nimblemoose2 said:This flu has been kicking my butt for a few days now. I don't start work until Wednesday, so I’m hoping I can pull myself together by then.
I'm definitely feeling better than I did on day one, though I've been losing my lunch constantly with nothing but some lemon and orange helping.
Do you think hitting the sauna would help break this fever, or would it backfire and just drain my energy even more instead of helping?
nimblemoose2 said:Looking at these replies now, there’s nothing left to convince me regarding those links. In the end, I didn't go because I don't think I could handle sitting through four or five standard 15-minute sessions.
Yesterday, the LOM-ovka told me that based on these symptoms, it isn't even a typical virus for her, let alone the flu—just a slightly heavy cold.
As if I’d want to go back with other people, even just to get something done. I have a two-hour reservation and that's it. Besides, all sorts of people show up—unwashed, dirty, wearing slippers, with manicured nails, carrying water bottles, and no towels.
I go often, but it's more important to go when I'm not feeling well, like when my sinuses are acting up; I clear them out with a menthol combo and feel better.
I am vaccinated, so where did you even get the idea otherwise? And I certainly don't spit in the sauna like some peasant; I bring a towel to cover the area where I sit and where I put my feet, then I rinse my nose once I step into the bathroom.
I believe I’ll be feeling brand new tomorrow. I’m heading there before work since I work the third shift; I don't want to show up with a stuffed nose and act like an idiot every hour, running to the restroom like a drunk.
Grace Davis77 said:There is absolutely no way that was just a standard case of the flu; her clinical presentation was far more severe and, without a doubt, lasted much longer than typical. Regardless of which specific virus was actually at play here, we all need to be diligent about protecting ourselves and those around us. Regarding this other situation with sick leave—even my own doctor insists that patients show up in person, which usually results in waiting for hours on end. Even after being discharged from the hospital, she requires a personal follow-up within 24 hours :@ and then, more often than not, you have to go back in twice a week until the medical leave is officially closed out, no matter what the diagnosis is :-SS
boldnomad45 said:So I’m reading Professor Bradaric, and his advice is clear: don't even think about hitting the sauna while you're sick or even right after recovering from the flu. The human body is designed to self-regulate at around 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, which is enough to keep viruses in check. If a virus has already taken hold, stepping into a sauna will just make things worse by making breathing more difficult.
The medical guidelines here are also pretty blunt—using a sauna when dealing with the flu is dangerous. The constant shifting between extreme heat and cold can wreck an already compromised system. Your body will just crash.
1.) They claim it's the flu (though we usually expect someone to know the difference between the flu and a standard virus or a common cold).
2.) They aren't looking to be convinced because they've already made up their mind based on an advertisement. By the way, most of this discussion is about a cold. People talk about home saunas too, suggesting they are good for prevention.
Then it turns out they don't actually have the flu.
And apparently, it doesn't matter to them anyway...
By the way, if you're dealing with sinus issues (like I am), just buy a home inhaler. It’s a great tool and really helps.
That’s just an expression... nobody actually thinks you're spitting!
But you can see that there aren't any scientific studies supporting its use during flu season.
And you see, they assume that what they're suggesting is actually useful for preventing a cold.
Just because others are being celebrated doesn't mean I'm looking for the spotlight. Honestly, that's not really my scene.
The website belongs to a home sauna vendor... and their big recommendation is simply to buy one, install it, and start enjoying it.
You mentioned you had the flu... and when someone says they have the flu, people tend to take that literally rather than thinking it’s just a common cold. That’s exactly how I interpreted it, too.
Honestly, when I’m dealing with a cold, I’d much rather just stay home and use a personal inhaler than head out to a sauna. When you aren't feeling your best, sometimes the best medicine is just resting and sticking to a home routine. I have a small inhaler at home, and frankly, I don't feel comfortable being out in public surrounded by a whole mess of cough syrup, saline sprays, and tissues. I'd much rather just curl up with some tea and Vicks in the comfort of my own living room.
