Swine flu

[Victoria05202000]

Our area I live at is expecting it to get worse, although we are told to make commen sense decisions with the whole flu thing. You know...what you should already be doing...the most important would be washing your hands!  It was explained by work (hospital) that different areas will experience a pandemic and others will remain untouched. I live in SC and we have 16 confirmed cases, 7 probable, and nearly 60 suspected. (as of this morning) I am also to be fit for a N- 95 mask since a big part of my job is working with kids and their boogie noses.

We were told it may reach level 6 by DHEC in the next few days, but it will be towards certain areas that have been affected the most.

I still plan on letting my kids go to a birthday party tomorrow at a bouncey toy place, but I plan to bring a bottle of hand sanitizer...which I would have done anyways.    

Also, some think WHO, DHEC, and whomever else is over-reacting...it is better for people to think that then for them to think that those agencies didn't do enough...especially when lives....children's lives are involved.


Vicky

[Pisces24]

We have 2 unconfirmed cases in Iowa.  At work everyone even got two emails regarding the H1N1 flu.

Here is the Strange thing though!!!  In my work email they told everyone if you were sick to stay home.
BUT, we only get so many unscheduled times (5 per rolling year) to be out for whatever reason (you are sick, sick kids, etc.) .  6th and 7th event you get written up and 8th - you are out the door. Soooo what you supposed to do if you get sick?       I asked a "higher up" at the office and was told they were monitoring the situation. If they have a high instance of people getting sick they will decide then. 

So we all have to make decisions whether to come in sick and affect everyone else or lose our jobs.
Nice Huh?      That is corporate america!!!!!!   

[jonnell]

Hi guys well I kept Jenna home today.  We have 5 confirmed cases and many more unconfirmed cases.  I have a question do u think I should request tamiflu from Jennas peditrician or doesnt that work.   Nervous but staying calm.  Hugs and kissess Jonnell and Jenna

[irish]

Jonnell, You might want to talk to your pediatrician to let him know what you are planning as far as Jenna's activities, etc.

I seriously doubt if he would give you Tamaflu. That is a drug that is to be given only when people have gotten the flu. It is an antiviral and if people take it when they don't have the flu it will help enable the virus to become resistant to the Tamaflu.  Tamaflu is not to prevent the flu, it is to lessen the severity of the diseases symptoms. Irish

[Net]

Jonnell-Yes, I remember when my sisters family had the influenza go thru their house the Dr. gave them the med. to start at the first sign of the symptoms,  being they were exposed by the 1st son that got it. It basically just lessened the severity of the symptoms.Take care and be as cautious as you can be, but of course call your ped. Dr. if you are worrying too much though. Take Care..... So I have a ??  to anyone else...before this swine-flu came to be talked about were there any wierd viruses going around that it could have been around here longer? My sisters coworkers daughter 2 wks ago had a terrible influenza type illness, high temp(1 yr old) -105 I think back and forth to the ER mixed messages with her bloodwork, neg for influenza but a type of pneumonia.( And I guess Gramma had taken a cruise by Mexico earlier)  Also in our area another friend at a small catholic school had 3 kids out with walking pneumonia out of a class of 11. All different Dr.s so nobody thought nothing of it. Anything else odd where you live in weeks prior? Take Care All--Net

[Victoria05202000]

Jonnell,  What Irish said is true. It won't prevent her from getting it, but will help treat symptoms if she gets it....as long as it is administered within the first 48 hours from the start of first symptom.

I would keep doing what you would normally do.  It isn't anymore contagious then any other flu.  Just use the precautions you would use during a bad flu season. You see someone sneezing, coughing, etc. move away from them asap.  Regular masks don't work and hand sanitizer needs to have 60% or more alcohol content to be effective. Just keep an eye on the H1N1 progression the next week or two. I sometimes work with sick children, so I have to take extra precautions at work...just in case. We have another mandatory meeting on Monday morning to get an update.

If it makes you feel any better, all of my co-workers that I talked to are doing what they would normally do with their children. (and some have health concerns)They just are treating it like a bad flu season and we have I think 16 confirmed cases the CDC has recognized...although that number I think should be 23.

Take Care!
Vicky

[jonnell]

Well Jennas dad brought her home this morning vomitting and having diaharrea,  Im trying to be calm  I think it might of been something she ate because so far no fever. We also had her doing a lot of walking yesterday and it was warm and were in several stores with flourscent lights so it could be a flare.  We are going to keep a eye one her and if fever develops its off to dupont.  Thank all of you with advice if calmed me down a lot.      Hugs and Kisses Jonnell and Jenna

[Scottietottie]

Hi 

If its of any reassurance to anybody, there was an interview on TV today with a man who is at presently recovering from swine flu. He picked up a week last Friday from a colleague who'd been in Mexico. (He's in England) He never mentioned nausea or vomitting. He said that last Saturday he was fine. Sunday lunch time he developed chest pains and then a fever. He started aching all over, contacted NHS Direct to get advice. A doctor came to see him on the Monday but he didn't get any Tamiflu until Thursday by which time he reckons he'd turned the corner himself.

