scared to death

• By TraceD
• Posted October 28, 2009 at 10:13 am
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The patients I have seen with H1N1 have a standard type flu we have seen in practice many times. The biggest characteristics are Fever usually above 101, but responds some to tylenol, body aches, sore throat and headache. Symptoms in most people are 5 days. The rare person may get pneumonia or ARDS if you get real short of breath you need to be seen. Those of us seeing these patients think the press is overblowing it, and though it did hit early and is spreading rapidly it is a normal flu. Wash your hands alot,, wear a mask if you have a fever and a cough. Turn off the news and read a book.

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• By Learning1
• Posted October 28, 2009 at 12:08 pm
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Several tips I've heard that make a lot of sense:

1. Strongly consider avoiding the flu shots. They seem to cause more problems than they fix, and in a number of cases they actually cause long term problems, like Epson-Barre syndrome. See the short (10 minute) PowerPoint video on Flu at: http://www.thinktwice.com/ They also have a number of other reference materials.
One comment from the Canadian news as the flu season was wrapping up late in the spring was that people who had last year's flu vaccination were twice as likely to get some form of the flu this year.

2. In the short term, take adequate amounts of vitamin D. On a prevention level, they suggest 2,000 to 3,000 units per day, two or three times that level if you get it and are trying to beat the flu. An example this last spring was a nursing home which had 350 patients, allof whom had their vitamin D levels monitored. Only 2 of the people (about half of one percent) caught the swine flu. But 7% of the staff at the same nursing home (who did not pay attention to their vitamin D levels) caught the swine flu. Going beyond this, when the body begins to work right, exterior vitamins shouldn't be needed. Probably the best long term way around this is a Russian bioalgae that feeds the brain and gets the body working together. Info is in the books section at www.bioage.com. They call the process "awakening the genius within". And it seems to work from what I've experienced. If you want more info on this let me know.

3. If you do get the flu, avoid taking aspirin, tylenol, or anything else which will decrease the body's fever (including tamiflu). One thing that has been noted by some of the leading biochemists is that flu and cold viruses do not breed or divide when the temperature is above 101 degrees. Medical historians also noted one thing about the 1918 flu epidemic - the timing. While the flu was present before, the deaths did not occur until a few weeks after armistice, when the first troops (newly back from the army, where aspirin had become a good pain killer / fever control item) had made it back to North America. The telephone allowed conversations with the folks back home, and a lot of the troops arriving back in America called home. When the discomfort from the flu was mentioned, it would only have been natural for the soldiers to mention how well aspirin worked. Then a week or two later the thousands of deaths started. Strange coincidence isn't it, especially what has been discovered now about the link between temperature controlling the growth of viruses, etc, like the flu and cold viruses.

One other set of recommendations to consider (from a leading doctor from India):
Dr. Vinay Goyal is an MBBS,DRM,DNB (Intensivist and Thyroid specialist), having clinical experience of over 20 years.

The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible not coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.

While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):

1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).

2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).

3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't under estimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.

4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. *Not everybody may be good at using a Neti pot, but *blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton swabs dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.*

5. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C. *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.

6. *Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.

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• By angelbrd67
• Posted October 28, 2009 at 3:20 pm
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well I have pnuemonia....very very weak...steroid spray and leviqin but when I took my son in she put me on a medrol (steroid) pack..my son is on antibiotics and not aloud to go back to school till monday...what we feared is Matt getting it..he just can't cough like he did before injured...Well he woke up sick...gaging to get the lump out of his throat...The doc told me to give him musinex hot liquids and rest and cleratinD...if he gets worse bring him in....any flu is a hazzard for me due to bad lungs...but its here and we have to deal with it. thanx

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• By Learning1
• Posted October 29, 2009 at 5:39 pm
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Under the circumstances, looks like you are on top of the situation, though I'm sure it isn't what you had hoped for.

The other suggestion I've heard is a very simple one - one that the doctors years back routinely recommended:

- stay home and in bed, and drink plenty of fluids.

The modern version would be stay home, stay in bed as much as you can, stay warm, and drink plenty of fluids. And the modern explanation is that when your temperature is at or just above 101 degrees, the viruses can't multiply, and it gives your immune system a chance to fight. But this is not an instant solution.

If your temperature goes way too high, it is not good and is something for the doctors, etc to work with. But that initial temperature for a number of hours seems to be a needed step.