Well, alright then, who's going to disagree with that? Everyone has their own way of looking at things.
nimblemoose2 said:Is that a certainty? Could you provide a few arguments so I know why I should stay away?
I've been doing some digging and found advice suggesting it's actually a good idea.
The first two days really knocked me sideways, but today I feel about 80% back to myself. My throat is still a bit raspy and my head stabs for a second whenever I sneeze. I want to speed this up so I'm back to 100% by Wednesday.
Here is another perspective for you... The problem is you're pulling data from a website owned by a company that sells home saunas... And on that same site, they even mention things like this:
" While getting a flu vaccine, making sure you’re getting a good daily dose of vitamin C, and plenty of rest will help your immune system ward off colds and flu, a sauna can also be your friend "
" Install a sauna now and be prepared for better health this winter. ...Some reputed benefits have not been studied scientifically, but there is evidence that saunas may speed recovery from colds and reduce their occurrence according to the Times report. "
Maybe wait until next year to get vaccinated. Just buy a sauna for your house and use it both for prevention and relief. Exactly like they claim on "your" website.
Just don't go coughing and sneezing in a public sauna where everyone else is trying to relax.
Here are some more answers regarding saunas and the flu... When I search "sauna and flu" on PubMed, this comes up... There are probably other results out there if you use different combinations of those two terms, but this is what shows up for such a minimalist search. P.S. If you just type those two words—sauna flu—you get the exact same thing. And I didn't even apply any filters, so this is basically everything available on PubMed, which isn't actually that much. Sure, you could try searching through the Library of Congress scientific bibliography or various US academic journal portals... go ahead, let me know what you find.
nimblemoose2 said:Is that a certainty? Could you provide a few arguments so I know why I should stay away?
I've been doing some digging and found advice suggesting it's actually a good idea.
The first two days really knocked me sideways, but today I feel about 80% back to myself. My throat is still a bit raspy and my head stabs for a second whenever I sneeze. I want to speed this up so I'm back to 100% by Wednesday.
Here’s my take on heading to a sauna when there are other people around... I don't want to run into you in the sauna—around her or anywhere else—while you're out there coughing and sneezing. Honestly, those who truly care about you should probably just stay home and enjoy the sauna with you instead. By the way, if you have a sauna at home, feel free to use it whenever you like—day or night. It’s like having a little personal retreat right in your own living room.
[Flu vaccine ingredients] The latest update from the health authorities suggests we should stay vigilant about seasonal illnesses. It’s much like preparing for a long road trip—having the right supplies and staying informed makes the journey much smoother. Keeping an eye on local health advisories is always a smart move for everyone's peace of mind.
I was wondering how long we actually stay contagious after catching the flu. Does the infectious period end once the fever breaks, or are we still spreading it until that cough finally clears up? The core thing about the flu is just how incredibly contagious it is. Theoretically, you stop being a risk once the coughing and sneezing die down, but for little kids or anyone with a weaker immune system, they can actually keep spreading the virus for over a month.
Flu vaccine ingredients The latest update from the health institute suggests that we should stay vigilant regarding seasonal illnesses. It’s much like keeping an eye on the weather before a long road trip—a little preparation goes a long way in ensuring everything runs smoothly.
This is a bit off-topic, but I feel it’s relevant. My best friend passed away in a car accident back in '95; she was on life support for two weeks before they finally turned everything off due to brain death. From what I recall, even then, the doctors asked her parents for permission before making that call. Back in the day, if you wanted to be a donor, you had to proactively sign a form and carry a donor card. It makes sense to let people make their own choices about their bodies... However, I’ve heard that over the years, things have quietly shifted behind the scenes. Now, it seems everyone is automatically enrolled as a donor unless they specifically opt out by signing a refusal. Perhaps it sounds selfish, but living with systemic lupus and antiphospholipid syndrome—which brings everything from cardiac issues to neurological complications—has put me through enough therapies. Until science truly nails down the exact mechanism of how lupus develops, I don't think it's a great idea to be a donor, so I wouldn't choose to be one. The way our laws are structured now, everyone is essentially included... though honestly, how many people are actually aware of that? Since it remains such an awkward, taboo subject, the current regulations governing this are often glossed over in conversation. It’s understandable if someone has family who might push back or protest the decision. But we were all heavily encouraged by the media to sign up for those donor cards, yet there was never any big announcement when the system pulled a complete 180. What happens to the people who don't want to be donors for various reasons, but simply don't realize they've already been signed up?
