General Discussion

Rainforestgoddess

(436 posts)

94. Excellent advice.

Tue Oct 7, 2014, 03:51 PM

Oct 2014

When I was a healthy young mom in my early 30's, I contracted influenza. I have never been so sick in my life. I was home alone with my kids when the fever hit. I emailed my mom and looking back at it, it was complete gibberish. I put the baby (about 4 months old at the time) into a jolly jumper to keep her safe and let the 5 year old watch her while I got myself into a tepid bath. My fever was 106. Scary. My dad came and got me and the kids.

Luckily, the kids didn't get it.

At the same time, a friend got it, and ended up with severe heart damage. He was also a healthy person in his 30's, and passed away from heart disease within 5 years of getting the flu.

Needless to say, I get my vaccination every year, and thinking your age or physical fitness level will protect you is willfully ignorant.

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Get Your Flu Shot, Folks! [View all] MineralMan Oct 2014 OP

This is very good advice.. Peacetrain Oct 2014 #1

It will also help not over run our health care system by getting sick and needing care. uppityperson Oct 2014 #2

Yes, and it will help avoid spreading the flu MineralMan Oct 2014 #4

Improve herd health, save taxpayer and insurance premium dollars and lost work time. kestrel91316 Oct 2014 #74

+1 pinto Oct 2014 #3

No way. zappaman Oct 2014 #5

you are kidding, right? mopinko Oct 2014 #9

Adult-onset autism is the worst kind. Liberal Veteran Oct 2014 #18

tohs ulf a tog I . sdrawkcab epyt uoy sekeam tI uppityperson Oct 2014 #25

sdrow llepssim uoy sekam osla Voice for Peace Oct 2014 #72

spoo uppityperson Oct 2014 #78

(: Voice for Peace Oct 2014 #80

What do I od ot ekam eht sdrow backsdraw? fadedrose Oct 2014 #233

Especially when combined with Alzheimer's. Enthusiast Oct 2014 #171

no way for me also EVER!!!!!! onecent Oct 2014 #73

Serious? Nt Logical Oct 2014 #93

Why not? They have that awesome SXSW thing every year. Warren DeMontague Oct 2014 #138

You BetterBelieveIt! ChisolmTrailDem Oct 2014 #213

Costco's doing them for $15. n/t winter is coming Oct 2014 #6

That's a good deal if your insurance doesn't cover it. MineralMan Oct 2014 #7

Got it with my physical this month - TBF Oct 2014 #8

Thanks, I do need to do that. herding cats Oct 2014 #10

Dont' insurance companies pay for it via ACA? Not sure about employer ones uppityperson Oct 2014 #11

ACA compliant policies cover it. MineralMan Oct 2014 #12

Thank you, that is what I thought and meant. I almost bought 1 at pharmacy but remembered uppityperson Oct 2014 #13

I'm glad you got one. MineralMan Oct 2014 #14

Me too as it sets off my asthma in a really bad way, prefer to avoid that and the resulting pnumoni uppityperson Oct 2014 #19

there's a vaccine for pneumoni too. notadmblnd Oct 2014 #32

I have had that but unfortunately there are lots of microscopic critters that like to live in uppityperson Oct 2014 #39

And shingles sarge43 Oct 2014 #64

Did you get your shingles shot? HockeyMom Oct 2014 #146

You might get a second opinion on that 10% thing Hekate Oct 2014 #167

Yes I did. sarge43 Oct 2014 #174

Very painful. nt littlemissmartypants Oct 2014 #184

Extremely painful sarge43 Oct 2014 #188

Then he was damn lucky. kiva Oct 2014 #236

I believe all insurance companies have to cover preventative care via ACA Quixote1818 Oct 2014 #160

I just did. For free as I'm on Medicare... CTyankee Oct 2014 #15

Allow me to be a dissenting voice. R.Quinn Oct 2014 #16

Do as you please. MineralMan Oct 2014 #17

So you are going to infect everyone around you as well geek tragedy Oct 2014 #20

Wait! That poster won't get the flu! He never gets the flu. MineralMan Oct 2014 #22

