The Flu .....really what is going on.: So why doesn... - PMRGCAuk

PMRGCAuk

20,342 members38,113 posts

The Flu .....really what is going on.

60 Replies

So why doesn’t travel stop for the flu that kills 15 to 30 thousand people a year in USA?

Thus far less than 5000 people have died from Coronavirus. Who are the ones dying? Yep it would be the old and

Yes I have two auto-immune illness’s and yes I wash the cart at the grocery. I take precautions. If I hear a cough at Doctors I go sit on other end of room.

What are they up to? Yep I am a conspiracy theorist but I prefer to think I am a truth seeker... we need to see what rabbit hole they go down and what they pull out...I can guarantee it won’t be a rabbit.

Ok just thought I would put it out there to look up how many people die where you live and then you might see why I am going HUH!

New Doctor.......I requested a referral to rheumatologist and they have sent it out. I am on 20 mgs prednisone and my labs are normal. I guess they should be at 20 mgs. I feel better but still have pain in my shoulders etc.

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60 Replies

It's usually the same people that die of bacterial flu during season flu every year... Which us why they recommend the flu shot for those group in particular position, elderly, underlying health condition , usually very young. Again that's why they recommend flu shot. And I can't go back to that discussion 😂😭😂

So this is no different in terms of those affected most easily and having increased chance of death., but it looks like they are counting those who wl get ill l but not ill enough to die but will spread the virus. The problem there is no treatment or vaccine that might help as yet, hence its final outcome not understood or actionable thus far. Look up superspreaders and you start to grasp what there is concern about an illness that will cause economic issues as well as deaths. Still the same groups at risk of dying, though women are slightly better placed apparently. Offset by other health issues. There's no big mystery. Any contagious virus that has no cure is at the roots of potential pandemics. We can only follow direction and hope we don't become a spreader. Limiting travel limits the normal slreadi g and superspreading of a virus that seems to have a period of incubation of up to 20 plus days. No conspiracy apart from travel restrictions etc not being considered earlier once the virus was out there.

I hope the new rheumy helps. 🌻

in reply to

A voice of reason in kaos .. thanks for your reply..🤔

GOOD_GRIEF profile image
GOOD_GRIEF in reply to

You're not wrong except to say that this virus is currently at least 10X as deadly, more if supportive treatment is unavailable.

And those in the medical community, on which we all depend, are at even higher risk of getting sick. If we lose a significant number of those folks to the illness for a period of a couple of week, we're really going to be in the soup. And no, we don't have enough protective gear on hand for them.

in reply to GOOD_GRIEF

Just in time manufacturing, purchase and use have a lot to answer for. We can predict what will be needed in pandemics but... What was the term... Pandumbmic.

GOOD_GRIEF profile image
GOOD_GRIEF in reply to

Perfectly describes a certain POTUS, who certainly is dumber than dirt about everything.

in reply to GOOD_GRIEF

Yes.. think that's why it was invented..... Put the term in youtube search if you can be bothered.

Patience47 profile image
Patience47 in reply to GOOD_GRIEF

Juvenile comment

in reply to Patience47

Actually it was me who sourced the comment. Given that he shook hands and was standing with a Brazilian politicuan who has test positive, yet continues to meet and greet and refuses to test because he has "no symptoms" is absolutely terrible and irresponsible. Pandumbic isn't harsh enough in the curcumstances and as someone who fits criterias as an at risk person, you should be furious and hold him to account. Incidentally I would say it about any politician in any country. The health minister here is infected and people in her staff are self isolating. Not so sure about the bojo the clown we have in charge.

nickm001 profile image
nickm001 in reply to

don't forget that he can look into eclipse with naked eye too.

in reply to nickm001

🤣😂🤣

Yellowbluebell profile image
Yellowbluebell in reply to

Responsible people admit there is an issue and are working towards a resolution including isolation but when someone is so stupid they cant see the problem then there really is no hope. At least our idiot admits there is a problem even if we cant be certain that his actions are quick or thorough enough. YBB

GOOD_GRIEF profile image
GOOD_GRIEF in reply to Patience47

So, you have an opinion of me, and paused to take a shot.

Feeling better now?

I refer you to a quote from former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, in which he expressed his assessment of our current POTUS.

Turns out he was spot on, early on.

Anyone who wants to know exactly what that assessment was can PM me. I won't post it here, as this is not a good place for what may become a political scrum.

Stay informed. Stay well. Protect yourself and your loved ones.

