Oh No Husband Just Diagnosed with Influenza

[mpeirce]

Do people really go to the doctor when they think they have the flu or a bad cold?

I suppose if you are at risk for something related or want to give tamilflu a try it might be worth it, but otherwise why go?

[MissMolly]

Because as you age flu can go into pneumonia. 1/3 of all pneumonia cases start as flu. Pneumonia can be a killer when you're older. My mother-in-law died from pneumonia.

[harllee]

OP here. Why wouldn't you go to the doctor or urgent care and get the easy fast flu test so you can confirm what you have if the flu and not just a cold. If you know you actually have the flu you can take precautions and stay home. I think I read today that more people die of the flu than car accidents.

[MRG]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissMolly Because as you age flu can go into pneumonia. 1/3 of all pneumonia cases start as flu. Pneumonia can be a killer when you're older. My mother-in-law died from pneumonia.

My DM as well. My GGP both died from the flu, albeit long ago.

[SecondCor521]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpeirce Do people really go to the doctor when they think they have the flu or a bad cold? I suppose if you are at risk for something related or want to give tamilflu a try it might be worth it, but otherwise why go?

Personally I went because I had had chronic sinusitis for the previous 4 months and my symptoms could have been either a return of the sinusitis or the flu or both or something else. If I needed to be on antibiotics, I wanted to start those ASAP. I went, it was the flu, I didn't need to be on antibiotics, and I could do the appropriate home treatment for the flu. I could also stop worrying about a bacterial sinusitis getting out of control.

Another reason for people to go is if they are high risk. Flu can and does kill people, as people have posted above.

Normally I don't. I've been retired for 3 years and other than my annual checkup have only gone to the doctor six times during that period. Five of those visits were related to the sinusitis; the other one was for the flu.

I also don't worry about or judge what others do. It's a mostly free country, and if they want to go to the doctor, they can.

[Aerides]

I never go to the dr for a cold, but if I have a flu I might, and I check my temp to decide. Trouble is, by the time you realize you might have the flu you don't to go anywhere. Last time I had the flu it was mostly over the worst in about 2 days and I mostly slept it off. I stay home for either. If I'm not well, I'm not going out, regardless of diagnosis.

But I'd still get the flu shot. They aren't 100%, but they do reduce a lot of the risk.

[harllee]

OP here, There is a big difference between the flu and a cold. I was fine one hour, the next hour I felt awful and was running 102 temperature. I have never felt this bad with a cold. 80,000 people died of the flu last year. The flu is serious.

[LOL!]

I'm sort of surprised that the physician didn't prescribe Tamiflu for harllee when hubby came down with the flu. The way Tamiflu works is to prevent flu viruses from attaching to one's receptors. So once one has flu symptoms, then it is probably too late to use it.

Being vaccinated against influenza even if the wrong strain can be helpful to reduce the symptoms and shorten the recovery time.

[Teacher Terry]

Last year when I got the flu I lost 14 lbs in a week and my insides hurt for weeks.

[harllee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOL! I'm sort of surprised that the physician didn't prescribe Tamiflu for harllee when hubby came down with the flu. The way Tamiflu works is to prevent flu viruses from attaching to one's receptors. So once one has flu symptoms, then it is probably too late to use it. Being vaccinated against influenza even if the wrong strain can be helpful to reduce the symptoms and shorten the recovery time.

When DH was diagnosed I asked if I should go ahead and take Tamiflu to ward off the flu. I was told they were no longer recommending that for healthy people like myself who had had the vaccine. Lesson learned. If DH ever gets the flu again I am going to insist on Tamiflu for myself.

I feel better this morning, no more temperature and I had a good night's sleep so maybe I am going to have a mild case.

[LOL!]

Good to read that you are on the road to recovery. You can thank your husband for "vaccinating" you a second time.

[Moemg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by harllee OP here, There is a big difference between the flu and a cold. I was fine one hour, the next hour I felt awful and was running 102 temperature. I have never felt this bad with a cold. 80,000 people died of the flu last year. The flu is serious.