None of the people I know—including some who actually work in healthcare—have any clue that individual consent isn't required anymore. It’s like seeing an old relic in a museum; at my rheumatologist's office, there's still a display for donor cards from the old days, as if nothing has changed.
lonebadger6 said:Well, the expert is an authority here, so you’re looking at a 2:1 split in opinion now 🙂
Though I have to admit, I’ve heard a few doctors suggest it doesn't actually make much of a difference either... I mean, hygiene matters for a hundred other reasons... it helps boost your immunity consistently... if you fall into any high-risk category, you should definitely get vaccinated... but I keep running into this line of thinking where people say, "if you're out and about during flu season, hand washing isn't going to stop you from bumping into the virus—so just strengthen your system and get the shot if you need to, because soap alone won't save you from the flu."
It’s just everywhere when the season peaks, you can't dodge it, especially since people are contagious even a day before they feel sick themselves... and if I'm reading this right, it's also questionable whether those who don't get sick during a certain window are still spreading the virus, since most people end up coming into contact with it anyway...
Last year, there were officially about 65,000 cases. That number is undoubtedly many times higher because so many people skip the doctor—but even if we assume it's ten times larger, that would be 650,000 cases, leaving roughly 3.5 million people untouched by the flu. And I doubt everyone was avoiding crowds during peak season... 🙂
But with these kinds of divided opinions, you can always look at it this way: the only thing that is absolutely certain is that extra hygiene (like sanitizing your hands right after hitting the grocery store or wiping down your desk at work) isn't going to hurt you. That part is 100% certain. So maybe it's secondary whether it truly provides a massive benefit—if you're in a high-risk group, it certainly doesn't hurt to do everything possible, even if it only minimally reduces the odds...
True, for most people. For those of us dealing with autoimmune diseases, it's a whole different ballgame because we can't just take anything to "boost" our immunity. Our immune systems are already working overtime, though unfortunately, they're misfiring by attacking our own bodies. Taking something meant to ramp up the immune response could actually trigger a flare-up of the primary condition. That's usually where the real trouble starts. This is why people living with conditions like systemic lupus or Sjögren's often rely on immunosuppressants and steroids—to keep that overactive immune system under control.
That’s really where all the complexity lies for us...
I have to agree with Brandon Newman95; what they're saying is spot on. Everything is anonymous... they won't ever know it was you. Exactly! Here is what happened: there was this one piece of equipment at the hospital—the only one of its kind in the entire US—that is absolutely critical for diagnosing conditions where patients can slip away very quickly. It sat broken for eight months. The staff actually vented to me about it... basically, the board of directors or whoever pulls the strings above the department heads... I can't recall the exact hierarchy... but that top-level administration responsible for approving repairs just kept saying no. So, I decided to take action and sent a very polite letter to the Department of Health and Human Services. I didn't go in attacking the hospital; instead, I focused on how shameful it was that such vital equipment wasn't being fixed. I kept it diplomatic... I even made sure to praise the specific staff members who operate the machine.
Fast forward a couple of months, I head back there for a follow-up, and suddenly their supervisor snaps at me! She acts like I personally betrayed them, claiming they were always so kind to me... meanwhile, I'm standing there feeling completely lost. What on earth? It turns out... since I had sent that email to the Department, they had sent an inspector down. The inspectors went hard on them, and somehow, they knew exactly what I wrote. Who told them it was me? And who lied about the contents of my message?
