didn't see a shortage until I got to the gallons of water. It was all gone. Eventually the people in my town thirst but do not poop. There was plenty of toilet paper and other paper products. Irish
I just thought of this...I bet the liquor stores are doing a business. I did hear that Coke and Pepsi were trying to stock up to help us through this event.
Remember SARS? I was traveling during that fiasco and was temporarily quarantined in Bhutan. The King felt he must do something so he announced anyone who had been to China (SARS originated in China) would be quarantined for 10 days. Our tour group had been to Tibet which the King decided would be included even though Tibet is not physically connected to China. We were placed in a local hospital - which, because if its primitive conditions was very frightening. We were afraid of what we might catch. To make a long story short, we managed to cause enough problems to get ourselves released after about 3 hours.
We continued our trip and saw the terrible economic effect Sars had, not as an illness, but the number of people who lost their businesses because of the unnecessary panic about SARS. What do you hear about SARS now?
I learned my lesson. I am 75. I am living my life as usual. I have 2 cruises booked on Princess - one in October and one next March which I plan to take. In the meantime, life is meant to be lived. I refuse to let the media control my life.
Katie1111
I just read a very interesting article regarding proposed treatment of the pneumonia caused by COVID 19.
It seems that they are researching the efficacy of HYDROYCHLOROQUIN (we know it affectionately as Plaquenil) as a treatment!
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04261517
It has been used to treat this type, if not this specific strain, of pneumonia in the past with good effect.
OK, I'm good, guess I can take back all that toilet paper I hoarded (just kidding, I haven't panic bought anything, just keep my usual sustainability pantry intact! Well, maybe I'll refill the Plaq RX when I can LOL
Dearest Sjogren's Angels,
I am now 'self isolating' in my apartment. I can't imagine doing this for three months or more but I'll take it a day at a time.
This is why I'm isolating:
I thought I would be just as fine as any other person, when it comes to the Corona Virus. And my 'systems' (heart, lungs, liver, etc) are very strong.
BUT I have an Primary Immune Deficiency. My immune system makes a very inadequate amount of both IgG and IgM. So every four weeks I am infused with donated IgG from thousands of donors.
And when I get their IgG, I also get their immunity to whatever is circulating around in the world. HOWEVER, my donors have NO immunity to the Corona Virus (Covid-19).
And MOST IMPORTANT, donated IgG CANNOT learn to fight the Corona Virus in my body
The IgG of normal people will be able to 'learn' the virus and fight it once it invades the body.
My donated IgG cannot learn the virus. So, if I contract the virus I will become critically ill.
I began IVIG 7 years ago and I have almost NEVER been sick, since. So I thought I would be as OK as anyone when it comes to the Corona Virus. But I was wrong.
My husband is a Research Immunologist, and finally last night he got me to understand why I am so at risk.
I am a highly social person and I live in an active retirement community: bridge 4 times a week, Scrabble 3 times a week, socials, trips to the Symphony, and on and on.
Now I am not doing any of those things. I guess I will go to doctor's visits. Can I have my hair cut? My nails done? I guess not.
My husband is picking up my meals from the dining room, and generally interfacing with the world. BUT if he picks up the virus, he will infect me even before he knows he's sick.
Alas.
Sending virus free hugs, Elaine
I will pray that the virus avoids your hubby, Caroline. I am in pretty good place and at least my kids don't have to come in and do things for me....especially if they get sick.
Regarding the toilet paper situation in the world. I was shopping in Walmart tonight standing in the empty toilet paper isle when my DIL sends me pictures on phone of 2 stores she visited that were out of toilet paper. She texted that she did not know anything about this shortage and she needed TP tonight!!
Next picture is 3 packages( all different brands) of TP sitting in your living room. She was thrilled to get a stash! She keeps her emergent supply storage full at all times and I am surprised she ran out of TP.