Hey now R.Quinn Oct 2014 #24

Well, see, I was wondering why you bothered to come into MineralMan Oct 2014 #26

It was R.Quinn Oct 2014 #33

Well, see, you haven't provided a good reason. MineralMan Oct 2014 #34

My reason R.Quinn Oct 2014 #45

Well, I'm glad to hear that you're OK with thousands of people dying. MineralMan Oct 2014 #51

You misunderstood me. R.Quinn Oct 2014 #55

Cool! MineralMan Oct 2014 #56

I suggest that you read "The Great Influenza" GoneOffShore Oct 2014 #65

I completely respect your point of view Voice for Peace Oct 2014 #91

Seriously, this is a video you might want to watch, 50 million people died from the flu. RKP5637 Oct 2014 #179

A healthy male in his early twenties Voice for Peace Oct 2014 #83

I am volunteering for your campaign. nt littlemissmartypants Oct 2014 #185

Approx. 150,000 people die every day dumbcat Oct 2014 #95

I respect your love of statistics and have heard that death rattle. nt littlemissmartypants Oct 2014 #186

You skip the polio vac too? nt Logical Oct 2014 #99

He apparently doesn't know about or believe in herd immunity. kestrel91316 Oct 2014 #79

If you work with the young, elderly or immuno-compromised, you are putting them in danger. KitSileya Oct 2014 #206

The flu can leave you feeling like crap for about a month. Liberal Veteran Oct 2014 #36

The flaw in your reasoning... trotsky Oct 2014 #52

^This^ GoneOffShore Oct 2014 #66

+1,000,000 ... 000 HuckleB Oct 2014 #105

Thank you. nt littlemissmartypants Oct 2014 #187

You Are New RobinA Oct 2014 #67

I think people here at DU tend to have several common characteristics: hedgehog Oct 2014 #200

In That Case RobinA Oct 2014 #211

Hope you've got a time machine and a box of disinfecting wipes. politicat Oct 2014 #144

The thing is laundry_queen Oct 2014 #162

And that's the Gods own truth, LQ. Hekate Oct 2014 #168

You take care too. laundry_queen Oct 2014 #175

Another cough-variant asthmatic here distantearlywarning Oct 2014 #230

Yes, it's strange how an illness can trigger it laundry_queen Oct 2014 #238

I am the same way HockeyMom Oct 2014 #139

Because the flu never changes does it? Union Scribe Oct 2014 #161

In high school I met a friend's sister who got mumps encephalitis. She was blind ... Hekate Oct 2014 #169

My parents vaccinated me HockeyMom Oct 2014 #178

People who are born rich think they got that way by being smarter & working harder than poor people Hekate Oct 2014 #212

How can he infect you Pharaoh Oct 2014 #43

He can infect someone who is unable to take a flu shot or GoneOffShore Oct 2014 #118

No vaccine is 100% effective. Mariana Oct 2014 #119

plus Pharaoh Oct 2014 #137

I got my first flu shot this summer. cali Oct 2014 #21

I get a shot ever year and have a reaction. Liberal Veteran Oct 2014 #31

Which can happen... 3catwoman3 Oct 2014 #59

Woe, oh woe, I say, Woe! uppityperson Oct 2014 #62

THankfully, my doctor has a fainting counch. eggplant Oct 2014 #203

I thought the flu shot was only good for three months. peace13 Oct 2014 #115

I don't know. I was in the office end of August, and that's when they gave it to me. cali Oct 2014 #121

Nope. Good for a year or more - always has been. Ms. Toad Oct 2014 #149

Only 60% ? nt littlemissmartypants Oct 2014 #190

Yes. Some studies have found even lower. Ms. Toad Oct 2014 #196

Same here. Xithras Oct 2014 #48

LOL, just fucking with us? nt Logical Oct 2014 #98

Only a bit. Xithras Oct 2014 #111

Only 10% of polio cases cause any issues. Skip that one also? nt Logical Oct 2014 #116