Luckily, I had a great relationship with the frontline staff, so I was able to show them my actual email to prove I hadn't said anything bad about them. But clearly, someone higher up—presumably within the Department—leaked my confidential information. Can you imagine if I had actually filed a formal complaint against them?! Would I have to look for political asylum just to stay safe?!
Then someone says, "Oh, feel free to complain." Right. As if. There's just not enough support. Privacy regulations are ignored, and people in power protect each other more than two thieves guarding a shared stash of gold.
Brandon Newman95 is right.
And yes, I still have those medical records. I am willing to post them. But then again... where would I even go to find asylum?
I was just thinking about it... my rheumatologist told me that when you're in crowded indoor spaces during cold and flu season, you should definitely wear a mask. And honestly, LOM just died laughing at that. I wore one back when I was on Imuran (of course, better safe than sorry), and while I was on Medrol, too, but now I’m really not sure... every doctor seems to have their own opinion.
Obviously, nothing offers total protection; you're just trying to lower the odds.
Regarding that bout of flu and pneumonia, I wasn't even on any therapy then... they had tapered me off everything months prior, so I was just taking Aspirin for APL.
So, for me... well, just like in anything else... caution is the mother of wisdom. You stay careful, take whatever steps you can to protect yourself and minimize risk, and leave it at that. Essentially, I'm not doing anything extraordinary, just like anyone else. But maybe I'm just a bit more cautious. In general. (It's like when people claim those so-called childhood diseases aren't dangerous, leading parents of kids with no contraindications to refuse vaccinations... first off, those kids grow up, and that's when complications become more frequent. And I guess their brains just freeze up during puberty... I didn't get vaccinated against rubella because I had the flu at the time... they told me they'd call me for the next round... well, while I was waiting, I caught rubella at age 20. After that, I developed post-infectious encephalomyelitis and nearly died from it. I've been left with lingering issues like mild hemiparesis, migraines, dizziness, and optic nerve damage... you wouldn't see it on the outside, but it really takes a toll on me... so when I hear people saying they won't vaccinate kids, or that "not all kids are high risk," it hits a nerve. It's like, okay, adults can suffer the consequences too... anyway, sorry, getting way off topic..)
Since I’m occasionally on immunosuppressants due to lupus, plus I’m constantly taking Plaquenil—and let's face it, dealing with both lupus and APL isn't exactly a walk in the park—my rheumatologist gave me some advice. She suggested that during flu season, whenever I’m out in public (like running errands or heading to work, though I try to keep those trips to about four hours instead of eight), I should carry hand sanitizer—basically an ethanol and glycerin solution—along with some wipes to clean off tables and keyboards. In short, I'm just being extra cautious. LOM thinks that advice is totally foolish. Two completely opposing perspectives...
Flu season. From the website flu.hr plus Plus, a little bit of history... [Influenza A virus subtype H3N2 - Wikipedia] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infl...s_subtype_H3N2 (I’m actually wondering... even though it keeps mutating so much... I had some really nasty bouts of the flu with pneumonia around New Year's back in 2007/2008? Or maybe 2008/2009? And definitely that one with pneumonia in February 2012. I'm curious which strains those were. Just a geek at heart...)
I couldn't agree more... people without any underlying issues should just power through their symptoms at home instead of heading into the office to spread their flu around to the rest of humanity...
And honestly... I don't recall ever being sent by a doctor to get bloodwork done at an infectious disease center or anywhere beyond a local clinic... based on those standards, none of the people I know have ever actually had the flu... there’s just no proof.
No, you just draw conclusions based on the symptoms and how they hit you: basically, I feel fine in the morning, maybe a little off, and then suddenly by the evening or night, it hits like an F1 race car... joint and muscle aches, chills, high fever, and then maybe some congestion and a cough the next day... the first three or four days are definitely the worst, and then you slowly start feeling better.