He was standing at his back door, looking absolutely fine and i found it very reassuring.  I've had flu that's lasted for a good two weeks in the past and this seemed to be done and dusted in a week. He said he felt 'grotty' but he's felt worse - and he feels pretty good now.

Take care - Scottie 

[Lotus1]

Hubby & I were thinking of updating our passports for a possible trip to Canada.
Not so sure after reading this site it would be a great idea with all the swine flu!
I've been to Canada 4 times, my father is Canadian.  Hubby has never been & I'd so much like to take him there as it's such a beautiful country.
Seems it will either be in our dreams or when retired (if we've any $$$$ left).
Oh well, such is life.
Lotus1

[Billydude]

What about us Sjoggies who are on drugs that suppress our immune system.  Are we at risk being on these drugs?  Should we suspend taking them until this is past?
Steve

[Victoria05202000]

Billydude, In my own opinion....No, do not stop taking them. (of course, if you are concerned bring it up to your Doc)  I work at a hospital and I am on cellcept. I take extra precautions on a normal day already and I am guessing you do to. Just continue to follow them. 

Vicky

[Linda196]

Steve, withut advice from your doctor, it probably isn't a good idea to "suspend" immunosuppressants...it would take some time for any suppression to reverse anyway, because your body would have to rebuild a normal number of white blood cells, and that wouldn't happen over night.

There are always going to be viruses around, endemic, pandemic or epidemic, and, either because of the drugs or the disease, many of us are more susceptible to them. Careful handwashing, personal protective efforts, and avoiding people with colds or flu are always a good idea, even more so now.

Although H1N1 has tragically caused 17 deaths, there seems to be evidence that the fatalities (all but one in Mexico) follow what WHO refers to as developing countries phenomenon...viral outbreaks seem to hit harder in those areas, while outbreaks of the same virus in less developed areas have less impact because of decreased travel and possible early natural immunization; and in more technologically advanced areas the impact is less possibly because of higher levels of health consciousness, and possibly people being in better physical condition before becoming infected.

Although genetically this flu is similar to both the Spanish influenza of 1918, and the bird flu of a few years ago, it is showing signs of being relatively mild: http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-sci-swine-reality30-2009apr30,0,3606923.story ...possibly even less severe than an average flu season.

[Net]

Well, it seems everyone has stopped worrying too much about the swine  flu but of course I'm still watchful cuz all three of my girls have asthma so any flu outbreak keeps me on my toes. Seems our lovely state is 2nd in confirmed cases now(over 500) and the county next to ours has over 90 I think it was. Seems to be 75% of the young adult population so don't know if it was spring breakers or what? I know last week there were 3 at the college but they chose to stay open cuz of finals. Makes me wonder why all the other countries are being so crazy about it then. Probably just didn't want it in there country and I guess it's too late  for ours huh? How's everything where all of you are at? -Net

[irish]

For everyone's information there is an excellent article in the Newsweek magazine. I could not find the date on the cover but you will see a sentence on the front page referring to the article. I bet you can find it in any doctors office(lol) cause that is where I found it myself.

It is an extremely good article with very good diagrams and explainations regarding the importance and the need for vigilance in this disease. I found the article to give credence to the info about the ability of this flu to spread and to increase in severity. The first confirmed case was in Wisconsin in 2005. At this time the CDC was really blown away because it was the first time they had seen swine/bird/human flu grown in one cell. This is cause for concern according to CDC as these are difficult bugs to deal with.

They did praise Mexico for the great way they closed down there businesses, schools, etc because they feel it really cut down on the spread of the disease. It is worth while reading if you get the chance. I don't think we have heard the last of this flu but I am not going to freak out over it. Come to think of it, with my lousy immune system it would probably kill me faster than you could say "Swiss Family Robinson". I am still not going to worry about it. Be sensible and use good measures plus keep abreast of the news.

One other thing they pointed out about this flu is that it is one of the rare bugs that is spread before people have a temp or symptoms. That is what makes it so tricky to control. Irish

[Net]

Yeah, I did hear that about the 1st case being in WI in 2005, happens too  be my state and the one that has such a high count right now too. Sure glad they kept it controlled  back then cuz my kids were that much littler then and the twins had lots of immune issues then. Thank goodness they're almost 7 now and they did figure out along the way that one of their baby shots(prevnar) never took and they had been at risk for pneum. and menegitis.  They got reimmunized last year and yea developed antibodies and really have been doing much better now with their asthma, pneum. and sinus infect. I'm really glad to not have little babies anymore. I really am not a worrywort, I just throw a lot of caution to the wind when any flu is around. I've seen how serious my kids have been with some "mock influenzas" that went around and that was tough enough. Take care all--Net