My 4 year young came from school with a cough 4 weeks ago, wife gave lots of Sara for kids and cough almost gone now.

But, seems I got a flue from her one week ago, started coughing also, running nose, feeling week started Monday, and Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (yesterday) walk like a zombie and spend most time in bed. Got charged 3x/day with tylenol and some horribly tasting tea made by the wife. Spent Tuesdays in a sofa on my terrace under a blanket (24C to 28C) and got scolded by my wife for being foolish....Sweat a lot.

Today day 4 and seems it is not over yet.

I got an influenza shot late September in Europe, guess no protection for Thai flue.

Am I alone to be hit by this???

have someone to send you a bag of lemsip.

replace the tea with beer or wine (no not get drunk, just a little bit)......it doesn't help, but the tea doesn't help as well.....

Actually the flu shot here would be the same this time of the year - but they are not 100% even if same type flu they are designed to protect against. But if it is flu it is probably less severe than if you did not have the shot. But suspect your avatar was not a good choice.

What exactly did your wife say you had been foolish about?

Took me near 3 weeks to shift the bug(ger)........

Have not had a flue in years.

I do get colds from my friends but while theirs lasts a week, mine is over in 3 days.

You drink a green smoothie your cough disappears in minutes.

You only eat fresh fruits and raw vegs for a few days and your flue is over.

What exactly did your wife say you had been foolish about?

Sitting outside on my terrace under a blanket, weather was nice, wifie told me flu got worse because of that, a Thai wife is always more right than you...I enjoyed sitting outside very much.

Day 4 was better, but still lots of coughing this night making sleep impossible.

Made myself some tomato soup, ate fruits and hot lime drink with real maple syrup (imported from Montreal, limes from our garden)

Have not had a flue in years.

I do get colds from my friends but while theirs lasts a week, mine is over in 3 days.

You drink a green smoothie your cough disappears in minutes.

You only eat fresh fruits and raw vegs for a few days and your flue is over.

I had no flue in years (actually I can't recall the last one) and eat almost no vegs or fruits. (But daily 1000mg Vitamin C).

Vitamin C seems to work well, as well as 10 glasses of water at night. They say your body can fight better when asleep, and well hydrated certainly helps. getting up to go to the bathroom 3 times or more is the least of your concerns.

http://grammarist.com/spelling/flu-flue/

i am joking, i don't care if flue, flu, flew, whatever...

Have not had a flue in years.

I do get colds from my friends but while theirs lasts a week, mine is over in 3 days.

You drink a green smoothie your cough disappears in minutes.

You only eat fresh fruits and raw vegs for a few days and your flue is over.

I had no flue in years (actually I can't recall the last one) and eat almost no vegs or fruits. (But daily 1000mg Vitamin C).

Supplements Are Not Food

Vitamins are organic compounds that cannot be synthesized by the human body and therefore must not be eaten in order for us to remain healthy and prevent serious illnesses. Plants synthesize 11 of the 13 known vitamins. Vitamin D is actually not a vitamin, but a hormone manufactured by the body with the action of sunlight on the skin, and bacteria make the only non-plant-derived vitamin, which is B12. Plants are also the source for minerals, all of which originate in the ground and enter into living systems through the roots of plants. Plant parts (starches, vegetables, and fruits) are the proper packages for delivering these, and many more, essential nutrients to the body. A harmonious relationship between people and plants translates into good health.

https://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2010nl/may/vitamins.htm

Have not had a flue in years.

I do get colds from my friends but while theirs lasts a week, mine is over in 3 days.

You drink a green smoothie your cough disappears in minutes.

You only eat fresh fruits and raw vegs for a few days and your flue is over.

I had no flue in years (actually I can't recall the last one) and eat almost no vegs or fruits. (But daily 1000mg Vitamin C).

Supplements Are Not Food

Vitamins are organic compounds that cannot be synthesized by the human body and therefore must not be eaten in order for us to remain healthy and prevent serious illnesses. Plants synthesize 11 of the 13 known vitamins. Vitamin D is actually not a vitamin, but a hormone manufactured by the body with the action of sunlight on the skin, and bacteria make the only non-plant-derived vitamin, which is B12. Plants are also the source for minerals, all of which originate in the ground and enter into living systems through the roots of plants. Plant parts (starches, vegetables, and fruits) are the proper packages for delivering these, and many more, essential nutrients to the body. A harmonious relationship between people and plants translates into good health.

https://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2010nl/may/vitamins.htm

I don't understand what you want to tell. Vitamin C is Vitamin C no matter if it is from the plant or made in factory out of petroleum.

