Feel bad every winter

[Don Stugots]

QUESTION:

Dr. Steve,

Good day to you. Every winter I seem to get a cold or not feel well one or two days out of the week, every week. I do work partially outside but I bundle up. I take a multivitamin every day and I do some sort of exercise three times a week.

WTF?

Your friend,
Don Stugots

[Thebazile78]

QUESTION:

Dr. Steve,

Good day to you. Every winter I seem to get a cold or not feel well one or two days out of the week, every week. I do work partially outside but I bundle up. I take a multivitamin every day and I do some sort of exercise three times a week.

WTF?

Your friend,
Don Stugots

Andrew, do you get enough sleep?

I just read about the following study:

Patterns: Trying to Avoid a Cold? Go Back to Bed (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/13/health/research/13patt.html?em) (NY Times, Science & Health section, 12 January 2009; registration is free, but required)

They did a study at Carnegie Mellon Univeristy with results that indicate losing even as little as 2% of your needed sleep would increase your chances of catching a cold FOUR TIMES when compared to someone who'd had enough sleep.

(Also, do you get a flu shot every year? If not, you might want to consider it for next year; I find I get sick less often if I get a flu shot every year.)

[Dr Steve]

QUESTION:

Dr. Steve,

Good day to you. Every winter I seem to get a cold or not feel well one or two days out of the week, every week. I do work partially outside but I bundle up. I take a multivitamin every day and I do some sort of exercise three times a week.

WTF?

Your friend,
Don Stugots

Don:

I'm going to go out on a limb and make an educated guess on this one. It's unlikely that you are getting one viral infection after another causing your symptoms every week of every winter, so it must be something more environmental.

I'm going to guess that you have a dust allergy; in the winter, forced air heat tosses out a constant barrage of dust particles that have built up in the system over the 6-9 months that heating systems aren't in use. People who are allergic to dust may have worse symptoms in the winter because of this. People think of allergies as being just runny noses and sneezing, but they can also make you feel like crap all over as well.

Every year in October I get laryngitis, runny nose, coughing, muscle aches, and uncontrollable sneezing and it'd last 8 weeks at least. I used to think I just got some damn virus every year, but I'm getting older and it just got to be ridiculous. So I did some thinking and reasoned that it must be some bad-ass allergy that I was having. I got put on a medication called "Singulair" that completely broke the cycle...I still get the laryngitis (listen to last october's weird medicine for an example (http://www.doctorsteve.com)), but none of the rest of the horrid symptoms I once did.

Talk to your health care provider...I'm not advocating Singulair for you, necessarily, but treating you for seasonal allergies in the winter might make you feel better.

hope this helps


your pal,



steve

PS: if you want to try some over the counter things...Claritin may help, as well as salt water nasal spray (which you can use every hour if you need to). Good luck!

[spoon]

I'm gonna go with aids.

[Don Stugots]

Andrew, do you get enough sleep?

I just read about the following study:

Patterns: Trying to Avoid a Cold? Go Back to Bed (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/13/health/research/13patt.html?em) (NY Times, Science & Health section, 12 January 2009; registration is free, but required)

They did a study at Carnegie Mellon Univeristy with results that indicate losing even as little as 2% of your needed sleep would increase your chances of catching a cold FOUR TIMES when compared to someone who'd had enough sleep.

(Also, do you get a flu shot every year? If not, you might want to consider it for next year; I find I get sick less often if I get a flu shot every year.)


a full night's sleep? what is that?

Don:

I'm going to go out on a limb and make an educated guess on this one. It's unlikely that you are getting one viral infection after another causing your symptoms every week of every winter, so it must be something more environmental.

I'm going to guess that you have a dust allergy; in the winter, forced air heat tosses out a constant barrage of dust particles that have built up in the system over the 6-9 months that heating systems aren't in use. People who are allergic to dust may have worse symptoms in the winter because of this. People think of allergies as being just runny noses and sneezing, but they can also make you feel like crap all over as well.

