flu vacine

[suzieq2]

It's that time of year. Any opinions on Flu Vaccine?

[cougareyes]

Sorry to hi-jack, the thread I tried to post to was closed at 42 entries(?).

As long as I have been coming here none of us have ever claimed to be internet doctors or nurses. We've spoke out many times about the "so-called" experts. We encourage everyone to do their own research and search info from many sources. We disagree yet we still respect each other. The very people we oppose today we find that we are in league with tomorrow. That's the way it's been here since I've been here; and I like it.
This is a place to share support, OPINIONS, and experiences; it's just that simple. As long as we all understand that: in the immortal words of Rodney King "Can't we all just get along".

PEACE

[SJL]

My Hepatalogisr has advised flu and pnuemonia (pneumonia) vaccine this year.

[cuteus]

I knew the thread was not going to last much longer, it is best if we do not continue in another thread so that it does not get zapped also. Do you remember the title of the old thread? it is probably in archives now.
take care

[IwillBeatHCV]

Sorry to jump in this thread, but I am wondering is it a good idea to drink so called non-alcoholic beer during treatment?

[cuteus]

there was a thread last year on that one, and the responses were almost the same as with drinking alcohol.
I believe there is a tiny amount of alcohol in it, so that is why the varied responses. I don't see a problem if they taste good. Someone suggested a brand name in that thread. Maybe you can find it in archives

[GoofyDad]

I've got a box of 'em in the garage. I like them OK once in a while, but I'm staying away while on tx. It would just bother me to do otherwise. Reportedly they have some alchohol, but I'm guessing it's considerably under the max published on the packaging. Just a guess.

Staying off coffee would make a difference in my day. Fake beer? I can take it or leave it. Just my personal approach.

[genedog]

got labs back today alt up 100 points in 30 days get pcr back fri   i have 1 shot left to do on fri #56 see dr on the 25. think i might skip last shot my week 52 pcr was 2.8m on tx

[cuteus]

I definetely admire your continuation of tx, in the face of its apparent ineffectiveness. Is the reasoning behind it the continuation of some form of tx and then switching to something else? I can't believe your hcv strain! it has some "nerve"!
Is it definetely the same genotype? I read here about a combo infection case and one type surfacing in the absence of the other, a very strange case.
be well

[fresnoborn]

I HAVE NOTICED FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS THAT MY STOOL IS VERY LIGHT IN COLOR, EVEN BEFORE TX. I BELIEVE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A LIGHT BROWN COLOR, I MAY BE WRONG. I AM WONDERING IF THE COLOR EVER COMES BACK. NOW ON TREATMENT IT IS A VERY LIGHT COLOR, ALMOST ORANGE. I AM WONDERING IF AFTER TREATMENT AND WHEN I AM "CURED" WILL THE COLOR EVER GO BACK TO WAY IT WAS BEFORE THE HEP C. I KNOW THIS IS AN ODD QUESTION BUT I AM VERY CURIOUS. I AM STAGE 2/2 AND HAVE PROBABLY HAD HEP C FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS. MY VIRAL LOAD WAS 500,000 13 WEEKS AGO AND NOW IT IS 188. PLEASE DO NOT FEEL EMBARASSED OR OFFENDED BY MY QUESTION I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT MEANS (THE STOOL COLOR)...IF THIS IS TOO PERSONAL THAT'S FINE.

[mikesimon]

A very light colored stool - almost white - may be an indication of pretty severe livery injury because it is caused by an absence of bilirubin, which is responsible for the brown color. The literature always says watch for clay colored stools but I never knew what color of clay. It really is confusing but with very light colored stools it's best to contact your physician. Mike

[genedog]

do you have any info on this? dr if feel is stumped

[Tallblonde]

Have you ever considered becoming a patient of Dr. Cecil?  He's in Louisville -- not that long of a drive from Toledo.  Dr. Cecil specializes in tough cases, and it sounds like you might fall in that category.  Eisbein lives in the Pacific Northwest and Southernboy lives in Arizona.  Both are patients of Dr. Cecil's.

Susan

[Tallblonde]

....from what I've been hearing, we'll all be dead from the bird flu by this time next year.  Eat, drink and be merry!

Susan ;)

[genedog]

bird flu i just made it through a riot

[Kanzou]

My surgical team says, if I see grey/gray/pale colored stools check in at ER immediately.