You don't need a needle laundry_queen Oct 2014 #163

And the mist is highly recommended. nt littlemissmartypants Oct 2014 #191

It's you right to be a Typhoid Mary for flu. Enjoy your status. It's a real kestrel91316 Oct 2014 #77

You are a real drama writer. What do you want to upaloopa Oct 2014 #110

I bet two ebola cases and raise you a polio. nt littlemissmartypants Oct 2014 #192

Betting on people's health is such a fun thing to do. HuckleB Oct 2014 #210

No we are not betting on health we are betting upaloopa Oct 2014 #217

What did I say? HuckleB Oct 2014 #218

Lol, not a deep thinker I assume? nt Logical Oct 2014 #97

Get your shot. NuclearDem Oct 2014 #100

A good immune system doesn't always help with the flu gollygee Oct 2014 #107

With some strains of flu a strong immune system can actually make it worse. The Velveteen Ocelot Oct 2014 #117

Yep, exactly. nt laundry_queen Oct 2014 #164

I agree with you upaloopa Oct 2014 #109

You are lucky to be so healthy, but lunamagica Oct 2014 #113

+100. nt ecstatic Oct 2014 #114

I got the flu shot today because I care about other people, you apparently don't... Humanist_Activist Oct 2014 #136

my 40 year old cousin ... flu ... pneunomia ... death tandot Oct 2014 #153

At the end of the day? Heidi Oct 2014 #180

An accurate example of the post-hoc-ergo prompter-hoc fallacy. LanternWaste Oct 2014 #215

Got mine, along with my pneumonia vaccine, a couple of weeks ago. WillowTree Oct 2014 #23

Good. I got my pneumonia shot a couple of years ago. MineralMan Oct 2014 #29

Mine said 5 years, and my last one was at least that long ago. WillowTree Oct 2014 #41

Hmm...I'll have to check on that. Mine was three years ago. MineralMan Oct 2014 #42

The good news is that you have at least two years to check it out. LOL!! WillowTree Oct 2014 #50

I asked my new dr. about that, I could not remember how far back my last one was. He said it RKP5637 Oct 2014 #61

Stay safe! MineralMan Oct 2014 #63

I got my flu shot last week Gothmog Oct 2014 #27

Got mine! get the red out Oct 2014 #28

Yay! MineralMan Oct 2014 #30

Done! The university I work at offered them at work for free. It's awesome. I wish catbyte Oct 2014 #35

Good job! I like those workplace clinics. MineralMan Oct 2014 #38

Haven't had flu since the Hong Kong Flu in 1969 Lebam in LA Oct 2014 #37

The flu is different every year. MineralMan Oct 2014 #40

I got Hong Kong flu during that epidemic, too. The Velveteen Ocelot Oct 2014 #112

My family had that Hong Kong flu. I was delirious. I don't want to go through that again. Enthusiast Oct 2014 #172

I had Scarlet Fever a few weeks before my 6th birthday HockeyMom Oct 2014 #207

Wow! Enthusiast Oct 2014 #216

Did you know that hacking bronchitis often is the aftermath of influenza? And you do not need an a uppityperson Oct 2014 #44

my doctor insists on the pnuenomia vaccine Lebam in LA Oct 2014 #223

I had that, too, Blue_In_AK Oct 2014 #132

I got one, with the extra dosage for people over 65. CVS, paid by CIGNA. ballyhoo Oct 2014 #46

We just had them at work today. Glassunion Oct 2014 #47

Reason to use Walmart debbyk Oct 2014 #49

Welcome to DU gopiscrap Oct 2014 #143

paying their employees is a net loss, but donating vaccine is a BIG tax write-off. BlancheSplanchnik Oct 2014 #205

