I recently recovered from the H3N2 virus. it resisted the flu shot and Tamiflu. I spent a week in bed, too weak to care for myself. my PCP told me that is a bird/swine virus from China, as all flu viruses are, and that this is the only country in the world that does not check people at customs for signs of illness, hence the epidemic.

People who die of this virus, as with the swine flu of 1918, according to my doctor, drown in their own mucous. My throat was so sore and swollen that I could not swallow water without choking, and had to go to hospital to get intravenous fluids. I often felt I was choking on post-nasal drip. I developed a bacterial ear and throat infection as a result, which required antibiotics and corticosteroids. After two,weeks, I am beginning to regain strength.

According to my doctor, this virus is resistant to Tamiflu, and the vaccine is less than 60% effective. However, that is better than nothing, so spare yourself and get vaccinated in the hopes it might save you from the worst virus in thirty years!

Etoile: Thank you for your helpful and detailed story.

I can't understand why people don't get the flu shot - even Safeway offers it for $20. Our entire family gets the flu shot every year at Palo Alto Medical Foundation (must be a member). This year, their flu clinic was on Sunday, September 30 and we were in and out in 15 minutes. PAMF has it organized so efficiently that they have employees directing where to go right as they step out of the elevator.

I agree, Mom of 3. Scared of needles is a poor excuse. please note all the needles involved when hospitalized! When ill due to one's own choices, remember that you're a worry & a drain on family, loved ones, employers, etc. I was recently, acutely ill w/something not preventable & was hospitalized for quite some time. I'm so grateful I had my 'flu shot because if I'd also had the 'flu I'd have been in longer. Even if you don't care for your own health, be considerate of others, please.

I will tell you why I don't get the flu shot.

I know many, many people that DID get it and indeed got the flu. I, on the other hand, have never had the flu shot, and am fine.

Even if I did get the flu, I probably would get it even if I got the flu shot.

There are also studies that show that the flu shot is ineffective and that it weakens the immune system.

A lot of people get sick even with the shot and studies show they're ineffective? Interesting. Do you have any info to share that might be helpful? You know, info that isn't from a whacky source?

I have never known anyone to get it if they had the 'flu shot, but plenty get it who haven't bothered to get the shot, and of course, they spread it.

Ha, Anonymous! You are using anecdotal evidence. Here's another anecdote for you: My family has never suffered from influenza flu because we get the flu shot every year. Sure, there are always those hollistic people who are anti-medicine, choose herbs and vitamins over western medicine, and who write those anti-western medicine articles.

There is no way to catch the flu from a flu shot, simply because it's dead flu virus being injected. Those who claim to have caught the flu from the shot would have caught a different strain of the flu, not the strain that's in the shot (unless it's within two weeks of the shot before their antibodies built a resistance to the flu). There are three flu viruses included in the flu shot each year and the CDC tries to guess which ones will come to America, based upon what is prevalent in the East. So when a person says they caught the flu even with the flu shot, it's possible it was a different strain of the flu they caught which was not included in the flu shot.