Have not had a flue in years.

I do get colds from my friends but while theirs lasts a week, mine is over in 3 days.

You drink a green smoothie your cough disappears in minutes.

You only eat fresh fruits and raw vegs for a few days and your flue is over.

I had no flue in years (actually I can't recall the last one) and eat almost no vegs or fruits. (But daily 1000mg Vitamin C).

Supplements Are Not Food

Vitamins are organic compounds that cannot be synthesized by the human body and therefore must not be eaten in order for us to remain healthy and prevent serious illnesses. Plants synthesize 11 of the 13 known vitamins. Vitamin D is actually not a vitamin, but a hormone manufactured by the body with the action of sunlight on the skin, and bacteria make the only non-plant-derived vitamin, which is B12. Plants are also the source for minerals, all of which originate in the ground and enter into living systems through the roots of plants. Plant parts (starches, vegetables, and fruits) are the proper packages for delivering these, and many more, essential nutrients to the body. A harmonious relationship between people and plants translates into good health.

https://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2010nl/may/vitamins.htm

I don't understand what you want to tell. Vitamin C is Vitamin C no matter if it is from the plant or made in factory out of petroleum.

Your statement is technically correct. But no Dr. would claim that vitamin pills are as good as natural sources. Vitamins are a bit of a racket anyway. If you eat a healthy diet, there is no need to take supplements.

Same thing here tartemp. Probably one third of the people I know here in Jomtien had or has had it. It does make a person tired. I just started my third week of a mild cough and no energy.

It's quite strange. Having a flue seems to be closely correlated to whether or not your house has a fireplace. My house in Washington had a fireplace and of course it seems like I constantly had a flue. No matter how much healthy food I ate and how much rest I got, I could just never get rid of that damn flue. But since I moved to Thailand where I now live in a house with no fireplace, I've never had a flue even though my diet is crap here.

Edited November 22, 201411 yr by attrayant

I think the plague here in Jomtien is a common cold virus. Not the Flu.

you need to be tested to be sure it's flu - symptoms alone are not sufficient.

Flu can be a killer - it has in there past wiped out millions - flu vaccines - usually aimed at particular strains - are not 100% cures, they usually reduce severity and length of illness, which of course can save lives.

Edited November 22, 201411 yr by wilcopops

Vitamin C doesn't protect against flu....or colds.

For most people, vitamin supplements are a complete waste of time....in fact some are even dangerous.

Edited November 22, 201411 yr by wilcopops

Vitamin C doesn't protect against flu....or colds.

For most people, vitamin supplements are a complete waste of time....in fact some are even dangerous.

It helps a bit, not really a protection and it can't harm (unless you use complete crazy amounts).

It definitely helps a lot if you don't get enough with your normal diet. But in many countries it is added to sausage as antioxidants so there is a good chance that even meat eater get enough.

Vitamin C doesn't protect against flu....or colds.

For most people, vitamin supplements are a complete waste of time....in fact some are even dangerous.

It helps a bit, not really a protection and it can't harm (unless you use complete crazy amounts).

It definitely helps a lot if you don't get enough with your normal diet. But in many countries it is added to sausage as antioxidants so there is a good chance that even meat eater get enough.

You seem a little confused as to what a vitamin is and an antioxidant.

There is no evidence to support the commonly held myth that Vit C is good for colds....let alone flu. Deficiency in vit C results is scurvy.... Not flu.

Vitamin C doesn't protect against flu....or colds.

For most people, vitamin supplements are a complete waste of time....in fact some are even dangerous.

It helps a bit, not really a protection and it can't harm (unless you use complete crazy amounts).

It definitely helps a lot if you don't get enough with your normal diet. But in many countries it is added to sausage as antioxidants so there is a good chance that even meat eater get enough.

You seem a little confused as to what a vitamin is and an antioxidant.

There is no evidence to support the commonly held myth that Vit C is good for colds....let alone flu. Deficiency in vit C results is scurvy.... Not flu.

Vitamin C is an Antioxidants one of the stronger one (that why it is used in sausage as E300-E304). There is evidence that Vitamin C is good for many problems. Google Linus Pauling (double Nobel price). But it is not accepted by everyone. There is an epic discussion about it...

If you don't eat any Vitamin C you get scurvy, yes that is right. But if you just eat a bit too less for a longer period the immune system is weakened. Long before you get scurvy. That makes you getting the flu easier and fight it off slower. That isn't disputed at all. The only question if larger amounts bring any benefit in compare to just enough. (What is enough depends on the ethnic and genetic). Sure thing is that eating a lot more than recommended does not cause any problems, unless you eat complete crazy amounts (I think Pauling took close to 20 Gram every day).

