SW Forum Med Advice. What could possibly go wrong?

[Absalom]

Well, it was reported over 4 years ago. Not sure what updated data shows.
How Many Die from Medical Mistakes in U.S. Hospitals? - Scientific American

The numbers probably haven't shifted much. And they are likely reasonably well-supported, as SA is not a crackpot outlet.

However, for simplistic thinkers, such statistics can lead to dangerously misguided conclusions.

The fact that medical errors contributed to these people's departure does not say anything about whether they wouldn't have died anyway. It especially does not at all support the belief that people would have survived at a higher rate had they not sought medical attention.

For the number to have relative meaning, you'd have to compare the number of people who died from medical error to the number of people who died because they did NOT get timely medical attention.

It's the same with the flu shot. The effectiveness percentage of the vaccine varies from year to year, but it does not matter how many anecdotes about odd timing you tell me, you can't get the flu from flu vaccine. That's science. You can get the flu after being vaccinated, but that just means you lost the game of percentages.

I suspect that with any serious issue, you're still better off taking your chances with science and the medical profession.

The internet NEVER knows better

 

[7tenz]

I've taken the flu shot for years and have never had the real flu. But now that my heart as well as my lungs are seriously compromised (at age 80) I'm under doctor's orders to stay home and avoid groups of people as much as possible. The doc, a Russian lady I like and trust, is a no-Bravo-Sierra type. She said simply that the flu "would be a death sentence." I listen when she talks.

I've had the shingles and pneumonia vaccines. Somehow despite stage 3 COPD and pulmonary fibrosis I've never had pneumonia, and I aim to keep it that way. I have had shingles on my face and head, and don't ever want that again.

As for medical advice and legal counseling, I don't look for that here. That's not what I'm here to get.

As far as seeking medical advice here, I was trying to be funny. Guess my joke fell kinda flat.

 

[S&WsRsweet]

My wife and myself take the flu vaccine every year as a precaution so far so good.As far as doctors though I must admit think about how much nerve it takes to walk up to table with a fella layin there unconscious and say alrighty I'm just gonna take his gallbladder out and sew em up . I had a time changing out the starter on my pickup.

 

[Maddog 521]

Here's some interesting death-rate-statistics

2018 Real Time Death Statistics in America

 

[nachogrande]

AND YOUR POINT IS?

You had SOMETHING for under 24 hrs??? That wasn't the flu. The flu is characterized by a temp over 102 & the length of illness can last 1-2 weeks. There is NO 100% guaranteed effective flu shot, NEVER HAS BEEN, & you should have been told that when you got it. The last I heard, this years shot had a reported APP 30% +/- success rate. I haven't had the shot since 2004. THIS YEAR I made sure the wife & I both got it,& neither of us got the flu, BUT we hand sanitize & wipe down EVERYTHING like crazy. Talk to someone who had a full blown case of it, I doubt you would have walked the dog. "Could be" you were exposed to it,(or had something else) the shot worked & you fought it off in under 24 hrs without it developing into a full case. People heed free medical advice from strangers, mail deliverers, people in line at the supermarket & ignore or scoff at advice from their doctors. Why should the forum be any different.

 

[nachogrande]

TRUE

A visit to the doc is like playing Russian Roulette...

"Do ya feel lucky? Well, do ya... punk?"

& NOT going is like playing with 3 bullets. There are no guarentees. Think of how many people die from the fear of going, or the ALL TO COMMON indigestion, that turns out to have been a heart attack. Next time you are in a bad way, rub some dirt on it & walk it off.

 

[handejector]

SW Forum Med Advice. What could possibly go wrong

I do brain surgery part time.
I also fix rockets.
Both by appointment only.

 

[df06]

I've had a flu shot annually for about 10 years. Cant remember the last time I had the flu.

 

[rock doc]

I've never had a flu shot, and I can't remember the last time I had the flu. Washing hands often, and using Purell frequently when out and about certainly helps. Also I avoid picking my nose, except after implementing the aforementioned precautions.

 

[Golddollar]

The fact that medical errors contributed to these people's departure does not say anything about whether they wouldn't have died anyway. It especially does not at all support the belief that people would have survived at a higher rate had they not sought medical attention.

