H1N1 vaccine-anecdotal experience from a college roomie of mine

Juanita · Guru

RE: H1N1 vaccine-anecdotal experience from a college roomie of mine

Supafly · Guru

Alison wrote:

Supafly wrote:

Alison wrote:

Isn't it easier when the decision is made for us, LOL?

I saw that you didn't have many symptoms - what vitamins have you been taking? Do you think the oscillo-whatever has helped? We have that on hand just in case.

SO much easier when we don't have to think about it!!

Do you mean me personally or the girls?

I gave Kate the oscillo today-I didn't have it when Anna was first sick, and didn't think it was flu anyway, so IDT I would have thought to give it to her. It may have helped her. She took that at noon. She napped at about 3 until 7, and when she got up she was a ton better (but she had also had tylenol).

Anna was just never that bad!! I will say that they both take daily vitamins and Anna takes those Acidophilus (sp?) Pearls daily as well. IDK if that helped her also.

As for me...let's see...I take a probiotic (MegaFlora Plus-it has 14 strains in it and is a refrigerated one-those usually have the best strains in them), I also take Omega 3s, daily multivitamins, my prescription med, milk thistle for my liver, cranberry to keep away UTIs, Femtrol for my cycle issues, Peppermint Plus (which has peppermint, rosemary and thyme oils), and two enzymatic supplements to help digestion-one is called PepZin and the other is MegaZyme. My acupuncturist recommended I up the probiotic while everyone is sick, if I can handle that. She said that her daughter (also a UC'er) did that when her boyfriend got H1N1 recently and she avoided getting it. I REALLY think everyone should be taking a probiotic. Not everyone needs the kind I take-but everyone should take one. I think it helps a LOT. I would give Kate the Pearls also, but I am not sure she understands how to swallow something.

But I will say that Bill is the only one of us who takes nothing (even Kate at least takes vitamins), and he is faring far worse than the rest of us, at least with secondary symptoms. His fever hasn't been bad, but his sinuses are on fire, he has a bad headache, lots of aches and chills, and he is hacking up a lung. He has been on the couch all day long and just went down to the basement to do that some more now that he is out of the shower.

Supafly · Guru

Alison wrote:

Supafly wrote:

Alison wrote:

I'm concerned about him because he doesn't really take any kinds of vitamins (I've been downing D, D3, C, Omega-3, and probiotics), has dormant asthma, isn't great about washing his hands a million times a day, and isn't likely to go to the doctor OR take homeopathic remedies if he gets sick. Plus he works with a bunch of single guys who don't take care of themselves and are more likely to go to work when they are sick. And he's a really big guy, so any shot is going to be less concentrated in him than it would in our kids, kwim?

Yikes-I would consider it too.
I will say though-Bill is the same way-never washes his hands, doesn't take ANYTHING, won't go to the doc, etc. (no asthma though)
BUT-he is taking vit C now, he took elderberry that I bought, whatever I give him basically. He feels that bad. And he has seen that (*so far*) I have remained pretty well through all of this, and he knows I take a ton of stuff. IDT it will convert him, but it has opened his eyes because I am the "sick" one in the family, and I have been the healthiest of us all since I started on all of these supplements and such.

That's AWESOME. I mean, that you stayed healthier that way. I got some elderberry and had John take it when we all had colds a couple of weeks ago. I really don't think it helped us much, but it can't have hurt! And I don't get any sleep, so I'm not a good case study!
I've been reading a lot on mothering.com which is a "natural family living" site with forums. Basically a lot of people of all degrees of crunchiness (some of them live in yurts!), and there are so many stories about their families getting H1N1 and successfully treating it with cod liver oil, vitamin D3, sodium ascorbate, and elderberry extract. It's encouraging, really, but if it came down on us and I had to decide whether to treat Mason with Tamiflu and/or homeopathic remedies, it would be a tough call, because what if I chose wrong?

Well, it is compounded by the fact that you have an infant in the house. At least we don't have that. (and TG I didn't end up PG, I would be a wreck right now about it) But I do think if you catch it early enough, these things can be as successful as Tamiflu and without the dangers. Not that all homeopathic remedies are without danger, of course, but elderberry and even the oscillo have been around a long time. I really think that what has helped me the most this year has been the probiotic. I wasn't taking one last year and by this time, I was already in hell with my sinuses-this year-I have been good so far!! But it isn't a "when you are sick" kind of thing, kwim? I take it everyday, all the time.

