Comments on: Surviving A Virus

By: Ilovemygeek

Ilovemygeek — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 21:50:13 +0000

Thank you for the reminder for everyone to get their flu shot. As someone who works in health care, I have seen firsthand just how serious a virus such as influenza can be. I am sure your experience was terrifying for you and your family. I strongly encourage everyone who is able to vaccinated.

By: ysolde

ysolde — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 19:49:16 +0000

I just got my flu shot at the office. I do this every year. As someone who spends mst of my life sitting down, I have a hard time fighting off secondary bacterial infections when I get the flu. In the past, I have had a couple of bad bouts of bronchitis after the flu, and one lovely pneumonia (8 weeks before my wedding).

No more. I get the flu shot every year, through the office, knowing it is not fool-proof, but knowing the flu is nothing to sneeze at, if you’ll pardon the pun.

By: BumbleB

BumbleB — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 15:22:40 +0000

Hmm…maybe I should get that flu shot.
I had a virus in high school, though not as bad as yours it was bad enough that I do not remember 2-3 days of my life. It started right at Christmas, and was the first time I’d missed school since I was in the 2nd grade (I was very healthy as a kid).

They are scary - especially when the doctors can’t pinpoint what it is. Thanks for writing about your experience - I just may get that flu shot this year.

By: littelfredpunkinhead

littelfredpunkinhead — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 14:38:48 +0000

Wow- I didn’t know it could be so bad… I was scheduled to get a flu shot through work last week, but missed it because I was sick. Oh, the irony. But I’m definitely rescheduling!

By: DianeCourt

DianeCourt — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 13:56:35 +0000

I, too, have suffered from influenza twice before. It’s absolutely the sickest I have been in my entire life, and I was afflicted as a healthy young adult. I was even amazed at how weak I was for the weeks following the illness. It took a month to get back to normal the first time. The second time, I visited a doctor within a day of having symptoms. He was able to prescribe Tamiflu, a new anti-viral drug at the time. If taken within the first few days of exhibiting symptoms, it can drastically reduce the length of illness. It definitely did that for me, but I was still very, very sick for several days.

Both times I got sick I was preparing for finals in college and was “too busy” to take the time to get a flu shot. I will never make that mistake again. It’s now a priority for me to get a flu shot every year. I know it’s not a guarantee that I will not get sick, but I figure that it greatly decreases my odds catching the flu. Since I am pregnant this flu season, it’s all the more important to get my vaccine.

My daughter attends daycare, so we also vaccinate her every year (we’re both getting our shots at our family practice this weekend). My husband has already received his vaccination - both of our employers offer flu shots at no charge to their employees.

By: kari

kari — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 13:30:47 +0000

That is a terrifying! I have never gotten a flu shot - I might have to rethink that.