Flu - Nanc

[Guest guest]

Hi, Y'all,

Most of us CMLers have normal defenses against viruses as far as anyone can

tell, but I think a flu shot is a fine idea, especially for those of us over

50 or so. The morbidity from influenza is way higher than most people

suspect because the infection depletes our lungs' capacity to fight off

bacterial invasion in several different ways.

If you don't get a flu shot, or if it's not effective and you get the flu

anyway (manifested by about 12 hours of malaise, that is, feeling that

something's not right but you can't put your finger on it; followed by

SUDDEN onset of shaking chills, feeling really sick, headache, sore throat

and fever to about 101.5F/38.5C, during flu season), there's always

amantadine 100mg, 2 pills immediately, then one a day until 3 days after

symptoms have cleared. Astonishingly effective if you take it within 4 to 8

hours of onset - which means that you have to convince your doc to prescribe

it ahead of time because the wheels of medical practice don't turn fast

enough otherwise.

What's amazing is the most docs still don't think to prescribe this highly

effective and inexpensive drug.

R

> Date: Tue, 04 Oct 2005 14:21:15 -0700

> From: Cogan <ncogan@...>

> Subject: Re: Costco - flu shots

>

> At 01:26 PM 10/4/05 -0700, you wrote:

>> Thanks for the information !! Do most docs recommend that we get one?

>

> Hi ....yes, the cml specialists like Dr. Druker and the MDACC docs

> all seem to recommend them (unless you have an allergy to eggs)...

> so that we don't further stress our bodies with flu on top of dealing with

> cml.

>

> Maybe R. will also pipe in if he has a different opinion. I always

> got a flu shot in the past, even before cml, because I was a health care

> worker and had a lot of exposure (in a university health care center).

>

> Take care,

> C.