CPAPtalk.com

jabman wrote:Sorry to here you are getting sick. When I am sick I take zinc tablets along with vitamin c and that seems to help. I believe that zinc helps build up the immune system. I find it funny that just because it is not "Flu season" that your PCP thinks that you can't get the Flu.

Thanks! I was thinking that maybe loading up on Vit C might be worth an attempt.

Yeah, I was a little befuzzled at that comment that there haven't been any widespread flu outbreaks so I probably just have a cold. Somebody has to get the flu the first time!

rested gal wrote:I've used a separate Fisher & Paykel HC150 heated humidifier for years.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/fisher ... ifier.html

Can be used with any machine. I like that stand-alone humidifier better than any integrated humidifier I've used with various cpap/autopap/bilevel machines.

There are two openings on top of this humidifier's water chamber. Main air hose from the cpap machine attaches to one opening and the short connector hose (comes with the humidifier) connects the humidifier to the cpap machine. Very simple.

I don't put any credence at all in the DME/RT's opinion that "you don't need it."
But given your complicated medical issues, there might be a reason why extra humidification wouldn't be a good idea for you. I doubt it, but there's always that chance. Do check with your pulmonologist.

Thanks for the input, Rested Gal! I may have my husband check to see if we have a humidifier to use short term. I am hoping my doctor calls soon with her medical input and suggestions.

mars wrote:Hi Madalot

I am sorry to hear of your dilemma.

My only (lay) suggestion is that your do everything you can to keep your immune system as healthy as possible, plus I would be taking plenty of vitamin C.

A couple of links to more information. There are a number of paths that may help you -

http://www.google.com.au/search?q=the+i ... =firefox-a

http://www.google.com.au/search?q=stren ... =firefox-a

If you have trouble with stress, post details, as stress will diminish the effectiveness of the immune system.

So relax, minimise stress, and do what you can (as I know you will) .

Good luck

Mars

Just realized I missed this one! Thanks, mars, for the help here. I appreciate the input....

If in the first day or so of not feeling well, they can give you Tamiflu. If your PCP doesn't have it on hand, I hope your pulmonary doc does. If all else fails, call you local health dept. and see if they have it on hand and dispense it to you. Be aware of the side effects of this drug, and those with respiratory diseases or other serious disorders need to be careful.

If you have never used Google Flu Trends to follow where outbreaks are, here is the page with the interactive map. Just put you mouse over your area and it will tell you. http://www.google.org/flutrends/ As the season heats up, it will have a lot more information.

I hope what your family has come down with is nothing more than bad cold and not the flu. Get well soon...... take care of yourself!!

Madalot wrote: While this feels like it could be a flu of sort, my PCP's office claims that flu season hasn't started and because of it, they aren't treating flu.

Dummkopfs! The flu is actively infecting people 365 days per year (366 leap year)!



Get to a doctor quickly who will treat you appropriately and quickly. The antiviral medicines have to be given quickly to be effective:

Some antiviral medicines reduce the severity and shorten the duration of influenza (flu) symptoms by 1 or 1½ days if given within 48 hours of the first symptoms.2 These medicines are not intended to substitute for getting a flu immunization each year. Rather, antiviral medicines are important for controlling outbreaks and preventing the spread of infection, especially in people at high risk for developing flu complications.

The antiviral medicines zanamivir and oseltamivir are used to prevent and treat influenza A and B infections. They can reduce the severity and shorten the duration of flu symptoms.
http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/tc/in ... edications

Testing can be done in a doc's office and beyond that he can use his discretion to prescribe an antiviral:

A number of flu tests are available to detect influenza viruses. The most common are called "rapid influenza diagnostic tests." These tests can provide results in 30 minutes or less. Unfortunately, the ability of these tests to detect the flu can vary greatly.

This variation in ability to detect viruses can result in some people who are infected with the flu having a negative rapid test result. (This situation is called a false negative test result.) Despite a negative rapid test result, your health care provider may diagnose you with flu based on your symptoms and their clinical judgment.

Good luck.

Madalot wrote:Do any of you experts have any suggestions on what I CAN do at this point to try to minimize how sick I DO get?

Sambucol (black elderberry) has been shown to be an effective anti-viral agent against some strains of influenza. There is a prophylactic dose and a stronger dose for when you are actually sick. I would take the stronger dose until you are certain you are not sick.

