# I think I have Swine Flu **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 19, 2009, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-have-swine-flu/496933 "2009-05-19T05:20:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![hellpaso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecae2f/32.png) [@hellpaso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hellpaso)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-have-swine-flu/496933/1 "2009-05-19T05:20:33Z")
I took a flight to Houston last Friday, and returned home yesterday (Sunday). Around noon today (Monday), I started having severe chills, and felt sooo tired. I attributed it to the hectic schedule of my weekend. Well, I decided to take a nap, and slept until 2 pm. When I got up, I still felt like shit–achy and a little congested in the chest. I felt like my eyes were burning out of my head (post-lasik, that’s not so unusual). Anyway, I decided to take my temp to see if something was going on. It was 103.4!!! Agh!!! I haven’t had fever in at least 25 years. I’ll keep ya’ll posted. Has anybody else had the flu??? ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-have-swine-flu/496933/2 "2009-05-19T05:32:19Z")
There exists a quick test to see if you have a flu virus or something else. The answer to this one question will determine if you have the flu or not. You are sick and laying in bed. You wake up and look out the window. You see $10,000 cash in a stack on your lawn. Do you: A) Get up and get the money B) Moan and pull the covers over your head If you answered A you do not have the flu. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-have-swine-flu/496933/3 "2009-05-19T05:33:20Z")
The odds of you having the swine ful are about one in 200 million. The odds of you having the ordinary flu are about 1 in 30. Heed thee to a doctor. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-have-swine-flu/496933/4 "2009-05-19T05:57:50Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > The odds of you having the swine ful are about one in 200 million. The odds of you having the ordinary flu are about 1 in 30. Heed thee to a doctor. Yeah, but would he or she be better phoning the doc or clinic saying he or she is paying a visit and has flu symptoms , rather going outright. Id probably think it was a normal flu for myself, rather than get all dramatic, but I think I would call and let them tell me either come on in , or wait a bit we will get back to you. No sense infecting more folks that are simply waiting in the doctors office for what ever reason. Declan ---
**Author:** ![hellpaso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecae2f/32.png) [@hellpaso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hellpaso)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-have-swine-flu/496933/5 "2009-05-19T05:59:25Z")
Thanks, guys. You have no way of knowing, but I live on the Mexican border, and the first people to die of this crap were from here. My throat hurts and I wanna cry. I’ll let you know tomorrow if I died overnight. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-have-swine-flu/496933/6 "2009-05-19T06:00:59Z")
> [@hellpaso](#): > > Thanks, guys. You have no way of knowing, but I live on the Mexican border, and the first people to die of this crap were from here. My throat hurts and I wanna cry. **I’ll let you know tomorrow if I died overnight.** So this is going to turn into a zombie thread. Declan ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-have-swine-flu/496933/7 "2009-05-19T06:52:49Z")
Get thee to the doctors, he’ll “cure” you, but you may be being a little “rash” in thinking it’s pig flu Or you could buy some oinkment what? ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-have-swine-flu/496933/8 "2009-05-19T07:13:45Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > The odds of you having the swine flu are about one in 200 million. This is factually incorrect. According to [this map](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8021547.stm), there have been 4,714 cases of confirmed H1N1 cases in the United States alone. That is 1 in 63,640 Americans. In Mexico, there have been 3,103 cases, or about 1 in 35,100. ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-have-swine-flu/496933/9 "2009-05-19T07:14:42Z")
Swine flu, regular flu, or other random illness, the fact is that you’re sick and feel dreadful. Call the doctor to see how you should handle this medically, and take care of yourself otherwise: a nice hot tea with lemon and honey will soothe your head and throat (if your throat aches), and get lots of sleep and lots of fluids. Chicken soup will truly comfort both body and spirit. Even if it turns out to be the swine flu, the chances of it killing you are just above your coming back if it does to tell us about it. Don’t get freaked, but do take it easy, listen to your body’s symptoms, and don’t get out and about to infect others. Feel better soon! ---
**Author:** ![pudytat72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@pudytat72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pudytat72)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-have-swine-flu/496933/10 "2009-05-19T11:02:50Z")
There are medications available to treat the flu (swine or otherwise) BUT (and this is VERY IMPORTANT), you MUST start them within 48 hours of getting sick or they will not work. The sooner you start them, the faster you will get better. So, even though you feel like you have been run over by a truck, you need to call your doctor about getting a test for the flu TODAY. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-have-swine-flu/496933/11 "2009-05-20T02:28:41Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > The odds of you having the swine ful are about one in 200 million. The odds of you having the ordinary flu are about 1 in 30. Heed thee to a doctor. Not strictly true, as there have been something like 3,000 cases of swine flu in the US (a large percentage of them in Texas. So it’s more like 1 in 1 million, maybe a lot more. Also, regular flu isn’t very common this time of year in the US. I second the suggestion that it wouldn’t hurt to pop by a doctor’s office if you’re concerned (especially if you have any underlying health issues). Fortunately, this seems to be a pretty mild one for most folks… only a FEW days of thinking death isn’t a bad option. Take care and GET SOME REST. I’m pretty sure you can alternate Advil and Tylenol (not exceeding dosage of either) to keep the fever under control. This was something we were told when the kids were sick as babies and it’s what I did the last time I had flu. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-have-swine-flu/496933/12 "2009-05-20T02:53:18Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > According to [this map](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8021547.stm), there have been 4,714 cases of confirmed H1N1 cases in the United States alone. My father is just now recovered after a miserable one week bout of flu, which his doctor is fairly sure was H1N1 based on the symptomology. But he never had it confirmed or reported it. It wasn’t life-threatening in his case ( just sucky as hell ) and neither he nor his doctor saw the point. One imagines this is not uncommon. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-have-swine-flu/496933/13 "2009-05-20T02:59:34Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > The odds of you having the swine ful are about one in 200 million. The odds of you having the ordinary flu are about 1 in 30. Heed thee to a doctor. This board has 80,000 registered users. There’s a 1 in 40,000 chance that one of us has swine flu. ---
**Author:** ![Fantome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Fantome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fantome)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-have-swine-flu/496933/14 "2009-05-20T03:07:36Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > This board has 80,000 registered users. There’s a 1 in 40,000 chance that one of us has swine flu. 1 in 25,000 ---
**Author:** ![hellpaso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecae2f/32.png) [@hellpaso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hellpaso)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-have-swine-flu/496933/15 "2009-05-20T04:32:13Z")
Thanks to all for your concern. I still have a temp up to 103, which is responsive to ibuprofen. As a nurse, the only way I would go to a dr. is feet first. Fortunately, Mr. HP is MD, and we managed to get a stash of tamiflu a couple of weeks ago. I started that as soon as I noticed the fever. The main problem I have is the fever, with a few aches–head and body. I have a few sniffles, but that is normal for me with my seasonal allergies. I’ve just never really been sick, and it kinda freaks me out. I’m hoping I’ll get over this uneventfully, and at least have immunity if it returns with a vengeance this fall. A large part of my freaking-outed-ness is that I have studied the “Spanish Flu” pandemic since I was a little kid. Sometimes, ignorance is bliss. Thanks for ya’ll’s support. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-have-swine-flu/496933/16 "2009-05-20T04:41:32Z")
> [@hellpaso](#): > > Fortunately, Mr. HP is MD, and we managed to get a stash of tamiflu a couple of weeks ago. I started that as soon as I noticed the fever. Then you are ill-informed and irresponsible. To “stash” antivirals and to start taking them before even testing positive for the flu is ridiculous and a waste of Tamiflu. Maybe you have Strep throat, for crying out loud. From The CDC [website](http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/recommendations.htm): > [@](#): > > Clinical judgment is an important factor in treatment decisions. Persons with suspected novel H1N1 influenza who present with an uncomplicated febrile illness typically do not require treatment unless they are at higher risk for influenza complications, and in areas with limited antiviral mediation availability, local public health authorities might provide additional guidance about prioritizing treatment within groups at higher risk for infection. > > Treatment is recommended for: > \*\* > > 1. All hospitalized patients with confirmed, probable or suspected novel influenza (H1N1). > 2. Patients who are at higher risk for seasonal influenza complications (see above).\*\* > > If a patient is not in a high-risk group or is not hospitalized, healthcare providers should use clinical judgment to guide treatment decisions, and when evaluating children should be aware that the risk for severe complications from seasonal influenza among children younger than 5 years old is highest among children younger than 2 years old. Many patients who have had novel influenza (H1N1) virus infection, but who are not in a high-risk group have had a self-limited respiratory illness similar to typical seasonal influenza. For most of these patients, the benefits of using antivirals may be modest. Therefore, testing, treatment and chemoprophylaxis efforts should be directed primarily at persons who are hospitalized or at higher risk for influenza complications. (bolding mine) I would expect less panic and better judgement from healthcare workers such as yourself and your husband. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-have-swine-flu/496933/17 "2009-05-20T04:47:25Z")
My ignorant, uneducated guess is that if you are posting regularly you don’t have the swine flu. Sorry to hear that you are hoarding meds. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-have-swine-flu/496933/18 "2009-05-20T05:11:33Z")
> [@hellpaso](#): > > I have is the fever, with a few aches–head and body. I have a few sniffles, but that is normal for me with my seasonal allergies. IANAD but I can tell you from experience that what you have is not the flu. Back in 1968 I had the Hong Kong flu. I was 16, a student athlete, and strong as an ox. It damn near killed me. Put me in a bed for two weeks, and I lost 20 lbs. I was so weak I had to crawl to the bathroom and back. You do not have the flu. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-have-swine-flu/496933/19 "2009-05-20T07:14:14Z")
A week ago today I woke up and thought I was going to die…ached everywhere, felt like someone beat me up with a baseball bat from my insides. Oddly, no vomiting or diarrhea, just stomach, chest, muscle pains, temperature, then the chills. I called in sick at school for the first time in three years! The very next day I felt fine…and I mean 100% OK! Granted, I slept for about 18 hours that day, took a couple aspirin, drank some orange juice and later took a bath - but still, quick recovery. Could hardly believe it came and went so quickly…I did get a flu shot earlier in the season, so maybe that helped speed the healing process? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-have-swine-flu/496933/20 "2009-05-20T14:19:12Z")
Are potential flu patients supposed to go to the doctor to make sure the flu is being tracked? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-have-swine-flu/496933.md?page=2)