Why all the fuss? Influenza.

mother/babyRN, RN · Dec 14, 2003

Well this really is interesting considering the difference of opinion. LPN to Be how in the world do YOU know if this strain is or isn't different...Must know something the rest of us don't know but hey, everyone is entitled to their informed or uninformed opinion...

I don't take it to heart that this is a "Wicked bad deal" ( New Englander here), but as a nurse, I try to be prepared...Read a few articles about SARS....AT first no one thought it was any big deal either. And I am sure being sleep deprived with my little one makes me a bit more sensitive on the subject..

I wouldn't blame anyone for being in denial if it were a more agressive strain...No one believed at first or could imagine that we could have antibiotics that were wonderful up against diseases which were suddenly resistant to them. After all, viruses DO, by their very nature mutate, SO, in this world it would be unimaginable with all the technology and resources we have, than no darn flu could EVER EVER EVER beat us...Oops, just thinking about HIV here.....Hmmmmm....We didn't even officially know about it in nursing school but in Boston, started noticing an alarming growing group of gay men diagnosed with the formerly kind of rare Sarcosi's Sarcoma and other ailements that, while annoying, really didn't KILL people...Hmmmm....Just some sort of media hype, we thought back then......

I have had one flu shot, ever.....Then developed the worse case of flu I can ever imagine I will ever have....Must have been a coincidence because, barring an allergy to eggs or some other problem, that is supposed to be impossible, right? More media info? So, I haven't had another flu shot since then, and am not certain what I will do...I also have been curious about the supposed "hype' BUT do notice the CDC is also all over this and hasn't chastized the media "hype" to this point and they are all about not spreading panic...I have no idea in truth about the ins and outs of this supposed "killer" flu, and imagine that, while stronger, most probably than most recent strains, it may not be destined to kill the population, circa 1918...I do, however, having seen pedi patients and a couple of healthy college students seccumb nearly before my very eyes, AND having an extremely sick toddler, do not intend or desire to have this argument with any one who either callously or friviously "laughs" this off as media hype, at any young or elder person't funeral.....

So, hopefully the flu and all other questionable, horrible and even only irritating illnessess will escape all of our families this year...Man, I'm done...We are going to the hospital..I'll keep ya posted.......May we all remain FLU FREE! :)

mother/babyRN, RN · Dec 14, 2003

Oh yes, and since pregnant women in the second and third trimester are included in the high risk category, you just KNOW that everyone of them with the most remote chance of the flu, are keeping us going wiping both ends and attempting to avoid their flus, colds and what have you....I may be the slightest bit overworked and prejudiced on the subject, come to think of it, but don't pretent either the knowledge or talent to be an actual diagnostician OR mind reader, as some of you seem to be....Ya'll must have an in at the CDC....All I can truthfully say on the subject is that those of you such as the original poster and LPNtoBE, have some sort of psychic link or covert knowledge that the rest of us can't claim.....Believe me, on this subject I HOPE you're all right~

Erin RN · Dec 14, 2003

My son contracted the flu this year and after watching him, this truly i s a bad year. He is 14, involved in sports and has always been a very healthy, active kid. He developed a temp and body aches and a horrible respiratory thing..The temp lasted 9 days and the residual effects for nearly 3 weeks. He lost 15 pounds and missed 7 days of school. Our pediatrician said if it were my 6 yr old, she would most likely be hospitalized since it would be difficult to keep her hydrated...my son drank gallons of water, broth and popsicles. If someone really little or elderly or one with a chronic illness became as ill as he was, it would be frightening. Next year we are gettting our flu shots as early as possible...

mother/babyRN, RN · Dec 14, 2003

Erin, I am happy that your family is feeling better and guess what, my little one has the flu and is in pedi....So, all of you think of us when you wonder about whether or not this flu is a problem or just "run of the mill" Take care

SharonH, RN · Dec 14, 2003

Without a doubt, influenza is very serious. I always hated working in acute care this time of year whether it was adult med-surg or peds because the beds would be filled with people trying to breathe.

BUT there is no doubt the media is hyping it. Aside from the news reports and the national media, the local media here in Atlanta runs the story in the morning, noon and evening. We are shown a picture of a man getting what is supposedly the last flu vaccine in the entire city of Atlanta(never mind that we just got in a shipment of a 1000 doses that same morning) and we are shown pictures of anxious parents with captions like "desperate mother" as they detail their attempts to get their children vaccinated. This is all followed up with reports on the number of people who are dying from the flu, especialy children. That type of reporting creates a sense of panic in people who believe that their own illness and subsequent demise from the common flu is imminent. In fact, every time one of those stories runs, the employee health clinic where I work is inundated with desperate and scared people who are frightened out of their minds about what they are seeing.

There's no balance. The truth is that the flu kills thousands every year and while this year may be worse, the same people who are most at risk this year are the same ones who were most at risk last year. That doesn't mean that it isn't serious, but there should be some perspective and common sense about it.