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• By Learning1
• Posted October 31, 2009 at 12:55 pm
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Anglebrd,
Since you are on steroidal drugs, not the non-steroidal ones, I suspect that your doctors probably understand how your body deals with viruses, and fights colds, flu, and even pneumonia.

The one thing that is out there, but not well publicised (and even a lot of doctors still don't seem to understand) is how your body fights these problems (cold, flu, and even what causes pneumonia following one of these). For any of these, it appears that you will probably reduce the severity, shorten the duration of symptons, and increase your survival chances, if you do NOT take any type of medication that will reduce your fever. Also, to the extent possible, do what doctors years ago told the people to do – stay home, go to bed, and drink plenty of fluids (keeping your body warm and helping flush out the cause).

The reason you want to avoid temperature lowering drugs and activities (as explained by biochemists), is flu, cold, and similar viruses do not propagate (replicate) when the temperature is above 101 degrees F. The virus RNA is not able to release the newly created virus DNA. So when you take something like aspirin, Tylenol, or any other medication which reduces your fever, you are creating a breeding ground for the virus to replicate (by allowing the virus RNA to release numerous virus DNA strings into your cells), and taking away a key factor in your body’s natural defence system.

Things classed as flu deaths are generally flu caused pneumonia, or similar problems, where there is a delay in the body's temperature defence and, when the message finally gets through, there is a rapid and massive supply of the body’s defence cells sent to deal with the growth of the virus. This often fills the lungs. The tricky thing about cold, flu, and similar virues seems to be how they operate and disguise themselves behind skins from the residue of cells they have destroyed, delaying the effectiveness of the body's defence mechanisms. If the body's temperature can prevent the replication, eventually the body is able to deal with the problem using less defensive cells, and recovery is faster and easier. When there is a delay in temperature rise, and as a result the virus replicates many times more, there is a lot more for the body to deal with, and the body produces many more defence cells, often resulting in the body's defensive T Cells can flood the lungs, causing a type of pneumonia. The sooner the body's system can be allowed to deal with the problem, the less of a challenge it is for the body to overcome.

Over the years doctors, and various medical web sites, have waffled on whether or not to use fever reducing drugs with the cold or flu, at times suggesting that it was better not to take these medications (and for some people they should not take it at all with the flu), but at the same time they have indicated it was OK to take some to relieve discomfort.

One researcher, who did his share of cell studies over the years, suggests that even the sudden and massive 1918 flu deaths were probably caused by taking aspirin to reduce symptoms from the flu. He also has done the best explanation I've seen for how the cold and flu viruses operate, and how suppressing temperature can increae the chance of pneumonia. See: http://www.brojon.org/frontpage/murdermedicine1.html, with an explanation of the medical logic behind this at: http://www.brojon.org/frontpage/the_tamiflu_myth.html. This information is also repeated in a number of other places. The "Temiflu Myth" article includes a great summary of the flu virus replicates, and how pneumonia can develop if the body is not able to promptly stop the virus replicating.

This information has been out there since at least 2003 (http://www.brojon.org/frontpage/Letter1918Flu-SARS.html and http://www.brojon.org/frontpage/SARSFEVER.html ) and nothing has been posted to refute it, and in the Tamiflu Myth article, there is an addendum (done 6 weeks after initial publication) including feedback received from doctors.

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• By angelbrd67
• Posted October 31, 2009 at 3:53 pm
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Hello I am still kicking...lol Ok I got the steroids.. but I did NOT take them. I was going to start the day after I got them because my heart freaks out if I take a lot at once to cover that first day in those dose packs. I woke up the next morning and made a choice not to take them as I felt better. So I continue the Leviquin... Prednison should only be taken as a last resort as it has some nasty side effects.

As for fever lowering drugs. The first few days I didn't take them. I woke one morning and tried to stand up and there was a horrible pain in my neck and I couldn't see the pain in my head was so bad. I freaked as I had a son get Meningitis from another kid at school years ago. I took motrin right away to take the pain away and lay screaming. The Doctor was called and wanted me to come in right away I couldn't move.. As fast at this all came on it left with in an hours time and didn't come back. So she said come see me if it comes back and if not see me tomorrow. I did and was fine .. but I tell you I never want to feel a headache like that again it was insane!

Matthew still is battling a bit of nasal drainage but the mucinex is helping great. The other kids are getting over the bug slowly but surely.

