Tamiflu

[Karlynn]

Has anyone had experience with Tamiflu? My husband came down with the flu yesterday (low-grade fever, chills, coughing, runny nose) and I'm starting to really panic about getting it. My busiest week and a half of the year is starting (Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Easter) and I'm petrified of getting the flu. Was wondering if I should call my doc about getting an Rx of it.

 

[DeWayne]

I get a flu shot each year now because of the valve replacement. They highly reccomend it. I have never had any reaction to it personally, just a prick and I am on my way. In fact I don't think I have even had a cold the last 2 winters.

 

[Karlynn]

Kind of "funny", last year was my 1st flu shot ever. (I didn't get one this year. ) Last year, with the flu shot - I got the flu 2 times. It was the first I'd had the flu in at least 10 years and I had flu-like symptoms for 3 days with the shot. So I see what you're saying, but right now, if I'd had the flu shot, I'd still not feel safe. I'm glad that you have done well with the shots.

 

[Lisa in Katy]

When my daughter got the flu this year, the pediatrician recommended that everyone in the family go on Tamiflu as a preventative. He prescribed it for my son, but my husband and I had to get it from our doctors. When I called the Cardiologist's office, the doctor said that he didn't think it was necessary unless I was showing symptoms.

BTW, according to the Pediatrician, the flu shot this year (that both my kids got) was useless for the most part. Both the Type A and Type B flu strains that people were getting were NOT covered by the vaccine. It's a guessing game, and this year, they guessed wrong.

 

[hensylee]

we keep zi-cam and zinc lozenges on hand all the time, just in case.

Daughter in Atlanta area came down with it yesterday. Her sons both have it, too.

 

[Karlynn]

Ann, running out to replenish my Zi-cam is on the list of thing to do today. I still have about 4 swabs. I don't know if it helps the flu, but since it seems to be giving my hubby some upper respiratory symptoms, it's worth a try.

 

[Bina]

Karlynn, can't you just quarantine hubby....move him into the garage or shed??

Seriously, my neighbour got the flu shot last fall, she was so sick with the flu a couple of weeks ago that she was in the ER twice. Her hubby didn't get the flu shot, cared for her day and night for 12 days and now he is sick, although not nearly as bad off as she was...more like a bad, achey cold for him.

Tips: hubby and you can wear germ masks. Once a day open the window or door and ventilate the area
(I know its cold, but do it). Wash hands several times a day. Get those Lysol wipes and wipe all handles, remotes, phones, bathing areas etc. Get lots of rest. Good Luck.

 

[Freddie]

Buckleys, in the pill form. Of course I can't take it anymore, but I feel its the best thing on the market for a long lasting relief for cold or flu symptoms.

 

[Susan BAV]

No tamiflu experience, nor flu shot experience here, but...

No tamiflu experience, nor flu shot experience here, but...

Sorry Karlynn; I really hope you don't get the flu. My husband has also come down with some awful hacking, snorting crud and I'm freaked about getting it also. His nose and coughs keep going off like a lawn sprinkler, spraying all kinds of germaphobic-frightening bugs .

And we've repeatedly been around a couple of people with pneumonia recently--kind of had to be around them. One of them had received the flu shot and the pneumonia shot in her nursing home. I did hear that the flu vaccine this year only covered 40% of the flus that are going around though--if there is any truth to that. Like, how can they know that for sure?

Drink a lot of fluids and try to get lots of rest and I've personally been eating mounds of carrots and eating fresh berries and spraying salt water up my poor nose . One of my friends has an old Mexican remedy and she squeezes one lime and adds one teaspoon of salt and a shot of tequila (I wouldn't make that up because I don't like salt in my margaritas!) and drinks it twice each day when ill and claims it works.

Like Bina said, air those rooms out your husband has been germing up also. And wash, wash, wash and keep your fingers away from your eyes and nose.

Many people can't take echenacia (sp?) so be careful with what you experiment with in taking certain things/remedies--it has made me get very much worse the few times I tried it!

 

[Wise]

My stepdaughter, her husband and son took tamiflu on their second day of having the flu. They were only very ill for about three days, so it seemed to nip it in the bud. Our granddaughter took it at the same time as a preventative. She never got the flu. That's the only experience I know of regarding tamiflu.

Prayers and best wishes for Glen's quick recovery and that you'll stay healthy.

 

[Bina]

Susan, I know too well the lime and Tequila remedy!!
It probably has absolutely no medicinal value, but you get too drunk to give a s--t
Better to stick with vitamins and lots of rest.

 

[Susan BAV]

Susan, I know too well the lime and Tequila remedy!!
It probably has absolutely no medicinal value, but you get too drunk to give a s--t
Better to stick with vitamins and lots of rest.

Actually, when I heard it, I wondered if it didn't just practically knock a person out so they'd have to rest .

And that's one thing I do wrong nearly each time I'm on the verge of getting ill. I get to thinking, "Oh no, I can't get ill; I have a zillion things to do so I'd better get them done quickly before I get ill!" Then I race around and get those zillion things done and then I get Really Ill!

So I think there's a lot of wisdom in getting extra rest when person is beginning to get ill.

