Well, I've changed my mind about getting a flu shot. I truly believed that a healthy diet and lifestyle would be enough to keep me from getting it. I was very wrong. Maybe it's because I work in a healthfood store, and so many of our customers are sick and come in looking for teas, etc., to relieve their symptoms. (You would not believe how inconsiderate some folks are-coughing right in your face, not even trying to cover their mouths.) No amount of hand-washing worked this year. I've had the flu twice, and missed 8 days of work as a result. I had extreme fatigue, fever (102.5!), headache, etc. I looked on The Weather Channel website, it looks like our area has it real bad. One of the local schools was closed for two days this week; too many teachers, substitutes, and students out sick with the flu.

How are you all making out? I know that when I "retire" to my homestead in a couple years, and I'm not around so many sick people, I won't get the shot, but for now, I think I will.

-- Cathy in NY (hrnofplnty@yahoo.com), February 01, 2001

Answers

My husband missed three days of work this week due to flu, and this man NEVER misses work. I always think about getting the shot, but I'm squeamish about the idea of it. (Not the needle, but the thought of injecting germs into myself!) This morning I feel it starting in the back of my throat...ugh. I TOLD him not to breathe on me! ;)

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), February 01, 2001.

Okay, folks, it's time for garlic soup.

Peel and chop 1 ENTIRE bulb of garlic.

Peel and chop 1 medium onion.

Put in sauce pan, add 1 cup water and simmer for 10 minutes.

Remove from heat and beat in 1 egg and 1 chicken boullion cube. Puree if desired.

Eat your soup, wrap up in your down comfortor and go to sleep. When you wake up, makes some rasberry tea and drink that chilled and unsweetened.

If you are still feeling crummy, have someone deliver AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER from the video store.

I hope ya'll feel better soon.

-- Laura (gsend@hotmail.com), February 01, 2001.

I can't take the flu shots because of the medium they grow the vaccine in-egg yolks. Very allergic. Anyway, I've avoided the flu and had only one cold, in the fall. My secret? Avoid small children. I love kids, but when I get around them, it's instant germ transferance. I also keep some of that liquid germ killing hand wash in my purse and when I'm done at the grocery store, Wal-Mart, anywhere I've had a cart, I wash up with it. Probably not too good for you in the long run, but I don't get to town that often, anyway. I tried to get DH to get a flu shot, but he refuses. I think it would cut down on my chances if he wasn't able to carry it home. Of course, it's all a moot point this year, we never got any flu vaccine delivered here in Dogpatch

-- melina b. (goatgalmjb1@hotmail.com), February 01, 2001.

So sorry to hear you are ill. It's a tough call with the flu shot. It will only protect against one type of flu, so you can still contract another strain. I've always declined it because I'm generally wary of vaccinations unless absolutely necessary. I do know someone that contraced Guillen Barre syndrome (a very rare side effect that causes paralysis) from a flu shot. The chance of contracting it is like the chance of winning a major lottery, yet knowing someone that got it is enough to make me timid about the shot. If you got sick twice this year, though, you may want to consider the shot for next season.

-- amy (acook@in4web.com), February 01, 2001.

My husband had a flu shot last year and it was the sickest winter he's ever had and he is rarely sick. He said this year he wasn't getting one and neither of us has so much as had a cold (so far, knock on head!). He told his doctor that and he said the same thing happened to him and he will not get another one. We take lots of vitamin c in the winter. It certainly does help to avoid sick people and I've not been nearly as sick with "bugs" since I no longer work at the hospital! I haven't had a flu shot in years and haven't had the flu either.

-- bwilliams (bjconthefarm@yahoo.com), February 01, 2001.

Amy, thanks for reminding me about Guillen Barre. I know a woman with it, too. I've never felt so crappy, this fever is the worst. I'm really feeling sorry for myself. I hate missing work- Thank God I can take some time off to recover.

-- Cathy in NY (hrnofplnty@yahoo.com), February 01, 2001.

we had every known germ this year until i took the kids out of preschool since then 1 stomach virus,it lasted a very long 8 hrs.We avoid places like walmart and such and stay away from school age kids that attend school{homeschoolers are safer} i know i am sound off the wall but it is working.i got the flu shot but no one else did and so far {knocking on wood}we are clean.the public school here and 2 priate schools closed because they were so called sick schools.

-- renee oneill{md.} (oneillsr@home.com), February 01, 2001.

