How's the Flu Hitting You?

[Jay Honeck]

Over 1/3 of my son's middle school went home (or called in) sick yesterday.
It's all over the news that this is the worst flu outbreak since the killer
1918-1919 flu epidemic. (Which, incidentally, claimed my grandfather, and
very nearly killed my grandmother, while she was pregnant with my Dad.)

My CFI buddy said that half of his students cancelled lessons in the last
few days, and there was only one other person in the pattern with us
yesterday, on a CAVU afternoon. (Of course, the icy runways may have had
*something* to do with it!)

How's it in your neck of the woods? Anyone ever been hit with the flu (or
similar) while airborne?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Larry Fransson]

On 2003-12-12 06:03:26 -0800, "Jay Honeck" > said:

> How's it in your neck of the woods? Anyone ever been hit with the flu (or
> similar) while airborne?

One of our crews transported a patient with who had it a couple weeks ago.
They had to wear those nifty masks like we wear for TB patients and get
decontaminated when they got back.

I'm not generally one to get flu shots, but since I seem to have a better than
average chance of coming into contact with it and my wife has an aunt who
is just coming off chemotherapy, i decided to get one as long as the nurses
in the office were handing them out.

--
Larry Fransson
Seattle, WA

[Jim]

I got the flu shot with my Class 2 medical last month and proceded to get
the worst cold of my life, it's been 3 weeks since it started and I'm still
coughing and congested. Some days I'm fine and can fly and other days I
wish somebody would just shoot me. As far as the true flu, it hasn't hit
around here yet, I'm sure it will wait until Christmas when everybody is
inside and close to one another so they can spread it really good.
--
Jim Burns III

Remove "nospam" to reply

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
news:OUjCb.517762$Fm2.503505@attbi_s04...
> Over 1/3 of my son's middle school went home (or called in) sick
yesterday.
> It's all over the news that this is the worst flu outbreak since the
killer
> 1918-1919 flu epidemic. (Which, incidentally, claimed my grandfather, and
> very nearly killed my grandmother, while she was pregnant with my Dad.)
>
> My CFI buddy said that half of his students cancelled lessons in the last
> few days, and there was only one other person in the pattern with us
> yesterday, on a CAVU afternoon. (Of course, the icy runways may have had
> *something* to do with it!)
>
> How's it in your neck of the woods? Anyone ever been hit with the flu (or
> similar) while airborne?
> --
> Jay Honeck
> Iowa City, IA
> Pathfinder N56993
> www.AlexisParkInn.com
> "Your Aviation Destination"
>
>

[Jay Honeck]

> I'm not generally one to get flu shots, but since I seem to have a better
than
> average chance of coming into contact with it and my wife has an aunt who
> is just coming off chemotherapy, i decided to get one as long as the
nurses
> in the office were handing them out.

It was in our paper this morning that 2/3s of the flu cases nationwide are
of a type that is not affected by this year's flu shot... :-(
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Peter R.]

Larry Fransson ) wrote:

> I'm not generally one to get flu shots, but since I seem to have a better than
> average chance of coming into contact with it and my wife has an aunt who
> is just coming off chemotherapy, i decided to get one as long as the nurses
> in the office were handing them out.

I thought I heard from a few different news sources that this year's US flu
vaccination formula does not include the strain that is currently making
the rounds in the US.

Here in upstate NY, the panic is high but the reported cases are still low.
Four hours or longer to wait in one of the remaining few lines left, only
to receive a shot that doesn't cover this year's variant? No thanks. I'll
take my chances the old fashioned way... :)

--
Peter












----== Posted via Newsfeed.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==----
http://www.newsfeed.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! >100,000 Newsgroups
---= 19 East/West-Coast Specialized Servers - Total Privacy via Encryption =---

[Blanche]

I live in Colorado. Flu. West Nile.

'nuff said.

