I’ve seen pictures from Mexico and other places of people wearing surgical face masks to protect them from flu.
Does this work?

Will flu face masks protect me … and if so where can I buy them?

Do I need to use a face mask indoors and outdoors - and what about changing it from time to time?

I know I should try not to panic about this flu problem but there’s just so much on TV at the moment and it all seems a bit confusing.

Where can I buy a face mask for this flu epidemic?

I’m having trouble getting clear information about swine flu symptoms.

Some websites say fever and joint or muscle pains. Others say swine flu symptoms include cough or breathless feelings. I’ve also seen details about vomiting.

Can anyone give a good site with clear information?

Google flu trends site seems to be getting a lot of attention recently.

How does it work?

Where does the information come from that google use to track flu patterns? Is it accurate flu information? Can I use the google flu page for treatment advice and will it tell me where to buy drugs like tamiflu?

Is it cheaper to buy tamiflu online or should I look for a local source?

Sorry to go on about it but there’s so much flu about at the moment that the google flu trends thing worries me a bit.

Thanks

My doctor says that I have a frozen shoulder.

I’m convinced that it started after a bout of flu about two months ago. I developed a fever with headache and a bad cough.

My shoulder pain started about a week later and has got worse ever since. The pain from my shoulder down my arm reaches my hand at times.

Can flu cause frozen shoulder?

I have to say that I’m pretty convinced they are connected but there’s nothing online about it.

Doctor Cameron’s book says that virus infections can sometimes be a trigger but flu ??

Has this happened to anyone else?

Can you keep healthy in a flu outbreak?

How long does the flu virus live on a surface - you know, like on a kitchen table or in the toilet? Will the virus die quite quickly or could I catch flu from a table top or a sink?

I know flu is spread by droplets in the air but surely these can land on furniture and work tops and stuff.

How long would it take for a flu virus to die? Can it live on a table or a hard surface area?

What about detergents or cleaning sprays? Do they work against flu?

Getting worried - please let me know what you think …..

More and more worried about this bird flu thing and don’t believe that the government are telling the truth about what might happen.

How many people died from the flu last year?

Do you know what the real statistics are? Do you care like I do?

If people are dying from flu then why don’t we hear more about it.

Surely the government should be providing us with the medications we need and the vax to prevent it all.

I hate all this uncertainty

I don’t know if I have flu or not?

How long does the flu last usually?

I’ve had sore joints, a sore throat and a temperature for about ten days now and I really don’t think I’m getting much better. At first I was convinced I had flu but as time goes on I’m less certain.

I’ve made an appointment to see my doctor but don’t want to waste his time.

Is this flu? Does the flu last this long?

Is it true that the government has a flu tracker system?

if it is true then where can I see the data - Im worried about the possibility of a flu epidemic and if I can see the flu tracker information then I will know whether to stay away from work or not.

Also I might want to buy some flu pills for myself and my family

Does a flu tracker really exist?

Who gathers the information and where is the data kept?

I am a 30 year old female and for the past 9 months or so, I have been experiencing discomfort/pain in my abdomen. I have visited my doctor on 4 or 5 occasions, initially the pain started in my back and moved round to my front. The doctor put this down to muscle strain and for the best part of 5/6 months, I didn’t have any problems.

However since September, I have had a pain in my sides and sometimes across the front just below my ribs. When I went back to the doctor, he felt my stomach and lower abdomen area and couldn’t feel anything. He ordered blood tests to check liver, kidney, blood cells and some test that checked for any internal swelling - all came back clear. He was still claiming it was muscular.

I went to a chiropractor who said I was very tight in my diaphragm and when he applied any pressure on my upper rib across breastbone area, it was very painful. He treated me for 3/4 weeks and whilst I did get some relief, the pain then restarted a few days after my last session without any warning. When I went back to chiropractor, he thinks now that his work might be providing relief but it’s probably secondary to the main problem and advised me to go back to doctor.

For the past fortnight, the pain has been predominantly in my left side around my rib area although there is discomfort on the right side rib as well. Occasionally the pain moves lower down beneath belly button and it can sometimes feel like there is something there, though when I gently feel around and push down, I can’t sense anything. The pain is there pretty much all of the time and I get no relief during the day, it is just as painful lying in bed as when I’m moving around. It feels like I’ve overworked a muscle after exercise like a stitch or strained myself but I know this is not the case. It is sore when I bend over and the pain can travel from rib area down as far as lower stomach, mostly on left side but there is also discomfort on right side from time to time. My bowel movements are fairly regular though they can range from solid to sometimes diarrhea and no particular food triggers it.

In the past month or so, my period has become irregular as well and I have passed a little bit of blood when passing bowel movement(although the doctor said this could just be a tear/fissure and gave me cream and said it wasn’t anything to worry about).

I have another appointment with my doctor next week but it’s very difficult not to worry in the mean time as this has pretty much taken over my life and I’m constantly worried about it.

Any advice / sharing of experiences would be great!

Thanks