Erin RN · Dec 14, 2003

Mother/ Baby

Thanks for the support. It really was a little scary and I am an "ER" mom...you know , "unless there is a bone protruding or blood gushing, go play". This is the first time in my son's life that I was actually getting a little frightened, he just wouldn't get out of bed and didn't seem to be getting better. I kept checking him for epiglottitis since his voice sounded so bad.

I worked as an RN in the ER and I know how it is to run your *&( off and get frustrated with all of the "non emergency" patients. Sometimes it makes you want to scream BUT I am also a parent and sometimes when you see you child so sick, you just want to reassurance. I read a post somewhere about febrile seizures and the fact that someone was frustrated with a parent that brought their child in with one. When my youngest was 11 months she developed a temp of 102-103 that went on for a couple of days. We saw the pediatrician, he said sinus infection (although she had no sx supporting that)..I continued to medicate her with Motrin and Tylenol around the clock..finally she hit 104.5 and I took her in....she had a febrile seizure in the ER, Temp was 106. It was the scariest moment of my life to watch my baby wither around on that gurney and then be post ictal. Of course, I ended up bringing her home with instructions to keep her "safe" if she seized again...Sorry, I would have taken her back if it happened again and I probably would have been labeled as one of those parents who just "didn't get it"...When it is your child, all of the rules change even if you are a healthcare professional.

In my opinion the non emergent patients that come to the ER represent one thing...Job security. We used to discuss this and what is the % of pts that come in that are true emergencys? 10%? 20%?. If you take away all of the URI pts, the UTI pts, the ones that use the ER as their primary, the drug seekers, the chest pains that are GI, the abdominal pains that are merely gas, the chronic aches and pains ..how much staff would the average ER require??? I mean in a 10 or 12 hour shift how many CVA, MI, MVA, GSW, ODs or other true emergencies does the average ER see? The ER I worked at put 52000 patients through it the lst year I worked there, if you looked at the stats I would be curious to see how many of those people would have been deemed to be appropriate to be there?? I know it is frustrating, I have been there, I have bi*&(& ed about it but it is something to think about. Erin

kidluvinRN · Dec 14, 2003

The topic why all the fuss? I hear where the first poster is coming from in theory. I think the media over-hypes most everything; it keeps us tuning in. . . the one statement I heard on the news that made sense to me was an ER doc saying that people drinking and driving over the holidays causes more deaths and is also something we can prevent!!! Agreed, but having had the flu in my house this last week I can also say it is horrible; I took my very healthy 9 y.o in twice; once for a fever of 105 and screaming back pains, and second for the inevitable infection that followed. And yes as a parent I was scared probably more so because as an RN I had other scenarios for 105 and back pain! I don't think anyone said that the flu isn't awful and potentially tragic, but that the media is trying to scare people with the hype. To this I would agree.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Dec 14, 2003

Originally posted by mother/babyRN
Well this really is interesting considering the difference of opinion. LPN to Be how in the world do YOU know if this strain is or isn't different...Must know something the rest of us don't know but hey, everyone is entitled to their informed or uninformed opinion...
I

I didn't say that i knew for sure, but the clinic that i (use to) get my shot at every year, they have always said something about the virus strain changing. NEVER said that i knew something that everyone else did, hence the phrase "if i'm not mistaken".

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Dec 14, 2003

Originally posted by mother/babyRN
All I can truthfully say on the subject is that those of you such as the original poster and LPNtoBE, have some sort of psychic link or covert knowledge that the rest of us can't claim.....Believe me, on this subject I HOPE you're all right~

I have not ever claimed to know something that others do not know or have some sort of "psychic link", so please do not imply that i did. Thank you.

CCU NRS · Dec 14, 2003

Originally posted by tgibson3770
Thousands line up in clinics all over the nation. Reported deaths weekly as reported in media. What is this all about?
It seems every year we have the virus of the year award handed out to some waitlist virus. What will be the next virus? Everyone place their bets. Perhaps it is those wintertime blues setting in to ensure that the health care industry meets their annum quota to be able to pay off the incurred debt of 1996.

FROM THE SAME OP THAT BROUGHT YOU SUCH WONDERFUL TOPICS AS

THE FATTING OF AMERICA

AND

DO NURSES PRACTICE WHAT THEY PREACH

We now bring you the heartless thread of indifference about those sick and dying of influenza.

ShelleyERgirl, LPN · Dec 14, 2003

Hey guys, have you noticed that once this guy drops his bomb by way of such a "interesting" thread starter, he almost never comes back to see the results of the bomb? Hmmmm, why is that do you think? I don't know about you all but I smell a big ol FAT troll! :devil: .....or at least he doesn't post a defense, anyway.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Dec 14, 2003

Originally posted by navynurse29
Hey guys, have you noticed that once this guy drops his bomb by way of such a "interesting" thread starter, he almost never comes back to see the results of the bomb?

It usually takes a week for he/she to come back. But enjoying their success i'm sure lol.