Question of the Day, Sunday, March 20, 2016

I got the flu and pneumonia shot this year and did not get sick. When I was a kid I always got a stomach virus every year but I don't ever remember getting the flu because my mother always made us get flu shots. When I was 23 I got pneumonia and I thought I was going to dye. It was horrible and I hope I never get it again.

This winter was on the bad side for us.  No one was severely ill; but it just went from one person to another for about 2 months solid!  

I switched to a new primary care doctor and it was a 5 month wait for my new patient appointment.  Don't you know my cold that had lingered turned to a sinus infection 2 weeks before that appointment was scheduled for!?!  A few days later I couldn't take it and went to a walk-in clinic. The doctor there said there had been some long running upper respiratory viruses.  It did take the full 10 days of antibiotics to feel better too.  I should have bought stock in Kleenex! 

I usually come down with a spring cold and then a fall cold. And they can be nasty. I smoked for 20 years before quitting and when I get a cold, the cold itself doesn't last real long. The cough, however, can go for 3-4 weeks after the cold is gone. Nasty, keep hacking. Ugh

Haven't gotten my spring cold yet, but Dear Richard informed me last night that he's got a bit of a scratchy throat. Not good. Not good at all.   He'll be getting over his cold by this weekend (Easter), just about the time the sore, scratchy throat hits me. 

I had the longest upper respiratory infection, it lasted a good 3 weeks with the congestion, I had gotten a flu shot. Just as I gave in and got antibiotics it went away and I never took antibiotics. I work with the public and are exposed to all their germs.

Kat0121 said:

 
Nope. Not yet. I get the flu shot every year. We get it for free at work if we are on the insurance they offer. I did have a nasty stomach bug back in November for about 4 days. I very rarely get sick. Everyone at work has been sneezing and hacking all over the place. So far, I've escaped it

I hope you feel better soon. I agree with your dad about antibiotics being over-prescribed.

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i'm glad you haven't had a cold or the flu this year! in my book, a nasty stomach bug is equally as bad though! 

thank you! i actually rarely get sick either. i figure it must have been a pretty nasty version of flu (and one i hadn't ever been exposed to before), for me to catch it.

princess sophia said:

I used to have tonsillitis once a month until I had my tonsils out a year and a half ago. Since then Ive had bronchitis twice. I can't catch a break!

As for the flu, I only get the flu shot if in pregnant. And both times I got the flu! I don't get the flu though when I don't get the shot so go figure...

I do generally have one bad winter cold and one bad summer one. Have every year since I was a kid.

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bronchitis is quite nasty!      the thing about bronchitis, as well as pneumonia, is that if you've had it once you then are more susceptible to it.

mickNsnicks2mom said:

i'm glad you haven't had a cold or the flu this year! in my book, a nasty stomach bug is equally as bad though!  :nod:

thank you! i actually rarely get sick either. i figure it must have been a pretty nasty version of flu (and one i hadn't ever been exposed to before), for me to catch it.

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Flu virus mutates rapidly, and new strains are produced all the time. Every time anyone gets the flu, it's one they haven't had before. There are large subgroups (that's what labels like "H1N1" are about), but each time one gets it is an individual strain that person hasn't had before.

[emoji]127752[/emoji]*the more you know*[emoji]127752[/emoji]

DreamerRose said:

 
No. I take a flu shot every year, and a pneumonia vaccine when a new one comes out. I had pneumonia following a bad cold about 10 years ago. I nearly died the first week and was sick for 5 months.

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if i'd been through that, i'd be getting the flu shot every year as well as pneumonia vaccines too! 

i'm really glad you haven't been sick with a cold/flu/virus, etc this year! 

Lonelocust said:

Flu virus mutates rapidly, and new strains are produced all the time. Every time anyone gets the flu, it's one they haven't had before. There are large subgroups (that's what labels like "H1N1" are about), but each time one gets it is an individual strain that person hasn't had before.

[emoji]127752[/emoji]*the more you know*[emoji]127752[/emoji]

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yes, and i didn't know that until a few days ago, when someone here at TCS mentioned it. interesting to learn about though! 

