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Ohio

Not sure if I spelled that right but was wondering if anyone had this this year, or any of the flus the world is worried about? Is the h1n1 in your area that you know about? I dont know of anyone personal that has had it yet.

Im just now getting over the (walking pneumonia) and I would never wish this on my worst enemy , probably the sickest I have ever felt in my life, felt like every time I breathed I was inhaling and exhaling old rusty nails.

Im about 80% better now and hope I NEVER get this again. The only thing Im waiting to get back is my voice.
I did Breathing treatments, antibiotics, the whole 9 yards.

How many of you growers believe in the flu or Pneumonia shots? I get the regular flu shot every year because of where I work, but passed on the pneumonia and h1n1 shots.

Hope everyone is feeling healthy and stays healthy through out the year. And if you think you can never get sick with something like this like I did, you might just be mistaken, cause I never get sick,,I thought.

1/16/2010 7:47:03 AM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

I have asthma and about 6 or 7 years ago I came down with influenza on top of it. Breathing was a terrible struggle. My doctor gave me a prescription for flumadine, similar to tamiflu and it cleared it up in about 3 days. Since then I get the annual flu shot every year, as so far it has worked. I did not get the H1N1 shot, as I am concerned that they rushed it out too fast.

For anyone with other risk factors like asthma I definitely recommend the flu shot. The people who die from flu are usually those with asthma or other chronic conditions.

1/16/2010 8:02:04 AM

Sophia WV

Brooks and Iowegian best wishs to you both my mother has been sick lately with bronchitous and flu.Speedy recoverys guys

1/16/2010 8:08:32 AM

Minnesota

I believe in excersize and eating well, I had a little cold so far this winter.Your body needs excersize and the nutrition to do it, it will get week and subjective if you don't.

1/16/2010 8:49:37 AM

Minnesota

Not that I do it allt the time,,those are the facts mam.

1/16/2010 8:50:37 AM

Stockbridge, MI

Brooks, I am a surviver of the H1N1 flu. I got it mid November (right in the middle of deer season) and it was the sickest I ever remember being. It comes with a fever for 5 days and body aches like you've been weeding the patch all day. It kept me off work for a full 2 weeks. I did not get a flu shot this year but I will be 1st in line to get one next year when they come available. I don't ever want to get that stuff again, yuck.

1/16/2010 9:54:55 AM

SE Minnesota

Not too late to get the flu shots guys...flu season is not over...the H1N1 hit early this year...and we are just now starting to get into prime flu season...Brooks I believe you are probably too young for the pneumonia vaccine...where I work we only offer it to people over the age of 65...
Glad to hear you are feeling better...any of those respiratory illnesses are never fun to have and or take care of...
Jim

1/16/2010 10:15:11 AM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

H1N1 confirmed here early Oct, laid everyone low for about 3 months. It went through the schools in Nov--it was bad. Oh, they sent 300 doses of kid nasal vaccine; for THREE counties to share... I think 4-5 kids here got some.

I had bronchitis once for almost a month before I took self to doc (had just turned 18)...and three times since. In 2004 I had walking for 4 1/2 months before flu on top of it finally forced me in... (that is what doc Told me) I am considered top risk now for getting the shots...

I get them. This year- regular flu, pneumo, and H1N1 (by the time we got adult doses it was almost through). I had HongKong flu in the 1960's and was told I had partial immunity to H1N1 because of that... !!! It's thought hubby did get H1N1 by symptoms, he was bad off for 4 days and not good for a few weeks. They quit trying to confirm and count cases by then.

Get the shots or not get the shots? Get the shots. Unless you're known to have allergies to eggs, get the shots.

1/16/2010 10:17:58 AM

milford, CT,

Brooks..I had Pneumonia 3 weeks ago..... still recuperating. I teach 8th Grade and have had 6 students get H1N1. We live in Connecticut. Mark

1/16/2010 10:47:20 AM

milford, CT,

Brooks..I am just like you ..I have never been truly sick in my life. I had a 105 fever and the pain was like being stuck with a pitch fork in the chest everytime I coughed.I was laid up for 12 days, lost 20 lbs, and spent 1 day in the hospital. You're right that I wouldn't even wish this on my worst enemy..made me think a lot about how we often take for granted being healthy. Mark

1/16/2010 10:54:23 AM

Eastern Washington State

Flu is unpredictable. We all got it here in late September, and it was totally mild. The girls had temps, ect for maybe four days, and were basically back to normal in 10. I had a asthmatic cough for three weeks. Wife had the sniffles. Only remarkable thing was how contagious it was and how rapidly it came on.