I struggled today with the Tamiflu decision. I thought, what if I give it to her and she has side effects and it doesn't help anyway? And then I thought what if I DON'T give it to her and she gets worse again and has to be hospitalized? And I HAD to decide quick because we were near the 48 hour window. But my gut told me not to, and it seems to have been the right choice. I don't know what tomorrow will bring, but her fever is out of the danger zone and she is definitely improving a lot.

And ok, IHNI what a yurt is, but it does NOT sound like my ideal home, lol!!!!

CoffeeQueen · Guru

Alison wrote:

daisy wrote:

Michele wrote:

My nephew got the shot yesterday and woke up today with a terrible headache so bad he was dry-heaving all day.

I know my kids are not getting this vaccine.

sheesh - you guys seriously?
so scary.
we are going to probably be hearing a lot of anecdotal side effects in the next few weeks as the shot becomes available.
i cant get it at my pedi till next week. i am not rushing to get it. but i will be all ears about stories like this.

This is such an ethical landmine - basically everyone who gets the vaccine is a test subject, because they just don't know how it's going to work.
And then you add in the fact that doctors get a kickback from the pharmaceutical companies for every vaccine administered in their offices...
I am 90% sure that my kids won't be getting the vaccine, and about 99% sure I won't be getting it, but I'm still on the fence about my husband getting it, LOL. He'll basically do whatever I say, knowing that I do a lot more research than he would on the subject!

Not sure how it is run in your state, but here it is most being done through the health department clinics. It is all free. So, not sure in terms of this one and Dr. getting kick backs. Most Dr. offices have not even recieved them.

CoffeeQueen · Guru

We have all been vaccinated.

I get the flu shot yearly and never have had an issue.

People really cannot get sick from the season flu shot. Now there is always risk of reaction to any shot you get. You can be sick and get the shot and still get the flu. You are not protected instantly. I am not sure what to make of things in terms of what is so different is this strain compared to normal. I cannot do much now. I will watch the girls. Being in the atmosphere that I am daily I felt I had to protect my family from it. Here the flu has not been mild as some are saying. Will let you know how we turn out :)

daisy · Guru

CoffeeQueen wrote:

We have all been vaccinated.

I get the flu shot yearly and never have had an issue.

People really cannot get sick from the season flu shot. Now there is always risk of reaction to any shot you get. You can be sick and get the shot and still get the flu. You are not protected instantly. I am not sure what to make of things in terms of what is so different is this strain compared to normal. I cannot do much now. I will watch the girls. Being in the atmosphere that I am daily I felt I had to protect my family from it. Here the flu has not been mild as some are saying. Will let you know how we turn out :)

you guys got it? did they have to split mia's up? i am confused on that....

CoffeeQueen · Guru

daisy wrote:

CoffeeQueen wrote:

We have all been vaccinated.

I get the flu shot yearly and never have had an issue.

People really cannot get sick from the season flu shot. Now there is always risk of reaction to any shot you get. You can be sick and get the shot and still get the flu. You are not protected instantly. I am not sure what to make of things in terms of what is so different is this strain compared to normal. I cannot do much now. I will watch the girls. Being in the atmosphere that I am daily I felt I had to protect my family from it. Here the flu has not been mild as some are saying. Will let you know how we turn out :)

you guys got it? did they have to split mia's up? i am confused on that....

What do you mean split mia's up? She is suppose to get a second shot in 28 days, but I have read enough that she has enough from this one to somewhat protect her. I will see what is going on in that 28 days. We all had it.

allvowels · Veteran Member

Alison wrote:

This is such an ethical landmine - basically everyone who gets the vaccine is a test subject, because they just don't know how it's going to work.
And then you add in the fact that doctors get a kickback from the pharmaceutical companies for every vaccine administered in their offices...
I am 90% sure that my kids won't be getting the vaccine, and about 99% sure I won't be getting it, but I'm still on the fence about my husband getting it, LOL. He'll basically do whatever I say, knowing that I do a lot more research than he would on the subject!

I asked my DH about the kickback thing, and he said that that is illegal.

(Just wanted to share that. : ))

daisy · Guru

CoffeeQueen wrote:

daisy wrote:

CoffeeQueen wrote:

We have all been vaccinated.

I get the flu shot yearly and never have had an issue.

