How do you handle being sick.

[JPA Cate]

Yes, carrying antibiotics is definitely a good thing, but at sea, if it is a virus, antibiotics are useless, and one has to survive.

@ UNCIVILIZED: scratchy throat, yes, but sudden onset of flu can be diarrhea, and it takes a while to realize seasick does not include that symptom!

My personal thoughts are that one does what one can to boost one's immune system, when under viral attack. Some maladies, you can tell if they're likely bacterial--at which point those meds you've brought will help you--but if viral, it's between your immune system and them, and then, vit. C., natural sources of zinc (like Brazil nuts), and whatever else you have educated yourself towards, that is the way to go. Fresh citrus juices are good sources of vit. C., and telling yourself that your body will use the stuff you give it for healing, also helps. Positive ideation (thinking) does help. Amazing, but it does! ;-)

Ann

[savoir]

The best cure for a cold or flu at sea is to cook it because viruses cannot handle heat. Rug up to the point of overkill and sweat it out. If that means wearing a ski parka in summer then do it.

It works.

Ann Cate is right. Antibiotics don't work on a virus. Regrettably, way too many people use antibiotics in a vain attempt to cure a viral ailment.

While I'm here, flu shots are a scam intended to relieve the gullible of their money. You don't need them.

[a64pilot]

No, flu shots work, for the strains that they are, no way they can cover all strains of course.
However, most of the time we say we have they flu, we don't. The flu can be a killer, especially if your not 20 yrs old and in top condition.

Flu is a killer, ever heard of the Spanish flu of 1918? I believe it killed as many as 10% of the ones infected, it killed more people than died in WWI. It killed more than the Black Death did.

https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/influenza-epidemic/

Take the shot, it could possibly save your life, and if enough of us take the shots, we might could just avoid another pandemic.

[Cthoops]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

No, flu shots work, for the strains that they are, no way they can cover all strains of course.
However, most of the time we say we have they flu, we don't. The flu can be a killer, especially if your not 20 yrs old and in top condition.

Flu is a killer, ever heard of the Spanish flu of 1918? I believe it killed as many as 10% of the ones infected, it killed more people than died in WWI. It killed more than the Black Death did.

https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/influenza-epidemic/

Take the shot, it could possibly save your life, and if enough of us take the shots, we might could just avoid another pandemic.

This.

One of my pet peeves is when someone tells me they were sick with the flu and it's obvious they had a cold instead. I've had the real flu three times in my life - in my teens, in my 20's , and in my 40's. The last time I could easily see how the flu can kill. I remember in particular telling Mr. Cthoops two things at the time: "If I get the flu when I'm in my 90's, it's going to kill me", and "If I still feel like this in two more weeks I'll prefer to be dead." I truly meant it.

I had stopped getting the flu shot out of laziness until this last bout. Now I'm first in line. No, it's not 100% effective, but I'm not going to pass up something that reduces my risk of going through that again.

[SFS]

Originally Posted by mjgill1

... I believe Dr. Pauling is the only individual, or one of very few to win 2 Nobel Peace Prizes solo for his work. Unfortunately most modern docs have never heard of him or high dose Vitamin C therapy . I won't comment on what could possibly be the reasons for that.

Although Pauling IS the only person to win two unshared Nobel prizes, no one has ever won two Nobel Peace Prizes. Pauling was awarded a Nobel in Chemistry in 1954, and in Peace in 1962. (However, he did not actually receive the Peace Prize until 1963, due to the Nobel committee's view that none of the nominees in 1962 met the criteria establish by Alfred Nobel in his will.)

Pauling's vitamin C theories have been debunked. Despite many years of scientific research, vitamin C has not been proven to ward off the common cold. Millions of people believe it, and practice it, but anecdoctal evidence is not scientific evidence. This well researched article is a very good place to start:

The Dark Side of Linus Pauling's Legacy

Most modern docs have had a lot of chemistry in undergrad and grad school, and have almost certainly heard of Pauling. The reason they don't "prescribe" Vitamin C at dosages above the Recommended Daily Allowance is that it doesn't work. Even the Linus Pauling Institute agrees with the consensus RDA for vitamin C.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by mjgill1

Haven't had an antibiotic in many years, though I still get sick occasionally. Years ago, I read some of Dr. Linus Pauling's work on high dose Vitamin C. It truly is miraculous! The theory (should be a law) is that when you get sick your body goes into a state similar to scurvy. Basically, the body will utilize great amounts of C to help beat whatever is ailing you.

I believe Dr. Pauling is the only individual, or one of very few to win 2 Nobel Peace Prizes solo for his work. Unfortunately most modern docs have never heard of him or high dose Vitamin C therapy . I won't comment on what could possibly be the reasons for that.

Basically, when you get sick you titrate your body up to bowel tolerance using ascorbic acid powder (1 g/hr or more as needed with plenty of fluids) and maintain that for the duration of your illness. What was a 10 day infection with or without antibiotics is now gone in 2 days. You still feel like crap, but for a lot less time. When you start feeling better, taper off over the next day or two and then maintain a gram or two a day as a maintenance dose. Ascorbic acid powder is easily obtained at a health food store or even on Amazon of all places.