[Jim Fisher]

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
> It was in our paper this morning that 2/3s of the flu cases nationwide are
> of a type that is not affected by this year's flu shot... :-(

That's not exactly the case, Mr. Jay. It is my understanding that the shot
is effective. They are just not exactly sure HOW effective it will be.

Even in the best of cases, the flu shot reduces your chances of getting the
flu only 70 to 90 percent. This year, the effectiveness may be only 50
percent but no one really knows for sure.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/12/09/health/main587612.shtml

I got my shot a couple of weeks ago for the first time in a dozen years. I
just cannot afford to be bedridden for a week right now. I also got my
little one a snort into his nostrils.

Scary stuff, man.

--
Jim Fisher

[EDR]

I teach swimming to 3-6 year olds three days each week. So the little
buggers are coughing in my face on a regular basis. If I don't
anticipate it and pull away before they cough or sneeze, I stick my
face in the water and swish it a few times to wash off as much of the
spray as possible. This is the only time I am happy that the chlorine
count is high.

I got my flu shot the beginning of November. A week later I experienced
three days of headaches, followed by a day of sore throat, followed by
three days of head congestion, followed by three days of chest
congestion. I have had head congestion since. This is week four.

My daughter had fever last Saturday and Sunday, I kept her home from
school on Monday, without any symptoms other than she complained she
was bored.

[Jay Honeck]

> That's not exactly the case, Mr. Jay. It is my understanding that the
shot
> is effective. They are just not exactly sure HOW effective it will be.

Well, here is from the AP, in today's Gannett-owned rag:

"About 2/3s of people with confirmed flu have a strain called 'A/Fujian'
The strain doesn't grow readily in fertilized chicken eggs, which made it
virtually impossible to include in the vaccine for this year's epidemic".

In other words, you're pretty much own with this particular strain...
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Jim]

Jesus, you got the same thing I have. Coughing about every other day so bad
that my back, neck, and ribs hurt like hell.
--
Jim Burns III

Remove "nospam" to reply


"EDR" > wrote in message
...
>
> I got my flu shot the beginning of November. A week later I experienced
> three days of headaches, followed by a day of sore throat, followed by
> three days of head congestion, followed by three days of chest
> congestion. I have had head congestion since. This is week four.

[Trent Moorehead]

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
news:ZdlCb.513986$Tr4.1435387@attbi_s03...
> > That's not exactly the case, Mr. Jay. It is my understanding that the
> shot
> > is effective. They are just not exactly sure HOW effective it will be.
>
> Well, here is from the AP, in today's Gannett-owned rag:
>
> "About 2/3s of people with confirmed flu have a strain called 'A/Fujian'
> The strain doesn't grow readily in fertilized chicken eggs, which made it
> virtually impossible to include in the vaccine for this year's epidemic".
>
> In other words, you're pretty much own with this particular strain...

I live in NC, got my flu shot in October and rarely get sick. My 5 year-old
son came down with the flu last Saturday (he didn't get a shot). His fever
ran very high, so we took him to the doctor on Monday. As is usually the
case, he started to "come out of" the sickness while we were waiting for the
doctor to see him (I was wondering if we could run out on the check, to use
a restaurant addage). About that time, I started coughing, feeling a bit of
fluid high in my chest. That was Monday, today (Friday) is my first day back
to work and I am about 75% well, not contagious, but just a mere shell.
Missed three days of work.

I'm pretty sure I got the flu because of the classic symptoms: lots of chest
congestion, which later included my head, fever and WEAKNESS. I'm so damn
depleted right now. The weird thing about this flu is that it doesn't let go
of you like other flus I've had (only a handful in my 38 years), it's like
the damned Energizer bunny, about the time you think you're getting better,
it comes and smacks you again. My dad got it last week. He's 73 and it
nearly put him in the hospital. He told me that what he's coughing up is
indescribable. And yes, he's been vaccinated against the flu and pneumonia.

A six year-old boy just died locally and there are many children who are
unfortunately following suit.

