I'll be getting the regular flu shot soon and I'm not sure about H1N1. I've gotten the regular shot every year for several years since I have lots of allergy/sinus/asthma trouble and even normal colds hit me hard and last a long time, usually with a sinus infection to follow, etc. (Sorry if TMI!) We spend a lot of time with my 80-year-old mom and my concern is that we'd pass the flu on to her. Since I inherited my upper-respiratory and allergy tendencies from her, she'd be in big trouble if she had the flu. I'm sure she'll get the regular flu shot this year, too, but as always, it's uncertain as to whether the formulation is accurate for this year's strains. One school about an hour away from us is closed as 1/3 of the students are out with the flu, and they haven't determined if it's H1N1. It did seem like they hyped H1N1 a few months ago, but now the news seems to be full of stories on it.

"Influenza may cause bad cold symptoms. But in the United States alone,36,000 people die and more than 200,000 are hospitalized each year because of the flu. MYTH: You can't spread the flu if you're feeling well. Actually, 20% to 30% of people carrying the influenza virus have no symptoms." 10 Flu Myths If you’ve ever had the flu, you know how sick you can be. Chances are good that some of the advice friends and family gave you about avoiding or dealing with the flu was wrong. There seems to be no shortage of misinformation and bad advice when it comes to dealing with the flu. Here are 10 common myths about the flu. MYTH: You can catch the flu from the vaccine. The vaccine is made from an inactivated virus that can’t transmit infection. So people who get sick after receiving a flu vaccination were going to get sick anyway. It takes a week or two to get protection from the vaccine. But people assume that because they got sick after getting the vaccine, the shot caused their illness. MYTH: Healthy people don’t need to be vaccinated. It’s true that the flu vaccination is routinely recommended for people who have a chronic illness. But anyone — even healthy folks — can benefit from being vaccinated. Current guidelines suggest that children ages 6 months to 19 years old, pregnant women, and anyone over age 49 be vaccinated each year. In addition, the flu shot is recommended for healthy people who might spread the virus to others who are particularly susceptible. For this reason, health care workers are routinely advised to get the flu vaccination to protect their patients. MYTH: Getting the flu vaccination is all you need to do to protect yourself from the flu. There are a number of steps you can take to protect yourself during flu season besides vaccination. Avoid contact with people who have the flu, wash your hands frequently, and consider taking anti-viral medications if you were exposed to the flu before being vaccinated. MYTH: The flu is just a bad cold. Influenza may cause bad cold symptoms. But in the United States alone, 36,000 people die and more than 200,000 are hospitalized each year because of the flu. MYTH: You can’t spread the flu if you’re feeling well. Actually, 20% to 30% of people carrying the influenza virus have no symptoms. MYTH: You don’t need to get a flu shot every year. The influenza virus changes (mutates) each year. So getting vaccinated each year is important to make sure you have immunity to the strains most likely to cause an outbreak. MYTH: You can catch the flu from going out in cold weather without a coat, with wet hair or by sitting near a drafty window. The only way to catch the flu is by being exposed to the influenza virus. Flu season coincides with the cold weather. So people often associate the flu with a cold, drafty environment. But, they are not related. MYTH: Feed a cold, starve a fever. If you have the flu (or a cold) and a fever, you need more fluids. There’s little reason to increase or decrease how much you eat. Though you may have no appetite, “starving” yourself will accomplish little. And poor nutrition will not help you get better. MYTH: Chicken soup will speed your recovery from the flu. Hot liquids can soothe a sore throat and provide much needed fluids. But chicken soup has no other specific qualities that can help fight the flu. MYTH: If you have a high fever with the flu that lasts more than a day or two, antibiotics may be necessary. Antibiotics work well against bacteria, but they aren’t effective for a viral infection like the flu. Then again, some people develop a bacterial infection as a complication of the flu, so it may be a good idea to get checked out if your symptoms drag on or worsen. The flu is a good example of how medical myths can get in the way of good medical care. When it’s flu season, take the necessary steps to stay healthy. That includes separating fact from myth. http://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/10-flu-myths

terriks, at my hospital the vaccine is not optional for employees. Last year I was caring for an elderly patient in with breathing trouble. His daughter and grandson came to visit, and the grandson was coughing and didn't look well. I asked if he was ill and told them he needed to be wearing a mask -- mom refused, said he was fine. Don't you know that he did have the flu -- so did the patient, and I came down with it a few days later. BUT, I believe thanks to the vaccine, I really was not as sick as typical and it didn't last as long as I recall it usually did. blubird, I am surprised that, if your doctor felt you had the flu, he then put you on an antibiotic. Just the sort of thing that we've been fighting against for a decade -- inappropriate use of antibiotic. (But, perhaps you had developed a secondary infection that the flu left you open to. That can happen) We are seeing a lot of flu right now and have several patients in ICU with it. That GI bug (likely norovirus) tore through the staff in December, along with an upper respiratory thing that made several staff members quite ill.

I take Lily no where if she's not in my arms. Even the Vets I am supposed to call them an hour prior to appointments to remind them she's comming. They see her in the Doc's private office where no other animial goes and they all wear surgical gear. A few years ago after Lil had her yearly shots, she had a major reaction, within minutes her mouth fell open she couldn't breath, her tongue was huge. Doc took her and ran I know he gave her a shot of something and within seconds she was ok. So she's not vaccined against parvo or distemper. No outdoors for this girl. Even with a fenced back yard were in the woods practically and wildlife is everywhere. Doc told me last month we should try a gain he also says it will happen again, but he assures me we won't lose her. So were going to do this again soon. I'll let you all know for sure when as I'm going to need strong encouragement.