Every year in October I get laryngitis, runny nose, coughing, muscle aches, and uncontrollable sneezing and it'd last 8 weeks at least. I used to think I just got some damn virus every year, but I'm getting older and it just got to be ridiculous. So I did some thinking and reasoned that it must be some bad-ass allergy that I was having. I got put on a medication called "Singulair" that completely broke the cycle...I still get the laryngitis (listen to last october's weird medicine for an example (http://www.doctorsteve.com)), but none of the rest of the horrid symptoms I once did.

Talk to your health care provider...I'm not advocating Singulair for you, necessarily, but treating you for seasonal allergies in the winter might make you feel better.

hope this helps


your pal,



steve

PS: if you want to try some over the counter things...Claritin may help, as well as salt water nasal spray (which you can use every hour if you need to). Good luck!

i will look into it. thank you.

I'm gonna go with aids.


oh, i might have to talk with Doug

[Thebazile78]

A full night's sleep varies from person to person. Some people need as many as 10-12 hours while others can get by with only 5.

Me, I need 8 hours minimum, more if I'm sick or PMS-ing (which is a challenge in and of itself because I have trouble sleeping when I'm PMS-ing because of the hormone shifts, but that's another issue altogether and not likely to affect a guy.)

[Gvac]

God forbid you should try a Neti pot.

[ToiletCrusher]

God forbid you should try a Neti pot.

real men suffer. we don't take the easy way out.

[Don Stugots]

TC understands me. I would try that neti pot but thing but it gives me the willies. Sticking something up my nose? Never. I also don't use eye drops.


I have been blowing my nose all morning and it is still stuffed and I feel another cold coming on.

[Don Stugots]

Bazile, I go to bed at 10ish, at 1 I am wide awake and righting down notes for work. I fall back to sleep at 2 and my day starts at 5. My mind is always racing about stuff that I might forget and other things that are on my mind. Sleeping all night doesn't happen too often.

[west milly Tom]

A full night's sleep varies from person to person. Some people need as many as 10-12 hours while others can get by with only 5.

Me, I need 8 hours minimum, more if I'm sick or PMS-ing (which is a challenge in and of itself because I have trouble sleeping when I'm PMS-ing because of the hormone shifts, but that's another issue altogether and not likely to affect a guy.)



I never sleep more than 5 hours a night. I am however, always napping. I also basically spend all winter fighting a constant sore throat that the antibiotics only seem to clear up for so long. Would vitamins help at all?

Edit: I also have horrible seasonal allergies that go largely untreated. I don't take care of myself that well.

[Thebazile78]

Bazile, I go to bed at 10ish, at 1 I am wide awake and righting down notes for work. I fall back to sleep at 2 and my day starts at 5. My mind is always racing about stuff that I might forget and other things that are on my mind. Sleeping all night doesn't happen too often.

You poor thing! Really. I honestly mean that.

It's hard to recommend stress-reduction when your life is so full, but you might want to look into yoga and meditation to help sort your mind out right after you get home from whatever job you're doing that day so you're not waking up in the middle of the night with worries. But I don't know how that would work into your schedule, especially if it's erratic.

I never sleep more than 5 hours a night. I am however, always napping. I also basically spend all winter fighting a constant sore throat that the antibiotics only seem to clear up for so long. Would vitamins help at all?

Edit: I also have horrible seasonal allergies that go largely untreated. I don't take care of myself that well.

Try tea for the sore throat. No joke.

A study was recently published, and was pointed to in this past Tuesday's (1/27/09) "Really?" column in the NY Times Science/Health section (linky (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/27/health/27really.html?ref=health)) that indicates hot drinks, like tea, can help ease cold symptoms better than cold drinks would.

You could try vitamin C and zinc tablets, but I don't trust them ... and vitamin C hasn't been shown to have any efficacy in fighting infections in clinical studies (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/24/health/24resi.html?scp=3&sq=vitamin%20c&st=cse).

As for the allergies, there are so many OTC pills and things out there (even generics ... I take the Target-brand generic form of 24-hour Zyrtec for mine) that there's really no reason to go untreated if it's an allergy!!!

And there's always a neti pot or nasal saline to irrigate your sinuses. (I have issues with neti pots for bacterial fears, but have no problem using nasal saline like Simply Saline brand because of the shape of the nozzle not allowing for any backwash.)

[west milly Tom]

Thanks bro.

