I know it has been a while.
The Kooks. Naive.
I've been really sick. Flu I think! Though I've never had the flu before. Fever and malaise and all that crap, for a week. Not like me at all. Caught it from my children, who caught it from my husband, who works at a hospital. Once the kids are sick and keep me up at night and cough in my face, I'm a sitting duck. I haven't been to the gym. I've been napping. Very strange. And so I did another abnormal move and put up a new post at Psychology Today without letting it burn out here at blogspot first.
Suicide and Vitamin D
I'm working on the book. Looking at new papers. Trying not to nap too much. Looking to go beyond Crossfit for a new exciting training program (will definitely write up that one when it happens).
Forgive me human weakness.
Had 3 weeks of flu-like (FLI) illness myself. Incredible muscle pain. Very interesting overlap with cytokines and some of your interests. Trying to figure out what cytokines are activated by what virus is also interesting given the results of viral surveillance during the flu season:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/flu/stats/flustats2.pdf
Check out the number of viruses that could give you afebrile FLI.
As an aside, I have noticed medication requirements changing in response to FLI - possible mediated through the same mechanisms that occur with interferon treatment of hep C. Cytokine signalling is fascinating.
Get well Dr. D!
I had some waxing and waning symptoms that interfered with me getting Tamiflu, so I've been just waiting for the pain to end!
DeleteI'm so sad this bug had you down last weekend when I was in town! Feel better soon- I'll make another road trip!
ReplyDeleteHope you're all better soon, Emily.
ReplyDeleteI just heard on Fox News that norovirus is the next "epidemic." Intestinal flu, that is. Probably more highly infectious than regular respiratory flu.
-Steve
Yes, the hospital has a ton of norovirus too. One of my work partners had the entire family taken out with projectile vomiting. None of that here…so far!
DeleteYou've never had the flu before? You're like the luckiest person on earth. :-)
ReplyDeleteI learned at a lecture from the chief of public health in Dallas that 10% of people never get the flu.
DeleteHi, Emily
ReplyDeleteI'm living in Madrid, Spain (and I follow your blog, of course :) My family circle and me have been struck by this lethal flu as well. It seems if flies across oceans and continents.
It makes you feel down and flabberghasted. I got crossed with myself as I was doing very well moodwise, but I am certain this 2013 interferes with mood (cytokines interactions?) as I started reviewing my life as a disaster guide protocol, but didn't buy it this time.
So sleeping abnormally long sprees day in and day out, and living it up as if time waste didn't matter. That has been me. My sick sister with sick children is not doing so well (can't quite get the rest she needs, like you) but she's beating the bugger. Good luck and get well soon!!
My mood is reasonable, but I have no stamina whatsoever still, though it has been nearly a week since my fever broke. It's remarkable. Get well soon.
DeleteBest with the recovery. I just popped by to applaud the work you are doing. I found your blog and book by follwing a link from a friend on FB. Your research methods and logical insight are something that the field needs very much!
ReplyDeletebest
John
Check out the possibility of pertussis. Mild fever, feeling weak and miserable waxes and wanes, not always a cough, some phlegm, sore throat probably only consistent syndrome. Like many infections it can take an attenuated form in the already vaccinated. Childhood vaccines didn't stop me getting it. Nor did vitamin D and other strategies that have prevented colds and flu. Pertussis is doing the rounds, epidemic at the moment, and probably being missed 95% of the time.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good calll…though my kids were not coughing, and once their fever wrapped up just had a few sniffles. I'm the only one with lingering illness. Lucky me. Almost out of it, though, I think. I've had several adult patients with pertussis this year but all of them had persistant coughs, literally for months.
DeleteI'd expect at least one long-term cougher in a family with pertussis, and sniffles are not a big part of it except at first.
DeleteWith your patients, it's likely that only people who present with classic symptoms, and who are tested in time, have a chance of being diagnosed these days. Wikipedia states that, before vaccination "more than 93% of reported cases occurred in children under 10 years of age. The actual incidence was likely much higher". And I've seen similar stats that are more recent, putting 60% at <1yo.
But it would be ridiculous to assume that adults aren't being infected in large numbers. Younger children are more likely to be hospitalized so such cases are more likely to be diagnosed and notified.
Our experience was that 5 different doctors that different family members saw discounted pertussis until we insisted on a swab. Yet the story of the outbreak had been in the news.
It made me realize that current disease notification systems are a very unreliable source of statistics.
Boy first hit is finally getting over his cough after nearly 3 months, though it was only bad for the first few weeks.
Recovery, as always, is a buzz. Enjoy!