Patience47 profile image
Patience47 in reply to GOOD_GRIEF

You brought politics into this....NOT ME. Guess you can't help yourself. I will no longer respond to your childish comments. Good luck to you, and please adhere to forum rules.

in reply to Patience47

Calm Down dear... Its only an opinion. On this occasion the decisions being made do have direct impact on our decisions as chronically ill older people. We want proper advice.

GOOD_GRIEF profile image
GOOD_GRIEF in reply to Patience47

There's nothing in any of my posts that violates forum rules.

I didn't call you any names or abuse you in any way. In fact, you're the one who's doing that.

Good luck to you and yours.

If you want to carry on some more, use the PM feature.

Jan_Noack profile image
Jan_Noack in reply to

"It's usually the same people that die of bacterial flu during season flu every year." ok, I'm not reading this right(woudn't like to die every year, so it made me laugh, so thanks,,I needed that laugh a load and I am not laughing at the wording really as I do it all the time these days, and it's probably my reading of t anyway :).PMRPRo explained it so well I won't say any more.

in reply to Jan_Noack

😂🤣😂 I did look at the sentence again but couldn't work out what the problem was. 😂🤣😂 It must be the zombie films.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to

Puts a whole new light on "You only die once"!

in reply to PMRpro

😂🤣😂

Jan_Noack profile image
Jan_Noack in reply to

I was saying something about my state of mind more than the sentence..I was just imagining having to die every year, and feeling so thankful and happy that I only have to die once(..with I guess dying of the coronvirus this year in mind.) , feeling hysterically estastic I would only have to go thru it once and not every year, and I just couldn't stop laughing..and I don't know why I found that so funny... but thanks (and sadly, I still find it very funny)..and I needed to laugh. Hope others find something that amkses them laugh too..or even better makes them blissful and peaceful

in reply to Jan_Noack

Yu are welcome 😊

SheffieldJane profile image
SheffieldJane

👋👋👋 Glad that you are better than you have been. 🙏

in reply to SheffieldJane

I sure hope so since I am on 20 mgs of prednisone. This is where I started so hopefully will be able to get down. Still have bilateral ear pain doctor looked said she saw nothing.. my luck.. looking forward to new rheumatologist and hope they know enough about this....

jinasc profile image
jinasc in reply to

Bi-lateral pain in Ears.

It is quite possible that your medic has not seen the involvement in Ears, the research result only came out last year. Follow the link to the thread on this site.

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

Then you can go to the Original Article and download:

The full report can be found be following this link rdcu.be/bOZXC

in reply to jinasc

I tried to find it but couldn’t. Thanks for trying. I am going to call new rheumatologist tomorrow and see if I can get on schedule. I have found it is tied in with GCA. I was almost positive it had finally gone into remission but my jaw hurts on both sides now.

It snowed here starting 2 days ago. It is so pretty...

🙀

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador

There are vaccines for the most common flu viruses each year and there is also a degree of immunity in the general population. The difference with this virus is that it is brand new - so no-one had had any immunity and no-one knows much about how it behaves. It is a 2019 version of the SARS (2003) and MERS (2012) viruses. Both SARS and MERS were a lot less contagious but more likely to kill you if you got them.

With "ordinary" flu it spreads around the world more slowly so we in the west are able to benefit from a vaccine developed in the lag period. And with ordinary flu the deaths are more often from secondary, usually bacterial, infections, for which there are also vaccines. The pneumonia Covid causes is different, due to the way the virus itself attaches to the lung tissue which reduces the amount of oxygen your body can get.

Even the patients who don't get it really badly may require high dependency hospital care with oxygen - and those are facilities that are limited, not only in number but also in staff to look after the patients in them. It is now emerging that it isn't only older sicker people who get very ill with it, a study in Germany has found people of all ages, from 19 to 60+ who became very ill. When those beds are full - the hospital has to stop other things, your routine op will go by the board but also they can't look after trauma patients or heart attack victims. And Covid spreads so fast that you get a peak that totally overwhelms the supply of healthcare.

So travel restrictions serve several purposes - and one is that being in a restricted area with recycled air is a lovely incubator to spread the virus to everyone else there. An example is the young woman who travelled from Vietnam to Europe at a point when Vietnam had almost no cases. All passengers on the return flight were asked where they had been and she saw fit to not mention she'd visited her sister in Paris and also went to Milan at a point when it was already a restricted zome. It turns out her sister tested positive for Covid. A couple a few seats from her got off the plane and mixed with hundreds of others in transport and hotels in the first few days of their holiday - and then they became ill. So all those contacts are also at risk - and since it spreads before the symptoms appears they are spreading it far and wide. And then there are the superspreaders - who have no symptoms at all so don't ever restrict their contact with others.