[Gvac]

TC understands me. I would try that neti pot but thing but it gives me the willies. Sticking something up my nose? Never. I also don't use eye drops.


I have been blowing my nose all morning and it is still stuffed and I feel another cold coming on.

Fuck you then.

Suffer in silence.

Try to help some people...

[CofyCrakCocaine]

Don, in all due seriousness, you have alot of good reasons for why you're feeling like shit besides what I'm about to say, but you ever think you might also be suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.)? I know you got a real full schedule fulla eratic hours, but maybe you could try artificial sunlight treatment like some people do... they have those kind of things in places like science stations in Antarctica and seems to help. Give it a shot, see if there's any improvement after spending an hour in a UV room.

My old man suffers from S.A.D., so I'm just speaking from my own experiences... I know it's diff for u. I wouldn't be surprise if those kinda things manifest 'emselves different ways for different people tho.

Whatever ya do, I wish you the best and hope your luck improves with these cold days.

[Don Stugots]

Baz, I do yoga 3 times a week. I go for long walks with the dog (minus the cell phone) almost everyday. I take pills to help take the edge off and for anxiety. Relaxing is something I am teaching myself how to do.

CCC, I have thought of that and my next visit to "dr. Krane" it is going to be discussed. Thank you both.


Gvac, take your neti pot and sit on it. Blah.

[~Katja~]

Baz, I do yoga 3 times a week. I go for long walks with the dog (minus the cell phone) almost everyday. I take pills to help take the edge off and for anxiety. Relaxing is something I am teaching myself how to do.

CCC, I have thought of that and my next visit to "dr. Krane" it is going to be discussed. Thank you both.


Gvac, take your neti pot and sit on it. Blah.

I feel another photoshop coming on :)

[CofyCrakCocaine]

I feel another photoshop coming on :)

Is Katja (beautiful name btw) German for Ball-Buster?

THIS MAN MAY BE A DON, BUT THIS DON IS A MAN! HE HAS FEELINGS!

[CofyCrakCocaine]

Baz, I do yoga 3 times a week. I go for long walks with the dog (minus the cell phone) almost everyday. I take pills to help take the edge off and for anxiety. Relaxing is something I am teaching myself how to do.

CCC, I have thought of that and my next visit to "dr. Krane" it is going to be discussed. Thank you both.


Gvac, take your neti pot and sit on it. Blah.

Cool about the yoga. I really need to give it a try, though I'm as flexible as those horrible plastic cases that seems to be attached to EVERYTHING at BestBuy these days.

As a side note, I think Indian women are really really hot. I have yet to find a Yoga class instructed by a hot Indian woman however. For shame.

[RoseBlood]

(Also, do you get a flu shot every year? If not, you might want to consider it for next year; I find I get sick less often if I get a flu shot every year.)
I got a flu shot this year and so far I've only had a very mild, short term cold. As previously said, getting enough sleep (if you can), trying to minimize stress is huge. If I do feel anything coming on, I'll pop a zinc lozenger and that seems to nip things in the bud. Vitamin C as we all know is good to load up on BEFORE you feel sick. I'm pretty sure you really can't overdose on vit. c, cause the body just gets rid of whatever it doesn't need. When I feel cold-like symptoms coming on, I drink a large mug of hot tea with crushed red hot peppers before bed, that helps too.

[Don Stugots]

Hot tea with red peppers? That sounds good.

[west milly Tom]

Yoga is for sissys. Try throwing around the basketball, or playing some tennis in the winter. Even weight training can help. I know that I always feel that much better after a pick up game or two.

[lleeder]

Vitamin C as we all know is good to load up on BEFORE you feel sick. I'm pretty sure you really can't overdose on vit. c

I agree vitamin c always clears those winter blues away.

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[CofyCrakCocaine]

I got a flu shot this year and so far I've only had a very mild, short term cold. As previously said, getting enough sleep (if you can), trying to minimize stress is huge. If I do feel anything coming on, I'll pop a zinc lozenger and that seems to nip things in the bud. Vitamin C as we all know is good to load up on BEFORE you feel sick. I'm pretty sure you really can't overdose on vit. c, cause the body just gets rid of whatever it doesn't need. When I feel cold-like symptoms coming on, I drink a large mug of hot tea with crushed red hot peppers before bed, that helps too.

