So my doctor thinks I've got the H1N1, so far haven't died, anyone else catch it?

Not sure what the big deal is, frankly aside from a cough and some aches it really hasn't been that bad.

I'm more concerned with my kids getting it, especially my youngest. She's a year old, and she's still under 12 lbs (yes, she's tiny). If she were to get sick and lose any weight at all, it could be a major problem as she has no subcutaneous fat layer.

You need to feed that baby Big Macs, Tal!

All joking aside, it's really just like any other flu. Hence, only the very young, very old, and those with compromised immune systems are at risk of any real danger, from what I've read.

You using your sick time Kel? Or are you "spreading the love" by going to work sick? LOL

Small business ownership, I've notified all my immediate clients that I'm sick but only one was able to reschedule me so I'm working today and friday. :/

Wash your hands, if you develop any sort of serious productive cough wear a mask. And treat it like pretty much any other flu. Lots of fluids, make sure you eat something, and if it gets really bad go to your local ER

We have had a death or two in our county, the big concern is people under the age of 18. It's taken very serious here b/c the latest death was a kid.

We get daily updates on how it affects our hospitals and if we have any sign of flu like symptoms we have a mandatory 7 days off.

This just went into effect this week for all area hospitals not just ones we own....

AREA HOSPITALS EXPAND RESTRICTED VISITORS POLICY

In an effort to protect their patients,<area hospitals> have announced that visitors to all areas must be at least 18 years of age. In some extraordinary cases, however, physicians may give their approval for visitors under age 18.

This temporary policy, which is effective starting Tuesday, Oct. 27, is deemed necessary to limit the potential exposure of patients to those who may have the H1N1 virus. Although anyone can spread the virus, children under 18 years of age are more likely to do so.

People who have flu-like symptoms, which include fever, cough, sore throat, body ache, headache, chills and fatigue, also are asked not to visit patients.


I can send you lots of info if you're interested LOL :)

I'm more concerned with my kids getting it, especially my youngest. She's a year old, and she's still under 12 lbs (yes, she's tiny). If she were to get sick and lose any weight at all, it could be a major problem as she has no subcutaneous fat layer.

Aye, it seems it is hitting the people who have never been exposed to this before (70's I think).. I worry more about my kid then my self.. Although if I did get it it would probably about do me in due to comprimised immune system issues...

Lady on the radio this morning was describing the progression of symptoms in her own case, and she went from feeling "cruddy" to "gasping for breath" within 36 hours, and had to be admitted to hospital via Emergency.

Me, I am finally almost totally free of swelling in my feet, after my cortisone shots yesterday (right into the ball joint!!!!!!) to each foot. Any other health issues I can live with, at this point. I am not worrying about flu, since last year was the first I ever got a shot, and the winter was pretty much normal as far as days spent not feeling well.

I will just say that if you are not in a high risk group, don't get the shot...... leave that dose for someone that really needs it.

It really depends on your exposure profile. If you have kids or associate and work closely with people that do, you should -- not just for yourself but everyone around you. In theory you really want high 90-percentile immunization rates but in a shortage those of us who don't routinely come in contact with a lot of other people can wait.

It never occurred to me that those of us who were exposed in the '70s might have some immunity to the current H1N1 strain; but it might explain why a large number of my students have come down with it and the only faculty in the department who have so far have been the two under 40's. Then again, while we're peaking here in san antonio I could be in the incubation period right now, so I think I'll knock wood and keep an eye out for the vaccine (they're saying January here) just in case ;).

Regards,
Nydia

my 5 year old is sick. Doctor refused to touch her cause she(the doctor) hadn't had her flu shot yet. Said that my daughter has the flu and an ear infection. Did not test for h1n1.

I was at work or I would have ripped said doctor a new one.

Kel, you should have said what it is that has you feeling ill and not just ambigiously "sick". Your clients would have found a way to reschedule!

guy at work had it for a while and gave it to his son, only found out after the son got sick. We shared the same phone, no one else even got sick. BS as usual.

I've had a sore throat and been feeling kind of weary all week, sort of had muscle pain, but I've been working out this week a bit. No cough yet though. Thinking it may be getting close to doctor visit time because none of said symptoms have really gone away. Haven't really had headaches or fever.

I'm still clear, but many students at the school have it. I had my regular flu shot, but I'm one of those wackos not quite willing to take the H1N1 shot. I'm doing my best not to touch community surfaces, and I'm keeping kids out of my office so they aren't using my keyboard/phone/desk. A futile effort probably, but I'm okay so far.

symptoms


INFLUENZA H1N1 SYMPTOMS (Swine flu)
You must be alert if someone in your family has the following symptoms:
 Fever above 38 degrees Celsius or 100 º Fahrenheit
 General malaise and body aches
 Headache
 Muscle and joint pain
 Cough
 Nasal drip
 Irritated eyes
 Sore Throat
 Diarrhea may occur
 Sudden onset of symptoms

We get these every couple of weeks, I've had my flu shot already they come to our site and give it. I have not gotten the H1N1 b/c I don't work in patient areas nor am I around kids.