A little story on my middle son. I was always a hoarder.. living in the country and I always had TP in abundance in my storage. My son married and lived very close to us in the country. One day he walked over and went to the basement and came up with a roll of TP and walked back home. His wife was laughing later. She said he would get very anxious when the TP would get low. Guess he didn't trust her to get to town soon enough. :) Irish
Yesterday I had my infusion. I am getting it now at a medical clinic closer to me and I don't have to drive up to my sons. I was getting older and it was harder for me to do the trip. The driving was ok but the packing up and loading the car and having to walk up and down stops at sons house was getting harder for me.
Ayway, I walked in to register at the desk and they know me well. But, I had my N95 mask on and explained that was was being active in protecting myself. The gal told me that that the infusion center had set up the protocol that we (their patients) should just walk in and go directly to the infusion center. This way we would not be exposed to any people that could jeopardize out health.
When I got to infusion center I told them that I was being proactive in all aspects of life because I was trying not to get wiped out by this virus. When I was taken back to the infusion area I put into the room that was used for infection control. Patio door, tv, etc. and across from the bathroom. I told the nurse that I didn't need the room if they had someone else that needed it. She told me they had heard what I said about trying to avoid the coronavirus and that is why they put me in the room. Very nice of them I thought.
The nurse informed me of all the meetings they are having and of some of the changes being made. They are being very proactive which was very comforting. So many changes we go through and with all our illness and health events and changes life seems to become more complicated. We just do the best we can. Irish
Makes you wonder, "sixty!"
I do know of a few who are sick, but they have not been tested yet.
How things have changed since I wrote that!
I guess I was replying to a comment on page 1?
Hope you are doing well!
yes, I'm hanging in there. I'm also fine staying home cos I'm a natural hermit. I hope you're doing well also Jazzlover. I hope we all come out of this with bells on. I'm happy Trump's wanting to send the unemployed money quickly. That's a great thing and it's a substantial amount, sort of. I wonder if retired people will be included in those that receive it.
I get the flu shot every year also. This Jan I got the pneumonia vaccine when this corona virus kicks in . I too do not often get sick but when I do it can linger for a long time and my lungs get involved. I've been told not to fly but my daughter just had baby.
I am so bereft. She could use my help but she lives in NYC area and my doctor is just telling me not to go up. It is SOOOOO sad.
With respect to this virus I believe the doctors are super concerned about it because it is quite easily caught and we have no herd immunity to it. Measles are the most infectious but with the vaccine it is quite rare because so few people are susceptible. Viruses need a base level of vulnerable humans to start spreading. This is why some illnesses in the past would come through an area and infect a lot of people and then a few years would have to pass before it came back. There were not enough vulnerable people in the population to sustain transmission,. Left to its own devices this virus would run rampant through the population and we do not have enough Hospital beds/ventilators to take care of the percentage that would get REALLY Sick.
Our health care professionals would have to triage care...because of a lack of ventilator or beds. Not something Americans are used to.
We also are now a more elderly world and a more urban world. Look how hard it is to get people to stay at home or even social distance. This is our WW2.
It is expensive to treat the health issues and financial issues of this virus and its onslaught.. The thing we need to stop and think about is that our country is a Republic and we recognize the importance of our citizens. We all have a number of people whom we love and are close with. We also have many acquaintances whom we cherish even though we don't see them often.
Our country goes even deeper than that as we can get into friendly conversations with people no matter where we are. We also tend to take care of our neighbors and watch out for each other without being asked. Lately I am almost moved to tears to see how we have the freedom to drive where ever we want and we are allowed to roam freely and trusted to obey rules and stop lights, etc.
It is only the people who have no respect for others, and probably non for themselves, who do not follow the rules or be kind to others. We have such a great country and it is shown to the world that we care for our citizens when we move heaven and earth to prevent illness and death from a disease. It would be so much cheaper and less cumbersome to work so hard.....but we live in the best country in the world. This is my humble opinion as a citizen of the United States of America. This may take longer than we care to admit, but we will make it through and we will be a stronger nation than we were going into this situation. Irish
In Seattle, we've had a lot of time to get used to this new situation. COVID19 is a bad disease, but the most dangerous part of it, is that it could hit so many people at once, swamping the emergency/ICU resources. We're pretty serious about sheltering in place here.