Vitamin C doesn't protect against flu....or colds.

For most people, vitamin supplements are a complete waste of time....in fact some are even dangerous.

It helps a bit, not really a protection and it can't harm (unless you use complete crazy amounts).

It definitely helps a lot if you don't get enough with your normal diet. But in many countries it is added to sausage as antioxidants so there is a good chance that even meat eater get enough.

You seem a little confused as to what a vitamin is and an antioxidant.

There is no evidence to support the commonly held myth that Vit C is good for colds....let alone flu. Deficiency in vit C results is scurvy.... Not flu.

Vitamin C is an Antioxidants one of the stronger one (that why it is used in sausage as E300-E304). There is evidence that Vitamin C is good for many problems. Google Linus Pauling (double Nobel price). But it is not accepted by everyone. There is an epic discussion about it...

If you don't eat any Vitamin C you get scurvy, yes that is right. But if you just eat a bit too less for a longer period the immune system is weakened. Long before you get scurvy. That makes you getting the flu easier and fight it off slower. That isn't disputed at all. The only question if larger amounts bring any benefit in compare to just enough. (What is enough depends on the ethnic and genetic). Sure thing is that eating a lot more than recommended does not cause any problems, unless you eat complete crazy amounts (I think Pauling took close to 20 Gram every day).

It's not a discussion - Linus Pauling is accepted by no-one except the mentally challenged and the gullible.

his ideas on vitamins have been categorically discrete throughout the world.

there is of course a large number of people with a partial knowledge of this sort of stuff who erroneously believe that more is better - of course when it comes to your body this is stuff and nonsense. - especially with regards to antioxidants. - Vit C or otherwise.

Edited November 23, 201411 yr by wilcopops

It helps a bit, not really a protection and it can't harm (unless you use complete crazy amounts).

It definitely helps a lot if you don't get enough with your normal diet. But in many countries it is added to sausage as antioxidants so there is a good chance that even meat eater get enough.

You seem a little confused as to what a vitamin is and an antioxidant.

There is no evidence to support the commonly held myth that Vit C is good for colds....let alone flu. Deficiency in vit C results is scurvy.... Not flu.

Vitamin C is an Antioxidants one of the stronger one (that why it is used in sausage as E300-E304). There is evidence that Vitamin C is good for many problems. Google Linus Pauling (double Nobel price). But it is not accepted by everyone. There is an epic discussion about it...

If you don't eat any Vitamin C you get scurvy, yes that is right. But if you just eat a bit too less for a longer period the immune system is weakened. Long before you get scurvy. That makes you getting the flu easier and fight it off slower. That isn't disputed at all. The only question if larger amounts bring any benefit in compare to just enough. (What is enough depends on the ethnic and genetic). Sure thing is that eating a lot more than recommended does not cause any problems, unless you eat complete crazy amounts (I think Pauling took close to 20 Gram every day).

It's not a discussion - Linus Pauling is accepted by no-one except the mentally challenged and the gullible.

his ideas on vitamins have been categorically discrete throughout the world.

there is of course a large number of people with a partial knowledge of this sort of stuff who erroneously believe that more is better - of course when it comes to your body this is stuff and nonsense. - especially with regards to antioxidants. - Vit C or otherwise.

So surely Wikipedia is also wrong:

"In humans, vitamin C is essential to a healthy diet as well as being a highly effective antioxidant, acting to lessen oxidative stress; a substrate for ascorbate peroxidase in plants (APX is plant specific enzyme);[5] and an enzyme cofactor for the biosynthesis of many important biochemicals. Vitamin C acts as an electron donor for important enzymes:[65]"

"Acute care

Studies with much higher doses of vitamin C, usually between 200 and 6000 mg/day, for the treatment of infections and wounds have shown inconsistent results.[61]

Treatment of the common cold

Further information: Vitamin C and the common cold

Vitamin C's effect on the common cold has been extensively researched. It has not been shown effective in prevention or treatment of the common cold, except in limited circumstances (specifically, individuals exercising vigorously in cold environments).[62][63] Routine vitamin C supplementation does not reduce the incidence or severity of the common cold in the general population, though it may reduce the duration of illness.[62][64]"

"A meta-analysis of 44 clinical trials has shown a significant positive effect of vitamin C on endothelial function when taken at doses greater than 500 mg per day. The researchers noted that the effect of vitamin C supplementation appeared to be dependent on health status, with stronger effects in those at higher cardiovascular disease risk.[55]"

At my University Linus Pauling was heavily discussed and most of the scientists took 500-1000 mg Vitamin C per day. His ideas have been discredited by everyone sponsored by the pharma companies.