I'm not seeing that the flu shot did a whole lot for me. My son and I have
had EXACTLY the same symptoms and duration. I just thank God that it didn't
kill him.

WASH YOUR HANDS!!!! Or the flu shall smite thee!

-Trent
PP-ASEL

[Marco Leon]

I have the same symptoms grounded me since last Wednesday Dec 3rd and it
looks like I'll be down until at least this Monday. Crazy cough with lots of
fluid and sinus congestion. I went to the doc and he said that it was
bacterial and not viral. He gave me an antibiotic (Z-tex) and he said I
should be back to normal on Monday. I promised to fly my friend's father
from NY to Bangor, ME this week so I hope it's true. I'll let you know it it
works.


Marco


"Jim" > wrote in message
...
> Jesus, you got the same thing I have. Coughing about every other day so
bad
> that my back, neck, and ribs hurt like hell.
> --
> Jim Burns III
>
> Remove "nospam" to reply
>
>
> "EDR" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > I got my flu shot the beginning of November. A week later I experienced
> > three days of headaches, followed by a day of sore throat, followed by
> > three days of head congestion, followed by three days of chest
> > congestion. I have had head congestion since. This is week four.
>
>



Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services
----------------------------------------------------------
** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY **
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.usenet.com

[EDR]

> "EDR" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > I got my flu shot the beginning of November. A week later I experienced
> > three days of headaches, followed by a day of sore throat, followed by
> > three days of head congestion, followed by three days of chest
> > congestion. I have had head congestion since. This is week four.

I forgot to add that I had a sinus infection for three days last week.

[Jim Fisher]

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
> Well, here is from the AP, in today's Gannett-owned rag:
>
> "About 2/3s of people with confirmed flu have a strain called 'A/Fujian'
> The strain doesn't grow readily in fertilized chicken eggs, which made it
> virtually impossible to include in the vaccine for this year's epidemic".
>
> In other words, you're pretty much own with this particular strain...

Not quite, Jay. From the article: " "With a vaccine with a less optimal
match, you have to say it might not work at all," said Dr. Scott Harper, a
CDC epidemiologist. "That's very unlikely. Probably it will not be 90
percent effective. But we just have no good sense of how it will work in
humans. Biology is messy."

"The mismatch occurred when experts decided to include a strain called
A-Panama in this year's shot, the same as last year. It turns out that the
dominant virus this fall has been A-Fujian, which has two genetic mutations
that make it different. "

--
Jim Fisher

[Ditch]

>The weird thing about this flu is that it doesn't let go
>of you like other flus I've had (only a handful in my 38 years), it's like
>the damned Energizer bunny, about the time you think you're getting better,
>it comes and smacks you again.

It stuck with me for two weeks. A few days of total crapiness and then 10 days
of hacking up green chunky stuff. And then one morning it was all gone!


-John
*You are nothing until you have flown a Douglas, Lockheed, Grumman or North
American*

[Brian Burger]

On Fri, 12 Dec 2003, Jay Honeck wrote:

> How's it in your neck of the woods?

Well, I got it in the neck... Felt grotty Saturday & Sunday, stayed home
from work Monday, went home after three hours at work on Tuesday, and
spent all of Wednesday & Thursday useless & ragged from the nastiest flu
bug I've met since I was a kid...

Home again today; better but still ragged. I've never missed a solid week
of work before...

I just want to get healthy again so I can fly on the 17th and celebrate
100 Years!

Brian.