We do have the vaccine on site now so this is a little dated. I snipped out some specific organizational things but yeah, we're taking it seriously.

I have 3 friends who are diagnosed with H1N1, got it from their kids.

H1N1 New Information Summary - October 16, 2009




2. How safe is the H1N1 vaccine? NEW Many people have questioned the safety of the H1N1 influenza vaccine based on the perception that this was a new vaccine that was “rushed” to market. In reality, the H1N1 vaccine is no more of a new vaccine than each year’s production of seasonal vaccine. It has been produced using the exact same technique as that which has been used to produce seasonal influenza vaccine for many years. The diluents (the liquid that carries the vaccine) and, for certain preparations, the preservative (the additional chemicals that help stabilize the vaccine) are identical to that which is in seasonal influenza vaccine.

Each year, usually in the early winter, the CDC makes an educated assessment of which strains of influenza might be prevalent throughout the world in the coming year. Those strains are then incorporated into the production of seasonal influenza vaccine which is produced by several different manufacturers using similar techniques. Some manufacturers add preservatives and some do not. Some forms of vaccine are produced in multi-use vials and some are manufactured as single-dose vials. One manufacturer produces an inhaled form of influenza vaccine (“FluMist”). All manufacturers use chicken eggs as part of the production process which is why those with egg allergies should not take any form of influenza vaccine, either the seasonal or the H1N1 vaccine.

This season’s production of influenza vaccine (“seasonal vaccine”) began before the appearance of the H1N1 (“swine”) influenza virus that first infected humans in April 2009. If the H1N1 virus had appeared earlier, it is likely that the seasonal vaccine would have included this virus.

The influenza vaccine has been used to protect people for over 40 years and has a very good track record of safety. Even so, as with every vaccine, there are side effects, some of which are serious. The most common side effects are minor including pain, swelling, or redness at the injection site. Some people may feel mildly ill for a day or two but can usually carry on with their usual activities. The more serious side effects, which are rare (less than 1%) include nerve damage that can lead to partial or complete paralysis. Most cases of nerve damage are reversible, but deaths can result from a particularly bad form of nerve damage (Guillain-Barre syndrome).

The initial studies of the H1N1 vaccine demonstrated that the side effects were similar to that of seasonal influenza vaccine. We will hear of individuals who develop “flu-like” symptoms after vaccination with H1N1 influenza vaccine. It is also likely that we will also hear of people who develop more serious reactions to the H1N1 vaccine.

There are many individuals in our society who knowingly take personal risks in order to carry out their primary function of protecting others. Firefighters and police officers place their lives on the line in protection of others. They do so with the knowledge of the risks they are taking and with training to help mitigate those risks. Likewise, healthcare workers must take personal action to protect our patients from acquiring illnesses such as influenza.

WellSpan Health does not presently mandate that our employees take the influenza vaccine. Other employers in our region do have such a requirement. They also may require the constant use of face masks while at work for those who are unable to take the vaccine. New York State now requires all healthcare workers to take the vaccine unless they have a proven reason why they cannot.

We strongly encourage you to take both the seasonal and H1N1 vaccine as part of our commitment to avoid harm to patients.


(http://content.wellspan.org/newsbreaker/newspage.aspx?pageID=8689&src=rss#top)

3. Local Incidence – NEW There has been a significant increase in the number of patients being seen for influenza-like illness. Local primary care providers have reported that they are receiving many phone calls and office visits from patients will with influenza-like illness. Many of the cases have been in children and some local school districts are reporting higher than normal rates of absenteeism.

There have been several admissions to both hospitals for the treatment of serious illnesses due to H1N1 influenza. Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia just reported the death of a post-partum patient who was infected with H1N1 influenza just prior to the delivery of her child.

Virtually all cases of influenza locally and nationally are presently due to the H1N1 virus. Individuals with influenza-like illness may be infected with a variety of viral or bacterial agents. Patients should not assume they have acquired protection against H1N1 influenza simply because they have recovered from a bought of influenza-like illness unless they have confirmed H1N1 infection.

Our laboratories now have new equipment for viral testing that will help with the rapid diagnosis of severe respiratory infections and help distinguish influenza, including H1N1, from other forms of infections. Due to the expense of these tests, we do not recommend routine testing for individuals who are treated in the ambulatory setting except for individuals with severe underlying illness.

The graph below shows the number of visits to WellSpan Medical Group primary care providers for symptoms of influenza-like illness.

Category 1 represents diagnoses most representative of influenza. Category 4 are less specific diagnoses, such as “Upper Respiratory Infection.”


5. Community Vaccination Plans – The York-Adams Metropolitan Medical Response System (YAMMRS) has requested over 200,000 courses of vaccine for the protection of high-risk populations in Adams and York counties against novel H1N1 influenza. YAMMRS is a coalition of local providers that includes WellSpan Health, Memorial Hospital, Hanover Hospital, HealthSouth Rehab, FamilyFirst Health, the York and Adams county Emergency Management Agencies, the York City Bureau of Health, the Red Cross agencies of York, Hanover, and Adams county, and numerous other agencies all of whom have worked together for seven years to prepare for possible medical disasters. Kevin Alvarnaz, WellSpan’s Director of Community Health has been appointed by YAMMRS to coordinate the deployment of multiple mass vaccination clinics that will become operational with receipt of the vaccine from the state DOH.