[cuteus]

tallblonde; that is just another distracting tactic by the current white house critters.

genedog: maybe they should run another typing of hcv? see if the variants have changed? It is really a farfetched thought at this point, I think.
some mixed geno reading:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8713702&dopt=Abstract
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8880512&dopt=Abstract

[Forseegood]

I'm a lifelong democrat and am very dubious about most things coming out of the "white house" eeeh, what a presidency! but I do feel there should be more concern over this "avian flu" then there actually is. They are watching it now and if it does mutate and jump to person to person infection, and they say it's a matter of when not if, we are indeed in trouble if they can't contain it.

What next Locusts?

This might sound a tad fatalistic and I don't mean it too, but in some weird way I feel the fact that I have been facing my own mortality with this dang disease has better prepared me for all the slings and arrows we get out "there." Most people take their good health for granted, I know I sure did. Just sitting here trying to be optomistic about it all, what else can you do?

[fresnoborn]

thanks a bunch for your responses. i guess you two were the brave one's to dare to discuss this topic. it has been on my mind for quite awhile. i guess i was thinking that maybe a certain color would indicate whether little or severe damage is happening to the liver. i read somewhere that color of stool was a good indicator as to whether someone had severe liver damage. i am stage2/2. i just wondered if anyone who had been "cured" had a change in the color. thanks again for responding. i will discuss this with my gi when i see him.

[Forseegood]

This is what I'll say about the flu vaccine, and it is in no way scientific, this just happened to me. I know others with hep and they take flu shots and they are fine. It caused a hep flare up for me, that lasted a few weeks right after I took the shot. Maybe I was due for one anyway, I don't know. Most people with hep don't get this phenomenon of hep flare ups, though I know a few who do. As long as I take my anti-oxidant and herb regimen they seem to not pop up. All I know is I'm not getting another flu shot any time soon. My doc said there effectiveness can last for 2 years for a lot of people anyway, which means I'm still okay anyway.

One weird thing though, don't know if it's due to an auto-immune response to the hep acting up, or my regimen, or both, but since I've had hep symptoms, however slight they may be  for the last few years - I have not contracted a cold, or flu, nothing. And Lord knows I've been around a lot of infected people, sometimes in very close contact. It's weird, cause I use to get colds, and the flu very occasionally, but not for years now. I wonder if this has happened to others with hep c?

[Forseegood]

One more thing, I think that thread was zapped because it had a copyrighted article in it, nothing more. It was called Maybe Cliinc something or other.

[Forseegood]

Ooops. That's Mayo Clinic. Fresnoborn, do you eat a lot of veggies? or rice? just curious. I'm not reluctant to talk of about these issues, it's just goes along with being human, that's all, I think. I just ask these things because certain things you eat can influence the color, etc. I'd be more concerned by how "light" they are. Light being a relative term.

[susan400]

Regarding the flu shot.  I've gotten one for the last 3 years in a row.  I got the 1 time pneumovax shot 3 years ago.  The pneumovax you supposedly only need once every 10 years.  The flu shot always gives me a sore arm and I feel more crappy than my normal crappy for a couple of days after it. But, I still get it anyway.  I figure that getting the flu could be even more serious than a couple extra bad days from the shot.  The avian flu makes me nervous because of the idea of them stockpiling anti-virals and what if that ends up affecting the supply of Ribavirin?  Just a thought...  But, it's not keeping me up at night.  I have other problems that keep me up at night, not the avian flu.  My son has serious problems...that does it.  The Hurricane coming towards us in Florida...that does it.  I do lots of praying, but that doesn't always make my sleep problems go away, it just gives me strength and helps me to cope with everything.  

Susan

[FlGuy]

My inclination is to get a flu shot.  With fairly regular neupogen and unstable ANCs I'm a little concerned about the cold/flu/strep season coming up.  Also trying to avoid flying - planes are germ test tubes.  Am staying a safe distance when the kids have friends over to play - little germ transmitters.  How's that for some HCV reverse discrimination?  If the effects of the shot are 'flu-like symptoms' - bring it on.  I'll get the flu shot on Peg day and double up on the FLS.

[Forseegood]

hope no one got the idea that I'm advocating against the flu shot, far from it. Just saying I won't take it cause of what happened to me. I'm just wondering why I am not coming down with colds or flu or anything - sometimes I wonder if I'm going auto-immune or something. But yeah, I do a lot of wondering, dang it. Trying to work on that and live in the moment.

[chellski]

I hear you!   i haven't been sick since i was a kid, and i'm now being treated for strep throat and an ear infection! (now i know why kids scream - the pain in my ears in horrible!)
i'm torn about the flu shot - i've never had one and really don't know what to do....
michelle

mc bean - DID YOU GET YOUR RESULTS YET!?!?!?!? I'M DYIN HERE!
chelle

[jaroman]

I am so sorry to hear about how your treatment is going.  If you could get to Dr. Cecil, that would be great.
Best of luck to you.