[Dave Stadt]

"Jim Fisher" > wrote in message
...
> "Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
> > Well, here is from the AP, in today's Gannett-owned rag:
> >
> > "About 2/3s of people with confirmed flu have a strain called 'A/Fujian'
> > The strain doesn't grow readily in fertilized chicken eggs, which made
it
> > virtually impossible to include in the vaccine for this year's
epidemic".
> >
> > In other words, you're pretty much own with this particular strain...
>
> Not quite, Jay. From the article: " "With a vaccine with a less optimal
> match, you have to say it might not work at all," said Dr. Scott Harper, a
> CDC epidemiologist. "That's very unlikely. Probably it will not be 90
> percent effective. But we just have no good sense of how it will work in
> humans. Biology is messy."
>
> "The mismatch occurred when experts decided to include a strain called
> A-Panama in this year's shot, the same as last year. It turns out that the
> dominant virus this fall has been A-Fujian, which has two genetic
mutations
> that make it different. "
>
> --
> Jim Fisher
>
>

I'm with Jay on this. There have been numerous news reports that have
stated the flu shots being given do not prevent the A/Fujian strain which is
the one causing the problems. It's the same story every year. The shots
only work on the virus strains that were around last flu season and don't
work on any new strains that have mutated and spread this year.

[Peter Duniho]

"Dave Stadt" > wrote in message
y.com...
> I'm with Jay on this. There have been numerous news reports that have
> stated the flu shots being given do not prevent the A/Fujian strain which
is
> the one causing the problems.

You are "with Jay" in claiming that all of the news reports are false?
Funny. There haven't been any well-researched news reports saying that the
vaccine does not prevent the dominant strain for this season.

Jim's comments are exactly right, at least according to all of the news
reports. The current vaccine includes three strains of flu, none of which
turned out to be the dominant one this season. However, they are similar
enough that health officials expect *some* protective effect from the
vaccine. No, it won't be 80-90%. But they are expecting as much as 50%
protection, even among those infected with the A/Fujian strain, due to the
similarities.

The vaccine does not need to include the *exact* strain for there to be a
protective effect in some percentage of individuals. For that matter,
having the exact strain does not guarantee a protective effect. It's just
that the percentage is higher when the vaccine is the same strain.

> It's the same story every year. The shots
> only work on the virus strains that were around last flu season and don't
> work on any new strains that have mutated and spread this year.

The same story? Yeah, right. The flu vaccine is just a big scam. You
caught 'em with their pants down. Maybe you should get to the Wall Street
Journal or New York Times with this breaking news.

Seriously though, you don't appear to be getting it. The shots work to
varying degrees depending on the individual and depending on how closely the
virus strain in question matches the strains found in the vaccine. It's not
a binary either/or thing. For many people, this year's flu shot will
prevent them from being infected with this year's dominant flu strain (as
well as any number of others).

Sorry, I forgot...what does this have to do with flying?

Pete

[none]

Why the hell do you keep posting off topic stuff to the flying newsgroups?
Lord, it is like you are in your own world.

I suspect there will be an additional entry in my filter soon.


"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
news:OUjCb.517762$Fm2.503505@attbi_s04...
> Over 1/3 of my son's middle school went home (or called in) sick
yesterday.
> It's all over the news that this is the worst flu outbreak since the
killer
> 1918-1919 flu epidemic. (Which, incidentally, claimed my grandfather, and
> very nearly killed my grandmother, while she was pregnant with my Dad.)
>
> My CFI buddy said that half of his students cancelled lessons in the last
> few days, and there was only one other person in the pattern with us
> yesterday, on a CAVU afternoon. (Of course, the icy runways may have had
> *something* to do with it!)
>
> How's it in your neck of the woods? Anyone ever been hit with the flu (or
> similar) while airborne?
> --
> Jay Honeck
> Iowa City, IA
> Pathfinder N56993
> www.AlexisParkInn.com
> "Your Aviation Destination"
>
>

[tony roberts]

I have had the flu all this week.
I had the flu-shots but my doctor said that this strain is not covered
by the shot. Apparently the makeup of the shot is determined after
consultation with World Health Organization and they didn't list
A/Fujian. Now it is too late to include it as it takes several months to
produce the vaccine.


--

Tony Roberts
PP-ASEL
VFR OTT
Night
Almost Instrument :)
Cessna 172H C-GICE

[Jay Honeck]

> > How's it in your neck of the woods? Anyone ever been hit with the flu
(or
> > similar) while airborne?
>
> And this has what to do with rec.aviation.piloting??

