docs? dying from swine flu. do you suppose it is pure suffering?

[vash]

bound to happen. i know a girl that passed tuesday. daughter of my 8th grade principle, and the man that started me on this hunting hobby. great girl, teacher, about 38 years old, one of a twin. how does one check out from the swine flu? extreme fever, and your brain fries? i hope and pray she went out peacefully. sucks. i was just joking last weekend with her dad, and tried inviting myself on one if his hunting adventures. he lives a few doors down from my parents. great man. i am sad for him.

[Moses]

I think flu death in an otherwise healthy person is usually caused by respiratory failure. A catastrophic pneumonia that does not respond to antibiotics. Look up ARDS; Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

[Hugh R]

Maybe Moses or another doc can chime in. I heard that a lot of otherwise health people could have avoided dying if they got a pneumonia shot. I got one and the flu vaccine. Not H1NI yet however.

[Moses]

You're talking about preventing a secondary bacterial pneumonia after influenza infection. I'm not sure, but I think it's the viral pneumonia itself that causes respiratory distress. I'll do some research.

[Moses]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

Maybe Moses or another doc can chime in. I heard that a lot of otherwise health people could have avoided dying if they got a pneumonia shot. I got one and the flu vaccine. Not H1NI yet however.

Found it! Secondary bacterial pneumonias account for 25% of influenza related deaths. You were right, that's a pretty big risk.

[juanbenae]

i had what the urgent care doc thought might be swine flu a month ago. they are NOT testing, at least here in the south bay unless you are admitted to the hospital. they did swab me sinuses and tested confirming I had a flu. I tell you what, the fever I had for 3+ days was the worst sickness I can EVER remember. I was wiped out. even wished I have a girlfriend or wife for those few days to take care of me.. so that being said, a fever can cause you to have crazy thoughts....

T

[vash]

Originally Posted by Moses

Found it! Secondary bacterial pneumonias account for 25% of influenza related deaths. You were right, that's a pretty big risk.

so you suffocate?

[Talewinds]

Originally Posted by vash

so you suffocate?

Essentially, yes. There's severe inflamation that's going on in your lungs during ARDS, which, on a cellular level prevents the O2 from transferring across the space.

So the obvious question from any mechanically inclined individual would be, "Why can't your blood be oxygenated through an alternate source, such as a dialysis type of procedure in order to keep you alive until your lungs can recover?"
The answer is yes, that is technically possible, and is accomplished in a process called ECMO, read about it here: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The unfortunate reality is that adults don't really survive ECMO very well, infants however, do fairly well.

[David]

No flu shot here.

My plan is to watch my health. At first sign of abnormal feeling I'll take Airborne and take care of myself.

[vash]

i wussed and got the seasonal flu shot.

they told me no on the H1N1 nasal spray. i'll wait until it is more readily available.

suffocation is a crappy exit scenario. i hope she was unconscious.

[Nathans_Dad]

Unfortunately people die from influenza every year. H1N1 is simply more virulent than the usual strains we see.

Most of the deaths from H1N1 are from ARDS like illness which is not synonymous with bacterial pneumonia. The H1N1 causes a viral pneumonitis (diffuse lung inflammation) which causes difficulty with breathing.

Pneumonia shots are only indicated in people who are at elevated risk for bacterial pneumonia, people with emphysema for example. It is not usually given to children. Giving pneumovax in an acute illness will not be enough to prevent a pneumonia in that acute illness.

Sorry to hear about your friend's daughter.

[Moses]

Originally Posted by 125shifter

No flu shot here.

My plan is to watch my health. At first sign of fever I'll take Tamiflu and take care of myself.

Fixed it for you.

[David]

Originally Posted by Moses

Fixed it for you.

Roger that!

[creaturecat]

Pure suffering? Yes.