But maybe they are all mentally challenged including the Nobel price committees who gave him 2 Nobel prices.

But the most important thing is, there is no negative effect from adding 500 mg Vitamin C per day and Vitamin C costs virtually nothing. It is added in large quantities to wheat powder, fruit juice from concentrate, sausage sometimes wine, sometimes beer, etc etc)

You seem a little confused as to what a vitamin is and an antioxidant.

There is no evidence to support the commonly held myth that Vit C is good for colds....let alone flu. Deficiency in vit C results is scurvy.... Not flu.

Vitamin C is an Antioxidants one of the stronger one (that why it is used in sausage as E300-E304). There is evidence that Vitamin C is good for many problems. Google Linus Pauling (double Nobel price). But it is not accepted by everyone. There is an epic discussion about it...

If you don't eat any Vitamin C you get scurvy, yes that is right. But if you just eat a bit too less for a longer period the immune system is weakened. Long before you get scurvy. That makes you getting the flu easier and fight it off slower. That isn't disputed at all. The only question if larger amounts bring any benefit in compare to just enough. (What is enough depends on the ethnic and genetic). Sure thing is that eating a lot more than recommended does not cause any problems, unless you eat complete crazy amounts (I think Pauling took close to 20 Gram every day).

It's not a discussion - Linus Pauling is accepted by no-one except the mentally challenged and the gullible.

his ideas on vitamins have been categorically discrete throughout the world.

there is of course a large number of people with a partial knowledge of this sort of stuff who erroneously believe that more is better - of course when it comes to your body this is stuff and nonsense. - especially with regards to antioxidants. - Vit C or otherwise.

So surely Wikipedia is also wrong:

"In humans, vitamin C is essential to a healthy diet as well as being a highly effective antioxidant, acting to lessen oxidative stress; a substrate for ascorbate peroxidase in plants (APX is plant specific enzyme);[5] and an enzyme cofactor for the biosynthesis of many important biochemicals. Vitamin C acts as an electron donor for important enzymes:[65]"

"Acute care

Studies with much higher doses of vitamin C, usually between 200 and 6000 mg/day, for the treatment of infections and wounds have shown inconsistent results.[61]

Treatment of the common cold

Further information: Vitamin C and the common cold

Vitamin C's effect on the common cold has been extensively researched. It has not been shown effective in prevention or treatment of the common cold, except in limited circumstances (specifically, individuals exercising vigorously in cold environments).[62][63] Routine vitamin C supplementation does not reduce the incidence or severity of the common cold in the general population, though it may reduce the duration of illness.[62][64]"

"A meta-analysis of 44 clinical trials has shown a significant positive effect of vitamin C on endothelial function when taken at doses greater than 500 mg per day. The researchers noted that the effect of vitamin C supplementation appeared to be dependent on health status, with stronger effects in those at higher cardiovascular disease risk.[55]"

At my University Linus Pauling was heavily discussed and most of the scientists took 500-1000 mg Vitamin C per day. His ideas have been discredited by everyone sponsored by the pharma companies.

But maybe they are all mentally challenged including the Nobel price committees who gave him 2 Nobel prices.

But the most important thing is, there is no negative effect from adding 500 mg Vitamin C per day and Vitamin C costs virtually nothing. It is added in large quantities to wheat powder, fruit juice from concentrate, sausage sometimes wine, sometimes beer, etc etc)

QED - I rest my case - I think you need to learn to read the articles you've posted.

Nobel prize doesn't guarantee a reasoned work on another subject its the work that has been reviewed not the prize. (1954 - Chemistry. Peace 1962) - you need to learn to think critically too.

Wiki - " Paul Offit wrote that although Pauling was "so spectacularly right" that he won two Nobel Prizes, Pauling's late-career assertions about the benefits of dietary supplements were "so spectacularly wrong that he was arguably the world's greatest quack."

Edited November 23, 201411 yr by wilcopops

Vit C rremains controversial but is generally harmless and some people feel it helps if taken early.