I ask if anyone has ever been incapacitated by flu (or similar) while
airborne, and you don't see a connection to a newsgroup about piloting?

HELLO? [*tap* *tap* *tap*] -- Is this thing on...?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Jay Honeck]

> Read it as: "Anyone been hit with this flu that's been going around?"
>
> *DOH!*
>
> Sorry Jay..

My subject line could have been more on-target, for sure... ;-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Dave Stadt]

"Peter Duniho" > wrote in message
...
> "Dave Stadt" > wrote in message
> y.com...
> > I'm with Jay on this. There have been numerous news reports that have
> > stated the flu shots being given do not prevent the A/Fujian strain
which
> is
> > the one causing the problems.
>
> You are "with Jay" in claiming that all of the news reports are false?
> Funny. There haven't been any well-researched news reports saying that
the
> vaccine does not prevent the dominant strain for this season.
>
> Jim's comments are exactly right, at least according to all of the news
> reports. The current vaccine includes three strains of flu, none of which
> turned out to be the dominant one this season. However, they are similar
> enough that health officials expect *some* protective effect from the
> vaccine. No, it won't be 80-90%. But they are expecting as much as 50%
> protection, even among those infected with the A/Fujian strain, due to the
> similarities.
>
> The vaccine does not need to include the *exact* strain for there to be a
> protective effect in some percentage of individuals. For that matter,
> having the exact strain does not guarantee a protective effect. It's just
> that the percentage is higher when the vaccine is the same strain.
>
> > It's the same story every year. The shots
> > only work on the virus strains that were around last flu season and
don't
> > work on any new strains that have mutated and spread this year.
>
> The same story? Yeah, right. The flu vaccine is just a big scam. You
> caught 'em with their pants down. Maybe you should get to the Wall Street
> Journal or New York Times with this breaking news.
>
> Seriously though, you don't appear to be getting it. The shots work to
> varying degrees depending on the individual and depending on how closely
the
> virus strain in question matches the strains found in the vaccine. It's
not
> a binary either/or thing. For many people, this year's flu shot will
> prevent them from being infected with this year's dominant flu strain (as
> well as any number of others).
>
> Sorry, I forgot...what does this have to do with flying?
>
> Pete


So you are saying they don't know how effective this years vaccine will be
against the new strains if it will be effective at all. You use a lot of
wishy washy words like if, some, suspect, varying degrees and depending to
describe what you think is an effective vaccine. Sounds pretty much the
same as what I have been hearing, it isn't the right stuff and it isn't
working very well plus their might not be enough of it.

It all seems pretty binary to me. Either the vaccine prevents the flu for a
high percentage of people or not. From what I have heard and based the
number of people getting sick it looks mostly like a _not_ situation. On
top of all that, if the shortage plays out it makes the effectiveness that
much less. All in all not poster material for the medical or pharmaceutical
industries. Then again we aren't yet in a 1918 situation although I have
not heard that such a situation could be prevented with current practices.

OBTW...I'm going flying the 17th at 10:35 eastern if the weather is good and
I don't catch the flu.

[Earl Grieda]

Speaking of the "flu", I wonder if SARs will reappear this year?

[Rob Perkins]

On Sun, 14 Dec 2003 00:31:36 GMT, "Dave Stadt" >
wrote:

>> Sorry, I forgot...what does this have to do with flying?

I don't know about you, but my new FBO doesn't permit rental of
aircraft if the PIC is sick. Presumably, that means the flu as well.

Although, why one would feel like flying with the flu is a bit beyond
me. When I get the flu I generally just want to curl up and die.

Rob, flu-free for nine years, now *knock on wood*

[Peter Duniho]

"Dave Stadt" > wrote in message
y.com...
> It all seems pretty binary to me. Either the vaccine prevents the flu for
a
> high percentage of people or not.

lol...