I guess I will take comfort?? from the fact that we are not alone. My husband and I have been so sick this week that we could barely do our chores. We have never had flu shots and are very healthy people normally. Sweet dear one is sure he has never been this sick in his whole life. Me, I had malaria a year ago after a mission trip so I will call this second best?? Will pray for others now that I am aware others are sick. God Bless -

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), February 01, 2001.

For a sore throat, especially when it's just beginning, try Fisherman's Friend Throat Lozenges. They work great cause they have capsicum (cayenne pepper) in them. They don't taste wonderfully, but they'll knock a sore throat out in no time.

-- Cindy (SE In) (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), February 01, 2001.

I've never had a flu shot and never will. I use vitamins and other suppliments and it seems to do a pretty good job of keeping me free of colds and flus. One thing, MSM, I believe is responsible for really keeping them away. Since I've started taking this, I haven't had more than an occassional short lived sniffle. Colds and flus just don't seem to be able to take hold as it were. I also take a potent multi vitamin, with separate C, E and garlic.

-- Bob Johnson (Backwoods_Bob@excite.com), February 01, 2001.

I've taken a flu shot once. Sickest I've ever been! Usually when if I get the flu it is over in a couple of days....this lasted weeks. No more flu shots for me. Since I started homeschooling and avoiding crowds during flu season I rarely get sick. Now when I start to feel a bit off I brew up some pau de arco, black china tea, and bit of peppermint in a tea...add lots of honey and some lemon. I also start taking echinacea. This usually stops it in it's tracks. I took so many antibiotics when I was little that it now takes massive doses to do me any good. I don't go into town often but someone was telling me the other day that several of the local schools around here have had to shut down because of the flu.

-- Amanda in MO (aseley@townsqr.com), February 01, 2001.

Cathy, if it is any consulation...I had the flu shot, and I still got sick. The shot might not be for the stuff that is going around. We sure do have it at the schools....as many as seven kids out at a time. Tummy crud AND the respitory stuff. Ugg. I told the nurse that we need to get one warm sunny day, and send all the kids outside for a good long dose. Or plan a field trip to Florida, to some hot sunny beach, for several days, and collect shells and toast those germs into oblivion!

-- Leann Banta (thelionandlamb@hotmail.com), February 01, 2001.

Howdy, Cathy in NY. Well, I'm just getting over it. I haven't had the flu in 4-5 years and am generally a very healthy person. I never do get a shot because I figure you're either going to get it or not, no matter what. Looking back, I realize the only thing I did wrong this year was not take my usual daily garlic supplement; so I'm putting some blame there.

I was sure I'd caught something just by walking through the waiting room at the Indian Hospital in Shiprock last week... all those folks just sitting there, coughing and sneezing and looking oh, so, miserable... waiting, waiting, waiting ENDLESSLY for someone to see them. I'm sure something just jumped up and hitched a ride, because my drive back to Albuquqerque was the drive from hell. I was sooooo achey and light-headed. Once I did get home, my symptoms added one of the most painful screwdriver-to-the-head type of headaches I've ever had. Then it started to snow. Now our area has been declared a state of emergency due to deep snowdrifts over the roads and no one can get anywhere.

And, so, what did I have in the medicine cabinet??? Aspirin. Bandaids. Mouthwash. Luckily, I do have a 30X Homeopathic kit and was relieved somewhat by Bryonia Alba. But this lasted 6 whole days. I'm so glad to be at work today! dh in nm.

-- debra in nm (dhaden@nmtr.unm.edu), February 01, 2001.

I took the flu shot and glad I did. Caught every other crud except the flu, don't think I would have made it through that too.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), February 01, 2001.

Sheesh! Maybe I'll stay off this list ~ don't wanna catch all that crud! -LOL- I haven't had a cold/flu in 40 years. Not real good about always washing hands. Rarely eat fruits/veggies. Guess I don't fit the pattern.

I'm beginning to believe that all these anti-bacterial products on the market are throwing off folk's immune systems. Nope, I don't use them.

A few years back, my kids and their dad got flu shots. I didn't. I almost lost all of them, they were so sick. They've never repeated that mistake.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), February 02, 2001.

Rogo,

Your right about the antibacterial soaps. Our doctor advises against them. He says stick to lots of 99.9% pure (Ivory) and hot and warm water.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), February 02, 2001.

== Your right about the antibacterial soaps. Our doctor advises against them. He says stick to lots of 99.9% pure (Ivory) and hot and warm water. ==

Oh gag, Jay! The smell of Ivory makes me nauseous. A dermatologist once told me it's the worst thing for the skin!