Our PCP told us the flu season started early this year and he got his supply in August and started giving shots the end of Sept/first week in Oct. They were also given early in our community clubhouse. Before it was given we were asked if we had cold symptoms at the moment, if so they would not give the shot. After Mike's surgery in March, the surgeon prescribed high potency zinc and Vit C to protect his fragile immune system and assist in wound healing. It worked well with no side effects for him. In your situation I would really try to get some effective help right now. Hope your family is well soon. Keep us posted.

Thank you, everyone (I'm feeling a little too lousy right now to reply to each person personally -- I'm sorry).

I have written down all these suggestions and will ask my doctor when she calls (hopefully soon). I'm hoping she'll feel, like I do, that I need to be very proactive in warding off the worst of this....

I feel like dog doo at the moment....not good.

I'm not an expert madalot but i would suggest trying not to assume the worst case scenario. Difficult i know.

I hope your symptoms do not get too uncomfortable.

Take care of yourself
UB

My family doctor ALWAYS puts his COPD and other lung ailment, breathing ailment, patients at the top of the list for his first supply of flu shots - and he ALWAYS schedules us an appointment specifically for the flu (and pneumonia, if due) shots the earliest he can get a flu shot supply. The supply comes in and his staff is on the phone calling and scheduling us. If we aren't home to answer the phone they always leave a clear message to call and schedule and why on our answering machine.

Yes, ask about Tamiflu, but also ask if you can use Zicam. I don't know how much it helps, but we've been using it and it seems to have made the colds much more mild (course I have no control group). It is over-the-counter. My daughter and I are using this one right now:

http://www.zicam.com/products/coldremedy_zavors

which has 2 (mgs?) of each of the two active ingredients (some of the other ones have 1mg or 2 and 1). You have to take it as soon as possible after the onset of the symptoms.

I'm sorry to read that you're sick, Madalot. I hope that you're feeling better very soon! You may find that use of the ventilator will actually help you to recover faster than before. I've found that to be true with CPAP.

I have used Zicam (and other homeopathic remedies) for many years. It works very well to shorten the duration and severity. As SU mentioned, the key is to start using it very early -- as soon as symptoms appear -- and to keep using it at regular intervals throughout the illness. There are other over-the-counter homeopathic cold/flu remedies that also work very well. There's also a homeopathic called Influenzinum that can be obtained from homeopathic pharmacies for flu prevention. We usually take that weekly for several months starting around September.

I also have used the Fisher & Paykel HC-150 standalone humidifier that Rested Gal mentioned. It worked very well with my S8 CPAP machine. If there is no contraindication for you healthwise, that may work with your ventilator. But for now, just adding humidification to the room may help you breathe a little easier.

Slinky wrote:My family doctor ALWAYS puts his COPD and other lung ailment, breathing ailment, patients at the top of the list for his first supply of flu shots - and he ALWAYS schedules us an appointment specifically for the flu (and pneumonia, if due) shots the earliest he can get a flu shot supply. The supply comes in and his staff is on the phone calling and scheduling us. If we aren't home to answer the phone they always leave a clear message to call and schedule and why on our answering machine.

Would he not immediately start treatment with oseltamivir (Tamiflu) in a case like Madalot's?

roster wrote:

Slinky wrote:My family doctor ALWAYS puts his COPD and other lung ailment, breathing ailment, patients at the top of the list for his first supply of flu shots - and he ALWAYS schedules us an appointment specifically for the flu (and pneumonia, if due) shots the earliest he can get a flu shot supply. The supply comes in and his staff is on the phone calling and scheduling us. If we aren't home to answer the phone they always leave a clear message to call and schedule and why on our answering machine.

Would he not immediately start treatment with oseltamivir (Tamiflu) in a case like Madalot's?

I was thinking the same thing and was a little distressed at how blase my PCP's office was. I've had the flu in the middle of summer before, so their stance that it isn't flu season kind of ticked me off.

I'm still waiting to hear from my pulmonologist -- hopefully she will be a little more proactive.

On the slight off chance you just have a cold here is a solution my mother uses to stop head colds/sore throat ending up in her chest as she is very prone to pneumonia and gets it very badly.

At first sign of tickly throat/nasal drainage we get some BETADINE throat gargle solution and use it a few times each day. I'm not sure if you can get that where you are, but you might be able to get something similar. It's an antiseptic liquid basically.

Will be thinking of you and hoping you don't end up too sick and that the doctor can give you something to help