Neuropathy and the Flu (Seasonal Ailments)

When I have a new experience, I like to push it up in the "to write" articles so I can lend fresh first hand experience to the story. Unfortunately for me, this is one of those articles. For the last five days I have had the pleasure of being in bed dealing with Influenza. I will not be discussing a link between Influenza and neuropathy (well not fully see GBS below) but I will be talking about the best preventative and subsequent care for nephropathy sufferers when they are inflicted with seasonal ailments.

Vaccinations

Vaccinations have been the subject of great debate over the years and one true problem that I think is occurring is that articles such as this, make a determination one way or the other whether vaccinations are safe or not. I will not be making this determination here, but sharing some things you should think about if you have nephropathy.

The Mayo Clinic recommends everyone get a flu shot each year. They point out that chronic medical conditions (many of those had by neuropathy sufferers) can increase the risk of influenza complications. The CDC assess flue complications to include sinus and ear infections, pneumonia, inflammation of heart, brain, muscle tissue , and up to organ failure. The virus can trigger an extreme inflammatory response in the body and can lead to sepsis, the body’s life-threatening response to infection. Flu also can make chronic medical problems worse. For example, people with asthma may experience asthma attacks while they have flu, and people with chronic heart disease may experience a worsening of this condition triggered by flu. The Mayo Clinic recommends that those over 65 receive the high-dose flu shot. Reviews of past studies have found that, on average, the flu vaccine is about 50% to 60% effective for healthy adults who are between 18 and 64 years old. This makes many people say "whats the use if it is only half effective." However, as many neuropathy sufferers have connected ailments that make them high risk to have flu related complications, any statistic that reduces the chance of contracting the flu would be worth it. According to the Centers for Disease Control there is no evidence that the flu shot will make neuropathy symptoms worse unless the patient had a vaccine induced neuropathy associated with Guillian-Barre Syndrome. However, any other ailment along with neuropathy will inevitably make things worse or at minimum feel worse!

I have taken flu shots every year since my cancer was diagnosed and this was the first year in which I contracted full on influenza, so my batting average was still pretty good 👍 and I will continue to get the flu shots.

Anti-Viral Drugs

Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid, an inhaled powder, or an intravenous solution) that fight against flu viruses in your body. Antiviral drugs are not sold over-the-counter. You can only get them if you have a prescription from a health care provider. Antiviral drugs are different from antibiotics, which fight against bacterial infections. The key with antiviral drugs is to get them quickly, 24-48 hours after symptoms begin to have the greatest impact in fighting the symptoms of the virus. Also if you are at high risk for flu related complications, you may also be prescribed an antiviral if you have come into contact with someone with the flu in hopes to prevent you from contracting it.

This year there four FDA approved antiviral drugs recommended by CDC to treat flu this season.

• oseltamivir phosphate (available as a generic version or under the trade name Tamiflu®),

• zanamivir (trade name Relenza®)

• peramivir (trade name Rapivab®), and

• baloxavir marboxil (trade name Xofluza®).

This is the important part! Now that oseltamivir phosphate has a generic you no longer have to pay upwards of $100 for the medication. On most insurance plans it will be on the lowest tier and even without insurance using a GoodRx coupon, you can get it for under $40 from several national pharmacies. Also with many insurance companies now offering "virtual doctor" appoints from companies like Mdlive and Teladoc where you see a physician through an app on your smartphone, you can get this prescription called into the pharmacy of your choice without leaving the house and for much less cost than an urgent care visit!

OTC Medicines

Once you are suffering even with reduced flu symptoms or cold, the next turn is to over the counter medicine to sooth your symptoms. Remember for aches and pains (as well as reducing fever) you can still take acetaminophen (Tylenol®) and ibuprofen (Advil®) together alternating every two hours. Many people will also use a overall cold and flu medicine to cover all of the respiratory ailments associated with the flu. Just remember to read the labels closely as many of these also contain acetaminophen as well, so you will not want to take your regular acetaminophen with it. One other drug to consider is dextromethorphan (Mucinex®) which you can take this along with the other cold and flu medicines if they do not already contain it. For those of you with High Blood Pressure that have been told that you cannot take OTC decongestants and multi symptom cold remedies that contain decongestants there is still relief available! Check out Coricidin HBP products.

Imagine you normal neuropathy flare-up then add all or any of the symptoms of a cold or flu. It is not something you want to be unprepared for, so make sure your medicine cabinet is stocked!

Other Supplies

I have mentioned this Micromink Sherpa Blanket in other articles, but it has just paid for itself ten times over this week while I have been sick. I have ordered a full size and now a queen size of these blankets and they are just perfect!! They are light enough so they do not bother my feet when covered (about the only thing). The sherpa lining not only breathes well, but if you do have the cold chills and sweats from the flu, it absorbs and dries quickly. This week I have also found out how much I like the reversible mircomink material too as I had that around me while the sherpa was airing out. Be warned that if you have any pets they will DEMAND you share this blanket with them! I have had a dog underneath and cat on top of it all week with me, but as a nice bonus of this blanket, the material does not attract pet hair. This is a perfect year around blanket and my go to when my neuropathy is acting up. Do not question this, buy it and if you and your pets do not love it, come back and tell me so! We can have a panel discussion on blankets!! (this may be the drugs I am taking talking)

Also, if you are using a twenty year old stiff plastic coated heating pad which has had a place in most of our linen closets over the years, throw it away!! Join the next generation with a 12x24 soft touch heating pad that gives off great heat, has auto-shut off for safety and is flexible just like a blanket. I never thought heat could feel so good!! Whether you are wrapping this around your shoulders, back, arms or legs, and even of course on your feet, this is a must to make those aches feel even a little less achy. I am putting the sunbeam one here as it is currently the lowest price without serious electrical issues commented on...

Finally, you all may think you have a water bottle and all water bottles are interchangeable, but when you are sick in bed, you are often mistaken. This magical bottle only comes out when someone is sick in bed as the key here is the autoseal spout. What does that do you may ask? Well it seals the lid between sips so you can leave it laying be bed with you. More importantly to open the seal you push a button on the cap and what this brilliantly lets you do is drink upside down while laying in bed and not leak or spill your liquid all down your face. I know, I know, you think why can't you just roll over on your side and tip your head up, but think about those times in bed during a sickness that you finally find the perfect spot and position and then say "wow, I am thirsty but not thirsty enough to lose this position." If it is just me, perhaps I need to discuss my drinking obsessions with my therapist or stop taking this combination of meds, but I think others are out there like me so grab yourself a Contigo Autoseal! The dual-wall vacuum keeps liquids cold forever too. So keep hydrated during your next sickness!!

Okay I have reached that influenza wall where the bed, my micromink sherpa, heating pad, and contigo are calling. Have a wonderful week and for all those out there suffering:

“Pain is the feeling. Suffering is the effect the pain inflicts. If one can endure pain, one can live without suffering. If one can withstand pain, one can withstand anything. If one can learn to control pain, one can learn to control oneself. ”

― James Frey, My Friend Leonard