changing my tune
Just about everything was right in my world this morning until I received a phone call from Colin who had just seen a friend who had just lost a friend to H1N1 and has two relatives hooked up to ventilators in the ICU as we speak.
(Graph by: pianoknight via Graph Jam Builder)
Most of you know that I despise the news as well as most forms of media – especially those that induce widespread panic and fear – so I’m not going to get into the details of the death. Feel free to email me privately if you want more information. What I will say is that the victim was a perfectly healthy 26 year old with absolutely no underlying conditions and the death was nothing short of horrifying and tragic.
My original plan of action was to take a natural approach to H1N1 utilizing an anti-flu diet supplemented with vitamins, minerals, rest and moderate exercise. I was adamant that my family and I would not receive the H1N1 vaccination, stating in many places around the internet that I refuse to inject foreign substance into my body or those of my children unless it is absolutely necessary.
Because I don’t like modern medicine. I have a doctor who always offers naturopathic suggestions to health ailments before prescriptions which I tend try first … I’m hesitant to ingest Tylenol or Advil let alone cold meds or anything stronger … medication is scarce at my house, in my body and in the bodies of my family.
I refuse the flu shot every single year (except for the year my girls were born). Last year we were all extremely sick but if you remember my life one year ago, it was the perfect definition of chaos. Colin and I were separated, I was working full-time and commuting daily to and from the city on public transportation, my kids were in a daycare centre full-time, my days started at 5am and ended somewhere after midnight, I wasn’t eating or taking care of myself properly and I was so completely out of my mind that I’m surprised I didn’t end up in a mental institution.
I had a whole slew of illnesses last year including the common cold, flu, bronchitis, laryngitis and pneumonia … but I totally earned them, you know?
This year I was pretty confident – in my current body/mind health and wellbeing – that I would sail through H1N1 effortlessly with the mentality that people who take good care of themselves aren’t affected.
But then I received that phone call … I made phone calls and sent emails … I listened and talked, listened and talked … a few hours later I received a phone call from Colin’s friend who lost a friend but by then my decision was made.
So on Saturday we all get vaccinated.
And hope we don’t all turn into the screeching night zombies in I Am Legend.
Filed under: nablopomo, opinion, self | 11 Comments
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I hear you. I do get the flu shot every year, because I work in a hospital and there are a lot of bugs around here. I’ve never had an adverse reaction.
My health is better than ever now that I’m not in a terrible relationship (I’m a total believer in the mind/body connection).
BUT…it’s hearing about kids dying that has convinced me. We WILL get the H1N1 vax!
man, spoiler… I haven’t seen that movie yet! hahaha fucking media people… errr wait….
I actually had no idea this was still such a big deal
I am sorry for the loss of your friend!
We seem to have escaped this for the most part!
I was against the vaccination at first too. But after doing my research, I got both of my children vaccinated for H1N1 on Tuesday. They go back in one month for the second part. My pediatrician is very natural too. She tends to try supplements and what not first. She was adament that my boys get this shot. Her confidence certainly eased my fears. Good Luck!
First, I am sorry for the loss of your friend. Loosing friends at any age is never easy but seems especially cruel when they are so young.
The vaccine? I have gone back and forth on this one. I think the media is essentially screaming “TERROR!” about swine flu, yet I’ve heard cases like your friend. Then I remind myself the the actual flu kills more people each year than the swine flu and I don’t get vaccinated from that. It’s a tough call and like you, I try more homeopathic remedies first and take even Tylenol very seriously. I think medicine has just as much power to hurt as it does to heal.
this flu is definitely a tough one…
yes, it has less fatalities than other flu strains that we see every year… but the fact that the fatalities are young seemingly healthy people that are normally not at risk to die from it, is a strange x factor.
vaccines have done a lot of good in eradicating other illnesses, like smallpox, measles, mumps etc… so there’s definitely something to be said for vaccines as a whole and what they can accomplish for society.
generally i’ve been against flu shots. being vaccinated against last year’s flu strain for this year’s flu seemed ridiculous. there’s so many different strains, that i always figured i’d play the odds. and i’ve only had the flu once in the last 6 years.
ditto with the h1n1. there’s several different strains, but they’re only vaccinating against one.
i don’t go out much in public, and i’m not around kids often… so i think i’m at a pretty low risk to get it.
so i won’t get the shot.
I know you lean toward the naturopathic, and you probably know that I am (and my husband for that matter) quite pro-vaccine. I think you’ve made a good choice for your family. That being said, the kids and I skipped out on the flu shot the last couple of years.
But this H1N1 is completely different – it is something for which we have NO natural immunity. My girlie is the only one who qualifies for the “priority” line, but if the government could get their act together and run these clinics more efficiently (I’m not slaggin the healthcare workers, they’re only delivering a very poorly devised plan), not run into shortages etc… I would have gotten my kids vaccinated by now.
The loss of your healthy young friend is devastating – and we had a young boy in the GTA pass away very quickly too, as I’m sure you’ve heard in the media. The masses have flocked to the clinics, and so we’re waiting it out.
But I think the chances are pretty good that this virus has already landed in this household. So whether the vaccine is now a moot point is the issue.
I bet we’ll get the shot, though, to beat the second wave. Now if only they’d stop showing the size of the needle at every news cast…
I was thinking about getting vaccinated. Paul came home from work yesterday and said classes are literally bare from kids who are sick, numerous with the swine flu.
I’m still not sure. I know my body is already compromised having Emphysema. Then again I’m on enough medications, it would surprise me if anything got past it. It’s definitely a strange conundrum.
Here’s lunacy at it’s best. People are actually having Swine Flu parties. The idea is to be around someone who has it and get it that way, thus building up a natural immunity. Umm…sorry that seems like nothing more than idiocy taking a chance like that. Everyone reacts differently to it.
In any case I’m glad all my favorite people are now vaccinated.
I loved that movie. Seemed a little too close to reality in some ways. (Hugs)Indigo
I’m so with you on this on so many levels….but the fact is, I am seeing the same things – seemingly healthy people ending up on ventilators in the ICU. It’s too scary. So, I thought we couldn’t get our boy the shot because of his egg allergy. After doing some research I found out that we can, under allergist supervision and in a very controlled setting. So we’re doing it. A week ago I would have told you that there was no way I would do it, that it was all just hype. I have changed my tune as well. We are all being vaccinated. Tough decision but you have to do what’s right for your family.
i, too, have gone back and forth on this vaccine. i’m supposed to get one because i’m diabetic. where i’m at is if they ever get enough around here for me to be vaccinated, i’ll most likely go ahead and do it. until then, i’m doing my best to keep my immune system strong and washing my hands… a lot.
Laura is not quite right… we didn’t escape it here in SA, there was a child diagnosed with it when Connor had pneumonia… and I would’t wish it on my worst enemy! That poor child was in SO much pain.
A few of my colleagues also got it over winter. It’s not fun.
If we had the vaccine here, I would take it.