#1: You can OD on anything. Though it's harder to do so with some things than others. The whole trick to a healthy body + mind is homeostasis after all (i.e. your body wants to "stay the same" at all times and reacts in ways to try to return itself to a state of normality- thus negative and positive feedback systems). Too much of something isn't conducive to homeostasis. I'm sure this is the case even of Vitamin C.

#2: A doctor turned me on to trying out grape fruit seed extract to boost your viral immunity. I think it's just snake oil in a pill, but she swore by it and feeds her kids it. Maybe it serves as good placebo.

#3: I bought one of those Sharper Image Ionizer air-purifier thingies six years ago and only got sick during the winter a couple times.

#4: I am personally not a big fan of flu shot vaccinations. The same doctor I mentioned doesn't believe that young healthy-bodied people should be getting the shots... and a few of my friends caught a nasty case of the flu shortly after getting their shots too... I guess my personal problem with flu vaccination is that it's just a really complicated guessjob... wherein the scientists who culture the dead virus are trying to predict the unpredictable i.e. in which way/direction will the flu virus mutate this year... it's a roll of the dice. Of course, if you're older or unhealthy, the risk you take by not taking the vaccine probably makes the shot more worthwhile. Keep in mind I'm only talking about annual flu vaccines... not the shots that prevent Polio and Tetnis, and all them other happy diseases.

[lleeder]

I disagree I could never O.D. on Roseblood. I'd pee her out if I had too much.

[Don Stugots]

Yoga is for sissys. Try throwing around the basketball, or playing some tennis in the winter. Even weight training can help. I know that I always feel that much better after a pick up game or two.

hate sports, hate being a gym with people that want to either talk to you or walk around naked in the locker room.

Yoga is done by myself, in my own home and is great cardio. try it before you knock it.

[west milly Tom]

Im all about avoiding the flu shot. I feel like giving myself the flu to avoid the flu dosent make any sense. Also, I'm no conspiracy lunatic, but I genuinely believe that there is other stuff in that shot we're not being told about. I feel like there could be a massive experiment, like the smallpox vaccine in the X Files. I know the flu dosent really kill me every year, but what's in the mystery shot may someday. I never got one and never will
Tinfoil hat time?

[west milly Tom]

hate sports, hate being a gym with people that want to either talk to you or walk around naked in the locker room.

Yoga is done by myself, in my own home and is great cardio. try it before you knock it.



Any excersice that has me doing the 'blossoming flower' is not for me. Sorry Don.

[CofyCrakCocaine]

hate sports, hate being a gym with people that want to either talk to you or walk around naked in the locker room.

Yoga is done by myself, in my own home and is great cardio. try it before you knock it.

I'm the complete opposite of you. I can't stand working out alone.

Though I can't honestly say I'm too fond of the naked man in the locker room thing. Creeptown. AND WHY ARE ALL THE NAKED GUYS OLD MEN? It's like Driving Ms.Brokeback in those places.

[CofyCrakCocaine]

Any excersice that has me doing the 'blossoming flower' is not for me. Sorry Don.

I don't really know what blossoming flower is, but I bet it makes your sex life better. Improved flexibility= good times.

[Don Stugots]

I'm the complete opposite of you. I can't stand working out alone.


I prefer to be alone. it is part of meditation. i am around 50-100 people all day so the solitude is welcome.

I don't really know what blossoming flower is, but I bet it makes your sex life better. Improved flexibility= good times.


yes it is

[west milly Tom]

Sex with women is also fun. Give it a try sometime. :laugh:

[CofyCrakCocaine]

Sex with women is also fun. Give it a try sometime. :laugh:

don't make you a bad person!

[~Katja~]

Is Katja (beautiful name btw) German for Ball-Buster?

THIS MAN MAY BE A DON, BUT THIS DON IS A MAN! HE HAS FEELINGS!

Actually, Katja is a short version of Katherine the Great, a tsar of Russia. She was quite cruel in her days.

[west milly Tom]

Actually, Katja is a short version of Katherine the Great, a tsar of Russia. She was quite cruel in her days.

good to see you carried her monniker.