Misty8723 said:

 
Not yet (knock on wood). I always get a flu shot and had a pneumonia shot as well not too long ago.  There is a lot of something going around the office, so I'm trying to not be in the way of any of the germs.

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  that you avoid those germs at your work!

sivyaleah said:

 
This was the first year I got a flu shot. I felt I'm getting older, and better safe.

However, I wound up getting a severe respiratory infection - was almost worse than the flu since it took a good 3 weeks before I felt like myself again.  It was on the verge of becoming bronchitis - something I'm very prone to.  

I know one has nothing to do with the other, just was bad luck so I'm sure next year I'll get another flu shot and probably, get sick anyway

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oh, how horrible! i'm glad it didn't turn into bronchitis.   

mickNsnicks2mom said:

 
i'm glad you haven't had a cold or the flu this year! in my book, a nasty stomach bug is equally as bad though! 

thank you! i actually rarely get sick either. i figure it must have been a pretty nasty version of flu (and one i hadn't ever been exposed to before), for me to catch it.

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That stomach bug was horrible. I couldn't eat anything for 4 days. All I could hold down was ginger ale. Lilith was so sweet. She stayed by me almost the entire time. I woke up a few times to her stroking my arm with her paw. 

Lonelocust said:

Unfortunately I've been sick a lot in the last year, though not consistently with the same thing. I had the worst flu of my life in November-December, and I have another cold right now but am mostly better as of today. I'm pretty unamused with seeming to get sick about once a month for the last year.

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  that that trend comes to an end for you, and you're able to enjoy an extended period of time without any illness!

Draco said:

 
about a month ago I had a bad sinus infection/cold. it lasted about 2 weeks before I felt better.

I get the flu shot, so far, no flu this year

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  for no flu for you this year! that sounds like it must have been a pretty bad sinus infection/cold, to last for two weeks. 

Handsome Kitty said:

 
I got a flu shot this year a the Pneumonia shot a few years ago.  Recommended by my doctor because I have asthma.  I don't really get the flu.  I usually get a bad sinus infection early fall/late summer.  Mostly I can ride them out but the last one I got a Z-pack.

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i'm glad you haven't had the flu, but that bad sinus infection sounds plenty bad enough to me! 

what is a Z-pack?

Cassiopea said:

 
Had a cold not too long ago! My 3 year steak of not getting sick ended 

 oh life. At least it wasn't terrible, but still fairly uncomfortable. 



I didn't get a flu shot this year (got it the year prior) just flew over my head! But will definitely do it again later 2016. 




 

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a 3 year streak of not getting sick is really very good, what with all the quite nasty bugs/viruses and etc being circulated 'out there'! 

Mamanyt1953 said:

 
Thank goodness, no.  I get a flu shot every year.  I got in the habit of it when I worked at a state mental hospital, and we took shots for everything they made shots for, plaus got checked for TB every year. 

I've reached the age now where colds are few and far between,  I've had most of the cold viruses in the USA by now.  You do know that there isn't one cold?  As soon as you've had one strain, you're immune to it and can't get it any more.  That's why very young children get colds every time you turn around, but elderly people rarely do.

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great, that you haven't had a cold/flu/etc this year! 

i'll be looking forward to having less colds/more immunity as i move closer to/into my senior years! 

Louann Jude said:

 
It seems like what ever is going around the school my son gets and brings home. We all are sick at least once a month since August. I am so ready for Summer break. 

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ahhh, it sounds like you're getting exposed to most every bug/cold/flu going around! not fair to you all right now, but you'll also have immunity to all those particular colds/viruses/bugs. 

mickNsnicks2mom said:

 
great, that you haven't had a cold/flu/etc this year! 

i'll be looking forward to having less colds/more immunity as i move closer to/into my senior years! 

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Senior years?? I figured you to be early to mid 30's. 

Kat0121 said:

 
Senior years?? I figured you to be early to mid 30's. 

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  i'm (very) young at heart! i'm in my mid-50's now.