Please help me! I need feedback desperately!!! I'm losin' it!!!!!!!!!
I am so freaked out about getting the flu...I have IgA deficiency, asthma, auto-immune disease & a zillion other things wrong...and egg allergy so I'm not able to get the flu shot.
Flu nearly killed me several times in past years and I've researched the vaccine makers to death & can find NONE that are egg-free! I've written to several that I heard were in experimental stages of egg-free vax creation, however they're not yet approved and I don't like the growth medium they're using at any rate...green monkey kidneys, insects, and it's been proposed they even use DOGS! I'm an animal lover and do not believe in animal testing or using them for vaccine growth!
Many years ago, I read that the possibility existed that due to use of green monkey kidney's being used as growth medium for some vaccines we received as kids, it may be behind so many of the immune system diseases so rampant within my age group.
I digress...my point is, where do I turn? And MAN! I sure as he** can't be the only person in the land allergic to eggs!!! What are all of us supposed to do? My doc says I canNOT take prophylactic anti-virals and anyway, from what I'm learning,the current flu is resistant to tamiflu! So....mutant strains yada yada yada and here some of us sit with no alternatives. Tamiflu is def not without plenty of problems healthwise .
My doc said if I think I'm getting the flu he will start me on tamiflu but it merely reduces the illness by a day or two and lessens the severity...it does nothing against the secondary infections I will undoubtedly get and I'm allergic to pretty much every antibiotic and scared spitless to enter the hospital since the MRSA epidemic is so bad...I have several friends with it.
I am a virtual bubble-chick and have too much time on my hands to worry & I have mega high anxiety and my nerves are shot and some days I feel like blowin my brains out just because of the fear!
IF my significant other were careful (but he's not) my chances would be lessened of getting sick...he gets a flu shot but it's always him I get the flu & every other thing from since I go no where for about 9 months out of every year! He's the only person I'm exposed to. I'm careful about disinfecting grocery items, etc.
Now the flu is epidemic in my region & I've been up all night freaking out, feeling like it's heading right for me & I need sleep, I'm wrung out & have been having fevers for a long time from who knows what. I have had a sleep disorder mosta my life so that really takes a toll on my crappy health...and my diet's bad, cuzza my gut, etc.....(from the IgA def. among other things)
Yeah, I know I'm sounding like a real head case right now but I needed to vent and ask y'all if any of you feel this way & face the same crap. Have you any answers or know of any new available options on egg-free vaccines for flu & pneumonia? Mannn, I sure need some feedback...i"m losin it!!!
Thanks everyone!
Luv & hugs
Critter
P.S. I did a $hitloada research & sent it to my doc, (in late oct or early November) regarding graded dosing of flu vax, where they give you increasing amounts of the vaccine over a day's time to lessen the chance of severe anaphylactic reaction to the egg proteins. I begged him to do it for me....He's in the same building as my allergy/immunologist, who, by the way no longer does flu shots! HE BLEW ME OFF, DIDN'T ANSWER MY EMAIL, WOULDN'T TAKE MY CALLS!!! Needless to say, come spring, I'm doc shopping! But wth do I do in the meantime?!? AArrgghhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have you considered seeing a naturopath?
They might be able to build up your system for the long haul as well as have some "cures" for for any acute symptoms.

here's some info links-
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&s...pathic&spell=1

[Naturopathic Medicine: How It Works

The past 30 years has seen an extraordinary increase in consumer demand for safe, effective and cost-effective natural healthcare. Naturopathic medicine has emerged as the health care profession best suited to meet this demand. Although it almost disappeared in the mid-twentieth century because of the popularity of drugs and surgery, naturopathic medicine now offers safe, effective natural therapies as a vital part of the health care systems of North America the twenty-first century.]
http://www.naturopathic.org/