That is a pattern that has been repeated a lot I think right from the start. Where there is no logic is the pattern of stopping travel - it is difficult to see how you can say the UK is safe and Denmark isn't for example. What concerns me is the appearance that economics is more important than anything else. Once the spread gets to a certain point it takes off and becomes exponential - and then you are in trouble. The countries with almost no cases this time reacted immediately on the basis of their experiences with SARS and MERS. Will they later have more problems with a rebound infection? Who knows.

Italy is ahead of the curve, mistakes were made and we are reaping the whirlwind - the rest of Europe is a couple weeks behind, the UK further still and it looks as if the same mistakes were and are being made. There is no way of knowing where you are in the US - not enough testing being done to have the full picture. Will stopping some people on some planes make a difference? I doubt it somehow. But maybe it makes people feel something is being done? Again, who knows.

in reply to PMRpro

I wish we could put this at the top in a post. 👍🌻

in reply to

If this helps anyone.....

health.harvard.edu/diseases...

in reply to PMRpro

Not the first time getting egg on my face. Thanks for your information..

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to

No egg LIn - a perfectly reasonable thought. And apparently MrT is now scared of getting the virus. About time ...

Highlandtiger profile image
Highlandtiger in reply to PMRpro

Sigh.....

Patience47 profile image
Patience47 in reply to PMRpro

And how is Italy doing?

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to Patience47

Badly. Not too bad in this region and hope it stays that way. But in Lombardy it is dire with field hospitals having been set up to cope with the numbers.

The daily number of new patients is starting to slow a bit since they imposed lockdown but there is always a lag. There are 2 cases in our valley, one in our neighbouring town and one in the next village. Big incentive to keep inside as much as possible - though by law we must.

#I'mstayingathome is the nationwide motto.

Joaclp profile image
Joaclp in reply to PMRpro

Thank you for this excellent reply!

jinasc profile image
jinasc in reply to PMRpro

"What concerns me is the appearance that economics is more important than anything else".

How true and how right you are to be concerned.

I have been waiting, since the news broke in China, how long before the Money God takes over. Turns out less than 3 months, not long at all and the 'Money God' continues to rule.

Will we ever learn?

Constance13 profile image
Constance13 in reply to jinasc

When has "economics" never taken over? It was bad when we were young, but now.....?

jinasc profile image
jinasc in reply to Constance13

We had a decent government just after WW11 and thank goodness for that........without them no NHS etc. We would probably still be living in a two roomed flat with an outside loo..............we thought we were royalty when we were given a Council House. Chuter Ede and his Education Act in 1944.................what a lot I owe him.

We have made progress, but greed still grows. Take care Constance.

Constance13 profile image
Constance13 in reply to jinasc

Not for the poor sods returning from the war!! They had a terrible time feeding their families - and a lot of them were still living in squaller 10 years later. "A place fit for heros", I don't think!!

Doing well - D takes me out most days in wheelchair for half an hour or so. I can walk for about 400 metres but I'm so knackered when I get back I often wonder whether it is worth it. I still do my 10 minutes shuffle round the flat ever hour until early afternoon. Never had the place so tidy.😂😂

Love xxxx Keep well!

HeronNS profile image
HeronNS in reply to Constance13

I don't think those of us (like me, not you) really have any idea how difficult it was for Britain after the war. They had spent their treasure on the war. When I spent a few months in London in the early 70s we used to walk through a very barren area sometimes. Now I think it has been completely redeveloped, perhaps it's the area near Paddington Station? But it took a while for the penny to drop and for me to understand that this was still, nearly thirty years later, a remnant of the bombing of London.

Constance13 profile image
Constance13 in reply to HeronNS

London now is a completely different world - it's grown and grown. it's mega expensive to live there and there is no way I would go back there (even if I could)!

We now live in a mini town in Germany (as I think you know). Life is good. 💥💥🍾💐🥃🍸

Purplecrow profile image
Purplecrow in reply to PMRpro

As usual, eloquently said. Thank you, and stay well.

💜🙏🏽💜

GOOD_GRIEF profile image
GOOD_GRIEF

Beginning in the last few days, governors and mayors in the US are no longer waiting for guidance from the federal government. They're closing schools and colleges, placing restrictions event spaces, restaurants, theaters, asking employers to have people work from home or go on staggered shifts so people can make some distance from others on public transit..

