Does anybody you know have the Swine (H1N1) Flu? If so ..

what has it been like for them and their family and what has their community done in the schools, etc. to help thwart it from spreading, etc.

[adgal]

I only know of one person so far and I don't know her well. I work with her and she picked it up at a camp this summer.  She did wind up in the hospital for awhile, but she also had had an underlying condition (I believe it was a disease of the respitory system. She is fine now, but she was pretty sick for awhile.  

We are getting outbreaks in our schools and it seems the city I live in is responding well.  No school closures yet and minimal serious cases.  It's hard to say as they aren't really testing for H1N1 unless it is quite serious and requires hospitilization.  The organization I work for has put many safeguards in place.  We have been fitted with masks, sanitizer is everywhere and they are doing a great job in educating us on prevention.  We also have a pandemic plan in place.  It does help make me feel safer.

[angelausp]

My younger cousin was diagnosed with swine flu last weekend.  Due to his asthma, he had to be hospitalized, and is currently still in the hospital.  He is a sophomore in high school, and is very active in sports and other extracurricular activities.  Although the school didn’t close (he is the only confirmed case of Swine Flu), they are keeping a close watch of student showing flu-like symptoms.  They also sent a letter home reminding parents of ways to prevent their child form getting swine flu.

[April2]

My 5 year old son got it at the beginning of September. It's one nasty bug from what I can see. He had a temperature and dry cough. We took him in to the ER and they confirmed it was flu (doc said it was too early for any other type flu and that it was Swine flu. He said that was what they were seeing). 2 days later we took him back to the ER alarmed because we could not get his temperature down. It got as high as 105 and fluctuated between 102-103 even with giving him the Children's Motrin and Tylenol. They took another chest x-ray and saw a pocket of pneumonia and wanted to admit him. He was put on oxygen and given an IV. He was in the hospital for 4 days. I'm so thankful they caught it so quickly because he was so sick and it happened so fast! It was scary. He was so lathargic, laying on the couch, not eating or even drinking when we took him back to the ER that second time. He didn't start off throwing up the first day or two but by the time we took him back to the ER the second time he wasn't holding anything down, even water. It was very, very scary. I've never seen him that sick.
Don't take chances, especially with the little ones like this. They can go downhill fast!

I did tell his school that they believed he had the Swine flu but I don't think they did anything about it or warned parents, which bugged me because I know he must have caught it there and that there must have been other kids walking around with symptoms, etc. I'm just grateful he's ok and we caught it and got him in when we did. It's one nasty bug!
Fortunately, no one else in our family caught it but I was cleaning like a mad woman, spraying Lysol everywhere and washing his bedding, etc. We made sure we all washed our hands, used hand sanitizer, etc. My teenage daughter started to act like she was catching something but it didn't progress. Just take care, everyone. I pray this flu season goes by fast!

[adgal]

A co-workers childs school just shut down this week. It was because so many teachers have it and are away sick.  I believe this is the first school shut down as a result of swine flu in my city.  I am being very very careful about hygiene as well, but my decision to have the vaccine has been reinforced.  

[dainsey]

got the swine flu vaccine a few days ago at my OB's office and I'm so glad I did.  Now I won't constantly worry!  I also got my 18 month old daughter her swine shot today!  

[angelausp]

@dainsey what side effects, if any, have you experienced from the vaccine?

[penggal1]

Hi Guys go to my Profile and look at my Journals, if you get a moment. I just wanted to clear up that the US is not and has not been testing for h1n1 since Aug 09, so anyone who says they have swine is a speculation or clinical diagnosis. This came straight from the CDC. Good luck!

[akl_cdl]

My moms employee had to take off  2 weeks ago for a funeral.  It was for a pregnant woman in her third trimester who passed away due to complications of the H1N1.  Her baby is ok and did not test positive for H1N1.  She had no underlying medical conditions and was healthy.  She was tested by a blood test, it was sent off, the CDC did confirm H1N1.  From what I understand if some one passes away and they presume the cause is H1N1 they do send off the test to confirm it.  

[ChitChatNine]

I can answer my own post -- we all  in my family had it and almost all of us had secondary complications -- I ended up not only getting sinusitis and another awful virus on top of it, I also ended upon asthma meds and I am not an asthmatic.  It was bad - I have been ill since November 3rd .. took about 10 days to get over the flu itself and then secondary stuff which has included fevers.

Not so sure I am neutral on my views after going thru this - and the shot in my town isn't available until early December!