[~Katja~]

good to see you carried her monniker.

I should have carried her love life

[RoseBlood]

You can OD on anything. Though it's harder to do so with some things than others. The whole trick to a healthy body + mind is homeostasis after all (i.e. your body wants to "stay the same" at all times and reacts in ways to try to return itself to a state of normality- thus negative and positive feedback systems). Too much of something isn't conducive to homeostasis. I'm sure this is the case even of Vitamin C.
When I said overdose, I didn't mean literally, but yes, you are correct, one can OD on anything, even water. Moral = too much of a good thing is bad.

I wouldn't recommend anyone take megadoses of any vitamin and that includes vit. c.
If you are a relatively healthy adult, I don't think taking a few extra mgs. of vit. c too possibly help fight a cold would do any harm. Correct me if I'm wrong, but one would have to ingest well over a few thousand mgs. to OD?

I am personally not a big fan of flu shot vaccinations. The same doctor I mentioned doesn't believe that young healthy-bodied people should be getting the shots... and a few of my friends caught a nasty case of the flu shortly after getting their shots too...
Im all about avoiding the flu shot. I feel like giving myself the flu to avoid the flu dosent make any sense.
I use to think that unless you were elderly or walking around with a compromised immune system, there really was no need to get a flu shot. I'm not well educated in the matter, but it's been my understanding of late, that the flu shots have changed in recent years. I also believe the whole "the flu shot will give me the flu" is a myth. I know many people who received the shot this year and not one of them, including myself developed any flu like symptoms. It's personal choice, I guess.

try it before you knock it.
.. says the guy who suffers from a stuffy nose and congestion, yet won't try the neti-pot. :wink:

Any excersice that has me doing the 'blossoming flower' is not for me.
Would something more masculine, like bikram's 'cobra' pose make you reconsider? http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-confused004.gif
http://www.yogiclogic.com/images/bikram_yoga_full_cobra_pose.jpg

[hammersavage]

I have the immune system of a god. I haven't been sick since probably my sophomore year of high school. I'll get a 1 day head cold once a year (tops).

People say I'm going to jinx it but I always call out god to get me sick and it never happens. I probably have some inoperable brain tumor to make up for it and I have no idea.

[CofyCrakCocaine]

I should have carried her love life

:laugh: There were some interesting rumours about her spread by her enemies of the day

[CofyCrakCocaine]

When I said overdose, I didn't mean literally, but yes, you are correct, one can OD on anything, even water. Moral = too much of a good thing is bad.

I wouldn't recommend anyone take megadoses of any vitamin and that includes vit. c.
If you are a relatively healthy adult, I don't think taking a few extra mgs. of vit. c too possibly help fight a cold would do any harm. Correct me if I'm wrong, but one would have to ingest well over a few thousand mgs. to OD?

Yes.

I use to think that unless you were elderly or walking around with a compromised immune system, there really was no need to get a flu shot. I'm not well educated in the matter, but it's been my understanding of late, that the flu shots have changed in recent years. I also believe the whole "the flu shot will give me the flu" is a myth. I know many people who received the shot this year and not one of them, including myself developed any flu like symptoms. It's personal choice, I guess.


No. Yes.

[boosterp]

#4: I am personally not a big fan of flu shot vaccinations. The same doctor I mentioned doesn't believe that young healthy-bodied people should be getting the shots... and a few of my friends caught a nasty case of the flu shortly after getting their shots too... I guess my personal problem with flu vaccination is that it's just a really complicated guessjob... wherein the scientists who culture the dead virus are trying to predict the unpredictable i.e. in which way/direction will the flu virus mutate this year... it's a roll of the dice. Of course, if you're older or unhealthy, the risk you take by not taking the vaccine probably makes the shot more worthwhile. Keep in mind I'm only talking about annual flu vaccines... not the shots that prevent Polio and Tetnis, and all them other happy diseases.

Im all about avoiding the flu shot. I feel like giving myself the flu to avoid the flu dosent make any sense. Also, I'm no conspiracy lunatic, but I genuinely believe that there is other stuff in that shot we're not being told about. I feel like there could be a massive experiment, like the smallpox vaccine in the X Files. I know the flu dosent really kill me every year, but what's in the mystery shot may someday. I never got one and never will
Tinfoil hat time?