Seriously, I don't know anyone who has undergone testing... did they actually prove the flu virus was in their blood (is it a specific viral test, or something like antibody serology for EBV or Rubella)? Or do our doctors just split the workload while others handle the testing?
velvetmoose9 said:I totally get why this is stressing you out.
Doctors are pretty much boxed in by Medicare guidelines, since they’re essentially the sole payer in that "non-profit" healthcare sector. That includes preventative stuff like vaccinations for infectious diseases, so you can't really blame anyone for being stingy or playing it safe (we've seen how our own medical boards can be—like when they went looking for loopholes to penalize that one colleague who was actually the first person to catch little Gabriel's condition in Metković, though sadly, it was too late).
Given your current meds and underlying health issues, it might be worth chatting with a clinical immunologist about whether taking a corticosteroid for a couple of days before getting a vaccine containing egg proteins would be an option (assuming steroids aren't contraindicated for you specifically).
But honestly, the main question everyone involved in your vaccination decision probably asked was: "How exactly does an egg allergy manifest for you?"
Based on what you've shared, I'm guessing your answer was something like, "An anaphylactic reaction involving trouble breathing, a drop in blood pressure, a plummeting pulse, and passing out..."
Or was it something else? 🤔
Fortunately, it wasn't anaphylaxis, but I turned bright red, broke out in bumps and hives all over my skin—mostly on my face, neck, and chest—which were stinging and itching, and I ended up doubled over in the restroom... Then again, I’m allergic to certain medications too... penicillin and its derivatives... and I developed steroid myopathy from taking Medrol, even at a tiny dose of just 4mg. Once they bumped the dosage up to 8mg and then 12mg due to neuropathy, the myopathy progressed so rapidly that for the first two weeks, I couldn't even unlock my door or cut through tough food. It took me three months just to open the door to my Ford Trike by myself, and five months before I could manage the door to my local corner store. I spent five months using a walker, and it wasn't until six months later that I could carry a quart of milk from the shop in my backpack without needing to sit down every twenty yards. If my doctor approved it, I think I could handle that level of muscle weakness with a 4mg or maybe an 8mg dose.
With the last bout of the flu back in 2012, I also had pneumonia. And with the one before that (I can't recall if it was 2007 or 2008, but I coughed so hard and for so long even after my fever broke and other symptoms passed that I developed intercostal neuralgia... I was coughing like crazy for a whole month)...
So, I'm sensitive to the cold, too...
I experience Laryngitis when I wear a mask in a crowd, though my rheumatologist insists I keep wearing one... Otherwise, I'm careful—I wash my hands, I don't touch my nose or mouth, and I avoid crowds unless absolutely necessary.
I have some acquaintances living abroad in various countries who get sick leave during their peak flu season. Most of them still get vaccinated. However, most of them are on corticosteroids and/or Imuran, or occasionally chemotherapy or Benlysta, so their situation is quite different from mine.
Plus, any article covering a specific topic—even an expert one—is certainly interesting and useful, but until it’s backed by a peer-reviewed scientific study and the medication is fully approved everywhere...
True, but I’m still curious about one thing—why isn't this available to citizens in Europe?
Even so, when you go to PubMed to look for studies, you get 19 results... and that site is pretty much the gold standard for finding scientific research.
I recall reading that it was included in a protocol... I can't quite remember the exact name right now, so please excuse my improvisation... an American association of surgeons (something related to osteoarthritis... maybe orthopedic surgeons?) incorporated it into their therapy.
So, my takeaway is that it's essentially, and obviously, useful for degenerative joint issues like cartilage damage and such.
Now, why wouldn't they put a therapy on the official drug lists if it's simpler, and likely cheaper, than all the other treatments for RA? It's incredibly expensive... though if it does have anti-inflammatory effects... I think I stumbled upon that info somewhere, just not in a formal study. It would probably be more cost-effective than combining all those other medications and therapies.
