Tamiflu PIREP

Dennis,

Since you're a doctor, I'd be interested in your take on my experience.
Shooting in very dim light I know but do you think the Tamiflu could be
related to my rather odd recovery from what was probably an intestinal
virus? Can you tell us how Tamiflu works?

--
Roger Long

Roger Long wrote:
Dennis,

Since you're a doctor, I'd be interested in your take on my experience.
Shooting in very dim light I know but do you think the Tamiflu could be
related to my rather odd recovery from what was probably an intestinal
virus? Can you tell us how Tamiflu works?

--
Roger Long

I'm not Dennis, but if you did not have influenza, it is incredibly
unlikely that Tamiflu (oseltamivir) had any effect on the virus.
Oseltamivir is a neuraminidase inhibitor -- neuraminidase is
an important enzyme for influenza that I believe is pretty unique
to this particular virus.

Intestinal bugs frequently only last a day or two, so almost anything
you take for them might seem to be working over a 24 hour period.

--
David Rind

David Rind wrote:

Intestinal bugs frequently only last a day or two, so almost anything
you take for them might seem to be working over a 24 hour period.

According to my microbiology professor years ago, "24 hour bugs" are invariably
some form of food poisoning.

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

That's what I have though and believed. What threw my doctor and myself off
was the fact that I was feeling very short of breath. When I breathed in,
it was like I hadn't gotten any oxygen and couldn't wait to get the air out
and take another breath. My lungs weren't congested. Thinking back, it was
probably some CNS effect from the toxin that was making my airways reactive.
I was very sensitive to lights, sound, etc.

I also think the impending flu thing had a lot to do with it. I realize now
some of the pressure doctors live with. How would you like to be the one
that let Patient Zero for you community go home with the usual "It will
probably clear up in a day or two, call me if it doesn't." She was being
very conservative but this flu is killing children.

For the conspiracy theorists (No comment on believability, I just pass it
along): Latest urban legend is that the CDC knows a really bad pandemic or
epidemic is coming but is responding to pressure to downplay it until after
the Christmas shopping season so the economy doesn't take a hit that might
help put a democrat in the White House. Really ugly thought because
encouraging all those people to go out and mingle as they pump money into
the Bush re-election scenario will spread the germs around wonderfully.

I went to the "Return of the King" with my kids and their friends. Even
though I was clearly better, my wife made me drive separately and sit a row
away "Just in case". The people behind them hacked and gobbed through the
whole show

--
Roger Long

G.R. Patterson III wrote in message
...


David Rind wrote:

Intestinal bugs frequently only last a day or two, so almost anything
you take for them might seem to be working over a 24 hour period.

According to my microbiology professor years ago, "24 hour bugs" are
invariably
some form of food poisoning.

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

G.R. Patterson III wrote:
According to my microbiology professor years ago, "24 hour bugs" are invariably
some form of food poisoning.

Your microbiology professor was wrong (I'd give you a reference, but
that would be getting even more off topic for r.a.p!). However 48 hours
is more typical for viral gastroenteritis. Many times, though, a
majority of the symptoms are improved after shorter periods.

--
David Rind

If you had any intestinal symptoms, by definition you did not have the flu,
which is characterized primarily by fever and upper respiratory symptoms.

Viperdoc wrote:
If you had any intestinal symptoms, by definition you did not have the flu,
which is characterized primarily by fever and upper respiratory symptoms.

That's just not true (the first half). Gastrointestinal symptoms are
usually not a big part of influenza, and if they occur at all usually
occur somewhat later in the course of the illness than other symptoms,
but it hardly is a part of the definition of influenza that you not
have GI symptoms. Perhaps you are thinking of someone's case
definition for reporting purposes?

--
David Rind

I in fact was not reporting some generic case definition of flu symptoms,
nor someone's personal anecdote. Most people who say they have had the flu
likely have had another viral illness, particularly when GI symptoms are
their main complaint.

Influenza has most frequently been described as an illness characterized by
the abrupt onset of systemic symptoms such as headache, feverishness,
myalgia, or malaise, accompanied by respiratory tract symptoms, particularly
cough and sore throat. GI symptoms are simply not a major hallmark of
influenza.

Since this is an aviation newsgroup and not a medical one, I was trying to
make the point that most people who complain that they had the "flu", with a
lot of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, likely did not have influenza, which
is primarily a respiratory illness.

"Viperdoc" wrote in message
...
I in fact was not reporting some generic case definition of flu symptoms,
nor someone's personal anecdote. Most people who say they have had the flu
likely have had another viral illness, particularly when GI symptoms are
their main complaint.

Influenza has most frequently been described as an illness characterized
by
the abrupt onset of systemic symptoms such as headache, feverishness,
myalgia, or malaise, accompanied by respiratory tract symptoms,
particularly
cough and sore throat. GI symptoms are simply not a major hallmark of
influenza.

Since this is an aviation newsgroup and not a medical one, I was trying to
make the point that most people who complain that they had the "flu", with
a
lot of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, likely did not have influenza,
which
is primarily a respiratory illness.



I recently did have the flue, as was confirmed by a test, which involved
sticking a swab into my sinus cavity, and running some test (a flu kit, they
called it). Also had a sinus infection.

The tami flu, (or other variations) helped speed my recovery greatly, as
compared to my wife, who gave it to me. It is expensive, but cheap when
compared to missed time at work. This current variation is a rough one, so
I advise any person getting it, see your doctor within 48 hrs of the first
symptoms, or treatment will not be an option.
--
Jim in NC

"Morgans"

The tami flu, (or other variations) helped speed my recovery greatly,

The brand I took was flumadine
--
Jim in NC