Don't forget pneumonia too especially for older folks. n/t RKP5637 Oct 2014 #53

Good advice, indeed! MineralMan Oct 2014 #54

I got mine at CVS for free but there was a long line to wait scarystuffyo Oct 2014 #57

Welcome to DU gopiscrap Oct 2014 #141

hell no! Chakaconcarne Oct 2014 #58

Oh, goodie. MineralMan Oct 2014 #60

Seems most of the people getting them around here have the weakest immune systems ffr Oct 2014 #68

Is that how it seems? MineralMan Oct 2014 #70

You're sounding snarky ffr Oct 2014 #81

Stomach flu is not what the influenza vaccone protects against, is a totally different virus. uppityperson Oct 2014 #89

I didn't say it was. The word flu is used as a general term ffr Oct 2014 #124

gee, the measles vaccine doesn't protect against head lice, does it? uppityperson Oct 2014 #126

I'll make you a deal, since this is a subject that is ffr Oct 2014 #130

Well, since the influenza vaccine doesn't protect against any of the MineralMan Oct 2014 #92

*sigh* ffr Oct 2014 #129

I agree that sick people should quarantine themselves, for their Ilsa Oct 2014 #103

People who are generally poorer health have a tendency to get vx for diseases to prevent from uppityperson Oct 2014 #84

The plural of anecdote is not data. HuckleB Oct 2014 #219

Flu screwed me up something terrible -- I always get a shot now Auggie Oct 2014 #69

Isn't the vaccine a crap shoot? boomer55 Oct 2014 #71

More like an educated guess based on which strains are circulating. Liberal Veteran Oct 2014 #75

+1,000,000 ... 000 HuckleB Oct 2014 #106

If you call 50% a fairly good job Ms. Toad Oct 2014 #150

Done! Got it last week at a local hospital's free flu shot site. Had slight Nay Oct 2014 #76

I asked for extra mercury Treant Oct 2014 #82

Me too! They gave me a sticker for being such a good sport. polichick Oct 2014 #87

You are aware that there actually is mercury in the most common forms of influenza vaccine, right? Ms. Toad Oct 2014 #151

So what? Treant Oct 2014 #224

Because you made a comment about asking for extra mercury Ms. Toad Oct 2014 #226

Actually Treant Oct 2014 #228

You are making assumptions about what I believe that are unwarranted. Ms. Toad Oct 2014 #237

This message was self-deleted by its author Ms. Toad Oct 2014 #225

Just got mine this very afternoon. eom Purveyor Oct 2014 #85

Got it today. Little Star Oct 2014 #86

No public service OP goes unpunished albino65 Oct 2014 #88

Frequently Asked Questions About Thimerosal Omaha Steve Oct 2014 #90

Excellent advice. Rainforestgoddess Oct 2014 #94

+ a million. laundry_queen Oct 2014 #166

And that immune system can turn on a dime. nt littlemissmartypants Oct 2014 #195

Exactly Rainforestgoddess Oct 2014 #199

I'll be getting it soon... SoapBox Oct 2014 #96

Best to get it on a Friday. Baitball Blogger Oct 2014 #101

Thanks for the reminder. I got the flu many years ago The Velveteen Ocelot Oct 2014 #102

Once? HockeyMom Oct 2014 #142

Hey, your choice. My choice is to try to avoid getting flu again. The Velveteen Ocelot Oct 2014 #145

Lol. Union Scribe Oct 2014 #158

They jab the needle into your arm wheniwasincongress Oct 2014 #104

I got mine last week. Our son had his three weeks ago. HuckleB Oct 2014 #108

I've only had the flu four times in my life. ladyVet Oct 2014 #120

Hogwash. HuckleB Oct 2014 #155

I found my USAF immunization record a couple of year ago, and MineralMan Oct 2014 #193

Done! jimlup Oct 2014 #122

I get one yearly, have since I started working in health care twenty years ago. DeadLetterOffice Oct 2014 #123

