Like many others around the world, I’ve been hit hard by this year’s virus or flu bug.

It’s been noted by many authorities that the vaccine this year was not on the mark.

There are two main types of influenza A, H1N1 and H3N2, and influenza B.

Unfortunately, after the vaccine began to be developed, a new strain of H3N2 virus was identified in Brisbane, Australia.   But, it was too late to include this strain, and as of the first week of February, 08, nearly 34% of those tested, had this Brisbane strain.   UH OH - here comes another to knock on our door, a strain of influenza B called “Yamagata,” which is significantly different from the “Victoria” B strain in the vaccine, was also on the move.  So far 16 percent of all flu samples this winter are influenza B, and of them 93 percent are Yamagata.

These 2 strains account for 44% of all flu samples this year to date, and NEITHER are in the vaccine.   At this moment, the experts are meeting to decide what strains go into NEXT year’s vaccine- hope they do a better job of deciding.

But, that presupposes the notion that a flu vaccine WORKS for a PIDD patient.  Most doctors tell us it does not, but let’s hedge our bets and get one anyway.   I do.  It did not work for me.

How about for you?

According to the Center for Disease Control for the week ending March 8th, 2008,  8.7% of all deaths reported through the 122 Cities Mortality Reporting System were reported as due to Pneumonia and Influenza.   This percentage is above the epidemic threshold of 7.2% for week 10. Including week 10, P&I mortality has been above epidemic threshold for nine consecutive weeks”.

Well, that doesn’t sound too promising does it?

Did you know why the flu is more prevalent in the winter?   Because it shrouds itself in little M &  M like ‘coats’ that instead of melting in your mouth, melt in your upper respiratory tract.  Only in this liquid form can it penetrate our cells.

When it’s warmer out- NO COAT!  So, it doesn’t spread as well.

Regardless of all of this ‘Cliff Claven’ knowledge about the bug- many of us have been down with it this winter.  I’ve heard tales from all over the US about this.  What’s really nasty about this year is that it doesn’t end when it’s over. 

So, I learned the hard way.  The first week of January, I picked the bug up from my loving DH.  I was miserable with it for 3 weeks.  I thought it was over.   I left for a biz trip, and part 2 of the virus from hell drama hit me.  And, it hit hard.  While sleeping, a loud rattling noise woke me and it turned out to be my lungs.   I called my Dr and he sent an antibiotic RX for bronchitis.  I flew the next 2 days in a row, and that night, my left lung collapsed.  SNAP, CRACKLE, POP and a VERY LOUD GUSH OF WIND woke me from my sleep.   I was in the middle of nowhere, alone and far from my cell phone.   I sat up in bed and very gingerly and very slowly began to do breathing exercises that would re-inflate my lung.   DONE!   Now it’s over.

WRONG.  A trip to the ER and I learned I also had pleurisy, anemia and possibly a clot.

They ruled that out.   When I finally was allowed to fly home, my own Dr did a CT SCAN and found a raging case of pneumonia.

What scares PIDD patients the most?   PNEUMONIA!  Especially for those of us who make no antibodies to it.

Thus, I’ve been on flannel pj duty for WAAAY too long - some days I think I’m getting better- but then WHAM, I’m back down again.   All of this illness triggered some pretty serious autoimmune conditions as well.   When it rains it pours.

BUT, TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING, and HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL.

TOMORROW AND TOMORROW AND TOMORROW.