I'm the one using wishy-washy words, while you write something like "Either
the vaccine prevents the flu FOR A HIGH PERCENTAGE [emphasis mine] of people
or not"? Yeah, right.

In any case, no one originally said anything about the vaccine working on a
"high percentage of people". That's your own straw man, and you should feel
free to knock it down if you like.

Jay's post said "you're pretty much [on your] own with this particular
strain", and that's simply not true. The vaccine IS helpful for some
percentage of people. That percentage is likely to be lower than compared
to previous years, but to say that the vaccine is useless is just plain
wrong. That's what Jay said, and since you're "with Jay", that's what you
said too. You're both wrong.

> From what I have heard and based the
> number of people getting sick it looks mostly like a _not_ situation.

First you say it's a binary question to you, then you say "it looks mostly
like a _not_ situation"?

Get your story straight. Is it a binary or isn't it? It's a simple yes or
no question. To help you out, here's a hint: when it's a binary question,
the situation won't be "mostly not". Either it IS or it ISN'T. There's no
"mostly on" or "mostly off" when you're talking about a binary question.

The rest of your rant about the medical industries fault in the current
situation is just absurd. I won't even bother to comment on it.

Pete

[StellaStar]

>Jay's post said "you're pretty much [on your] own with this particular
>strain", and that's simply not true. The vaccine IS helpful for some
>percentage of people.

The basic misunderstanding driving this particular argumentative string seems
to be the idea that there's one flu germ, or shot.

It's a prevalent bug, and a particularly evil one -- it evolves all the time.
Like many of the most "successful" viruses, influenza can ride around in people
who are only kind of sick, and jump from that reservoir to lots of other new
victims, unlike ebola which kills you fast and burns its own bridges,
infectively speaking.

(incidentally, it's also a zoonosis -- a germ that can infect both people and
several kinds of animals, and often being able to jump that species barrier
helps it spread and evolve even more)

New variants appear all the time, and there's a recognized pattern to its
winter spread across the globe, so health organizations each year try to scout
out the most likely ones and make up a new vaccine that includes them all. You
can't put dozens of different strains into one shot, so you try for the few
that are most likely to be the major culprits. This year, for reasons already
explained, they included several in the new vaccine but missed one variety, and
that's turned out to be a big bad one.

Just as a doc might give you a shot of antibiotic to prevent secondary
infections like pneumonia if your immune system's pretty wiped out, (you DO
know that antibiotics don't work against a virus) the vaccine could protect
even those who get flu from getting other varieties...wouldn't it bite to get
bit all over again?

And the more people who develop their own immunity to the latest strain of flu,
the most likely the darn thing is to go out and evolve:
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2003-03/hhmi-rme032503.php

"Strains of flu virus differ from one another largely in the genes that code
for surface molecules called glycoproteins, which are the primary targets of
the body's immune system in defending against flu viruses.... Evolutionary
changes in immune response against such "antigen" molecules are the reason that
new vaccines must be developed against emerging strains of virus."

Me, I'm livin' dangerously -- no shot, just Vitamin C, warm clothes, and
occasional applications of medicinal barley water.

[Montblack]

("StellaStar" wrote)
<snip>
> Me, I'm livin' dangerously -- no shot, just Vitamin C, warm clothes, and
> occasional applications of medicinal barley water.


People getting their flu shots in mid December is like - I don't know
what????

One word folks: October.

We've been getting something shot into our arms for about 3 years now. So
far, so good. We even pay for the darn thing, out-of-pocket, when we're at
the grocery store - Cub Foods.

My don't get sick tip:
I generally drink almost 2 gallons of water per day, especially in the
winter (1 gal per day is my minimum).

Empty 32 oz PowerAde bottles are *great* for helping me keep track of my
water intake. 4 refills = one gallon. (Plus, they don't tip over easily)

Kidneys seem to be a pretty good Doc.