I have never taken a flu vaccination. Not because I believe it will give me autism or some madinmaryland Oct 2014 #125

Thanks for the reminder MM. They're free, here at work, but I'm a procrastinator. Tarheel_Dem Oct 2014 #127

I always do riverbendviewgal Oct 2014 #128

I do. A 6'4" guy weighing in at 145 pounds in a hospital bed because of secondary infections... hunter Oct 2014 #131

Got mine today. Free! elias49 Oct 2014 #133

Excellent! MineralMan Oct 2014 #134

I really don't like the flu shot. MissB Oct 2014 #135

Oh, darn! I meant to today. Laffy Kat Oct 2014 #140

You mean, go against the advice of Dr. McCarthy! Mister Nightowl Oct 2014 #147

How old was Dr. McCarthy in the 1970s? HockeyMom Oct 2014 #189

Uh, I have a question, HockeyMom Mister Nightowl Oct 2014 #220

Nope HockeyMom Oct 2014 #221

My apologies Mister Nightowl Oct 2014 #222

Just got mine today! bigwillq Oct 2014 #148

Outstanding! MineralMan Oct 2014 #194

Yes please, being selfish here but ... slipslidingaway Oct 2014 #152

I always get one. Only once did I ever think it effected me right after. That time I had been to brewens Oct 2014 #154

Good advise gopiscrap Oct 2014 #156

We were planning for last weekend but my 5-year old got the the sniffles and was a bit congested tandot Oct 2014 #157

I am not sure that it is the not caring about others that always drives littlemissmartypants Oct 2014 #197

Done! Never heard of the higher dose one though. Union Scribe Oct 2014 #159

Done yesterday Hekate Oct 2014 #165

Nope, don't need it. Major Hogwash Oct 2014 #170

Got my flu shot on Monday! B Calm Oct 2014 #173

K&R! n/t RKP5637 Oct 2014 #176

It is good to remember that some people do have reactions to this vaccine. peace13 Oct 2014 #177

Thank you MineralMan. littlemissmartypants Oct 2014 #181

My family doc just told me he was already seeing flu here in Florida... Sancho Oct 2014 #182

See #55, I thought that was a pretty good video of flu risks, 50 million people dead, many young RKP5637 Oct 2014 #183

Got my shot last 840high Oct 2014 #198

Just wanted to mention here, the best way to protect us older folks is to make sure all the hedgehog Oct 2014 #201

Yes. Kids, especially, need to be vaccinated. MineralMan Oct 2014 #202

You're not my doctor, so no, I won't be listening to someone on an IBB, closeupready Oct 2014 #204

Already done.... daleanime Oct 2014 #208

Done. Good thread. riqster Oct 2014 #209

Got mine last week and so did our kids. nt RiffRandell Oct 2014 #214

Be honest. Who got sick within a week of their flu shot booster? ffr Oct 2014 #227

Another one down. He's in the midst of a bad cold. ffr Oct 2014 #241

Five of those same people have been sick or are sick now. ffr Nov 2014 #242

Four people sick with colds here. ffr Nov 2014 #243

Skipped one additional layer, but many of those people have ffr Dec 2014 #244

It's worse than I imagined, but not influenza ffr Dec 2014 #245

It's amazing what you notice when you don't hear silence ffr Mar 2015 #246

Sickness dramas continue, this time it's over the top ffr Mar 2015 #247

I was one of those who "never got the flu" distantearlywarning Oct 2014 #229

My best winters started with my first flu shot fadedrose Oct 2014 #231

Sure, my Mum did Oct. 2012 she was dead arthritisR_US Oct 2014 #232

It will help avoid lots of people with the flu Crunchy Frog Oct 2014 #234

I've never gotten a flu shot JesterCS Oct 2014 #235

Got one this year for the first time. AngryOldDem Oct 2014 #239

Do you have a fever? MineralMan Oct 2014 #240