Do you have swine flu? not a joke

[Mr__Bill]

Emory University, Flu Self-Assessment

During flu season this year, emergency rooms and doctors' offices might become crowded with patients seeking help for flu symptoms. This assessment is based on material licensed from Emory University. It is meant to tell you what some experts think about whether you should visit a doctor for H1N1 flu.

It's easy and may give you some peace of mind.

Consumer Reports has a nice article on how to sort out swine flu facts from fiction.

Bill,

[Tom Slick]

I just found out my cousin has contracted H1N1. She young and healthy so there is no real concern, it's just the flu.

[Salty]

Thank you Bill.
I was using that reasoning for not wanting the vaccine.
Now I must rethink that reasoning. I was not aware the vaccine would create the same antibodies.
Now I guess we need to see if it becomes available and at an affordable price.
If I were in charge, I'd make it available for free for anyone.

[Ed62]

A couple of days ago, I heard on TV that hand washing will do little to contain the flu. They said the contamination on the hands cannot live longer than a very short time. No wonder everybody's confused.

Ed

[parnelli]

I just found out my cousin has contracted H1N1. She young and healthy so there is no real concern, it's just the flu.

I think that thinking causes many to not be too concerned. Just this week a local 14 year old girl died from h1n1. She had been home a few days with just a flu.

Afterwards they found out that the girl who was apparently young and healthy had a heart defect that contributed to her passing.

[cgallery]

If I were in charge, I'd make it available for free for anyone.

Technically, it is free for everyone. Doctors/hospitals/clinics don't pay for the vaccine. It is paid for by the government. Health providers are allowed to charge to administer the vaccine, though.

[cwithboat]

A couple of days ago, I heard on TV that hand washing will do little to contain the flu. They said the contamination on the hands cannot live longer than a very short time. No wonder everybody's confused.

Ed

Depends on whether you pick your nose or suck your thumb.

[TB Roye]

Going in tomorrow, LOML and I will get the seasonal flu shot (1N1 not available yet) 5 yerar old Granddaughter will get both. The H1N1 is the nose swab for her. LOML will get the H1N1 when it is available as she has COPD and Asama. My Doctor doesn't recomend it for 65 and above per US Gov. guide lines. Main thing is if Graddaughter doesn't bring it home from school we might be ok. Get the shot every year and so far we haven't gotten the flu probably more because we are retired and don't go to work or places where a lot of people gather.

Tom

[Norm in Fujino]

I got my first-ever flu shot last year, and I'll be doing it again this year. The one last year seems to have done me good; I didn't come down with flu or even a single cold all year, until a minor cold this past fall. That's just about a first for me, ever.

[MilDoc]

I had the seasonal flu vaccine back the first part of September, but came down with lab confirmed H1N1 last week in September. Got sent home 10:30 Monday and didn't make it back all week

FYI, swine flu is practically the only flu circulating right now. "Seasonal" flu hasn't made a dent.

[Mr__Bill]

I had the seasonal flu vaccine back the first part of September, but came down with lab confirmed H1N1 last week in September. Got sent home 10:30 Monday and didn't make it back all week

Sorry to hear you got the flu, I understand some oinkment will take care of it for you.

FYI, swine flu is practically the only flu circulating right now. "Seasonal" flu hasn't made a dent.

Well it seems I can stop trying to convince myself that those sickies around me just have the regular flu. I'll have to move on to they just have a bad cold before I convince myself I have the flu. Though I know it's coming.

Bill, ya know hypochondriacs can get sick too!

[Ed62]

I had the seasonal flu vaccine back the first part of September, but came down with lab confirmed H1N1 last week in September. Got sent home 10:30 Monday and didn't make it back all week

Being a health care provider, weren't you supposed to get the H1N1 vaccine, or wasn't it available at that time?

I'm guessing you only had a mild case of it because you probably wouldn't be posting if it were severe. I guess there's an upside to being a senior citizen.

Ed

[schloff]

My son (8 years old) was just diagnosed with it this morning. Doctor wasn't too concerned as his is such a low fever. He isn't feeling bad at all. Just confused as to why we want to keep him contained and not let him play with friends on his school fall break.

Tamiflu for all of us, though. Just in case.

[MilDoc]

Nope, H1N1 vaccine wasn't out yet.

I wouldn't call it "mild," but not much worse than a bad case of seasonal flu. Still bad enough to keep me home all week.