--
Montblack
http://lumma.de/mt/archives/bart.gif

[Dave]

"Rob Perkins" > wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 14 Dec 2003 00:31:36 GMT, "Dave Stadt" >
> wrote:
>
> >> Sorry, I forgot...what does this have to do with flying?
>
> I don't know about you, but my new FBO doesn't permit rental of
> aircraft if the PIC is sick. Presumably, that means the flu as well.
>
> Although, why one would feel like flying with the flu is a bit beyond
> me. When I get the flu I generally just want to curl up and die.

Your new FBO seems like a responsible organisation to me. Mind you the pilot
should ground himself if he is sick under the term of his medical. To do
otherwise is irresponsible. But then.................

Dave

[Gary L. Drescher]

"Rob Perkins" > wrote in message
...
> I don't know about you, but my new FBO doesn't permit rental of
> aircraft if the PIC is sick.

How sick? Are you allowed to fly if you have a slight cold?

[Jay Honeck]

> Me, I'm livin' dangerously -- no shot, just Vitamin C, warm clothes, and
> occasional applications of medicinal barley water.

I've been taking multi-vitamins and 500 mg of Vitamin C every day (plus,
more recently, an aspirin) for over 20 years. I'm rarely sick, and have
never missed a day of work, at any job I've ever had -- ever.

Medicinal barley water (with a dash of hops) works for me! :-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Dave]

"Gary L. Drescher" > wrote in message
news:JoZCb.537679$HS4.4093142@attbi_s01...
> "Rob Perkins" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I don't know about you, but my new FBO doesn't permit rental of
> > aircraft if the PIC is sick.
>
> How sick? Are you allowed to fly if you have a slight cold?

For me a cold is a cold and I chose not to fly. I have one now and I am
dreading Thursday when I fly to the US for my holiday. 11 hours of flying
even as a passenger does not thrill me. I just know that pressure changes
will cause me sinus pain. It seems that anything involving more than 2000ft
in pressure changes with a cold becomes uncomfortable.

I just know my limits

Dave

[Rob Perkins]

On Sun, 14 Dec 2003 13:16:25 GMT, "Gary L. Drescher"
> wrote:

>> I don't know about you, but my new FBO doesn't permit rental of
>> aircraft if the PIC is sick.
>
>How sick? Are you allowed to fly if you have a slight cold?

It's in the terms of the rental contract, which doesn't specify how
sick. I'd guess the determination is a combination of personal
assessment and what the FBO desk guy can see when he hands you the key
to the airplane.

Rob

[G.R. Patterson III]

Dave wrote:
>
> For me a cold is a cold and I chose not to fly. I have one now and I am
> dreading Thursday when I fly to the US for my holiday. 11 hours of flying
> even as a passenger does not thrill me. I just know that pressure changes
> will cause me sinus pain. It seems that anything involving more than 2000ft
> in pressure changes with a cold becomes uncomfortable.

Try a double dose of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride (if it's available there).
Take it several hours before boarding and follow the directions for repeat doses
until you land. Its major side-effect is insomnia.

George Patterson
Great discoveries are not announced with "Eureka!". What's usually said is
"Hummmmm... That's interesting...."

[Gary L. Drescher]

"Dave" > wrote in message
...
> For me a cold is a cold and I chose not to fly... I just know that
pressure changes
> will cause me sinus pain.

That makes sense, but for me there's no apparent correlation between
pressure-change sensitivity and having a cold. I've piloted several times
with a significant cold, never with any resulting sinus pain. I've had
descent-induced sinus pain on only two occasions (both times as a passenger,
once on an airliner), without having a cold either time. So unless I'm ill
enough to feel run-down, I don't avoid piloting just because of a cold.

--Gary

[Blanche]

I cite as reference the front page story from the Denver Post, dated
Sunday, Dec 14 (you can check its website for the details). Briefly,
the article explains 2 issues involved with the current flu problems.