Most, though not all, local school districts have requested assistance from YAMMRS with the vaccination of their schoolchildren. We expect to offer mass vaccination clinics at schools and other public facilities during the evenings and weekends. The PA DOH has been strongly supportive of YAMMRS efforts.

NEW The PA Department of Health informed us today that vaccine will not be available in our communities for several more weeks, likely into November.

I spoke to the campus nurse this morning here and she informed me that the Bexar Co. Health Dept had *planned* to host a public vaccination here on Nov 14th, but that's now in doubt. At this rate, by the time the vaccine gets here in appreciable amounts, everyone in the area will already have been exposed ;).

Of course, we were so worried about bioterrorism over the past 8 years (50% of the CDC's entire budget diverted to largely ludicrous pork training sessions) that there wasn't any money/will to modernize our antiquated method of vaccine generation, so we're waiting on the chicken embryo cultures and associated arduous purification process...

Regards,
Nydia

Funny how no one has considered that this might have been a bioterrorism attempt. Maybe it has something to do with its more common name? Muslim extremists won't spread a disease associated with an 'unclean' animal?

Oh, I'm sure somebody has, they just got laughed at instead of put in charge of something at DHS.

Kel, you should have said what it is that has you feeling ill and not just ambigiously "sick". Your clients would have found a way to reschedule!

I did, but obviously they couldn't reschedule the Redskins/Eagles game Monday, the Senate wasn't about to reschedule their hearing on Tuesday (I wasn't in the hearing room due to my illness, I was in the rotunda doing the live shots), and yesterday's live webinar was planned months in advance. Today was just an interview and some broll for the US Courts so they were able to move it to next week, but rarely do I have shoots that can easily be moved - flu or no flu.

Funny how no one has considered that this might have been a bioterrorism attempt. Maybe it has something to do with its more common name? Muslim extremists won't spread a disease associated with an 'unclean' animal?


"Brownie" has left the building, or he might have been a great candidate to take charge of this; there seems to be a strange sense of deja vu in how we are 'making strides' in the fight against H1N1 as in how we got folks back into their homes in New Orleans.

Me, I'm a poor little uneducated school teacher at the end of the day, and most serious research that I read is via Internet anymore, so I'm hardly qualified to speak to the safety of the vaccine. Nor do I want to jump in with the crazies claiming it's a conspiracy, although again I want to point out that this IS how zombie movies frequently begin. What did get my attention was the number of health professionals refusing the H1N1 vaccine. My personal doctor and all of the doctors at the hospital where my wife works refused it. She said several were visibly angry when they were mistakenly told that the yearly flue shots were actually H1N1 shots. Sort of following their lead, and because I'm not quite in a high risk position, despite the walking flu bags in my classroom, I'll probably pass. In a few years, it will likely be an embarrassment that I passed when all of this blows over, but for the moment, I'm leaning on those with more experience than I.

I have no intention of getting the vaccine either.

zombie pigs!

Actually, in the late 60's, when we had the "Swine flu" outbreak that was the mother of all flu outbreaks, my mother and sister got sick and I remember walking a couple miles to the drug store in a snow storm to get their prescription medication. I may be immune to this one now, but who knows.

The one in 76, where more people were hurt by the rushed vaccine than the actual swine flu? Or, a different one?

Was the year before I entered the military, so would have been '67/'68 winter, I am pretty sure. Might have had a different moniker, like "Asian" flu, or something, but Swine sure seems like it was the tag.

That was the "Hong Kong" flu. The "Asian" one back then was about a decade earlier.

The previous pig flu was in 76:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASibLqwVbsk


It's all good, long as we don't get this, I guess: http://zik.com.ua/en/news/2009/10/29/202374

That was the "Hong Kong" flu.



Yeppers, that was the one.

I did, but obviously they couldn't reschedule the Redskins/Eagles game Monday, the Senate wasn't about to reschedule their hearing on Tuesday (I wasn't in the hearing room due to my illness, I was in the rotunda doing the live shots), and yesterday's live webinar was planned months in advance. Today was just an interview and some broll for the US Courts so they were able to move it to next week, but rarely do I have shoots that can easily be moved - flu or no flu.


Thats fucked up IHMO. I am not sure who you are trying to impress here by exposing others to your sickness in the name of making a buck. No one is that important or event that important where its ever OK to go into work with a contagious illness. If you are sick, stay home. Have one of your minions do the shoot. Its why you have minions. To do otherwise is selfish and inconsiderate. We have a few cases of N1H1. Embassy staff and family members. They are locked down for 2 weeks, unable to leave the house. Most of them are not that ill and by all rights could come in to work. But be damned if they do and get more people sick.

Went to Doctor for unrelated problem, but he was telling me anyone who presents with flu-like symptoms they automatically start treating for H1N1, because i guess the labs take two weeks to come back and by then it could be too late.