The flu shot does not give you the flu. It is basically the shell of a virus without the ability to infect you. The shells are used so that your immune system recognizes it as the flu and develops an immunity. Taking Tylenol every 6 hours for 24 hours after your shot and pumping the water will help if you think you'll "get sick." The few that feel like they get sick might of had something prior that weakened their immune system like a minor cold, stress, lack of sleep, etc. because now their immune system is having to work on the flu vaccine.

There is no reason not to get the shot, if and when you do get the flu you will miss an average of a week of work. What ever doctor does not recommend it should be kicked in the shin IMO.

[CofyCrakCocaine]

The flu shot does not give you the flu. It is basically the shell of a virus without the ability to infect you. The shells are used so that your immune system recognizes it as the flu and develops an immunity. Taking Tylenol every 6 hours for 24 hours after your shot and pumping the water will help if you think you'll "get sick." The few that feel like they get sick might of had something prior that weakened their immune system like a minor cold, stress, lack of sleep, etc. because now their immune system is having to work on the flu vaccine.

There is no reason not to get the shot, if and when you do get the flu you will miss an average of a week of work. What ever doctor does not recommend it should be kicked in the shin IMO.

Yes. The flu shot is basically the virus without the ability to replicate itself wherein it infects a cell, the cell lyses and new lil' flu bugs float out to infect more cells. I forget the cellular component that's removed...lysosome or the spindle fiber tail with the genetic information... and I really have no idea how they design the virus into a potentially predicted mutation ahead of time. That's why me stoopid and not a scientist.

Good point about the previously weakened immune system being what can compromise your ability to cope with the vaccine. All I know is I had the vaccine and got a real bad case of the flu shortly after, I haven't had the vaccine the past two years and both years the friends who did get the shot got the flu. I dunno why that is, maybe it's plain dumb luck. Maybe I still have some antibodies in me left over from last time that's resisting the past couple years' flu seasons.

My point wasn't that the shot gives you the flu, it just doesn't seem to be necessary for younger able-bodied people whose antibodies will be doing the bulk of the work anyway- especially when there are limited supplies of flu vaccinations that could go to people who need it more like the really young and really old. And Native Americans.

I do not think the flu(1) shot necessarily will make you sick, but if you develop an immunity for the flu(2), but that season's flu(3) mutates in a different direction, wouldn't you be left vulnerable to flu(4) anyway? Honest question, I don't know the answer to this.

Alright I'm babbling. Ty for your input. I'm not kicking the doctor though, she's a good friend. :laugh:

[Thebazile78]

....

I do not think the flu(1) shot necessarily will make you sick, but if you develop an immunity for the flu(2), but that season's flu(3) mutates in a different direction, wouldn't you be left vulnerable to flu(4) anyway? Honest question, I don't know the answer to this.

...

Each year's influenza vaccine protects against a handful of strains that the CDC thinks will come up during any given flu season, which is why getting re-vaccinated each year is beneficial.

If you work with children or the elderly, you should get a flu shot.
If you work with people who have children, you should get a flu shot.
If you work with people who care for elderly relations, you should get a flu shot.
If you work with people whose spouses or significant others work with any of the above groups or who work in the medical field, you should get a flu shot.

Which basically means getting a flu shot is fine for everyone, regardless of age or immunity response.

HOWEVER, the nasal spray flu vaccine could cause flu-like symptoms because it doesn't use a killed virus. The only people who should get the nasal spray vaccine are people whose immune systems are normal.

Some people do experience flu-like symptoms after getting their vaccinations. This is normal for a lot of people.

Some people do get really sick ... the fact that the strains of flu are incubated in chicken eggs makes it risky for someone who's got allergies to eggs or chicken feathers to get a flu vaccine.

Also, some people don't react well to vaccinations anyway, so you may be one of those people. Me, I get a little achy and sometimes have an achy pain at the injection site after my vaccinations, but that doesn't stop me from getting my flu shot!

In addition, the vaccine protects well, but it doesn't guarantee 100% protection; you could conceivably get hit with a flu strain that's mutated too much to be recognized by your vaccine-generated antibodies and then you'll get sick. OK, no problem. It doesn't mean you shouldn't get vaccinated next year.