Here in NY the governor has defied the federal government by contracting for diagnostic test kits independently, and allowing currently licensed commercial and university medical labs under his own authority to process the tests, because without widespread testing, we have no idea how big or small our problem is, whether it's getting better or worse, or even who's sick. We have some of the best scientists and doctors and medical facilities in the world in New York, and we've had enough of waiting for this administration to....well, I'm leaving out the rest because my comment would become incendiary.

As for the travel ban, it makes about as much sense as anything else this POTUS has done, which is no sense at all.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to GOOD_GRIEF

I suppose it may achieve the stopping of some people who don't understand the concept of social distancing and hygiene as a role in protecting the vulnerable. It may not stop the virus - it may save some lives. I'm biased - I'd like a husband a bit longer ...

GOOD_GRIEF profile image
GOOD_GRIEF in reply to PMRpro

Me, too.

As a New Yorker, I'm glad we're not going to have the influx of some 1million tourists a week coming into town from all over the states and the rest of the planet. It's even worse during Spring Break/Easter Week.

in reply to GOOD_GRIEF

I really couldn't cope with that.. People must be like balls in a pinball machine.

GOOD_GRIEF profile image
GOOD_GRIEF in reply to

They're often not that polite.

in reply to GOOD_GRIEF

Mmm balls with attitude!! I did see an interesting documentary once about how people move through city scapes. It is amazing how the movement is like fluid, you would think there would be even more invasions of personal space than there are.

GOOD_GRIEF profile image
GOOD_GRIEF in reply to

Natives to the environment are pretty adept at the urban ballet. It's the visitors who don't know the rules, and who get pretty surly when jostled.

The natives get surly when people won't get on the end of a line and wait their turn.

in reply to GOOD_GRIEF

That's one thing the brits like... Lines/queues.... Although thd tradition and rules are slipping.

Yellowbluebell profile image
Yellowbluebell in reply to

Theres nothing a brit likes more than a good queue.!!

Constance13 profile image
Constance13 in reply to PMRpro

We're lucky (until it comes to it) because if we go out before 10 am and after 6 pm we can keep 50 metres from the next person.

HeronNS profile image
HeronNS

No one is immune to this new disease. There is no vaccine. The death rate is significantly higher. Once it has swept the world it will become one of the diseases most of us are immune to, and we'll also develop a vaccine for future generations who won't have developed immunity via the pandemic. Just like the flu!

Constance13 profile image
Constance13 in reply to HeronNS

Then some other rotten disease will appear. It always does!!😏😬

HeronNS profile image
HeronNS in reply to Constance13

Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Joaclp profile image
Joaclp

Interesting that we have history in common. Right now I am very sick from neurological symptoms that may be from Sjögrens. If you want to pm me, that is ok. My symptoms are very eclectic.

GOOD_GRIEF profile image
GOOD_GRIEF in reply to Joaclp

So sorry to know you're struggling.

I'm pulling for you...

Joaclp profile image
Joaclp in reply to GOOD_GRIEF

Thank you, how very kind.

Dontwannabesick profile image
Dontwannabesick

My understanding about the reason for the panic is that it is not the deadly impact of the virus, but the numbers affected. Most viruses have been around for several years at least in some shape or form, and many of the population have had them and built up immunity. This virus is different and new, and there are probably very few people who have immunity, so it is likely to affect significantly more of the population. The more people who become even mildly ill, the more strain is put on our resources. That is why the powers that be are trying to slow down the spread. In the end it is good that people catch it as this will build up immunity to further outbreaks. At the moment it is wise to slow down the spread so that those unfortunates who do become seriously ill will have the resources around them to care for them. Hope this makes sense (Well it does to me anyway)

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to Dontwannabesick

Makes perfect sense.

If too many are ill all at once - as has happened in northern Italy - there are too many requiring high dependency beds and they must be rationed, there is no other choice. And that means all those who had little chance of recovering will be at the end of the queue and a large number less ill who could have recovered had there been a ventilator available for a couple of weeks will also be turned back as there isn't one available. So the death rate rises, even for younger people, and more people will be left chronically ill because of lung damage.

But this allowing everyone to contract it in an attempt to achieve herd immunity also ignores the fact that that also includes your healthcare staff - who are not superhumans, they can catch it too as we have seen here and there have been fatalities in supposedly young and healthy people. All those ventilators need highly trained critical care staff - not enough of them anyway. And while all those Covid19 patients are occupying all the HD and ICU beds - there are none available for RTC casulaties or emergency surgery or maternity cases or ...

At least we have a chance of slowing it enough to work out drugs that may help cure the damage. It is only buying time - but time that is precious.

SheffieldJane profile image
SheffieldJane

I found it Lin. All is well! 💕

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