posted
Or anyone else that might know (sorry everyone else)...
I need your professional opinion. You see, back in the States, I was famous for not ever getting sick. Ever. But, since I arrived in London, I get sick about one a month (on average). Now, I know being in a major metropolitan, I'm being exposed to a lot more lurgys than I have been in the past, but this is getting ridiculous. It has gotten to the stage now that if my daughter comes home with a sniffle, 3 days later I feel as if I'm on my death bed.
Now, since I am loathe to visit a GP (partly because I don't like doctors and partly because I'm not 'British' I don't feel entitled to use the NHS), I thought I'd ask the GP(s) of TMO.
Would my vaccinations that I had as a kid in the States not be very effective against germs here? Would getting myself vaccinated like my kids are being now, would I save myself from being sick later on and bring me back to my non-sick self of the past or am I'm forever at risk of the germs of all these damn foreigners?
Thanks in advance for any responses!
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posted
Which vaccinations did you have in the States? Standard individual jabs/combinations administered to UK children at primary school include:
TB (Consumption)
Mumps
Measles
German Measles (Rubella)
Dropsy
Choler
Gout
Grippe and
Surfeit
...if you're lacking in any of these you are likely to suffer recurring bouts of any or all of the same while in the UK. An alternative to inoculation is to scrub the walls and floors of your flat with carbolic soap (weekly) and sleep in a brown paper poultice, steeped in vinegar or Vicks.
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posted
Hi Mate - sorry you are not feeling so clever.
As far as the vaccinations and germs, I can't see any reason why our colonial germs would be any more effective against your American immune system.
However this year it seems there are a lot of nasty bugs around this year - several people I know, myself included, have had colds and chect conditions that we have been unable to shake off for a few months, so rather than assume you are getting different strains, it may be the same one resurfacing.
If you look around on the net, it seems that various news sources, including reputable ones like auntie Beeb have stories on how these viral bugs are getting more powerful and resiliant against anti-biotics which may be true - I'd get a proffesional to advise - get yourself off to a quack, and worry not about the entitlement - you are a UK citizen now, and if still troubled just think of it as payback for all the brits whose PC's you have advised on for free.
Mumps / Measles / German Measles (Rubella) - yup, single jab
Polio
What'choo talkin' 'bout Willis?
quote:
Dropsy
Choler
Gout
Grippe
Surfeit
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The lethargy, discomfort and general ill-feeling you are experiencing is commonly known as 'Being British'. Should you, for whatever reason, wish to alleviate any of these noble, traditional and distinguished symptoms you may internally apply tea, or in extreme cases Bovril. Any absence of the above condition is known as 'vim' or 'feeling a bit Italian'. Should you ever find that you are feeling a bit Italian you should immediately begin an emergency course of smutty humour.
posted
In other news: the sky here, overcast all day, has turned a bruisy yellow-pink. I cannot pretend that this portends anything but ill.
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quote:Originally posted by Waynster: As far as the vaccinations and germs, I can't see any reason why our colonial germs would be any more effective against your American immune system.
I too thought this for the first 3 years or so, but recently, I started to think that here in the UK, there are things that are almost non-exsistant back home. Back home, I have never heard of anyone getting TB, Polio is all but gone, and Meningitis is so rare that if someone in Washington got it, we heard about it on the evening news in New York. Whereas here, all three still occur. So, I started to think maybe I'm getting mini-versions of the 'bad' stuff, that my previous innoculations have saved me from getting full blown cases, but since they are different strains, perhaps I'm getting the symptons of them still without the devastating effects of the sick proper.
I know, being from a medical family, that this isn't probably the case, but getting ill in the past 4 years have equalled or surpassed the previous 23 years in the States, it makes a body wonder. Especially since I come from a city pop. 33k to London, pop. 8mil and most of them are dirty foreigners!
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask: Congratulations Sabian!
The lethargy, discomfort and general ill-feeling you are experiencing is commonly known as 'Being British'.