I am horrible about taking medications, I think they are the root of all evil so if its not life or death I rarely take anything like I should... Seem's the more drugs that come out the stronger the viruses are getting. My mother never saw a Doctor for illness the only time she was ever in the hospital was for having babies till she was 58 years old and was diagnosed with cancer Stage 4 adinocarcinoma in the lungs... I can't spell it but it was bad they gave her a matter of 6 months at best to live... My mother lived 5 years and worked up until a year before she lost her life. The Doctors said it was because she had natual immunities from getting bugs and building resistances with out medications. Gosh she was a herbal nut too. If there was a vitamin or new herbal wonder out there she tried it. From Alovera drinks to Ginko stuff and The one I hated was when we got sick .. Some smelly mustard pack...now my mother came from a very old world life... living in a coal mining town in PA her Dutch father and mother had 15 kids....growing up they gargaled with karosene for sore throats and licorice for belly aches. I was so glad we lived 3k miles away from grampa..lol

Thanks for the info its very interesting!!!

Time to rest!

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• By DianaJ
• Posted November 1, 2009 at 5:45 am
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Best wishes for you and your family for a speedy recovery and that Matt and your other son do not come down with this "bug"! Perhaps (I hope) it is not H1N1, though for one in Matt's condition, any flu can be very serious. Find out and then, when you are well, if it's not H1N1, perhaps at least Matt, with his "special" needs, can get priority for a shot... I know they're hard to get, but the people at most risk need to have the shots first. You, as a caregiver, should also have been a priority for your shot. The H1N1 virus is leaving people with seemingly permanent lung damage, so the last thing any of you (us) need, it more difficulty in our already challenging lives. Good luck.... Let us know how you are doing. I wish I could put on a mask and gloves and give you a big hug! Hehehehehe! Seriously, though, get well, soon!

Diana

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• By angelbrd67
• Posted November 1, 2009 at 4:04 pm
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Each day we are getting a little bit better, My son David and I both had a lung related flu virus so the doctor treated it as H1N1 When Tamiflu came out years ago I was treated with it when i was hit with a flu that was worse than the one I got this year. I suffered lung loss with that flu but even after the Tamiflu I had to take steroids for over 6 months ....ruined my figure you swell so much taking it.. and icecream becomes your best friend..lol I just could not battle that bug with out it. But like I said we are doing much better.. Matt gets tired easy....but that is also due to the spasms he is getting, January is his surgery state for his baclofen pump... we can't wait. Though I did find a way to releave his spasms for about two hours with out drugs. I have been laying him on the bed or therapy table putting his feet on my chest and telling him to push .. for about the first 20 pushes he can almost push me over.. then the muscles get tired and start to poop out about 40 pushes and then his legs stay loose for about two hours before those stupid spasms kick in hard again. We keep doing it he has strong legs and Maybe one day they will support him with out braces. I told him when he can knock his Momma off her feet I will give him 50 bucks... so he tries hard!
Thank You for our kind words... and sending a germ free cyber hug back atcha!

Michelle

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• By pdecrease
• Posted November 1, 2009 at 9:07 pm
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I am not scared for me at all. The H1N1 flu is very mild, just a few days. If you have been sick a week or more, you have the standard flu. I do worry that my son will get something - because he has compromised lungs due to their colapse two years ago. He hardly can sneeze as it is. My plan would be to take him to the hospital if he develops any fevers that we cannot control and keep down or if he refuses to drink. The flu vaccines have so many dangersous ingredients that our household beleives getting the flu is a lessor risk. We are pretty healthy and I've been taking Vit. D as a preventative. P. DeCrease in Delaware

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• By pdecrease
• Posted November 1, 2009 at 9:09 pm
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I totally agree with all of your advice! Very good info you posted here! Thanks.

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• By Learning1
• Posted November 2, 2009 at 1:42 am
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Michelle,

With your son's muscle let muscle spasms - have you looked into laser acupuncture, or other laser use to relax the muscles?

I seen, in non-SCI situations, where laser use helps reduce pain and muscle spasms, and I understand that, when properly used, they can also help with SCI situations.

The same is also true of laser acupuncture (same points as regular acupuncture, just no needles, and a lot faster, and something where you can learn to do the more basic things at home if you have a cooperative acupunturist).