 

[MikeHeim]

To address one of the notes here - flu shots are not (nor are they advertised to be) 100% effective. Very early in the flu season, the active strains are identified and the flu shot is designed to attack them specifically. If other strains show up, or the active strains mutate, the flu shot will not protect against them. I heard that this year has been really bad in that the flu shot will only protect against 30-40% of the active strains. I believe other years the percentage is typically much higher.

 

[njean]

When my daughter got the flu this year, the pediatrician recommended that everyone in the family go on Tamiflu as a preventative. He prescribed it for my son, but my husband and I had to get it from our doctors. When I called the Cardiologist's office, the doctor said that he didn't think it was necessary unless I was showing symptoms.

BTW, according to the Pediatrician, the flu shot this year (that both my kids got) was useless for the most part. Both the Type A and Type B flu strains that people were getting were NOT covered by the vaccine. It's a guessing game, and this year, they guessed wrong.

I get the flu shot every year; I got mine the fall/07 & I was down w/the flu for 3-weeks the beginning of this year! I got so sick I thought I was going to die, coughing, chest congestion; terrible!

 

[kfay]

My kids have had the flu the last 2 years. Both times I took them in and got them a script for tamiflu. For my kids, it is a miracle drug. Within 24 hours of taking it, their fever is completely gone and they feel 100% better and are able to return to school. You have to start taking it within 48 hours of your first symptoms so it may not be too late for your husband. My kids Dr. always writes scripts for my husband and I too. I have never needed to take mine because I never got the flu from them but my husband, being a man and all (sorry guys), just knew he was getting sick (never did) and took his both times. Good luck and wash those hands!

 

[Karlynn]

One of my friends has an old Mexican remedy and she squeezes one lime and adds one teaspoon of salt and a shot of tequila (I wouldn't make that up because I don't like salt in my margaritas!) and drinks it twice each day when ill and claims it works.

I think I've find my new cure-all!

Thanks for the advice everyone. I woke up at 3 this morning and thought "What the heck am I doing sleeping in the same room with this Germ Bag?" and I moved to the recliner in the family room.

I really do seem to be able to fight off a lot of stuff that my DH comes down with, but I'm just afraid this is going to be the time I don't. I have, so far, been charting and arranging 17 pieces of music for the 3 services I'm responsible for next week. Then there's rehearsing all of it with my music team. And currently I'm the only paid music staff for the worship I'm involved with! If I had an accompanist I could count on to step in if I'm not able - I wouldn't be as worried. But I'm also currently the accompanist. (I just interviewed someone on Sunday but still have to do a try-out week with him.)

I got my Zicam Ann. Don't know if it will help, but it can't hurt!

 

[Lorraine]

Karlynn,

Just wanted to let you know, that I got the flu shot and came down with the flu end of Dec into Jan. I had ot for three weeks. My started out in my ears and throat and went down to my chest into bronchitis. That appears to be the strain everyone in our area is getting. Either it stays local or travels to the bronchial or lungs. My neighbor/boss has had it for over three weeks. She got a flu shot last fall too. All our docotr could say and what was written in the newspaper is that the flu that everyone is getting, is a strain that was not covered by the shot. So it would not have matter if you did get a shot. So with that in mind stay far away from your hubby and wash your hands a lot. Thing is, this kind is traveling through the air. I hope your husband doesn't have it that long, and I will pray that you did not catch it. Luckily when I caught it, I was still on medical leave for my heart attack so I didn't miss work.

 

[bvdr]

Actually, when I heard it, I wondered if it didn't just practically knock a person out so they'd have to rest .

And that's one thing I do wrong nearly each time I'm on the verge of getting ill. I get to thinking, "Oh no, I can't get ill; I have a zillion things to do so I'd better get them done quickly before I get ill!" Then I race around and get those zillion things done and then I get Really Ill!

So I think there's a lot of wisdom in getting extra rest when person is beginning to get ill.

Susan, I do the same thing! I don't rest well in a room that isn't clean and tidy. So if I don't feel good then I work like crazy to get my work done and maybe even a quick run to the grocery store so I can rest. When I'm doing it I know how silly it seems but I've done it for so long I probably won't ever change.

Karlyn, My grandson Cole is just getting back on his feet after a long bout of the flu. At first they didn't think it was the flu but rather his asthma acting up. He finally had a flu test and they started him on Tamiflu but I don't know if it was early enough to do any good. I hope your hubby is all better and you don't come down with it. Tom had the flu shot but I neglected to get one.
Do you have to play special music for a lot of programs over Easter?

 

[azpam]

I can't stress enought to build up your immune system all year round! Eating healthy fruits/vegetables and stay away from the processed foods and "junk" foods. (You know what they are! I don't have to tell you).Wash hands frequently (don't forget the kids!!) Especially during the flu/cold season wipe down those grocery cart handles with lysol wipes,take bio-available natural supplements that can boost immune system, and I wear an around the neck air purifier when going to grocery stores,dr. appts,etc etc.....(email me if interested in more information.) I am a home health nurse and wear it into patients homes. It protects me from them and them from me! Nothing is 100% but doing some of the simple things daily CAN help keep you healthy.

 

[ruthienc1]

may be helpful!

may be helpful!

My husband (cardiologist) has me on Tamiflu prophylactically (started a couple of weeks ago) until the end of flu season. He also had me get a 2nd flu shot in Feb. since I got the first one quite early. With my lung stuff, flu is bad! Flu here in NC has been everywhere! So far, so good!