There's a website called DoctorYourself.com: Andrew Saul's Natural Health Website It's somewhat commercialized but you can glean quite a bit of information from it.

Good luck,

Only time I consume Man Made Antibiotics is when I have a Chicken Dinner..

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by SFS

Although Pauling IS the only person to win two unshared Nobel prizes, no one has ever won two Nobel Peace Prizes. Pauling was awarded a Nobel in Chemistry in 1954, and in Peace in 1962. (However, he did not actually receive the Peace Prize until 1963, due to the Nobel committee's view that none of the nominees in 1962 met the criteria establish by Alfred Nobel in his will.)

Pauling's vitamin C theories have been debunked. Despite many years of scientific research, vitamin C has not been proven to ward off the common cold. Millions of people believe it, and practice it, but anecdoctal evidence is not scientific evidence. This well researched article is a very good place to start:

The Dark Side of Linus Pauling's Legacy

Most modern docs have had a lot of chemistry in undergrad and grad school, and have almost certainly heard of Pauling. The reason they don't "prescribe" Vitamin C at dosages above the Recommended Daily Allowance is that it doesn't work. Even the Linus Pauling Institute agrees with the consensus RDA for vitamin C.

Indeed!
Thank you.

[ur2slo]

Originally Posted by Jdege

I told my psychiatrist I've been hearing voices.

She said I don't have a psychiatrist.

[Steadman Uhlich]

A brief overview in Scientific American that mentions and debunks (very briefly) a few things that may interest readers of this topic (Vitamin C, Echinacea, etc.).

https://www.scientificamerican.com/a...n-feed-a-cold/

[rmlarson1098]

Originally Posted by cookingguy

How does everyone handle being sick at sea? Im not taking about sea sickness but more like the flu and colds?

How about if you are going single handed, how would you handle it?

Thanks

Brandy & Breath-Right strips, plus that warm blanket.
Keeping in mind the BWI thing.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Steady Hand

A brief overview in Scientific American that mentions and debunks (very briefly) a few things that may interest readers of this topic (Vitamin C, Echinacea, etc.).

https://www.scientificamerican.com/a...n-feed-a-cold/

Thats like asking me to believe a Yacht Broker..

[DeepCut]

Wow! This really took a bird walk from what to do when you get sick at sea to How to prevent/ treat illnesses. Viruses vs bacterial infections...
I laugh at some of these remedies and "facts " which I hear daily.

When you get sick at sea, do you heave too, continue sailing as usual, vary your watch, drift, etc

[SetsunaSails]

A64 it's prob not the best idea for the alcohol but the increase in body temp definitely will shorten your ailment. I find that the alcohol calms my nerves and helps me rest. I am positive all of us here when anchored have projects running through our mind constantly and this is the reason I drink

[Suijin]

Originally Posted by cookingguy

How does everyone handle being sick at sea? Im not taking about sea sickness but more like the flu and colds?

How about if you are going single handed, how would you handle it?

Thanks

The first thing that anyone who goes offshore should do with respect to health is take a decent First Aid/CPR course, preferably one with a marine segment. In the US, many fire departments in busy boating cities offer such a course, taught by EMTs. The focus is on trauma and emergency care, logically enough.

Pack a good med kit. Not a cheap little box from Walmart or CVS. A little research will turn up good info on what to include.

Second, made sure you're in good health to begin with, getting a check up beforehand if feasible, and visit your dentist. Few things are worse than serious tooth issues when you're offshore. Also, if you ask your doctor will throw in a few prescriptions for antibiotics and stronger pain killers for your med kit.

As for contagious stuff, as noted the likelihood is low unless you catch it before you leave. I usually pay a bit more attention (hand washing, avoiding kids with runny noses, etc.) during the week before I depart on any longer passage.

[mjgill1]

Originally Posted by SFS

Although Pauling IS the only person to win two unshared Nobel prizes, no one has ever won two Nobel Peace Prizes. Pauling was awarded a Nobel in Chemistry in 1954, and in Peace in 1962. (However, he did not actually receive the Peace Prize until 1963, due to the Nobel committee's view that none of the nominees in 1962 met the criteria establish by Alfred Nobel in his will.)

Pauling's vitamin C theories have been debunked. Despite many years of scientific research, vitamin C has not been proven to ward off the common cold. Millions of people believe it, and practice it, but anecdoctal evidence is not scientific evidence. This well researched article is a very good place to start:

The Dark Side of Linus Pauling's Legacy



Most modern docs have had a lot of chemistry in undergrad and grad school, and have almost certainly heard of Pauling. The reason they don't "prescribe" Vitamin C at dosages above the Recommended Daily Allowance is that it doesn't work. Even the Linus Pauling Institute agrees with the consensus RDA for vitamin C.

To each their own. I have, on many occasions, seen and experienced the effects of high dose vitamin C during illness. The result being a much shorter duration of the illness. I'll keep doing what I am doing and let the rest do what they want to. Truth is self evident. As far as doctors prescribing it goes, the whole idea is to stay out of the doctors office unless absolutely necessary. Why give them your money if you don't need to? Can I get an Amen?