Zinc supplementation has been shown to reduce the severity of respiratory infections (and other illnesses) in children. I haven't seen any studies showing it does so in adults but it certainly seems to for me - I take it at the first hint of a cold or flu and it hasn't failed me yet, and a number of people I have suggested it to report similiar benefit.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9651405

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22981241?dopt=Abstract

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9164774?dopt=Abstract

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12052800?dopt=Abstract

I usually take Redoxan which is a mix of Vit C and Zinc. Berrocca also has it but costs more. In the West Zinc throat lozenges have become popular, (and I fund them very effective) but hard to find in Thailand.

The worst possible medical advice you can get usually starts with

"In my experiece" or a simile thereof.

The worst possible medical advice you can get usually starts with

"In my experiece" or a simile thereof.

ignorance has killed far more people than a recommendation ......

What about an ignorant recommendation? Would that be okay or not?

It's not a discussion - Linus Pauling is accepted by no-one except the mentally challenged and the gullible.

his ideas on vitamins have been categorically discrete throughout the world.

there is of course a large number of people with a partial knowledge of this sort of stuff who erroneously believe that more is better - of course when it comes to your body this is stuff and nonsense. - especially with regards to antioxidants. - Vit C or otherwise.

So surely Wikipedia is also wrong:

"In humans, vitamin C is essential to a healthy diet as well as being a highly effective antioxidant, acting to lessen oxidative stress; a substrate for ascorbate peroxidase in plants (APX is plant specific enzyme);[5] and an enzyme cofactor for the biosynthesis of many important biochemicals. Vitamin C acts as an electron donor for important enzymes:[65]"

"Acute care

Studies with much higher doses of vitamin C, usually between 200 and 6000 mg/day, for the treatment of infections and wounds have shown inconsistent results.[61]

Treatment of the common cold

Further information: Vitamin C and the common cold

Vitamin C's effect on the common cold has been extensively researched. It has not been shown effective in prevention or treatment of the common cold, except in limited circumstances (specifically, individuals exercising vigorously in cold environments).[62][63] Routine vitamin C supplementation does not reduce the incidence or severity of the common cold in the general population, though it may reduce the duration of illness.[62][64]"

"A meta-analysis of 44 clinical trials has shown a significant positive effect of vitamin C on endothelial function when taken at doses greater than 500 mg per day. The researchers noted that the effect of vitamin C supplementation appeared to be dependent on health status, with stronger effects in those at higher cardiovascular disease risk.[55]"

At my University Linus Pauling was heavily discussed and most of the scientists took 500-1000 mg Vitamin C per day. His ideas have been discredited by everyone sponsored by the pharma companies.

But maybe they are all mentally challenged including the Nobel price committees who gave him 2 Nobel prices.

But the most important thing is, there is no negative effect from adding 500 mg Vitamin C per day and Vitamin C costs virtually nothing. It is added in large quantities to wheat powder, fruit juice from concentrate, sausage sometimes wine, sometimes beer, etc etc)

Vitamin C is unquestionably an antioxidant, but so far clinical trials hoping to demonstrate the beneficial effects of antioxidant supplementation on conditions that are triggered or exacerbated by high levels of oxygen free radicals (strong harmful oxidants) like heart disease have proved negative.

I agree with h90 that probably there is no harm in vitamin C supplementation: if you have a mild or undetected deficiency you could restore optimal health by vitamin C supplementation. However I think studies show that, as a water soluble vitamin, the vast majority of excess supplemental vitamin C is just pissed away in a few hours.

I don't think the fact that Linus Pauling claimed huge health benefits for vitamin C can be given much weight despite his Nobel prize winning status.

Many of Linus Pauling's vitamin claims originated when he was very elderly man well past his intellectual prime, Then, in his late 80's, he had a private research lab called the Linus Pauling Institute in Palo Alto, and there he fell under the sway of a charismatic and deluded German scientist called Matthias Rath, who strongly influenced him with very insane ideas, incorporating Pauling's obsession with vitamin C but adding more of his own.

[Googling Rath's subsequent career shows that he began selling his own supplements that he claimed could cure AIDS, and he got heavily involved in Africa with various governments who he persuaded to abandon health measures and trials devoted to controlling the HIV virus and instead concentrate on supplements, which he coincidentally manufactured]

In this period some of Pauling's friends on editorial boards began to reject the craziest papers he submitted to try to save his posthumous reputation.

So even Nobel prize winners in Chemistry can get emotionally attached to crazy ideas (think of Isaac Newton, arguably the world's greatest ever scientist, spending the last half of his life studying alchemy to find the elixir of immortality, or some such nonsense).

Edited November 25, 201411 yr by partington

A 3 letter word and spelt wrong, an all time record Sir,congratulations