In the ICUs in Seattle, half of the COVID19 patients are 18 to 50. The initial statements that it's a disease of the elderly have not borne out.
My daughter's housemate got the disease and shut himself in his room for 2 weeks, with housemates leaving him food outside the door. It was so hard for us as parents not to be able to go there and help or even to tell her to come home and quarantine in her room. I think that's the worst part of the disease - you can't be with your loved ones who are in danger, except by video chats.
The unsheltered are the hardest hit. There is sometimes literally no place for them to go inside, even in the daytime with the libraries, stores, and restaurants all closed. When this is over, I think the world may be a changed place. I hope we can make that a more humane place with more of a safety net.
In regards to Plaquenil .... I have been on it for over 10 years and have wondered if it will decrease the coronavirus the severity if I get it. Well, tonight on TV they had doctors answering questions and one of the questions was if Plaquenil would prevent us from getting the virus and the doctor said no. So, guess we will have to see what the info says after this wild year is over is over. Irish
Navigator,
My heart goes out to you that you have not been able to be with your daughter and newborn grandchild😭. I hope you can FaceTime frequently. I hope all is going well.
I miss my grandkids, but I?ve always been lucky enough to spend time and help out when they were born. When this is all over - and someday it will be all over - I hope you get to spend lots of time with them.
Stay safe and stay well.
Kathy
I had a telemedicine visit with my rheumatologist this week. She said they are seeing cases of coronavirus in patients on plaquenil slo it looks like it is not protective in terms of prevention. She also told me to take my plaquenil every other day since it is unavailable these days. Fortunately she says it has a long half life.
hi I write from Italy, we were the first country to get this and after two months of isolation we are slowly going down but still at home. they give Plaquenil not to prevent but as anti-inflammatory at the very beginning of the pneumonia together with antivirals cortisone and since a few weeks heparin. the symptoms could be not just pulmonary but also gastrointestinal with diarrhea nausea etc and a a terrible weakness like the one we experience with flares so I do not know if I got it or I had a terrible flare. not everybody has fever, I did not just a really small change in temperature, no throat sore no cough. today I had a terrible experience because I bought a mask and possibly it had some antibacterial thing on it . I started coughing and my throat closed. fortunately there was a pharmacy open just at a few meters and they gave me cortisone immediately but I think that it was because my throat is so dry that keeping the mask with some substance on it gave me the horrible thing. pay attention everybody this is not a flu!!!
I have heard that the virus came from a well known (by researchers anyway) lab in WuHan China. There are only 5 such labs in the world who handle the deadliest of diseases and perhaps make things for bio warfare and why it was not being monitored? . If you look up where the virus first showed, (WuHan Market) it was right near the lab. The Republican from Arkansas, Tom Cotton released this as did others but it was ignored by the main stream press who didn't even bother to look up the lab or the virus.
The droplets can remain active in the air for 12 hours. Research it. It is darn scary!
On a lighter note, the reason for the t paper problem is that even the stores do not stockpile t paper as it takes so much room. Therefore they did not have a bunch to send to the stores and why everyone panicked over that I don't know. They just send as many rolls as the store usually needs a week.
You have to be careful as if you mix two malaria drugs together it can equal death. It is all on the intranet.
A doctor who made it through the virus said it was the worst thing you could ever get. There is talk that it is able to break through the barrier to the brain.
Stay well everyone and do not go out with out a good mask and gloves are recommended especially if grocery shopping.
Quote from: Confused on April 21, 2020, 11:32:32 PM
I have heard that the virus came from a well known (by researchers anyway) lab in WuHan China. There are only 5 such labs in the world who handle the deadliest of diseases and perhaps make things for bio warfare and why it was not being
I believe the virus most likely came from bats, Confused.
https://www.newscientist.com/term/coronavirus-come-lab/ (https://www.newscientist.com/term/coronavirus-come-lab/)
It would be rather a double edged weapon to unleash on the world!
remember everyone - we can't get political in here. This thread could go that way.
Take care - Scottie :)