People really cannot get sick from the season flu shot. Now there is always risk of reaction to any shot you get. You can be sick and get the shot and still get the flu. You are not protected instantly. I am not sure what to make of things in terms of what is so different is this strain compared to normal. I cannot do much now. I will watch the girls. Being in the atmosphere that I am daily I felt I had to protect my family from it. Here the flu has not been mild as some are saying. Will let you know how we turn out :)

you guys got it? did they have to split mia's up? i am confused on that....

What do you mean split mia's up? She is suppose to get a second shot in 28 days, but I have read enough that she has enough from this one to somewhat protect her. I will see what is going on in that 28 days. We all had it.

yeah that's what i meant - 2 shots. i heard now that i would have to get two shots for cara plus a booster since she's never had a flu shot, and i was wondering if you had to do the same for mia.

Juanita · Guru

CoffeeQueen wrote:

Alison wrote:

daisy wrote:

Michele wrote:

My nephew got the shot yesterday and woke up today with a terrible headache so bad he was dry-heaving all day.

I know my kids are not getting this vaccine.

sheesh - you guys seriously?
so scary.
we are going to probably be hearing a lot of anecdotal side effects in the next few weeks as the shot becomes available.
i cant get it at my pedi till next week. i am not rushing to get it. but i will be all ears about stories like this.

This is such an ethical landmine - basically everyone who gets the vaccine is a test subject, because they just don't know how it's going to work.
And then you add in the fact that doctors get a kickback from the pharmaceutical companies for every vaccine administered in their offices...
I am 90% sure that my kids won't be getting the vaccine, and about 99% sure I won't be getting it, but I'm still on the fence about my husband getting it, LOL. He'll basically do whatever I say, knowing that I do a lot more research than he would on the subject!

Not sure how it is run in your state, but here it is most being done through the health department clinics. It is all free. So, not sure in terms of this one and Dr. getting kick backs. Most Dr. offices have not even recieved them.

wonder how all of this will affect each state's budget, because the money has to come from somewhere to pay for all these vaccines.

Supafly · Guru

daisy wrote:

CoffeeQueen wrote:

We have all been vaccinated.

I get the flu shot yearly and never have had an issue.

People really cannot get sick from the season flu shot. Now there is always risk of reaction to any shot you get. You can be sick and get the shot and still get the flu. You are not protected instantly. I am not sure what to make of things in terms of what is so different is this strain compared to normal. I cannot do much now. I will watch the girls. Being in the atmosphere that I am daily I felt I had to protect my family from it. Here the flu has not been mild as some are saying. Will let you know how we turn out :)

you guys got it? did they have to split mia's up? i am confused on that....

I was told all youngsters (under 9) had to have two doses to be protected. (my pedi's office said that)

CoffeeQueen · Guru

daisy wrote:

CoffeeQueen wrote:

daisy wrote:

CoffeeQueen wrote:

We have all been vaccinated.

I get the flu shot yearly and never have had an issue.

People really cannot get sick from the season flu shot. Now there is always risk of reaction to any shot you get. You can be sick and get the shot and still get the flu. You are not protected instantly. I am not sure what to make of things in terms of what is so different is this strain compared to normal. I cannot do much now. I will watch the girls. Being in the atmosphere that I am daily I felt I had to protect my family from it. Here the flu has not been mild as some are saying. Will let you know how we turn out :)

you guys got it? did they have to split mia's up? i am confused on that....

What do you mean split mia's up? She is suppose to get a second shot in 28 days, but I have read enough that she has enough from this one to somewhat protect her. I will see what is going on in that 28 days. We all had it.

yeah that's what i meant - 2 shots. i heard now that i would have to get two shots for cara plus a booster since she's never had a flu shot, and i was wondering if you had to do the same for mia.

No, you would not have to get three, just two.

CoffeeQueen · Guru

Juanita wrote:

CoffeeQueen wrote:

Alison wrote:

daisy wrote:

Michele wrote:

My nephew got the shot yesterday and woke up today with a terrible headache so bad he was dry-heaving all day.

I know my kids are not getting this vaccine.

sheesh - you guys seriously?
so scary.
we are going to probably be hearing a lot of anecdotal side effects in the next few weeks as the shot becomes available.
i cant get it at my pedi till next week. i am not rushing to get it. but i will be all ears about stories like this.

This is such an ethical landmine - basically everyone who gets the vaccine is a test subject, because they just don't know how it's going to work.
And then you add in the fact that doctors get a kickback from the pharmaceutical companies for every vaccine administered in their offices...
I am 90% sure that my kids won't be getting the vaccine, and about 99% sure I won't be getting it, but I'm still on the fence about my husband getting it, LOL. He'll basically do whatever I say, knowing that I do a lot more research than he would on the subject!