[NYgirl]

My NP told me to get a flu shot the day it is available because I now have a chronic life threatening disease.

I double checked with the doctor and he said definitely.

So I guess I'll get one.  The flu is so so horrible that I can't imagine having the FLU on TOP of this.  Oh h*ll no WAY!

[GoofyDad]

Hmmm. I'm surprised the Docs are so enthuisiastic about flu shots. Shows what little I know, I s'pose. I would'a thought we on tx were walking antiviral chemical cocktails.

[v eggie dip]

hey goof....

I talked to the Health Unit here (equivelant to the Dept of Health in the states) regarding flu shots a few months ago..I kind of anticipated I would be on tx during flu season and asked how that would work woth someone on interferon...They said absolutely get the shot!  Everyone that has a weakened immune system, whether on tx or not needs to take the shot....

So, guess where the dipper is going tomorrow....Flu shot at 11:00 and Hep A/B vaccine at 1:00....

you still barking from the dog house?

*the big dipper* (fatty liver from being over weight my arse  lol)

[GoofyDad]

Just finished with my 3rd Twinrex (A/B combo) a couple weeks ago. That one made my shoulder pretty stiff for a few days. At my age I should have had them ..... ahhhh never mind.

Viagoof

[cougareyes]

My understanding the flu is a viral infection, and we are on heavy duty anti-viral drugs. The part of our immune system which becomes compromised has to do with bacterial and fungal infections. The sinus and respitory infections that some people may get due to low anc/wbc is a bacterial infection. None for me thanks.     Peace

[GoofyDad]

Yup. Those were my exact thoughts too. But, I dunno, maybe the influenza virus is unaffected by these antivirals, and our other response mechanisms *are* suppressed. ???

[cuteus]

I think that is the reason I did not get any colds or flu in all the months on tx.  even when folks were coughing all around me. I tried to get the shot, but it was not available anywhere last year, so I am glad the antivirals offered me some protection. One positive effect of tx, and long eyelashes, and no wt gain after cake/ice cream binges...those were the days.

[jmjm530]

My doc asked me if I wanted the shot last week and I declined. Nothing totally rationale other than the fact that I may have gotten a flare from the hep b vaccine several years ago and I really don't want to do anything on tx that might rock the boat.

So anyway, I asked the doc, what he thought about the flu shot and he said "I just got one today".  Then I looked at the NP standing nearby and asked the same question. From her look, I already knew the answer. She never gets them. :)

-- Jim

[Forseegood]

how weird, you got a flare from the dang flu shot too? so I'm not crazy? anyway, fine for other people, I aint taking it though.

What's weird about this avian flu is that it supposedly does not work like your average flu that goes around, where it mostly effects old people and the very young. No, supposedly this bird flu very negatively effects people who are healthy, because they go very auto-immune and it's the aggressive auto-immunity that kills them. This I heard on CNN. So maybe the fact that we have an immuno-suppresent disease will save us all from the avian flu! ha ha! You'd think we'd have to catch some kind of a break. We are due for one. Sorry for the gallows humor.

[azgrl]

I just did my first shots for a/b on monday.  What fun that was....they got me in each arm.....I told the nurse hey did you have to poke each arm and she said I coulda poked ya in the rear...and I said....never mind.

It felt like I had bruise on my arms the past couple of days. Still debating the flu shot....let me know hoe it goes.

Deb

[v eggie dip]

sure I will let oyu know how it goes...I debated over getting the flu shot last year and nded up taking it, specially when I heard that the USA was buying flu meds from Canada, I figured I better get it now !  I plan on getting one again this year too...

[jmjm530]

Not from the flu shot..from the hep b vaccine. Either that or some herbs I took at the same time. In any event, I'm now paranoid about both (herbs and vaccines) plus since I'm non-detectible, I have the "don't rock the boat" mentatility.

-- Jim

[scubadiver30]

Hi everyone
I just found out this year i have HEP C and the first thing was having triple HEP B/HEP A vaccine. Do I need a second HEP A vaccine shot as reminder?
I'm not on tx as yet, but the flu season is starting here, I live in Spain and they just found out 17 seagulls dead in a Portugal beach due to bird flu (right next door)..Do u think I should go for the flu vaccine tamiflux? Or is this the end of the world as we know it? ;-)

regards