rpenmanparker 

I know (think I know?) that with smallpox (and polio?) vaccine(s) the low level presence of the infecting species actually stimulates the immunity. It was explained to me that is why immunity decreases for people vaccinated for those diseases once the disease is eradicated. That is what makes a hidden pocket of the disease so dangerous. People who think they are protected may not be when the disease reappears from a dark corner of the world after being absent for some time. Even not considering antigenic shift, does influenza not work that way? Within a single strain does attack by the virus not strengthen and prolong the immunity of the vaccinated subjects?

seedsbelize 

And I'm youthful at 66. What are you guys doing to get so old?

rpenmanparker 

Seems to me that as soon as you go on Medicare, the high dose version becomes standard. Since age 65 I have never had to ask for it, but when asking about it to check, have always been assured that was what I got. Of course asking in advance can't hurt.

badger1

Thanks! I will check with family doc. as to whether the stronger one is available up here -- may well be for 65+.

badger1

Prior to April I was a 'when I grow up' type. Now, I feel every one of my 67 years. I guess that's what my physiological 'reality check' has done, to me at least.

badger1

Cheers! Are you recovering well from the recent surgery?

Velo Vol 

Oy.

I've been doing weekly ones for a while. Sometimes I barely feel it if I inject after a shower into my abdomen. Sometimes I do.

Someone showed you how to do it? There's plenty of videos on YouTube.

seedsbelize 

What exactly was it? I've been meaning to ask.

MoAlpha

I'm not an immunologist either, but that's basically right and flu viruses have enough in common that infection and vaccination provide some general immunity. Polio used to give most people some mild viral symptoms and only attacked the spinal cord in a minority, so it created lots of immunity in the population relative to the amount of known disease. I believe smallpox also caused a fair amount of survivable disease, but I think you had to get sick to be protected unless you got cowpox, like Jenner's (mythical) milkmaid.

Velo Vol 

I still don't fully understand why a drug that was working for me stopped working (I started making antibodies?).

And then apparently I can't use it again, even a few years later, because of said antibodies.

badger1

I've just never really had reason to think about this before, so now I will ask my 'providers'! All bound by government rules up here (Ontario).

badger1

Trying not to bore everyone else, Black Friday (for me; Friday April 13) found large DVT (v. dangerous blood clot) in lower right leg. Three days later a large subdural hematoma discovered on brain left side: = very bad scenario for Badger. Couldn't stay on blood thinner, which had been started; hematoma got worse.

So, beginning of June had a filter installed so I could safely be off blood thinner. Beginning of July had surgery to remove clot etc. from brain. That surgery has turned out to be completely successful, so now haematologist and neurosurgeon have decided I can safely go back on low-dose blood thinner so that the filter can be "retrieved".

So now I must self-inject daily for at least three months, while the two specialists further consult and see what happens so as to arrive at a permanent solution, probably involving some kind of low-dose oral anticoagulant if I have no further problems. Haematologist has also decided to do the full range of blood/genetic testing, trying to determine if I am/will remain predisposed to 'clotting'.

Reason for the injectable stuff for now, as I understand it: its effects end as soon as one stops the daily injections, so safer for now while they make sure my head/brain remains stable.

BillyD

Oh? Tell me more.

BillyD

Hmph, well I've learned something new here today, gotta look into that. Occasionally I get these brief light-headed spells that last 5-10 seconds at most, but they usually come from out of nowhere.

Trsnrtr

Yep, I agree. That's why I'll be sure to get mine before traveling to Florida. I'll be traveling at the beginning of the mass Great North exodus and interacting with people from a lot of different regions.

MoAlpha

That...could be anything. Paging Dr. @datlas.

datlas 

We know immune response can sometimes get weaker with age, so it's been pretty much "standard of care" to give a higher dose flu shot to the 65+ crowd for the past several years. It's not bad to get the "regular" one if you are 65+ but you will have better immunity if you get the high dose.

Trsnrtr

I think just reading Addiction today has made me sick. I better check in to the 50+ forum and ask what to do about it.

datlas 

If you get them from bending over and then standing up suddenly, it's postural orthostatic hypotension. Pretty common. But there are other potential causes like too high or too low a heart rate. You may want to take it to 50+.

BillyD

Trsnrtr

I had a dilemma a few minutes ago. I carved up a cantaloupe for lunch and wanted to throw away the rind but the garbage tote is out by the curb.

Here was the dilemma: I already had socks on but my sandals were right by the door. Do I remove my socks and wear the sandals or do I keep my socks on and find other shoes or do I chance no one will see me and wear the sox/sandals combo?

I opted for the sox/sandals combo thing and looked up and down the street before making a mad dash to the garbage tote. I'm pretty sure that I made it sight unseen.

datlas 

You don't compost?? Sad!

badger1

Heh. Not advisable, especially 'Pills and Ills'.

Macster

oh noes, anything but that. I thought we were friends.

Trsnrtr

Friends don't let friends near Pills & Ills. Nope.