Preparedness for when

GreyQueen

Morning all.

jk0, it's a diffiucult one to call, isn't it? I hve been having flu jabs for the past 17 years on the recommendation of my hospital consultant. How she phrased it was If you get flu, it could be very serious indeed.

How serious? I asked. Are we talking hospitalisation?

Or worse, she agreed, with a worried expression.

Soooo, potentially mortal peril there. I have the jab and on one year I had it when I should have postponed it, as already had a cold. It didn't take properly, I got a not-too-serious form of the flu and still had to take to my bed, couldn't eat, white as a sheet and shaking.

What the docs tell me is that you can still get flu if you have the jab but that it will be much less serious. Of course, the vaccine is made months ahead, on their best estimates of what will be the predominant strains of seasonal flu. It they get it wrong, or a pandemic flu brews up with very little warning, we're all at risk.

As with many choices in this life, there is no absolute best answer, we have to take advice from our own docs and make a decision. I can tell you I shall be in the first flu clinic of the year, as I always am.

Not to mention my habit of sidling away from anyone coughing and sneezing in case they pass their bugs to me. Well, I'm on lifelong meds with an immuno-suppessant side effect, so have reasons to be careful.

Today I shall add another 6 cans of rice pud into the underbed rolling larder as removed 6 last night to restock the kitchen cupboard. Well, 5 in the cupboard and 1 in the tummy; you know the season is on the change when you start wanting to eat rice pud again.

lillibet_dripping

GreyQueen wrote: »

Morning all.


Not to mention my habit of sidling away from anyone coughing and sneezing in case they pass their bugs to me. Well, I'm on lifelong meds with an immuno-suppessant side effect, so have reasons to be careful.

.

This is the very reason I took early retirement on medical grounds from teaching. Any slight cough or cold (insert chicken pox/ slapped cheek/chest infection etc etc etc) picked up from the children could prove extremely serious.
Your health must come before wealth!

GreyQueen

Yeah, kids are germy little beggars, aren't they? I avoid them as well, whenever possible.

Perversely, I am the only one on my team who has gone 5+ years with no sick leave whatsoever, but I am a tad careful with handwashing and not touching hands to face which can facilitate transfer of bugs via the eyes, nose and mouth. Plus I don't have to use public transport, so aren't exposed to a stew of nasties.

But I can't see the State allowing me to bunk off at not-quite-50 and I haven't the independant means to turn my back on the workplace, so will have to continue for the foreseeable, with my self-prescribed regime.

GQ's Health Advice to Self:

1. If you are very tired, go to bed. It doesn't matter if it's 5 pm. Just go.

2. Eat your greens.

3. Have a laugh. Preferably lots of laughs.

4. Play in the dirt on the allotment. The sunshine and fresh air are good for you. When you ache, go home.

5. Chocolate isn't a medicine - it's much better than that.

mardatha

Another one here who always manages to get flu - before the jab I was in bed 3 weeks every winter with it. Now with the jab, I still get it but its only a week off my feet. I avoid people too in winter.

Nargleblast

I get flu jabs through work, OH gets one free as he has diabetes and I paid for DS to have one last year as he has suffered every winter with cold/flu symptoms. Last winter he was much better after the jab, and the practice nurse said there were plans to include secondary school pupils in the free flu jab programme so hopefully that will include DS who will be in sixth form. If not I will still pay for him to be vaccinated.

I second the recommendation to avoid people. Bit difficult at work but I take precautions such as not touching the handrail when using stairs in public buildings, and if a door has a big handle, holding it near the top or bottom rather than in the middle where most of Joe Public go for. Small bottles of alcohol gel are useful to rub over your hands if you have just touched something dodgy.

Frugalsod

Here is an interesting piece fron ZH about the state of their economy. Much of what is true there applies here to a lesser extent. At least our police are not armed for now.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-08-19/why-so-much-anger-ferguson-10-facts-about-massive-economic-gap-between-white-black-a

Charis

GreyQueen wrote: »

Yeah, kids are germy little beggars, aren't they? I avoid them as well, whenever possible.

Perversely, I am the only one on my team who has gone 5+ years with no sick leave whatsoever, but I am a tad careful with handwashing and not touching hands to face which can facilitate transfer of bugs via the eyes, nose and mouth. Plus I don't have to use public transport, so aren't exposed to a stew of nasties.

But I can't see the State allowing me to bunk off at not-quite-50 and I haven't the independant means to turn my back on the workplace, so will have to continue for the foreseeable, with my self-prescribed regime.

GQ's Health Advice to Self:

1. If you are very tired, go to bed. It doesn't matter if it's 5 pm. Just go.

2. Eat your greens.

3. Have a laugh. Preferably lots of laughs.

4. Play in the dirt on the allotment. The sunshine and fresh air are good for you. When you ache, go home.

5. Chocolate isn't a medicine - it's much better than that.

I read the above to my DD, who said "She forgot....always wear sun cream!" I'll show her your post http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=65864630&postcount=23562. . DD is also fair skinned and freckled.

ivyleaf

I'm 60 and I haven't had flu since I was eight! I've no idea why not. The rest of the family got it when it was doing the rounds about 25 years ago, but I didn't get it then either.

Apparently some people do become immune to it, but the GP says I've just been very lucky!

I have the jab every year now to be on the safe side, and the only time it made me unwell afterwards was the year they added in the swine flu vaccine to the mix. Which just shows how nasty swine flu is.

Frugalsod

ivyleaf wrote: »

I'm 60 and I haven't had flu since I was eight! I've no idea why not. The rest of the family got it when it was doing the rounds about 25 years ago, but I didn't get it then either.

Apparently some people do become immune to it, but the GP says I've just been very lucky!

I have the jab every year now to be on the safe side, and the only time it made me unwell afterwards was the year they added in the swine flu vaccine to the mix. Which just shows how nasty swine flu is.

There are about 200 varieties of the common cold and once you have them, that confers lifelong immunity. I have only had a few illnesses and like you have barely had an infection in decades.

kezlou

Have to admit i get the flu jab every year for medical reasons. My asthma has got to the point where its known as "exasperated"
I catch cold and flus all the time but since having the jab they not as bad. So instead of four weeks its about two.

The main reason i have taken the flu jab for took a few years is because swine flu did the rounds and guess who caught it yes this unlucky faced get. Took months to finally stop coughing. Since the swine flu my body has never been the same and immune system was hit really badly. Osteoarthritis and the change in weather knocks me to the point where i can't walk.

Dont forget carers qualify for the flu jab, so personally if you are offered the jab, take it.