Not sure how it is run in your state, but here it is most being done through the health department clinics. It is all free. So, not sure in terms of this one and Dr. getting kick backs. Most Dr. offices have not even recieved them.

wonder how all of this will affect each state's budget, because the money has to come from somewhere to pay for all these vaccines.

Here each county purchases it. Not sure how it works overall in the US. Some counties here do not get much and I am going to assume because of $$. The three counties around me the most wealthy one has the most doses. My county is only receiving 8,500.

daisy · Guru

Supafly wrote:

daisy wrote:

CoffeeQueen wrote:

We have all been vaccinated.

I get the flu shot yearly and never have had an issue.

People really cannot get sick from the season flu shot. Now there is always risk of reaction to any shot you get. You can be sick and get the shot and still get the flu. You are not protected instantly. I am not sure what to make of things in terms of what is so different is this strain compared to normal. I cannot do much now. I will watch the girls. Being in the atmosphere that I am daily I felt I had to protect my family from it. Here the flu has not been mild as some are saying. Will let you know how we turn out :)

you guys got it? did they have to split mia's up? i am confused on that....

I was told all youngsters (under 9) had to have two doses to be protected. (my pedi's office said that)

oh wait...ok i'm not getting this then. it's two doses? not one full dose split over two time periods ? (do i sound like an idiot right now?? i think i had a fundamental misunderstanding over this...)

Supafly · Guru

CoffeeQueen wrote:

daisy wrote:

CoffeeQueen wrote:

We have all been vaccinated.

I get the flu shot yearly and never have had an issue.

People really cannot get sick from the season flu shot. Now there is always risk of reaction to any shot you get. You can be sick and get the shot and still get the flu. You are not protected instantly. I am not sure what to make of things in terms of what is so different is this strain compared to normal. I cannot do much now. I will watch the girls. Being in the atmosphere that I am daily I felt I had to protect my family from it. Here the flu has not been mild as some are saying. Will let you know how we turn out :)

you guys got it? did they have to split mia's up? i am confused on that....

What do you mean split mia's up? She is suppose to get a second shot in 28 days, but I have read enough that she has enough from this one to somewhat protect her. I will see what is going on in that 28 days. We all had it.

Melissa, you definitely have to protect your family. No question about it, and you had good reason to go ahead with the vax. Every area seems to be hit differently with this, and Mia is significantly younger than my girls, obviously.

I will tell you that the preschool friend I have-her son and daughter had the first dose a month ago, and her son has been out sick all week with this-had the 104 temp too she said, so IDK if it just isn't the same strain, or if one dose didn't protect him or what-but it wasn't a case of the vax not kicking in yet. They were due to get the second dose this week and couldn't because they (presumedly) got the virus.

Supafly · Guru

daisy wrote:

Supafly wrote:

daisy wrote:

CoffeeQueen wrote:

We have all been vaccinated.

I get the flu shot yearly and never have had an issue.

People really cannot get sick from the season flu shot. Now there is always risk of reaction to any shot you get. You can be sick and get the shot and still get the flu. You are not protected instantly. I am not sure what to make of things in terms of what is so different is this strain compared to normal. I cannot do much now. I will watch the girls. Being in the atmosphere that I am daily I felt I had to protect my family from it. Here the flu has not been mild as some are saying. Will let you know how we turn out :)

you guys got it? did they have to split mia's up? i am confused on that....

I was told all youngsters (under 9) had to have two doses to be protected. (my pedi's office said that)

oh wait...ok i'm not getting this then. it's two doses? not one full dose split over two time periods ? (do i sound like an idiot right now?? i think i had a fundamental misunderstanding over this...)

You know, I didn't clarify that. I was told two doses-I took that to mean one dose now and another in a month, but it could be split in half. I wouldn't think so for older kids like this, but since I didn't clarify, I really am not sure. Maybe it is in the FAQs on my pedi's website, I will have to check.

Supafly · Guru

Oh, and here there have been clinics in the county, but they were filled fast and now the county is out.

The pedi's are also getting doses (and maybe primary cares are too, IDK) as well, but my pedi's office has their clinics all full for now.

None of these are free-the county clinics are technically, but they "ask" for a donation of $20, so they really aren't free unless you can NOT pay. The shots aren't free at the pedi's office.