Janders199 mentions his success with using laser acupuncture for pain control, now down to one session per week, taking 5 minutes, and simple treatment points. His comments are under the post "Neurontin versus Lyrica". I'm not an expert on the causation of the muscle spasms with SCI, but one of the things I read thought that many times muscle spasms seem to be caused by pain signals that attempt to make it to the brain, but are not able to get past the injury point, with the result being the spasms. If that is the case, then the ability to reduce or control the pain that is attempting to get messages through should help with the muscle spasms.

If laser acupuncture helps, you should be able to do at least the basic things at home. It might take a bit longer to do yourself, but it shouldn't take much longer, and would allow very quick treatment with no extra travel time. Typical laser acupuncture lasers start at 5 mw - 660 nm units, but for those you would need a minute or two per point. The 50 mw - 660 nm battery operated laser acupunture units are a bit higher in price, but are a lot faster (10% of the time) for the same energy / results. And at least one of these has a reflector head available which could be used to help relax the muscles.

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• By angelbrd67
• Posted November 2, 2009 at 6:09 am
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The laser acupuncture is used for pain control, He has no pain with his spasms just gets stiff real fast and then relaxes.. its like watching something melting.
I dont know any acupuncturist here that do it... I know a man who did my husband but he is all needles and hot rocks. When I lived in Japan I learned how to use fire cups for pain.. Then they made the accupressure cups as a suction kit. Works great for pain and has a magnet pressure point in each cup. Not as good feeling as the fire cupping though. I use this on my husbands back pain. Now what I know about spasms is that they are caused by nerve fiber damage.. The Doctor said even if Matt walks again that damage doesn't go away it might get better but not go totally away. Neurontin does great with some of it... Infact I think his does needs to be raised again.

Now I think I spoke to soon last night when I said everyone was on the mend here. Matt got much worse last night and we are taking him to the doctors today. we did percussions on his back last night and that is our only savior right now getting that crud up and out.

Back to my babies.. thanks for the laser info I will call around and see if our guys here know about it.

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• By Learning1
• Posted November 2, 2009 at 11:57 am
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I ran the essence of the ideas I posted on flu treatment etc past my sister, who has been into naturopathic things for years, and is now studying to become a naturopath. The trigger for her interest was when her son became autistic due to early childhood vaccinations. By using many of the remedies and techniques, he is now able to hold a regular job, live on his own, and even has a girlfriend (the forecast for him had been that he would need permanent supervision, only able to work or live in a sheltered environment, never able to socialize enough to build relationships, etc). Here are some extra ideas, as well as a correction, that my sister sent. Her interst in the flu vaccine goes back to her father-in-law, who received the 1976 vaccination, got Guillian Barre from that, and for the next 20 years, until his death (caused by Guillian Barre), his paralysis got progressively worse.

----------------------------------

.... One correction - it is Guillian Barre, a severe neurological disorder (it causes paralysis) not Epstein Barr (which is similar to chronic fatigue) that is caused by the flu vaccine and other vaccines. [I had originally said Epetein Barr, but was wrong on that ].

I would also add that a homeopathic called oscillococcinum (by Boiron) was one of the few products that I have read that was reported to have actually helped people back in the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic. It comes in littleplastic tubes with homeopathic sugar pellets. At the first sign of flu symptoms we pour the entire little tube of pellets in our mouths and let it dissolve as much under the tongue as possible. [My daughter] has been using these since she started teaching and swears by them. Her peers who get the flu shot still get the flu and she uses oscillococcinum and has yet to miss a day of teaching due to the flu. I order mine online at www.swansonvitamins.com or www.iherb.com have good prices. At www.iherb.comthe discount code NOX158 will save you $5 off your first order.

[I agree with] the gargling with salt water. We've done the flushing the sinuses with salt water (2 c warm water to 1 tsp sea salt) via a nasal syringe or a netti pot - works great for colds or flu. [My husband] thought that this was the grossest of my ideas, but when he tried it he was amazed how well it worked.

Just to add some of my other favourite things to do when I feel something coming on - a long hot bath - followed either by scooping cold water over my stomach or wrapping in my Solaris Healing blanket (or a big quilt) to keep sweating. And eat garlic - raw is best. I originally heard that 4 or 5 cloves blitzed in a blender - drain off the chunk and drink the water 3 to 4 times a day would be as effective as any antibiotic or antiviral without the side-effects. I found that I wanted to throw up the garlic water, however. (By the way, I got well super fast, but didn't like the nausea) so my twist is to make garlic toast - heaping on as much finely diced garlic as I can stand and just lightly broil it to melt the butter. I smell a little garlicky, but I feel great the next day.

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