I was almost one of them . I got the flu last year and immediately went to the Doctor but I did not get better I got weaker and had problems breathing .I ended up in the hospital for five days and then supplemental oxygen for any exertion for almost five months . I had to go to Pulmonary rehab for four months to regain my strength .A neighbor the same age as me died of the flu last year so at any sign I will be at the Doctor's.

[pacergal]

Influenza is nothing to scoff at, it can be deadly, especially for kids, elderly, and immunocompromised.
Yearly vaccines and excellent hand hygiene can help prevent, but not always. Tamaflu can help decrease severity, but doesn't cure.
OP-- praying that you and DH get back to good health soon.

[Rianne]

I'm OCD about washing hands. I watched my Dr. wash his hands and learned, in between fingers, under finger nails, along the wrist area up the arm. The water washing away the germs does the trick. I bring paper towels to the public bathroom doors to open. I stay away from small children in public.

From NHS.UK
Flu viruses

"Flu viruses capable of being transferred to hands and causing an infection can survive on hard surfaces for 24 hours. Infectious flu viruses can survive on tissues for only 15 minutes.
Like cold viruses, infectious flu viruses survive for much shorter periods on the hands. After 5 minutes the amount of flu virus on hands falls to low levels.
Flu viruses can also survive as droplets in the air for several hours; low temperatures increase their survival in the air.
Parainfluenza virus, which causes croup in children, can survive for up to 10 hours on hard surfaces and up to 4 hours on soft surfaces."

[Hicks3456]

Wife brought flu home to me but did not know she had it. I woke up two Sundays ago and thought I had pneumonia. Went to hospital and they did a nasal Swab (something not fun) and found out I had Type A flu. I asked how I got it since I had flu shot. Over 100 variants of the flu - shot only protects you against 30. Tamiflu for 5 days - feeling better but still have remnants hanging on.

[ExFlyBoy5]

Hey Harllee, how's the DH doing?

[harllee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ExFlyBoy5 Hey Harllee, how's the DH doing?

ExFlyBoy thanks for asking. Both DH and I are still pretty sick. DH is on day 8, I am on day 5. Both of us finished the Tamiflu, not sure it helped and it definitely caused upset stomach. DH is probably no long infectious but the doctor said I was probably infectious for a couple more days.

Both DH and I have been back to the doctor. DH's head is so congested he lost all sense of smell and taste, hearing had become muffled and he started getting dizzy. Doc diagnosed him with sinus infection brought on by the flu and started him on antibiotics. On 2nd day of antibiotics he is seeing some improvements, no more dizziness and can now taste and smell a little. Still waiting on hearing to be resolved.

I started having pain in the sternum area when breathing. So I also went to the doctor. They ruled out pneumonia and think it is a muscle inflammation from coughing.

This flu is just awful. I appreciate everyone's concerns. One silver lining is our great friends and neighbors who have been leaving meals and groceries on our porch. Our goal now is to be well enough to watch the big UNC-Duke basketball rivalry game tomorrow night on TV. Thank heavens this first game is at Duke (we don't have tickets for that one). We have season tickets to all the UNC home games so we have some time to get well enough to attend the 2nd UNC-Duke game. Go Tar Heels!!

[WWDog]

I use echinacea and goldenseal during the cold season. Helps prevent the flu and colds for me. If I feel a tickle in my throat I start zycam and usually don't end up with the flu or cold. Vitamin C also strengths the immune system. Check with you MD to make sure none of these interact with your meds.
Echinacea and Goldenseal

[DeborahB]

I think Tamiflu has to be started early in the flu. If you’re coughing and not sleeping, try Delsym OTC cough syrup. The grape tastes okay. It helps a lot.

[partition1]

I use Oscillococcinum for anything cold/flu-like. I was diagnosed with Chronic Lyme 2.5 yrs ago so am very much aware of homeopathic/natural remedies and the need to avoid a lot of big-pharma meds. DM me for details but the medical community is all about drugs that are more detrimental than beneficial.

i.e Cortisone is not my friend with Lyme