IHNI how many they got.

daisy · Guru

Supafly wrote:

daisy wrote:

Supafly wrote:

daisy wrote:

CoffeeQueen wrote:

We have all been vaccinated.

I get the flu shot yearly and never have had an issue.

People really cannot get sick from the season flu shot. Now there is always risk of reaction to any shot you get. You can be sick and get the shot and still get the flu. You are not protected instantly. I am not sure what to make of things in terms of what is so different is this strain compared to normal. I cannot do much now. I will watch the girls. Being in the atmosphere that I am daily I felt I had to protect my family from it. Here the flu has not been mild as some are saying. Will let you know how we turn out :)

you guys got it? did they have to split mia's up? i am confused on that....

I was told all youngsters (under 9) had to have two doses to be protected. (my pedi's office said that)

oh wait...ok i'm not getting this then. it's two doses? not one full dose split over two time periods ? (do i sound like an idiot right now?? i think i had a fundamental misunderstanding over this...)

You know, I didn't clarify that. I was told two doses-I took that to mean one dose now and another in a month, but it could be split in half. I wouldn't think so for older kids like this, but since I didn't clarify, I really am not sure. Maybe it is in the FAQs on my pedi's website, I will have to check.

my pedi's website couldnt.be.less.helpful.if.it.tried.

Juanita · Guru

daisy wrote:

Supafly wrote:

daisy wrote:

CoffeeQueen wrote:

We have all been vaccinated.

I get the flu shot yearly and never have had an issue.

People really cannot get sick from the season flu shot. Now there is always risk of reaction to any shot you get. You can be sick and get the shot and still get the flu. You are not protected instantly. I am not sure what to make of things in terms of what is so different is this strain compared to normal. I cannot do much now. I will watch the girls. Being in the atmosphere that I am daily I felt I had to protect my family from it. Here the flu has not been mild as some are saying. Will let you know how we turn out :)

you guys got it? did they have to split mia's up? i am confused on that....

I was told all youngsters (under 9) had to have two doses to be protected. (my pedi's office said that)

oh wait...ok i'm not getting this then. it's two doses? not one full dose split over two time periods ? (do i sound like an idiot right now?? i think i had a fundamental misunderstanding over this...)

Kelly, it's two full doses, not one dose split into two.

With the regular flu vaccine, and I'm not sure if it's the same with H1N1, the first one "primes" the system and the second one actually provides the immunity. They only have to do that once. From here on out if they wanted one every year, it would just be one dose.

Here's an article I just found from the vaccine maker:
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory?id=8825778

CoffeeQueen · Guru

Supafly wrote:

CoffeeQueen wrote:

daisy wrote:

CoffeeQueen wrote:

We have all been vaccinated.

I get the flu shot yearly and never have had an issue.

People really cannot get sick from the season flu shot. Now there is always risk of reaction to any shot you get. You can be sick and get the shot and still get the flu. You are not protected instantly. I am not sure what to make of things in terms of what is so different is this strain compared to normal. I cannot do much now. I will watch the girls. Being in the atmosphere that I am daily I felt I had to protect my family from it. Here the flu has not been mild as some are saying. Will let you know how we turn out :)

you guys got it? did they have to split mia's up? i am confused on that....

What do you mean split mia's up? She is suppose to get a second shot in 28 days, but I have read enough that she has enough from this one to somewhat protect her. I will see what is going on in that 28 days. We all had it.

Melissa, you definitely have to protect your family. No question about it, and you had good reason to go ahead with the vax. Every area seems to be hit differently with this, and Mia is significantly younger than my girls, obviously.

I will tell you that the preschool friend I have-her son and daughter had the first dose a month ago, and her son has been out sick all week with this-had the 104 temp too she said, so IDK if it just isn't the same strain, or if one dose didn't protect him or what-but it wasn't a case of the vax not kicking in yet. They were due to get the second dose this week and couldn't because they (presumedly) got the virus.

I think it is just like the regular flu shot. There are many strains and sometimes it does not always match up. I get the flu shot yearly at school and only had the flu once and I had the shot that year. I am worried the girls will get sick still. It does not protect us for over a week. We will see how this plays out. It is all scary and I do not know who or what to believe. The media has turned this into a circus and I feel people all have their opinions and that is what is getting reported.

My Dr. vaccinated all his kids and the neighbor kids when the first round of vaccines came out.