But before we launch into this, a short explanation how the
vaccine is produced. By Federal law, it can only be manufactured
using chicken eggs to ensure consistency and avoid impurities or
contamination. More on this later.

First, there are only 2 vaccine manufacturers left in the USA and they
produce vaccine in quantities defined by health professionals plus about
a 20% reserve. Last year 40 M doses were produced, we had a relativelys
mild flu season and 8M doses were destroyed. The past 3 years have
been moderately mild, so production was lower than ususal.

Second, at the time of the "definition" or composition of the vaccine
(which must be signed off by the FDA) there was concern about the
Fujian strain. In fact you might even go so far as to say there was
major concern by some members of the panel. However, at the time,
there was no way to get a sample of the virus from a human source.
It had been detected in canine livers (which, according to the article,
is a common way to detect and analyze). The opinion was that taking
the virus from the canine and incubating and producing within the
chicken eggs might have included other contaminants. Only after
the vaccine forumula was approved and produce began that the Japanese
were able to isolate a human sample.

Go read the entire article. Fascinating!

[Tom Sixkiller]

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
news:OUjCb.517762$Fm2.503505@attbi_s04...
> Over 1/3 of my son's middle school went home (or called in) sick
yesterday.
> It's all over the news that this is the worst flu outbreak since the
killer
> 1918-1919 flu epidemic. (Which, incidentally, claimed my grandfather, and
> very nearly killed my grandmother, while she was pregnant with my Dad.)
>
> My CFI buddy said that half of his students cancelled lessons in the last
> few days, and there was only one other person in the pattern with us
> yesterday, on a CAVU afternoon. (Of course, the icy runways may have had
> *something* to do with it!)
>
> How's it in your neck of the woods? Anyone ever been hit with the flu (or
> similar) while airborne?

Hasn't _bugged_ me or the family a bit (knock on wood).

Tom
------
F33A @ 00V

[Dave]

"G.R. Patterson III" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> Dave wrote:
> >
> > For me a cold is a cold and I chose not to fly. I have one now and I am
> > dreading Thursday when I fly to the US for my holiday. 11 hours of
flying
> > even as a passenger does not thrill me. I just know that pressure
changes
> > will cause me sinus pain. It seems that anything involving more than
2000ft
> > in pressure changes with a cold becomes uncomfortable.
>
> Try a double dose of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride (if it's available
there).
> Take it several hours before boarding and follow the directions for repeat
doses
> until you land. Its major side-effect is insomnia.

We have that here its called Sudafed, not only does it cause insomnia, it
causes me nightmares too. Wont do ranting on the plane at 35,000 ft.

Dave

[Kevin McCue]

Take the old Air Force remedy along. Afrin nasal spray. It will clear up
most sinus blocks right now. Major downside...It will cause a rebound effect
and it is habit forming. Throw it away after the flight.

--
Kevin McCue
KRYN
'47 Luscombe 8E
Rans S-17 (for sale)




-----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =-----
http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World!
-----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =-----

[Jay Honeck]

> Take the old Air Force remedy along. Afrin nasal spray. It will clear
up
> most sinus blocks right now. Major downside...It will cause a rebound
effect
> and it is habit forming. Throw it away after the flight.

Boy, THAT'S for sure.

A couple of years ago I discovered Afrin during hay fever season. I thought
my life-long problems with allergies were solved, boy! The stuff literally
clears your head instantly!

Until it wears off. THEN your head is TWICE as stuffed up, so you need to
have another "hit". And so on.

I finally had to get off it "cold turkey", and walked around with an
absolute, 100% head/ear block for a few days until my "habit" was broken.
It was awful, and I now never touch the stuff unless I'm about to sit down
to a five-course meal and I'm stuffed solidly.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"
"Kevin McCue" > wrote in message
...
>
> --
> Kevin McCue
> KRYN
> '47 Luscombe 8E
> Rans S-17 (for sale)
>
>
>
>
> -----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =-----
> http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World!
> -----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =-----