Really? Does that mean that pretty soon I'll start not bitching about the crap customer service and general ass-backwards way that most things happen here then?
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quote:Originally posted by ben: In other news: the sky here, overcast all day, has turned a bruisy yellow-pink. I cannot pretend that this portends anything but ill.
Holy shit, the sky is now purple. If real life was a horror film I would be courting death by hanging around making this observation rather than doing the sensible thing and getting the fuck away, quickly.
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quote:Originally posted by sabian: Does that mean that pretty soon I'll start not bitching about the crap customer service and general ass-backwards way that most things happen here then?
Indeed. In fact the only tell-tale sign from your first post that you were, in fact, a colonial, was the whining-pitch and general tone of complaint. These shortcomings will eventually fall away and you will soon bear your customary distress with becoming English doughtiness.
quote:Originally posted by ben: In other news: the sky here, overcast all day, has turned a bruisy yellow-pink. I cannot pretend that this portends anything but ill.
Holy shit, the sky is now purple. If real life was a horror film I would be courting death by hanging around making this observation rather than doing the sensible thing and getting the fuck away, quickly.
quote:Originally posted by ben: Holy shit, the sky is now purple. If real life was a horror film I would be courting death by hanging around making this observation rather than doing the sensible thing and getting the fuck away, quickly.
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posted
TIS the yeares midnight, and it is the dayes, Lucies, who scarce seaven houres herself unmaskes, The Sunne is spent, and now his flasks Send forth light squibs, no constant rayes; The worlds whole sap is sunke: The generall balme th'hydroptique earth hath drunk, Whither, as to the beds-feet, life is shrunke, Dead and enterr'd; yet all these seeme to laugh, Compar'd with mee, who am their Epitaph. Posts: 8657
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quote:Originally posted by Black Mask: See? Now you're talking about the weather.
Now, if I could just get rid of this annoying American accent, there'd be nothing to distinguish me from... Johnny Vegas or Robbie Coltrane!
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quote:Originally posted by Black Mask: Just tell everyone you're Cornish.
Why would I want to do something stupid like that? I'd rather be American than Welsh.
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posted
If most of your current ills are of the coughs and colds variety then vaccinations wont make any difference, unless you try going for the annual flu-of choice selection, but that wont do anything for common colds - or 'man-flu'.
I would guess it is possible that having lived the majority of your however-many years in another population then your immune system may still be catching up to the common strains in the UK. Being in close proximity to loads of skanks on the tube etc wont help.
I found the best way to reduce the number of colds I got was to stop going out and getting batterd every weekend, though this may be of no use to you...so err…sleep more and eat vegetables!
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If you smoke, stop it immediately. Other tricks to boost your immune system include taking supplements like Echinacea and stupidstrength Vitamin C, exercising regularly, and wearing a facemask when travelling on the underground.
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quote:Originally posted by sabian: Would my vaccinations that I had as a kid in the States not be very effective against germs here?
Of course not, all germs in the states are derived from proper, traditionally English 'Spon'. After years of adapting to the foreign climates, killing native's and each other depending on geographical location. (sorry for the geographical reference, allow me to translate, the picture of the world that is sometimes stuck on the wall? it has lots of strange shapes in different colors? {please note spelling} its where you are, or where the you are here mark would be.) After writing constitutions and making up ridiculous laws that allow your government or those with money to do whatever they please. They developed an annoying nasal twang, and decided that the lynch pin in separating from the ways of the original spon, was to travel on the right hand side of veins and arterys all over the body. This explains the symptoms I believe, of your backward left-hand-drive vaccinations, they shouldnt be so fucking elitist like the rest of you!
Sorry you feeling shit dude, a few pointers (from my old man) dont eat dairy products, milk and cheese are poison, dont eat wheat, or wheat products, also poison. It is advisable not to breathe the air, there are many smokers in London who dont give a shit about 'Passives'.
All the above comments made mostly in jest please do not take offence!
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