USVI-On-Line

Has anyone been diagnosed with swine flu? I'm enjoying the nausea and other GI symptoms, but not coughing or sinus involvement. No diagnosis, but I'm trying to decide if I need to start begging for Tamiflu or just gut it out.

Cheers, RickG

Rick: My son just was diagnosed last Monday....was told it could last 7-10 days. He had high fever, chills, sinus congestion, vomitting and body aches. He got ill on Friday, I took him in on Monday afternoon...dr. said too late for tamiflu-must take within first 24 hours. He is only at about 60% now. Wiped out after a full day of school today. It is really strong here in MI. Schools are reporting record absences.

I had a good chuckle when I read the note the school sent home about the importance of washing hands etc. Then went to my sons football game and realized the players all drink out of the same six water bottles. I'm betting they are not washed in water hot enough to kill the germs (if at all!)

Feel better soon and IMHO take the tamiflu. You have a STJ trip to make!

I took my mom to Mass yesterday and nearly had a heart attack.....they all drink from the same glass of wine!! Not my mom though...she takes the little bread thing, but skips the wine. I can't imagine drinking after a bunch of strangers, I don't care what proof the wine is. Us Methodists get our own little cup of grape juice. No cross contamination. Swine flu or not, that's just gross.

Hope you feel better soon, Rick!

Rick---Sorry to hear you're not feeling well---you always seem upbeat and in good spirits. My daughter had H1N1. I say that, but they actually never tested for it. They just said you have all the classic H1N1 symptoms (including lots of coughing and respiratory issues) and we assume its H1N1 since hundreds of others at the same college also have it. Our daughter didn't get Tamiflu either---just had to gut it out---lasted about 3 days of feeling pretty lousy in her case. I'm sure it varies. Always seems like good advice to see a doctor. Best wishes.

RickG: I hope you get well soon!!

IowaGuy; My son is going to college in Iowa and they have had a few get H1N1 but it has been contained. Go bluejays!

My girlfriend is a nurse and said that there were 12 diagnosed today in their clinic in our small Iowa town. So, here we go! We don't usually get the flu but because this one is more contagious I am not completely confident.

RickG: get the thermaflu if you can!!

Gina

Rick,

GI symptoms are part of it, but if that is all you have, I would think it might not be swine flu. Everyone I know (and I know at least 8 kids or parents -that I actually talked with parents) had had either a headache, sore throat or fever to start it out (or all of the above).

I imagine when you get up this morning you will have a better idea (if it is or isn't).

My husband had a colleague last week on a business trip that came down with the "swine flu" the first day (GI symptoms mainly) and it turns out 2 other guys from his company (that ate at the same restaurant) had the same symptoms and it was actually food poisoning.

Hope you feel better soon. If you have more symptoms this am and you just started feeling sick last night, you still have time for Tamiflu if you hustle!

Rick, I too, am sorry to hear that you are sick. The rock awaits the forum migration.

Nausea and vomiting can be indicative of H1N1; other symptoms as fever, headache, body aches, sore throat, and the ususal respiratory crud would follow soon.

Antivirals are generally only started in the first 24 - 48 hours and in most cases prescriptions are only for those at higher risk because of age or chronic health concerns. "Tamiflu" is an antiviral; "Theraflu" is an over the counter symptom relief product.

I would suggest calling your physican rather than going to an office or clinic full of sick people.

Good information at:

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/sick.htm

This virus is not communicated through the GI tract; it is a respiratory virus.

This virus is believed to be communicable for seven days after symptoms first begin. Staying at home is recommended during that time.

Hope you get better soon Rick!

Is it easy to get Tamiflu in the US? I have a feeling that it's very hard in Sweden.

Rick, you have to get better before STJ! I hope it is not the swime flu. Just take it easy.

I started getting a scratchy throat with sinus congestion and aches yesterday. I am praying that it is just a cold. I had the seasonal flu mist but have to wait a month for the swine flu mist.
I HAVE to go to STJ!

This youtube video from the CDC is also helpful in learning more about the H1N1 flu.

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0wK1127fHQ4&hl ... ram><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0wK1127fHQ4&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

cypressgirl wrote:I took my mom to Mass yesterday and nearly had a heart attack.....they all drink from the same glass of wine!! Not my mom though...she takes the little bread thing, but skips the wine. I can't imagine drinking after a bunch of strangers, I don't care what proof the wine is. Us Methodists get our own little cup of grape juice. No cross contamination. Swine flu or not, that's just gross.

Hope you feel better soon, Rick!

My Mom also declines to drink from the Chalice... my Dad would always say to her "Mary... if you believe
(as Catholics do, see Transubstantiation)that the Chalice contains "the blood of Christ" do you really think you can get sick from drinking "the blood of Christ?" I wonder if anyone ever really did any investigation on the potential infection risk.

My godsister has it now (16 - missed Homecoming ) and the hallmarks according to her mom, a nurse, are the seriously sore throat and coughing and alternating chills and fever.

As she put it: Tamiflu and tea, heat on, tylenol and tea, fan on; motrin and toast, heat and fan on; lather, rinse, repeat.

Thanks gang. I'm feeling a bit better and don't think I ever had a fever. I'm headed to work this morning.

Cheers, RickG

Good advice and links!
Maggy, it's "easy" to get Tamiflu here if you have a prescription and insurance (or money). You just take the prescription to the pharmacist and he gives it to you. It's never been an over-the-counter drug; always prescription.
Rick, glad you're feeling better!

I had it about 6 weeks ago and I had no GI symptoms.

This is from the CDC:

The symptoms of 2009 H1N1 flu virus in people include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea.

I'm very wary of Tamiflu so I just sucked it up and stayed home from work for a week. I did vomit a couple times but it was only because I was coughing so hard, not because it was in my GI. I had all of the symptoms listed above except for the last one.