The Flu

[sleepy]

I've never bothered with Flu Shots.

I haven't had the Flu for over twenty years,
but I have the Flu today. Oh Boy!

[tiltjlp]

I always get a flu shot. But since Thursday I've had a stomach virus that has been going through my apartment building. Starting to feel a slight bit better, but still weak as a pup. Hope we both feel better soon.

[Ike Savage]

i got teh shot a couple weeks ago for the first time in years. not because i fear the flu ( it's really kind of trippy ), but i fear inflammation from the flu. a huge boost to heart attack and stroke risk, it turns out.

a few days ago i started to get the early symptoms, peaking yesterday, then the antibodies with their cliffs notes wiped out the invaders, seemingly. based on how nasty this year's version was... effin-A, baby!

it's also possible that such was the last internal kickings of the weakened virii that had been pumped in to my blood two weeks ago. *shrug*

but yea, usually i place my trust in massive quantities of garlic and veggies to keep me safe. well, they work great... most of the time!

[StevOz]

Only had the real flu once, last year, not much fun I felt like the walking dead and that was when I could walk. I was passed out in my bed for the best of 3 daze.

Never had shots for it either, though I'm rethinking that idea as I'm an old bastard now, over bloody fifty!

[faralos]

don't think I've had the flu ever
and have not even had a common cold in over six years!
I just watch what I eat and not drinking any more sure helps too
I get plenty of sleep too

[sleepy]

The first sign of it (The Sore Throat), I Googled and I gargled with ordinary distilled (white) vinegar. Man, I could not breath at all until the vapors left my mouth, scary stuff, but the sore throat was kept to a minimum with that, and I got around The Vinegar Vapor Strangulation Effect by cutting the vinegar to half strength; one part food-grade distilled vinegar (from the supermarket spice and baking aisle) mixed with one part water.

I saw on the Net that Distilled Vinegar is 90% effective against bacteria and 80-83% effective against viruses. The flu is a virus. On a side note, some folks with HIV use vinegar to control it. So do some of the ladies, but not in the same way or for the same...you know.

So maybe if you happen to use a lot of vinegar in your diet, that might help prevent catching colds and flu? Vinegar is trouble with an ulcer though.

[ruby651]

Jesus, Arne! That sounds like an example of a cure that's worse than the disease! A woman I used to work with told me I could get rid of a cold-related stuffy nose by snorting water. Sure, I was able to breathe for about 30 minutes, but the waterboarding headache I got convinced me to put that remedy on the back-burner.

[Coil_Smoke]

Lots'a water helps keep cell osmotic pressure up. Plenty of vitamin D toughens cell membranes. Both of these simple steps make it hard for invading micro-organisms to penetrate your cells. I'll bet the vinegar thing can help if used early. I'm Not sold on the zinc based remedies and ZI_CAM has been sued for burning out peoples sinuses. I still believe early use of Listerine helps lessen the duration/severity of colds and flue(at least the sore throat part). Get / stay well....C_S

[sleepy]

I always get a headache at the brain stem from Zinc tabs.
I made that mistake back in the 70's when it was a fad thing to do.
For whatever reason, money(?), Zinc is a fad that returns every 20 years or so,
but Zinc is a trace mineral the body uses in very small amounts.

If I need Zinc, I slap some mustard on a sandwich instead.

[sleepy]

Garlic is Good.
I can't understand those who do not love garlic.

[Ike Savage]

yea, vinegar and stuff lower than about 4-5pH just annihilates my digestive tract. no thanks!

and thanks, coil smoke... interesting about the osmotic pressure. although i would think vit.D would be only --one-- of a group of key players in that process. at the same time, the news is bursting with studies that show how Depleted we are as modern humans. i'm taking about 5,000 IU's a day during the winter as an experiment. (i feel no different, btw)

there was a few-years period in which garlic would cause my stomach to rumble and misbehave. i had to stop eating it.
boy, will it be a bitcher if the problem returns. i eat about a whole BULB a day with my meals... RAW.

[sleepy]

Don't drink it. Just gargle with it.

I have ulcers. I don't drink it.