The day before yesterday my older boy had a headache and fever so yesterday morning it dawned on me it might be flu. We went to the hospital and he had a test, yep, type A. He got given the tamiflu stuff there and then and five days supply. I had EXACTLY the same symptoms but my test came back negative. Stupid Dr would not give me any tamiflu but warned me to gargle and wash my hands while caring for my son because it was easily passed. Well, I have a 40C fever and chills and joint pain NOW, I think I have it… Luckily my SIL is a pharmacist and she asked her Dr who saw me this morning and tested me again, it STILL came out negative, but who agreed that I do indeed have flu and gave me the stuff.
Tamiflu is great. My son has had two days worth now and his fever is gone. He is white and tired but not too sick. I got going 24 hour hours late so feel terrible. This is the first time I have been out of bed in 24 hours. I’ll have to go back in a minute. But the Tamiflu is definitely beginning to kick in.
I told a friend about it and warned her that if she got a headache or joint aches to get a test right away - she did and has had her flu caught before it gave her real trouble.
If you think you might have flu and can possibly get to a doctors, ask for the test. I had flu when I was 17 and had 4 weeks off school, as I was so tired afterwards. This time yes, I was hallucinating the night before last, and have felt horrible but the worst seems to have passed in 48 hours. Tamiflu is horribly expensive though - we have a 10% copay and we paid 20 dollars for 10 doses. I’d have paid the full amount if I could have had it 24 hours earlier.
Thanks for your concern! I feel like I want some sympathy! Husband is here this weekend but leaves again tomorrow so not sure what I will do then. Fever has not dipped below 38 in three days now, even with meds. The two boys are running round the house being stupid and the big one is making the little one cry.
This is the first time I have sat up today. The thing that really worries me is that I run a private English school from my home and will have to refund two weeks of tuition to the students. That is going to put a dent in our budget. I have given myself till Tuesday to get better but I don’t think it is going to happen.
When I lie down I am so tired. I lie there thinking I need a pee but it takes me an hour to work up the courage to get out of bed and down the hall…
Those anti-virals are freaking miraculous! When they work, they cut the flu down so quick. Otherwise by day 9 or 10 of the illness I’d cut my own throat if I had the energy.
Having a cold won’t inoculate you against the flu. Even last year’s flu shot won’t do it. When my son was a toddler and my daughter a newborn, all three of us got the flu. I had gotten the shot, but that was the year they mis-guessed the current strain, so it didn’t help. The baby couldn’t breathe and the toddler was having febrile seizures and I was so sick, I could hardly stand up.
I wish I could inflict this scenario on any teenager contemplating the possibility of getting pregnant. It was a real nightmare.
Thanks for the sympathy! I woke up fever-free this morning though I have a stonking headache and still feel weak. I’ve been reading e-mail for half an hour and will need a nap in a minute…
The anti virals are wonderful. Kid suffered badly for less than 24 hours. I was in hell for four days. But yes, way shorter than before when I had flu years ago.
I think though that I am not going to be ready to teach by Tuesday which was the deadline I gave myself. Even the thought of getting dressed makes me want to weep.
My family and I are just getting over it. The lil one missed an entire week of school. Alias only missed a couple of college classes, but managed to bounce back from healthy to sick for around two weeks.
My voice is shot, so I can’t even manage a full fledged moan.
