I take the flu vaccine every year because I am terrified of having the flu as I get older. I have had it at least 5x in my life and each time I thought I would surely die. Either the flu mutated or they got it wrong this year! Boom! came on me Monday night very suddenly with nausea and an awful headache. Then up and down all night with stomach flu. Stayed in bed all day long yesterday and only got up for water and back to the bathroom. Woke up 2 days in a row soaking wet with sweat.
As a advocate for chronic pain patients and support of legalization for marijuana. I would like to say that the weed does not take the place of a doctor and should actually be discussed with your doctor. More than likely they will judge by how it affects you either helpful or harmful. After saying that. I had to see the doctor today because this Flu is bigger than marijuana; so that means marijuana is not a treat-all alone with some conditions. I am taking Zofran a medicine that is given to cancer patients and smoking weed and I am still sick as a dog. My doctor told me not to eat anything and only drink water until it's gone. He also believes the duration will be shorter because of my vaccine. Has anybody here been through this and gotten the flu after being vaccinated months prior with a dead virus. MadisonThe so-called "stomach" flu is NOT influenza. The latter, for which you get a vaccine every year, is primarily a respiratory illness and doesn't affect the stomach.
That said, this year's flu vaccine is only 10% effective. So you are still at risk for getting the actual flu.
somebody just shoot me or unplug the machine if I get another flu on top of this.
Ending on a positive note, discussion of weed is on the table for discussion with doctors in Georgia now. They won't shut you down.
I caught the flu on New Year's day and was literally knocked on my ass. I couldn't move from my couch or hold anything down for three days. Completely helpless. Luckily my sister took care of me. My immune system was never the same after that.
I stopped smoking marijuana when I was 20 years old. It's definitely been awhile. I guess pot could help ease the pain if I was sick. Back then I smoked it to get high though.
I have had it through Christmas and New Year's before and it really sucked.
The weed just has stimulated my appetite, so I just went against doctors orders and tried a few salted saltines. If that stays down, I am going for some chicken noodle soup. I had no appetite whatsoever until I had my nightly smoke. I think my doctor would agree to go ahead and try some food to get my energy back!
I came down with the flu (tested positive) on New Years Day, was able to drag my ass to the clinic and get Tamiflu within the recommended window for effectiveness. I missed an entire week at the office and lost 6-8 pounds, and still feel strange. And I got the shot too....
for the Tamiflu because I was too dizzy, sick and dying to just make a phone call. I am always so hard headed like that and just stay in my soaking wet bed suffering and won't call anybody.
Comforting meds and lots of fluid and rest!
Nothing else you can do about it ... if it leads to an infection then Cipro!
Hope you feel better, Maddie!
I promise I am going to get to my emails real soon! Love, Maddie
As someone in the medical field, I will confirm that you are correct: the flu shot is much less effective this year than in years past. The flu shot is cultivated using eggs, and it takes as long as 6 months to produce. Every year, scientists must take their best educated guess as to which strain will be most prevalent, and design the vaccine to guard against it.
Unfortunately, nobody can predict the future. In the case of this year's strain, they did, in fact, miss the mark. And, since it takes so long to make the vaccine, there is no way to make a new one in time if it turns out to be ineffective. However, it is still a good idea to get the shot every year, as it does afford some level of protection. This year has turned out to be one of the worst flu seasons on record, even harking back to the great Spanish Flu epidemic.
All I can say is, I hope you get better soon! There may be no way to guarantee you won't get sick, but some basic housekeeping tips can help. Wash hands often. Keep hand sanitizer close. Clean community surfaces often. Avoid touching your face at all costs without cleaning your hands first.
Bacteria and viruses stick best to moist surfaces, so keep your nose and lips dry as possible in public (to avoid nosebleeds, and cracked lips, use saline spray, and lip balm when at home to repair/prevent the damage this may otherwise cause). If any family member becomes infected, get the dr to write Tamiflu for everybody, as it can be used to not only treat the flu, but prevent healthy people from contracting it as well. Nothing is a guarantee, but constant vigilance can be a great preventive measure.
Stay safe and healthy everyone!
I also remember your profession. Saturday I was exposed to a man that had the flu but claimed he was no longer running a fever (not in this hobby). On Sunday I was exposed to a family member (I have always believed he is a toter and made me ill before) that was sick and said he had a cold. Monday I woke up with the icky feeling in my throat and sneezing like crazy like something had irritated my sinuses through my nostrils. Monday night sick as a dog with stomach problems and I have a cough that is not bad enough to treat. Does that mean I am just getting started with this flu mess and may get sicker, or did it just hit my stomach where my immune system is compromised? Please tell me I am on the up. Love, Maddie
Maddie,
Sorry to hear you got the flu. I’m hoping the worst is over; take care of yourself.
Tartus
thank you so much for the positive vibes! I am waiting it out and still feverish, but just clammy when I wake up now instead of soaking wet. I am keeping liquids down without it shooting out of my ass. I am going to take that as a positive improvement! I will take anything to give me hope right now because my body feels like it is slowly dying a miserable death.
I am sitting down with my emails when the fever is gone. I have not been to my business that I own since Monday. And I would never expose anybody in this hobby to this awful flu.
Thank you for your kind words and encouragement
Maddie
I no longer have to take the Zophran or Immodium. I haven't needed the Tylenol for fever and body aches today. I am mostly dehydrated and eating popsicles and chomping on ice chips is comforting to me. I still don't have much of an appetite; so my doctor is starting me on a short course of prednisone for 3 days to regain my energy and speed up my healing process.
I am hoping to be myself again by tomorrow.
Love,
Maddie
Glad you are on the mend
So sorry Madison. I know the mutations of the flus nowadays are a l,ot worse than "back in my day" Not sure if I'm lucky or just live right (((ummm,,, prolly not!!)) but I have A) never gotten a flu shot and B) haven't had a flu in probably 40 years now (I'm 64)
I had sweats, body ache, headache it was the worst. Interesting since the virus is supposedly dead.
was probably in overdrive fighting something off when you were vaccinated, maybe. I know many people that had an experience like you that it seems too coincidental. I want to trust science to do the very best to protect our health. So I continue to get vaccinated, but did think it strange when my pharmacists wouldn't do it until I was over the crud back in early fall.