I use blue Dawn Liquid Detergent for everything. It's at the kitchen sink, the bathroom sinks (in little pump bottles), in the shower. As an added bonus from this product, I haven't had to clean a shower/tub in years!

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), February 02, 2001.

Ditto on the antibacterial soaps. They take the skin right off my hands and split my fingers. I, too, am not usually too keen on washing my hands real regularly, yet seldom catch a cold or bug of any kind. Guess it was my turn this time, tho. Well, I'm alive, but will continue to wave the shots, excessive antibiotic use, AND the antibacterial soaps. Eat more garlic! dh in nm

-- debra in nm (dhaden@nmtr.unm.edu), February 02, 2001.

Sorry to hear of all the flu suffering this season. This was the very first time for flu shots for myself, and my daughters (3 and almost 6). My husband refused. The Canadian province of Ontario offerred flu shots free of charge this year, in an effort to avoid emergency room over-crowding...which we suffered from last year. I never thought I would have done it, but I've heard an awful lot of medical professionals commenting on the fact that we are due ( or overdue) for a flu pandemic (like 1918?). Scares the bejeepers out of me to think of losing my little ones to the flu. Doesn't the shot usually cover 3 different strains? Also, none of us "got sick" after the shot. Just felt like someone punched us in the arms. Maybe some of the people getting sick after are getting a particularly nasty cold? I just read that there are some 4000 different colds, so you'd never build an immunity to all in one lifetime. In the last year I've found that while it doesn't protect me, Vitamin C will give me a good energy boost while sick. I've been taking 1000mg, spaced through the day, while down with a cold. That and my tabasco laced eggs give me the boost I need. Hang in there, guys...

-- Rheba (rbeall@etown.net), February 02, 2001.

Line Right Up Folks, there's a train to your right, waiting to take you , onto the vacation of your dreams. Everyday life, without a sniffle. Board you all, considering the "safety" of your children. How closely do you look at their credentials? Let us innoculate them all, for the safety of many? Bull Shit! Your Choice!

-- My Story (andIam@sticking.com), February 02, 2001.

My whole family had the flu around Christmas. None of us got the flu shot and we won't in the future, this was a bad one lasting 1-2 weeks, I was the last to succumb to it and still am having recurring problems, like a fever blister for the first time in my life, recurring low grade fevers every 7-10 days, stomach not just right, low energy etc.

-- Carol in Tx (cwaldrop@peoplescom.net), February 02, 2001.

Hm...I don't think any of us have gotten flu shots since the Swine Flu scare about, what? 20 some years ago? Hardly any flu to remember, and altho I must knock on wood when I say this, I can't remember having had ANY flu in that time.

However, for those who HAVE to be exposed to the masses (I recall someone mentioning that her son had some disease from the Don'T Want It catagory, and was doing cart round-up at Wally World and didn't even know he was probably putting germs on all the carts for a couple weeks...), perhaps we should follow the lead of the Japanese. This time of year they are out in force wearing germ masks out in public. No one thinks a thing of it that they do, except to perhaps remember in horror that they forgot theirs at home.

-- Julie Froelich (firefly1@nnex.net), February 03, 2001.

I got the flu shot and the pneumonia shot this yr. The flu shot covers only the different strains that docs feel may be bad that yr. That means that you can still get other flus. I had no side effects from that shot. I did from the pneumonia shot. Migraines, joint pain, muscle pain for a week and a half. However, I feel that it was worth it, as I have had broncitis twice already.

-- Tresa lamb (blamb@webzone.net), February 04, 2001.

Well - Golly Dog! This salutation is from a room-mate a kazillion years ago who was from the very deep south! As I remember, it was even south of Maryland! Nonetheless, I have been one of those unblessed with Guillen-Barre. The cause is not understood. In my case, I had the typical lead-in, ie., a serious sickness a few days before my body got silly. But I had motor control, and no feeling, which was "unusual". Fortunately, I beat the odds. But I digress! After discussing a flu shot with my trusted doctor, and hoping for a vacation of a lifetime (A CRUISE - DO IT!!), and not wanting to be sick, I got the flu shot last year. NO PROBLEM! This year, I haven't, since I can endure a few days of being sick. But do not fear it. And GL!

-- Brad (homefixer@SacoRiver.net), February 05, 2001.

I was getting ready to get sick two weekends in a row but took Osillococcinum made by Boiron and never got it. My husband and I swear by it. As soon as you think you're getting sick you take a dose then 6 hours later and then another 6 hours later. I also eat raw garlic on anything and everything for a couple of days. GL.

-- evelyn b. in NY (peontoo@yahoo.com), February 07, 2001.