When I was 27 I had a case of the regular flu that would certainly have killed me if I had been elderly or infirm. Since then most years I get a flu shot. Totally worth it in my book.

1/16/2010 11:31:18 AM

Eastern Washington State

It's probably good to distinguish between the flu and pneumonia. You can certainly get pneumonia without the flu. However the flu probably often leads to bacterial pneumonia, so a flu shot is a good bet even without the pneumonia vaccine.

1/16/2010 11:38:27 AM

Columbus,ohio

I had the flu in October. It stunk, not the sickest I ever bin. I don get flu shots. We dont really trust them.

1/16/2010 11:43:41 AM

Ohio

bigbuck, I didnt know that about the pneumonia shots, and have noticed that only the older people usually are the ones that get them. I wonder if someone like me could get that shot next year since I did get sick with it this year?

Mark, Im in your boat, I work around 2700 inmates everyday that walk around coughing,spitting, and some other things I can mention on this family site, but all you have to do is touch a door handle where I work and you got something you dont want.
We do always wear the rubber gloves when we shake inmates property and person down every time, but sometimes that dont always help. Its hard to be 100% clean free when your in a environment with as many people as you and I are around.

1/16/2010 11:45:09 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

We've been lucky here Brooks (knock on wood) and our family has not had any flu symptoms this year.

The H1N1 is a bad one and lots of folks had it in our area and unfortunately there were several deaths. Those deaths included teenagers and healthy young adults so it is pretty unpredictable. A buddy of mine had it for about a week and he said it was the sickest he has ever felt.

On a side note to Okie...who ever told you that you that you had "partial immunity to H1N1" is a totally wacked out crazy nut...in fact, if it was your family Doctor...I'd suggest changing your Dr. right away...that is just pure fantasy.

And Brooks...stop playing cards with the inmates and wear gloves all the time!!

1/16/2010 12:02:01 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

That was from the authorities... there was a version of this that went around late 50s and early 60's; last gasp of that one was the 'Hong Kong Flu'. If you were old enough to have had that one; your odds are better that you wouldn't get the present H1N1. And it was a real (deleted) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Influenza_A_virus_subtype_H3N2

I am not going to argue if I didn't get it when my hubby did (H1N1). I got my shot after cases seem to have dropped off here when they got the shots.

1/16/2010 12:14:31 PM

SE Minnesota

lots of information on both sides whether you get the immunizations or not...some people are totally against the idea and while I don't agree with it I'm not going to fault them...all I would say is protect yourself...rest...eat your fruits and veggies...drink plenty of fluids... and Brooks make sure you wash those hands

1/16/2010 12:30:55 PM

[email protected]

The Flu's hit hard our way also. One of my workers, children caught H1N1 and this went through his family, (all but one) so as soon as his child was diagnosed with it, we gave him time off, After he came back, said it was pure Nasty, said he would rather be a punching bag.
I believe there have been 63 deaths in Alberta from H1N1,
North Shore, Okie is right, there were 3 or 4 strains of a similar flue, in the last 80 years which did carry some of the same Traits, Actually the shot you receive for H1N1, was derived from strains of the older flues, this is why they were so quick in developing the flu shot.

1/16/2010 12:34:31 PM

SE Minnesota

Don't quote me on this but far more people die from regular strains of the flu than the H1N1..the problem with the H1N1 is that it can be very hard on healthy people and there is no reason as to why it hits one person REALLY hard and the next person only has mild symptoms. IMO that is why this one is a little scary...

1/16/2010 1:06:37 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Sure, I'm aware of that Eddy but there is no immunity to H1N1 and to think your protected from it is just not true.

1/16/2010 1:07:05 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Well it missed me so I am grateful.

1/16/2010 1:13:30 PM

[email protected]

I got the H1N1 vaccine (live shot - not inhale) a few weeks ago despite their being a short supply. The Dr's wanted people with chronic illnesses moved up in priority. I do have MS but it's never affected my breathing. Until now....WOW. My son & I are both being treated for bronchitis is cold that his doc thinks its viral in origin. Whatever the source, Stephen has lost at least 1 or more days of school each of the past 3 weeks due to a recurring 103F fever. I blasted his pediatrician on the phone but he's not to blame. I can't breathe but my temp never exceeds 97.6F. Ever.