This can happen. My late mother was stricken with rheumatoid arthritis in her late 40's. Her condition deteriorated after some time and Mom said that sometimes her feet wouldn't move like she wanted. She consulted a neurologist to see if there was any problem. The neurologist did not find any neurological problem, so the problem was determined to be orthopedic and my mother was scheduled for knee replacement surgery. Keep in mind this was in 1987. Just before her knee surgery, the orthopedic surgeon was giving her the last examination and he suspected a serious neurological issue, and ordered a nerve conductivity test. The result of this examination was a diagnosis of ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, aka Lou Gehrig's disease, with no known cause, no treatment of any kind then, and always terminal.

Was the failure of the neurologist to spot my mother's ALS a medical error? Certainly. Would my mother have lived longer if her ALS was spotted earlier? Absolutely not. There was a blessing in that the orthopedic surgeon saved my mother from unnecessary surgery, and that she was delayed in learning that she was terminally ill.

 

[crsides]

My last flu shot was 1974. got the flu right after. I have had the flu 3 times since 1974. Not bad. #3 was 2 weeks ago.

Charlie

 

[rwsmith]

Every year they have to.....

They have to anticipate which strain of flu is going to be most common that year. This year they missed. And not only that it is a deadly variety. Maybe need to make a shot that includes the serious ones whether they are a threat or not. And if they determine what strain is happening kick into high gear and produce as much as they can.

 

[Old Seabee]

Flu shot

At best it is only 60% effective . At best
I don't take them.
OldSeabee

 

[Old Arkansawyer]

Had my last flu shot in the late 70's, that was when the swine flu was supposed to kill us all. Two weeks after the shot the six o'clock news reported the shot was killing people or crippling others. Have not had the flu shot since, have not had the flu, I guess with me not having the shot is 100% effective. And by the way, how do they track how effective the shot is?

 

[joeintexas]

Reminds me of the old line, Elvis is dead and I don't feel so good myself. I think some guy named Lewis Grizzard wrote that, it was the title of his book I believe. Had nothing to do with the flu however.

 

[7tenz]

You were probably infected with the flu BEFORE you got the shot. The shot is to prevent you from getting it.

Except I got the shot last November, or maybe earlier can't remember exactly. 4 1/2 months is a long time for the bug to hang around and then zap me.

 

[7tenz]

You had SOMETHING for under 24 hrs??? That wasn't the flu. The flu is characterized by a temp over 102 & the length of illness can last 1-2 weeks. There is NO 100% guaranteed effective flu shot, NEVER HAS BEEN, & you should have been told that when you got it. The last I heard, this years shot had a reported APP 30% +/- success rate. I haven't had the shot since 2004. THIS YEAR I made sure the wife & I both got it,& neither of us got the flu, BUT we hand sanitize & wipe down EVERYTHING like crazy. Talk to someone who had a full blown case of it, I doubt you would have walked the dog. "Could be" you were exposed to it,(or had something else) the shot worked & you fought it off in under 24 hrs without it developing into a full case. People heed free medical advice from strangers, mail deliverers, people in line at the supermarket & ignore or scoff at advice from their doctors. Why should the forum be any different.

Day 4 and just got back with the dogs. Was a real death march. I'm a pretty tough cookie for 65. I excersize with weights and ride Mountain bike when I'm not dying.

 

[LVSteve]

Not everything going around is the flu. There have been some virulent bacterial bugs this winter. Living in Vegas everybody brings their own crud with them from all over the world.

 

[RobertJ.]

"Flu season"?? Can someone please explain this to me? I've never been able to figure out what the time of year has to do with getting the flu. Is it because "they" tell us that it's flu season, and then recommend the vaccine? I last had the flu on Labor Day weekend, 1986, certainly not in what "they" call flu season. And I've never had the shot.

1 Peter 2:24!!

 

[LoboGunLeather]

OK, I will admit that I was infected by the 'bird flu' a couple of years ago. It was very embarrassing! No matter where I went, no matter where I parked my car, I found myself unable to resist crapping on someone's windshield.

I've gotten a little better. Just a little better.