However, I see there are studies involving its use for facial bone trauma and even bladder issues... it covers a wide range of things. (P.S. I do know the difference between a brand name, a generic name, and the active ingredient!)
I tend to be a skeptic, and while I believe there are benefits, I'm always quite cautious about "miracle cure" claims... I prefer to look for more evidence.
So, while it clearly helps with certain degenerative changes in the joints, there still aren't studies confirming its effectiveness for other inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Plus, it's extremely pricey, and we don't know how long the effects last... some suggest a maximum of two years.
mellowharbor15 said:At the Health Institute, they actually asked me if I had any egg allergies or other issues before the shot.
If I were you, I’d call the Health Institute or just show up with your test results to hash this out in person.
It's not crowded, and they're open until 3:30 PM.
Yeah, they ask about allergies because being allergic to any ingredient in a vaccine—just like with any other medication—is a contraindication.
Talking to them is one thing, but getting an official answer is another. They start off being very understanding, but then it becomes polite yet totally useless. You end up in this loop where they say, "Give us a call back," but you already did, or "Talk to your doctor," and you already have... it's a closed circle.
That's why I'm wondering: has anyone in America who is allergic to eggs successfully taken a vaccine that doesn't contain egg ingredients? How did they manage to navigate that process?
Oh, one more thing. When you Google search Lipogems, you see several pages with a ".eu" extension—basically lipogems.eu... but whenever you click on them, you just get a "page not found" error. It really makes me wonder why that is...
When I type "Lipogems" into the PubMed search bar, I get 19 results. However, if I search for "Lipogems rheumatoid arthritis," nothing comes up at all. ( " We're sorry, but there were no items found for your search. We couldn't find any items matching the search: "lipogems and rheumatoid arthritis". Please try another search. " ) It’s a pretty interesting discrepancy to me...
I don't necessarily view the FDA as an absolute or infallible authority in every single instance...
Could I get some expert advice here? (If anyone is available...) I’ve been talking to doctors about this... and they aren't seeing any benefit in worrying. They basically just brushed me off, saying that since I have an egg allergy, it doesn't matter because the vaccines only contain such tiny amounts that it isn't a concern... But, if you look at the instructions, it clearly states that an egg allergy is a contraindication... and personally, I’d rather trust the manufacturer on that one.
So, here is the situation: I have systemic lupus and antiphospholipid syndrome. For treatment, I take either hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, Aspirin, and Lamictal (I went through encephalomyelitis, which was a total nightmare to diagnose... it ended with painful neuralgia, and without Lamictal, I simply can't function. I'm allergic to other medications for it, or they don't work, and besides, doctors actually lost consciousness when they saw my EEG results). I also take Propranolol for tachycardia, and I have mild PMV. (...I'm Jeremiah... dammit...) Basically, it seems wise for me to get a flu shot... but the egg allergy is the sticking point.
I managed to find out that there is a vaccine that contains absolutely no egg ingredients—Flublok—but I haven't been able to figure out how I would actually go about getting it... (The answer is always the same: "It doesn't matter that you're allergic, because there's just a tiny amount of blah blah blah in the vaccine...") If other high-risk groups can get vaccinated for free, is there even an option like that for those of us with egg allergies here in the States?!
From what I can see, Flublok hasn't been approved in the EU yet, and I haven't found any info on whether there is any other approved egg-free flu vaccine available in the EU.
And given how people here make such a fuss over things that aren't even registered yet—often still in clinical trials—claiming that Medicare won't approve them, I wonder what the deal is with this one?
Honestly, I also wonder if it isn't a disgrace that people with systemic lupus have to pay for their own medication. Most of us take this specific drug; it's the primary one prescribed, and most of us take it permanently... for years... for life... because it isn't even on the coverage list!!! (The response from Medicare is that there is another antimalarial on the list... but that one causes much more vision damage, so many of us can't take it. We have no choice but to buy Quensyl/Plaquenil ourselves...). Isn't that shameful?!