Flu Update, Prevention, Flu-Mist Warnings for Thyroid Patients

It seems that the flu is on the news every day these days, and so you may have questions regarding what you can and should do to prevent or treat the flu. Find out some important things, including:

• how to tell if it's just a cold, or flu
• drugs that can help prevent the flu, or treat it
• natural preventative things you can do and take
• Should thyroid patients get a flu shot?
• Warnings about the FluMist nasal vaccine for autoimmune patients

---

Regarding the flu, keep in mind that the bad Fujian strain that's doing so much damage is one that was not included in the vaccine -- though a similar strain was, meaning it offers *some* protection against the Fujian Flu. So even if you get the shot, you can still get the flu this year in particular.

My family and I got our shots about 4 weeks ago, but even still, I'm watching us all for signs, because don't forget, if you get in there right away (within a day or so) of symptoms developing, you can also get anti-viral drugs.

Problem is, most people wait until it's too late, assuming they have a cold.

So, How to Tell a Cold From Flu?

• Fever is rare in cold, but characteristic in flu, usually high (102-104 F); lasts 3-4 days
• Headache is rare in a cold, prominent in flu
• General aches, pains are not common in colds, but are usual and often severe in flu
• Fatigue, weakness is mild in a cold, severe in flu, can last up to 2-3 weeks
• Extreme exhaustion, rarely in cold, early and prominent in flu
• Stuffy nose, common in cold, but only sometimes in flu
• Sneezing is common in cold, sometimes in flu
• Sore throat is common in cold, sometimes in flu
• Chest discomfort, cough, are mild to moderate in colds, but hacking cough common in flu and can become severe

Flu Drugs

If you are exposed to someone with the flu, 2 of the flu drugs -- Amantadine and rimantadine -- can actually be used for PREVENTION. Amantadine and rimantadine are approximately 70%-90% effective in preventing illness from influenza A infection. (Fujian is an A strain flu)

Amantadine (Symmetrel) and rimantadine (Flumadine) are for both prevention and treatment. Zanamivir (Relenza) and oseltamivir (Tamiflu) are for treatment.

Natural Preventive Things

Wash your hands, ALOT!!!

Get the kids washing all the time too!!

Another thing you may want to get the whole family doing is preventative Vitamin C

My daughter and I are both taking at least 1 or more daily of these Emergen-C Vitamin C drinks. She loves them, they're delicious, not sugary, low-cal, and packed with 1000 mg of C, plus other vitamins. We've tried all the flavors, the raspberry is best!! It's like a fizzy soda, but healthy. I now prefer them to having a Coke!) you get 30 little single-serve packets, for like 8$ or so. We get them at Trader Joes, or from Iherb.

If you're suspecting cold or flu onset, some experts believe that as much as 1 to 6 grams of Vitamin C per day may help. The suggested dosage would be 1000 mg every 2 hours, unless diarrhea or gas occurs.

Also, I suggest you stock up on Sambucol, the elderberry extract. There's research that found that patients with early signs of the flu who took 4 tablespoons of black elderberry extract per day found that within 24 hours, fever, cough, and muscle pain were significantly reduced in 20% of the patients. After the second day, 70% reported feeling better, and after 3 days, 90% claimed a complete cure from all flu symptoms. Kids can take this too, it's perfectly safe.

You can get it at various health food stores, or online at Iherb.

Should Thyroid Patients Get a Flu Shot?

If you can still find one, should you get a flu shot?

Some alternative medicine experts recommend against the flu shot. Joseph Mercola, DO, for example, says that "The flu vaccine can actually weaken the immune system and make you more predisposed to the illness." Says Mercola, "I have never received a flu shot and haven't missed a day of work due to illness in over 20 years." Mercola instead recommends immune-enhancing techniques such as avoiding sugar, getting enough rest, eating garlic, minimizing stress, exercising and regular hand washing.

Dr. Richard Shames, author of Thyroid Power, says that:

In particular, thyroid sufferers have an immune problem that is likely to be made worse by injectible vaccinations. A person with high or low thyroid has an immune system that is TH2 predominant (T-Helper Cell Type 2). All vaccinations given by injection further stimulate this particular out-of-balance situation and thus have the potential of making the autoimmune response and the resultant thyroid situation worse.

On the other hand, alternative medicine expert Dr. Andrew Weil recommends: "if a really virulent flu is coming, I'd take a flu shot...in an ordinary year I recommend flu shots only to people who have chronic respiratory illness or who are elderly, debilitated or have compromised respiration for any reason." Weil also suggests the vaccine for anyone with a weakened immune system.

Personally, I started getting a flu shot 10 years ago, and I had the flu once during that time, the one year I didn't get the shot. And it knocked me out for weeks -- and I felt that with my thyroid, my immune system was not as good at getting rid of the flu, and so it took me far longer to recuperate than the others in my household. So I'm pretty much of a flu shot advocate at least for myself and my family. I never want to go through that misery again if it can be at all avoided.

Nasal-Spray Flu Vaccine (FluMist)

This year, new on the market is the nasal-spray flu vaccine, which was approved for vaccinating healthy people aged 5 to 49 years and is a useful alternative flu protection for those who find the flu shot frightening or painful. Keep in mind, however, that the Immune Deficiency Foundation, which looked that the health risks posed by FluMist, says that FluMist, because it is a live virus vaccine -- unlike the inactived, killed virus in the injection -- and should not be used by people with immune deficiency diseases or weakened immune systems. The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) advises against FluMist for anyone with autoimmune diseases.