Flu like Crud Epidemic

Casey Burns · Post by **Casey Burns** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 11:36 am

Am just getting well after a 3+ week bout with an awful flu-like crud. Started as a fever, congestion, sore throat etc. that came on in a few hours. Fever lasted about 7 days, and the sinus pressure made it hard to keep my eyes open. My naturopath, who suggested antibiotics, gave me an antiphlogistic (tincture of goldenseal, echinacea and dandelion root) and recommended steaming my head with a little Eucalyptus oil added to the boiling water. This kept the chest congestion out of my lungs fortunately. Finally gave in, though, and got antibiotics for the sinus infections, which were relentless. Until the antibiotics kicked in, I was suffering from extreme fatigue.

Of course, I couldn't do any flute making during this time!

This crud is making its rounds on the West Coast. Ian Law's kids had it in San Diego and I've heard similar reports in San Francisco. A high school in Seattle was shut down this week until everyone there gets well. One kid died from a complication (pericardial infection). Pneumonia is common. I heard that schools were also shut down in Kentucky. And its just getting started, apparently.

For some its lasting an annoying 5-6 weeks and I am being very careful not to get a relapse - so I am easing back into work as I start to get my strength back. This was the sickest I've been since having a 6 week long flu in 1996.

Am curious what others have heard in their communities and how widespread this one is. Please tell....

Recommendations: wash your hands frequently after being out (especially after handling shopping carts, etc.) and avoid any kind of flute or whistle sharing at sessions for the time being! Armor your immune system if you can.

For my waiting clients I am waiting a few more days before I blow my germs into anything!

Be well,
Casey

Chiffed · Post by **Chiffed** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 12:08 pm

Good to hear you're on the mend. My usual duo has lost over a month to the crud - it's just wiped us out - but we're getting back in the groove.

The Weekenders · Post by **The Weekenders** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 12:11 pm

Congrats for survivin' the anthrax! There have been a plethora of bugs lately up here in Norcal as well. I had the sore-throat, sore-neck for four days that explodes into a violent headcold, but there are also weird stomach viruses goin' round here. It's pretty grim when you reflect on the possible causes.

djm · Post by **djm** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 12:15 pm

CaseyB wrote:Started as a fever, congestion, sore throat etc. that came on in a few hours. Fever lasted about 7 days, and the sinus pressure made it hard to keep my eyes open.

Any feathers?

djm

Redwolf · Post by **Redwolf** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 2:17 pm

Flu-like? Sounds like it IS the flu...those are classic flu symptoms.

I woke up this morning with a sore throat...nothing more yet, but I didn't get my flu shot this year, so I'm paranoid.

Redwolf

feadogin · Post by **feadogin** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 2:23 pm

I got my flu shot but I'm sick anyway.

At least the baby doesn't have it yet...I am hoping I'll be mostly over it by the time the baby catches it.

J.

Denny · Post by **Denny** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 2:42 pm

yep...had flu shot, got flu! It was just bothersome though...not real bad!

peeplj · Post by **peeplj** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 2:53 pm

That sounds like flu...except for two things: flu doesn't last that long, and flu doesn't improve with antibiotics at all.

But yeah, to answer the question, there is a nasty crud going around here as well. Don't know if it's the same one, but unless you catch it quick it does seem to last a month or more.

A few people have gotten on antibiotics quickly enough to catch it before it really took hold. I was sick with it myself, for about two weeks in December, and it took two rounds of antibiotics to knock it.

It also got into the glands under my neck and made my entire face swell up, which was horribly uncomfortable.

I did some reading...back in the days before antibiotics, that kind of gland infection (parotitis) was associated with an 80% mortality rate.

Antibiotics, used properly, are still our friends.

--James

hyldemoer · Post by **hyldemoer** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 3:55 pm

peeplj wrote:That sounds like flu...except for two things: flu doesn't last that long, and flu doesn't improve with antibiotics at all.

Well, yes and no.
Sometimes catching the flu lowers one's immune system and opportunist bacterial infections sneek in.

rebl_rn · Post by **rebl_rn** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 7:15 pm

Actually, the flu can last that long - but you're right in saying antibiotics won't work.

If antibiotics worked, it means one of two things - either it wasn't influenza, or it was influenza and it had just started running its course by the time you took the antibiotics.

Redwolf · Post by **Redwolf** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 7:22 pm

It sounds like the antibiotics were for the sinus infection, which is a fairly common bacterial secondary infection when you have the flu.

It's also possible it was something else, but we are in the height of flu season, and opportunistic bacteria love to take advantage of you when you're down.

Redwolf

brianormond · Post by **brianormond** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 7:25 pm

Maybe its a regional thing, Casey. I've got it here in Seattle too. Hang in there!

Lambchop · Post by **Lambchop** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 7:27 pm

I think I'll just go sanitize myself . . . again . . .

Casey Burns · Post by **Casey Burns** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 10:52 pm

Am still getting over this crud. Today I became allergic to yet another class of antibiotics. Only one left is the Cipro they use for Anthrax. Mild urticaria everywhere since 4 AM. Fortunately the 7 days on the antibiotic killed the sinuse germs and the Claritin is providing more relief than just taking care of the allergy. I'll be back to flute making by Wednesday, once I get past my taxes and have a little more endurance.

Be careful out there during this pandemic!

Casey

Wombat · Post by **Wombat** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 11:21 am

Has anybody suffered from or heard reported something a bit like this but with an inner ear component? In my case it kept on coming back for several months. I'd get a secondary, it would clear up, I'd start exercising again and it would return. I also had aching teeth and jaw when it flared up each time. I'm still having mild relapses six months later but not so bad that secondaries develop or that I need to stop exercising. I didn't miss a day of work but I was off my game a bit all year.

Less severe versions of what I had were common in the last southern winter. I needed antibiotics about 4 or 5 times, more courses than I would have taken in the last ten years put together. And I had a 'flu shot last autumn.