So I'm pretty sure I have the flu. 102.4 fever, achy joints, hot flashed and cold chills, congestion, cough, etc, the whole shebang.
Of course I have no idea whether it's the demon flu or just regular run of the mill flu...but I'm hoping for the regular flu, since I'm 25 and have asthma, and also have the world's crappiest insurance. I'm actually not even sure who my doctor is, I just had to pick a name on a list for the sake of having it after I had to leave my regular doctor last fall.
How is everyone else's cold and flu season going?
[ October 30, 2009, 08:34 PM: Message edited by: Lyrhawn ]
Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
I think I already had the flu. I never had much of a fever, but I did have killer body aches and all that other crap. I was sick for nine or ten days. Blech.
Hope you get over it soon!
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Thanks so do I. It came at a really, really bad time in my semester.
Posted by Stray (Member # 4056) on :
Three of my housemates have had it; I expect my days are numbered. Since the last one came down with it on Sunday, it takes a week to incubate, and you're the most contagious the day before you start to feel sick, I've been threatening my coworkers that on Monday I'm going to sneak into the break room and lick all the forks Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
I haven't decided yet if I'm just exhausted and dehydrated, or if I really am sick.
Either way, I'm going back to bed.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
I've gotten the seasonal flu shot, and would like to get the H1N1 shot as well, but it's not available in my area to anyone other than school kids and health care providers. The surrounding counties all have enough to give it out to the "adults with chronic health problems" group, though. I'm not sure if my county got less, has more healthcare workers and school children than the surrounding counties, or what.
In any case, no flu for me so far. :: crosses fingers ::
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
What I read on the WHO site is that virtually all the circulating flu in the world is now the new H1N1 strain. So it's unlikely that you have seasonal flu.
Because you have asthma, you should begin a course of Tamiflu right away, ideally less than 48 hours from the start of your symptoms. Call your doctor. Tell them your symptoms. Ask for a prescription. Do it today. If you don't have a regular doctor, go to an urgent care clinic.
If at any time you find it difficult to breathe, if you have a bad cough, or particularly if your fingernails or lips begin to look a bit blue, call 911 and go to the hospital. Thousands of formerly healthy young people have died from this. Don't be one of them through inattention or lack of concern, or embarrassment, or whatever. Please take care of yourself.
[ October 29, 2009, 04:45 PM: Message edited by: Tatiana ]
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
I think I'm going to give it another day before I visit the local clinic. I actually feel quite a bit better than I did yesterday thanks to some fluids and chicken soup, I think I was just dehydrated.
My asthma is a really, really mild case, usually only kicks in when I go for a jog or other strenuous activity. If I start to feel any prolonged chest pain or anything, I'll head right to the clinic.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Well, bright side: It's not flu.
Downside: It's bronchitis.
I'm not sure if that's supposed to be a relief or not, but it doesn't feel like it. I'm not allowed to go to work all weekend either, so turns out my concerns about medical bills were misdirected.
Good luck on your flu season everyone!
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Ouch. Feel better!
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
I'm glad it's not flu, though bronchitis can be pretty bad, too, especially for those with asthma. I'm glad you got it treated. Hopefully the antibiotics will kick in soon and you'll feel much better. Then after you sleep a day or two you should be okay to go back to work. Take care of yourself! Hope you feel a whole lot better real soon.
Posted by Mucus (Member # 9735) on :
How is the rollout of the H1N1 vaccine going on in your various areas? It seems like ours is a bit botched with them underestimating the demand.
Posted by Ron Lambert (Member # 2872) on :
I think the best defense against H1N1 or any flu is to take 2 grams of vitamin C and several garlic tablets every day, and stay away from schoolkids.
Lyrhawn, out of curiosity, do you take Bronchaid or Primatene for your bronchitis? As a childhood asthma sufferer, I always found Bronchaid to be the one chest decongestant that really worked. I never found any of the newer steroid concoctions to be effective. Mucinex also helps as an expectorant. (Bronchaid also contains the same ingredient that is in Mucinex.) In most states you just have to ask for Bronchaid from the Pharmacist; they keep it in back. You have to sign for it, so they can keep track of how much you purchase over a given period of time. The main ingredient, ephedrine sulfate, can be used by street chemists to make meth.
[ October 31, 2009, 08:28 PM: Message edited by: Ron Lambert ]
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