Tips for avoiding the flu
 

This year's flu strain is H3N2, which is an especially virulent strain. This years vaccine is only about 32% effective against this strain.

Most people in California and nationwide are catching a strain of influenza known as H3N2, which the flu vaccine typically doesn’t work as well against. National health officials say the vaccine might only be about 32% effective this year, which could be contributing to the high number of people falling ill.
H3N2 is also a particularly dangerous strain of the flu, experts say.

“It tends to cause more deaths and more hospitalizations than the other strains,” said Dr. Jeffrey Gunzenhauser, L.A. County’s interim health officer.

Severe flu brings medicine shortages, packed ERs and a rising death toll in California - LA Times

I haven't had the flu or even a cold for 5-6 years. Some of my protocols may seem Howard Hughesish but they seem to work. Knocking on wood now.

1. Always get the flu shot, I do it early but its not too late, peak flu season is February.

2. I don't fly this time of year, unless it is absolutely unavoidable. Sitting for hours in an airtight aluminum cylinder with coughing sneezing etc not advisable.

3. Do not eat out much this time of year, usually only takeout. Prefer my own plates and utensils. Restaurant workers are prone to work while sick, they have no choice usually.

4. When returning to home from anywhere including supermarket, mail station, golf, etc wash hands thoroughly. Average person touches their face 2-3000 times per day, anything you touch could bring a pathogen.

Good luck!

I think you take out the little viruses that people who have handled your food have.

Having just been released from the hospital with a collapsed lung and having to see my doctor for a follow up, I called and said that I was sitting outside in the car and when it was my turn I would come in and go to the examining room. Sometimes you have to sit in the office for a long time with sick folks.

Takeout food that has been cooked has less chance of germs than a plate fork or glass. And yes, hospital waiting rooms can be scary, I avoid them as much as possible. :icon_wink:

There is no way to be perfectly safe but my protocols seem to work quite well. (knocks on wood again) Frequent washing of hands is a must.

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I sat outside Lake Sumter Urgent Care until called to see the doctor. The waiting room was full of sick folks, some hacking and coughing- just like me -(

How did you get a collapsed lung? I had one 2 years ago, slipped on wet tile floor and landed on my back hard, cracked two ribs and collapsed one lung. I spent a sleepless night in bed unable to breath properly before I went to hospital and had it fixed. No fun at all.

Only had one flu shot. Severe reaction and have been exempt for years. I am with 100 people a day that at least 15% have some strain of the flu. Knock on wood I have never been had to deal with the flu myself. Sometimes it’s the luck of the draw or could be the stuff we ate out of the garden without washing it, that keeps us healthy

Last year I got the Noro virus from eating at a restaurant. Ate with two friends and the next day all three of us got it. I called the health dept and they did an inspection to find the restaurant staff had been sick that week with Noro virus. They were preparing cold sandwiches without using gloves as well. I had the chicken salad which was a cold sandwich and so did my tablemates. I spent the night in the emergency room after throwing up for 7 hours straight.

This time of the year I stay out of large crowds of people, I eat only hot foods at restaurants. I wash my hands constantly when I'm out and as soon as I go home. I was in the urgent care today and so many sick people there many were wearing masks. I had to move my seat two times because of coughing sick people sitting next to me. Trying so hard not to get the flu.

This is such a great idea! I never thought to do that. If at all possible, I usually avoid going to the doctor this time of year because of that very reason.

Regarding the flu, my husband said his doctor told him the vaccine is only 10% effective this year as per the drug company. I got the flu last year and as soon as I realized it I went to the urgent care. They did a test right there to determine if it was the flu (a nasal swab) and then when it came out positive they gave me a prescription for Tamiflu (now available generically - oseltamivir). The thing is, you have to start this medicine within 48 hours of getting the flu, but it is quite effective in lessening the symptoms and duration of the illness.

Long story short, if you get symptoms, call your doctor or go to urgent care immediately. There is no reason to tough it out and just wait for it to go away, especially at our age. Taking the Tamiflu really made a huge difference from the last time I had the flu when this medicine was not available.

I was taken by emergency to the hospital from Laurel Manor Rec center with a very low heart beat (37) on December 21st and had a pacemaker implanted. It is one of the risks of the procedure.

A tip I got some years ago ~ wash your hands before you use the facilities, as well as after. All mucous membranes are more susceptible to virus.

I’ve seen photos of people in Japan and its not unusual to see people wearing surgical masks while out in public. No idea how effective wearing a surgical mask is to prevent the flu. I don’t think that there is much risk from eating carry out food. You might get a noro virus which affects your digestive system. You could probably ingest a flu virus and not get a respiratory infection.

Stay away from kids and people who own them.

Ended up getting the flu anyway despite all of my precautions.

Sorry to hear that - get well soon!

Hope you were able to get on some Tamiflu to lessen the symptoms. When I got the flu last season, I said to the doctor maybe I should have gotten the flu shot. He said not to be so hard on myself, that 50% of the patients he saw with the flu had gotten one that season.