[CofyCrakCocaine]

Each year's influenza vaccine protects against a handful of strains that the CDC thinks will come up during any given flu season, which is why getting re-vaccinated each year is beneficial.

If you work with children or the elderly, you should get a flu shot.
If you work with people who have children, you should get a flu shot.
If you work with people who care for elderly relations, you should get a flu shot.
If you work with people whose spouses or significant others work with any of the above groups or who work in the medical field, you should get a flu shot.

Which basically means getting a flu shot is fine for everyone, regardless of age or immunity response.

HOWEVER, the nasal spray flu vaccine could cause flu-like symptoms because it doesn't use a killed virus. The only people who should get the nasal spray vaccine are people whose immune systems are normal.

Some people do experience flu-like symptoms after getting their vaccinations. This is normal for a lot of people.

Some people do get really sick ... the fact that the strains of flu are incubated in chicken eggs makes it risky for someone who's got allergies to eggs or chicken feathers to get a flu vaccine.

Also, some people don't react well to vaccinations anyway, so you may be one of those people. Me, I get a little achy and sometimes have an achy pain at the injection site after my vaccinations, but that doesn't stop me from getting my flu shot!

In addition, the vaccine protects well, but it doesn't guarantee 100% protection; you could conceivably get hit with a flu strain that's mutated too much to be recognized by your vaccine-generated antibodies and then you'll get sick. OK, no problem. It doesn't mean you shouldn't get vaccinated next year.

Going further on this, I'd be curious to know what percentage of the population gets the flu vaccine versus how many flu vaccines there are. I know there was the shortage a few years back. I fully agree with the list of people who should get the vaccine... if you come into regular contact with people who have low WBC counts, such as an infant who hasn't developed any antibodies yet or an older fellow whose WBC's have mostly faded away, it would be selfish and irresponsible to not vaccinate yourself.

I guess my primary gripe with flu vaccinations is the roll of the dice, so to speak which makes me not want to get it personally. Though you never know about anything. My grandfather caught the flu and pneumonia simultaneously for two weeks when he was 94 and he chugged along just fine. Lives in his house, full faculties all that... going strong today. Of course, he gets his vaccinations and well he should. I caught a case of the common cold last October and was still coughing in December. Gramps kicks my ass.

I get the sore spot too at the injection site whenever I get a vaccination. That doesn't bother me, seems pretty par the course.

[Thebazile78]

Going further on this, I'd be curious to know what percentage of the population gets the flu vaccine versus how many flu vaccines there are. I know there was the shortage a few years back. I fully agree with the list of people who should get the vaccine... if you come into regular contact with people who have low WBC counts, such as an infant who hasn't developed any antibodies yet or an older fellow whose WBC's have mostly faded away, it would be selfish and irresponsible to not vaccinate yourself.

I guess my primary gripe with flu vaccinations is the roll of the dice, so to speak which makes me not want to get it personally. Though you never know about anything. My grandfather caught the flu and pneumonia simultaneously for two weeks when he was 94 and he chugged along just fine. Lives in his house, full faculties all that... going strong today. Of course, he gets his vaccinations and well he should. I caught a case of the common cold last October and was still coughing in December. Gramps kicks my ass.

I get the sore spot too at the injection site whenever I get a vaccination. That doesn't bother me, seems pretty par the course.

It depends.

Yes, there was a widely-reported (probably exaggerated) shot-type vaccine shortage a few years ago, but there were supposed to have been plenty of the nasal spray vaccines available. (Again, these are not for folks with compromised immune systems. Or for people like me who can't stand nasal sprays. Ewww.) That doesn't mean there will be a shortage every year ... more people are getting flu shots yearly, so the company that manufactures them is more inclined to manufacture enough vaccines to meet the increasing demand, despite the fact that there's very little profit to be made on vaccines.

I get my flu vaccine free of charge at work. They bring in nurses from Holy Name Hospital and you're in-and-out within 5 minutes.

I've never asked my PCP if I could get a flu shot with her practice because of this, but free beats a copay any day of the week.

Besides, if the company's going to enforce its sick-time policy, I'm not taking any chances.