Flu symptoms

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...

They both probably have a point—keeping up with constant hygiene will definitely help lower your chances of catching something, but if you absolutely have to be out in massive crowds during the peak of flu season, there's a good chance the virus will find you no matter what you do... though that doesn't necessarily mean you'll actually get sick 🙂

Nicholas Davis4 said: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...

Honestly, given your specific situation, I think I'd lean toward siding with your doctor rather than that other guy. 🕺

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..)

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...

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: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?

Don't go hitting the sauna when you've got the flu.

boldnomad45 said:Don't go hitting the sauna when you've got the flu.

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.

https://olympichottub.com/hot-tubs-s...your-recovery/

https://www.quora.com/How-is-a-sauna...u-have-the-flu

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.

https://olympichottub.com/hot-tubs-s...your-recovery/

https://www.quora.com/How-is-a-sauna...u-have-the-flu

I can't recall the exact source, but since I hit the saunas pretty regularly myself, I remember reading somewhere—maybe in a manual or some medical advice—that you should definitely avoid them when dealing with the flu or a virus. It's the hydration issue; you lose too much fluid, I think.

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...

Nicholas Davis4 said: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...

Hmm, interesting. I found out two months ago that I have thyroid disease. I assume that counts as an autoimmune condition too, right?

I hadn't realized that.

boldnomad45 said:I can't recall the exact source, but since I hit the saunas pretty regularly myself, I remember reading somewhere—maybe in a manual or some medical advice—that you should definitely avoid them when dealing with the flu or a virus. It's the hydration issue; you lose too much fluid, I think.

I’m there almost every week myself. Regarding hydration, I've found that drinking enough fluids helps; you just shouldn't overdo it to the point where you're constantly running to the bathroom. ☕

boldnomad45 said:I can't recall the exact source, but since I hit the saunas pretty regularly myself, I remember reading somewhere—maybe in a manual or some medical advice—that you should definitely avoid them when dealing with the flu or a virus. It's the hydration issue; you lose too much fluid, I think.

The logic holds for a stomach bug, too. I can't imagine sitting in a sauna if I were dealing with gastro issues, where breathing is hard and you're losing fluids through vomiting or diarrhea.

I’m about 80% sure I’ll head in tomorrow regardless. My nose is still a bit red and my throat feels scratchy, but compared to Saturday, I feel much stronger.

Is it actually normal for a primary care doctor to insist you show up in person just to get a sick note for the flu?

The guy was hit with a 102 fever yesterday afternoon—muscle aches, killer headache, the whole classic flu experience. We were trying everything to bring the temperature down, but by this morning, it had spiked right back up. He can barely even stand; he looks like death warmed over. He calls the doctor around 7:30 AM, and they tell him it’s probably the flu and they’ll write him a sick note, but then the nurse jumps in and says, "Nope, nothing can be done over the phone, the doctor has to see him first." So now, he had to trek out there while being incredibly contagious. We sat there waiting for maybe 45 minutes because he didn't have an appointment, and honestly, he probably infected half the waiting room, including me since I had to go with him. He was so weak, and it was just brutal watching him struggle to stay upright with a massive fever just so a doctor could spend two measly minutes signing a piece of paper.😕

I really don't get this approach. Whenever I'm sick, I always head over and wait outside the door if I'm not working, because I know the nurse is always going to say you have to come in. But this is the flu! The person is a walking contagion! It's obvious that because they have to deal with all the people who are faking it, the ones who are actually suffering end up getting punished for it.🙂

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.

https://olympichottub.com/hot-tubs-s...your-recovery/

https://www.quora.com/How-is-a-sauna...u-have-the-flu

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.

FLU CASE STUDY: 16 QUESTIONS EVERYONE IS ASKING. Yes, you can catch it even an hour after someone leaves the office - The Washington Post The Washington Post recently reported on how medical professionals are navigating the complexities of emerging health trends. It’s much like how a seasoned navigator uses updated charts to guide a ship through shifting currents—staying informed is our best tool for staying steady.

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.

https://olympichottub.com/hot-tubs-s...your-recovery/

https://www.quora.com/How-is-a-sauna...u-have-the-flu

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.

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.

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.

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