Go figure.

The locals are very concerned that H1N1 has already morphed into a resistant strain since early victims are coming down with it a second time.

1/16/2010 2:06:49 PM

British Columbia, Canada

I got hit with H1N1 3 times this year, and I blame it all on the filthy schools.

-June 10th.
-September 15th.
-October 5th.

Funny thing is, I didn't get sick at all durning Summer when school was off.
Sometimes I hate human civilisation...

1/16/2010 2:09:08 PM

Bloomington, IN

Early last July I came down with what I believe to have been some kind of flu. Mild body aches all over with a fever of 102. I foolishly tried to get some stuff done in the garden but couldn't because I kept getting really light headed in the heat and sun and figure it wasn't worth the risk of passing out in the heat with no one around. That was the first and only time I've ever had the flu in the middle of the summer. I was really worried at first because just a few days prior to me getting sick the first person in Indiana to die of h1n1 was reported a few counties over, the victim being a 19 year old boy. I'm a 19 year old boy, and I hardly ever get sick. Fortunately for me it didn't last long, with the fever going away after two days and the aches disappearing the third day. I think it might've just been the regular flu, figuring it has to survive from winter to winter somehow, but theres no real way to know for sure.

1/16/2010 2:39:50 PM

[email protected]

These "filthy schools" are only partly to blame. The janitorial staff that I know uses antibacterial cleaners by the drum. They intentionally leave a nasty haze (looks sloppy) on everything claiming "residual effectiveness". What about the little kids?

Parents share the blame when we send sick kids to school only to breed more illnesses.

It's the same with Ag Chems. As soon as we have a new product to use, the target moves again. Catch 22.

1/16/2010 3:24:23 PM

montgomery,AL

Al. was the last state still showing wide spread H1N1. Was down graded yesterday. I got flu shot -free at county health department. but I believe had already had it.

1/16/2010 4:29:59 PM

Eastern Washington State

You only get a given strain of flu once. After that you have lasting immunity (like chicken pox). Last time I checked almost everyone was part of the filthy human civilization, with the arguable exception of the kind of people Brooks manages.
Simple fact is that people spread germs that infect people, so ash your hands and avoid small children. Easier said than done for me given that two of those little disease vectors are the most important people in the world to me, lol.
I think the stats that have come in suggest that H1N1 is hugely contagious given that most folks don't have immunity, but despite that your odds of dying are less than most strains of the regular flu. But of course that still leaves plenty of people dead all the same. In contrast to H1N1, if the H5N1 (bird flu) ever starts spreading it could be really, really bad.

1/16/2010 6:16:36 PM

For 3 or so months I have been taking airborne. I have not gotten sick since starting it.

Martin

1/16/2010 7:33:18 PM

Columbus,ohio

My school shut down for a day since so many techers where sick. I go a small charter school, and we have subs by way of a techers off period. There werent enough off periods to cover it. So we took a day off and I was sick the next week. I dont think you can blame everything on the schools.

1/16/2010 9:43:51 PM

Ohio

I dont know Peep, it takes about 2 or so weeks sometimes to notice systems of catching the flu. I think the more group of people you have in one area all the time the better chances are for it to spread(thats why they close schools down in some cases).
No doubt thats how this stuff spreads so fast across the world I think, like people traveling, airports and such. Stay healthy everyone, growing season will be here before ya know it!!

Now if I could just get my voice back and Ill be raring to go! (and thats what is starting to get annoying!) I go to Docs on Tuesday for what Im hoping is my last follow up.
One thing I learned from a buddy I email with often who has had pneumonia said, even though you feel 100% right after being sick, dont let your body fool yourself like I did that your feeling better.
I did some stuff in the basement yesterday for about 20 minutes and found out quick the body still needs recovery time,felt like I ran a mile sprint and hardly did anything. I think it will take another week or more (like he said) to where a person can feel totally 100 percent better again....pneumonia ain't no joke thats for sure.

1/17/2010 4:42:02 AM

Elmira, N,Y,

well It missed me NOCK ON WOOD, it realy has'nt hit to
hard around hear, I never got a flu shot this year my sister and mom did but my sister has Juvenile diabetes so she need it, I said the hell with it I don't go any where, ever since I have this back pain its to hard to travel. witch the doctor now says Iam disabled and may be this way for the rest of my life.

