Pandemic (Swine) Flu

[Bulky]

Originally Posted by lauzjp

hello. For some reason I decided to pop in the newsagents on my way to work at the supermarket this evening, and do the online test.

I have been feeling depressed & unwell generally since the weekend; little coughs now & again, a few sneezes, but mainly aching joints & limbs, light-headed... past couple of days had hideous headache, & felt sick a lot. I hate being sick & will do anything to avoid it, so just tried to ignore it. Then today, I had explosions in the bathroom, from the other end. I didn't think much of this until just before I was due to go to work, and I looked in the loo and thought cos it was just so gross! That prompted me to do the test. I'd been thinking for a few days 'I think I've got the symptoms' but I really wasn't expecting to do the test for it to suddenly appear after a few questions - your reference no. is.. I kinda froze and freaked out a bit. I thought it would say take some paracetemol.


I don't feel like I've got a cold. Though hubby says I do feel hot, & I feel cold.

I can't believe I'm posting this, but I'm hoping it might be useful to know what my symptoms were and how 'different' it is for each person..

the symptoms are VERY similar to how i feel , sore throat which comes and goes , light headed , nausea , and general aching of the joints. I'm just passing this off as a bit of a bug as at least three or four of us at work have felt the same and most now feel fine , is this a warning ??? , just to add , one thing i don't seem to have is a temperature.

[Russ]

If you've got a temperature too get on to the helpline.

[Bulky]

Originally Posted by Russ B

If you've got a temperature too get on to the helpline.

thanks , edited in after , no temperature

[Tezcatlipoca]

Originally Posted by zing

There are already cases of Tamiflu resistant swine flu I can see it being useless sooner rather than later

I read this in New Scientist a few weeks ago...

http://www.newscientist.com/article/...-pandemic.html

[lauzjp]

I think it's hard to tell if you have a temperature if you don't have a themometer - which seems to be a rare commodity, our chemist had sold out, even of the £6.99 ones! My temperature and the bathroom issue were the last two symptoms I got, and they both came on very suddenly yesterday - so please be very weary bulkylad & colleagues.

Originally Posted by Matt D

I read this in New Scientist a few weeks ago...

http://www.newscientist.com/article/...-pandemic.html

Yes and the more its pumped out to people who do not need it or are outside the 2 day symptom range which the blooming call centre appears to be doing the soon the virus will become resistant to it

[Russ]

It's just been clarified that anyone in England can get the treatment over the phone. Even those who don't live there or are just visiting for the day.

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by Russ B

If you call up the helpline I guarantee you'll be authorised the antiviral treatment.

I don't understand why?

(I don't know her age or health but) If you a healthy adult with no underlying health problems why do you need the anti-viral drug?????

It's confirmed that this strain of flu is no more dangerous than seasonal flu.

If you think you're coming down with the flu, go home, and on the way buy plenty of fruit, liquids, and beechams and tough it out.

If you are pregnant, elderly, have an underlying condition then fine get the drugs.

I don't understand why we giving out Tamiflu to normally healthy people. Are people paying prescription charges for this?? or is it free??

If it's free then it beggars belief.

[Russ]

I meant anyone displaying the symptoms who is currently in England whether they live there or not.

[Derek]

Originally Posted by Pierre

If it's free then it beggars belief.

It is good for headlines though and I'd be amazed if there are not some pretty high level connections between the government and the companies currently enjoying the happy times supplying the NHS with Tamiflu.

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by Russ B

I meant anyone displaying the symptoms who is currently in England whether they live there or not.

Fair enough,

My point is though, that even if you are displaying the symptoms you should not automatically qualify for the drug.

I'm sure alot of the callers would be fine sat at home in a duvet with a hot water bottle.

[Pia]

So i have a question (or two)...

As a pregnant woman, why exactly am i "at risk"? Is it because my immune system is lowered, or because the 'virus' would spread to baby? Or both?

I mean, is it that i'm more likely to catch it than non pregnant people, or that it's more dangerous if i do?

Baby is due in December, and apparently we should be getting ready for it being much worse in winter - should i be considering a home birth, or is that ridiculous?

My thinking would be that it's surely better for me to have it whilst pregnant, than just after giving birth (which a link on here said 2 women have died from it just after giving birth) and baby getting it whilst newborn?

Anyway i'm not donning the face masks or anything, but i've not showed too much interest in this so far as i have tried not to get lured into the media scaremongering. However i do think it's likely i'm going to get it, with a 6 yr old back at school next month, and i have visions of the hospitals being full of contagious people when i go into labour

[superbiatch]

Here you go Pia http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Pandemi...nantwomen.aspx

[joglynne]

..and another site, which has been updated recently to take in all the current thinking.

http://www.nct.org.uk/info-centre/information/view-117

[Pia]

Thanks for the links