1/17/2010 4:48:44 AM

Portsmouth, RI

I had pneumonia last year for the first time, in both my lungs. I started coughing up blood. I'm also a janitor in a school, they took away are good disinfectant cleaner this year and now we have to use environmentally safe cleaners. They are suppose to kill all germs on contact but they also say if you drank the cleaner it wouldn't harm you, so figure that one out? Bob

1/17/2010 8:31:40 AM

Massillon, Ohio

First thing, schools aren't filthy. You cannot get H1N1 three times; you are immune after the first time!

Do kids come to school when sick? YES. And that is what spreads germs. People need to STAY home when sick.

Oh yeah and when it is 13 degrees outside I see kids waiting for the school bus in T-shirts and no coats. I'm sure that does nothing to weaken their immune systems. NOT.

I have gotten my flu shot RELIGIOUSLY since 3rd grade and it has made all the difference in the world. I got the shot again this year and the H1N1 shot the minute it became available to me. They gave the shot to anyone at the school who's parents signed their permission forms. I'd say 50 % of kids got the shot that day.

Sorry to get all fired up and write a book. I am a major germ-phob and am known as the Lysol / Purrell Queen. Yes my state (Ohio) outlawed Purrell last year in the schools! EEEK!! But then they switched the ruling. PHEW.

1/17/2010 9:14:59 AM

milford, CT,

In my classroom the school provides us with Purel dispensers and the janatorial staff cleans our rooms daily...teachers also clean the desks daily.. Don't be so hard on the janitors..if you put 600-800 kids together 5 days a week there are always going to be some sick kids...also..the H1N1 is an airborne virus..Dealing with colds and Flu's come with the job if you are a teacher. BUT..if this is not the case in the school your kids go to...be an advocate for your kids and go talk whomever is the head of your school PTA..they have more say than you think..Mark

1/17/2010 10:52:40 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Christy, was Purrell banned because they wanted to use alcohol free solutions?

1/17/2010 11:42:47 AM

San Diego

I got the piggy flu in June, ended up in the hospital for 4 days. It was quite scary. I've had health problems in the past so it hit me like a train. God was watching over me. I went to the ER one day, sent home, went back next day and doctor said my blood work changed so extreme in one day that I would have been dead if I was older. 4 days of iv antibiotics. 103 fever, aches real bad, shakes, severe naseau, and extremely bad diarrhea. Most regular flu's don't give you diarrhea, but the swine flu does in many people. The bug attacks in a weak area, for me my gut, I got a massive infection instantly. It was right in the middle of my pumpkin season last year:)

1/17/2010 12:05:05 PM

Sacramento, Ca

Does anyone remember the 1976 swine flu outbreak? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1976_swine_flu_outbreak I was in the Army then stationed in Ft. Rucker Al. They made all of us get the shot on a Friday. That weekend a bunch of us went to Panama City Fl. Everyone one of us got sick from the shot. We all laid up in the hotel room all weekend and were lucky to make it back to our base by Monday. Now, you could not pay me to take another swine flu vaccine and I meet many different people everyday during the course of business. A lot of people will say that a vaccine cannot make you sick and that may be true for some. As for me, I had it happen and saw it happen.

1/17/2010 12:51:56 PM

Hamilton Nj

brooks my mom has had walking nemomnia for a month , every time she gets a cold she gets it im trying to convince her to get a flwew shot !!!!!!! pizza

1/17/2010 1:55:33 PM

Massillon, Ohio

North Shore,

Purrell was banned because of "Jarod's Law". He was a kindergartener who died when a lunch table collapsed on him. Basically it was a law to protect kids from dangers at school. They put way more things on the banned list than just lunch tables and required your school to be inpected every year. That didnt last long (not enough $$ I guess). Purrell was originally banned because they said kids could accidentally drink it and die. Then they came to their senses one short year later and realized it's better killing germs than killing kids (j/kidding LOL).

1/18/2010 8:55:32 AM

Bethel Ohio

Being nearly 63 years old, I heartily believe in the flu shots, pneumonia shots and any preventive card I can do. About 6 weeks ago, despite all the flu shots, pneumonia shot last year, I developed a particularily ugly upper respiratory infection. You are correct in the coughing up rusty nails analagy. It damm near killed me. I coughed about onec every minute for 36 hours,till my diaphram hurt so much I could barely draw a breath. So, no matter what u do to prevent these illnesses, seems there is always another "Bug" around the corner to slow u down and make you realize your not invinceable

1/20/2010 9:12:22 PM