should I go to the ER?

[hepcandme]

woke this morning with a terrible headache and now I am shaken uncontrollably

I am currently Not on treatment but thinking I might have pneumonia?

Left a message for doc but he will not pick it up till tomorrow, I'm sure

[gibsongal]

in the "olden days" people wore gloves all the time..and always used a handkerchief . or covered there face with a shawl..

When i lived in NYC and rode the subway i wore fashionable gloves and scarf fall winter and spring….i think it helped..

[Carlhcv]

Get well soon!! 103*! No wonder you were shivering. There is not a whole lot that you can do to protect yourself if you need to be in public. The germs are on surfaces everywhere. I recently stopped rubbing my eyes with my fingers and use a cloth instead. You can rub a virus into your eye.

[hepcandme]

Washing hands is always a good idea but the flu is airborne so if you have to go someplace crowded or be around someone who has the flu, a mask is best
Especially at your doctor's office or at the clinic or hospital and yes, Sandi, the Social Security office for sure - where sick people and their germs abound!

Tamiflu is giving me some weird sides - especially one that I call the Max Headroom effect. This will really date me - Max Headroom was an early 80s odd TV series - but the effect happens in your head - like Max

There is this little zzzttt sensation - no sound of course - but it feels like a little wire short circuit in your brain

They only time I have ever experienced it was 20 years ago when I stopped taking Prosac abruptly. You're not supposed to do that since Prosac affects sertonin uptake inhibitors in your brain and you should quit gradually

So many medications, so many sides. Sometimes it's hard to give proper attribution to the medication, the virus, the liver disease, accompanying illness  or the way that everything works or doesn't work in when you put them all together in your body and give it a good stir!

[gibsongal]

get well soon! glad that you went and ..yeah the iv fluids really help so much!

let us know if the tamiflu works! curious..

i got my flu shot in November..

flu season is supposed to peter out in about 6 weeks i think,  so everyone wash your hands a soon as you get home from public places...this is not the time to go to the mall or a crowded movie theatre!

but i do have to go to the pharmacy..and the natural food store.

will wear gloves and not touch anything and not stand close to anyone!!!!

i have been staying home because of the cold weather  and we keep getting pounded with snow.....so that keeps me out of public places.  have not left the house in 12 days!!!!  

yeah it's sad but it is like 10 degrees or less out and i have nothing to do really..the cold weather really makes my pain bad.

[dontworry_behappy1]

Hope you get well soon.

[hepc4Sandi]

I am so glad you went in and got help, hopefully the tamiflu will help some. Yes lots of rest! Watch how your breathing is, go back in if it starts getting hard to breathe.

@Ekkiemom, I am not sick, a friend I have got it. My daughter may be coming down with it right now, she is in college, 2nd week of Spring semester, prime flu season.

I am using my hand sanitizer all the time, and trying to stay out of public places. Had to go to Social Security today to file for MediCare, and was paranoid about picking up a bug there.

Take care my fellow heppers, we are all susceptible to these viruses with our immune systems being down.

Sandi

[hepcandme]

After weighing in with All the docs - liver, gastro, general + a plethora of nurses who always have opinions, I was given the go ahead to start taking Tamiflu

Even though there is no data about how it affects cirrhotics

I had no idea this flu was so troublesome this year. Everyone at the hospital and doc's offices seem really freaked out by it and many are wearing masks

I feel so much better with the fluids and controlling the fever but looks like I am going to be out of commish for at least a week or more

I would recommend to my friends that they take extra precautions when going to the doc's office or hospital where the flu virus abounds. Ask for a mask when entering just to be safe

We don't need this additional threat to our immune systems

Thanks to all that supported my going to the ER. Unfettered shivering is an indication of one's body in a state of high fever. Without intervention, the flu can turn into pneumonia or worse

must be nap time now...

[Ekkiemom]

Ooohhhh no Sandi. That stinks..this is such a potent bug this yr. it goes to bronchitis so quick. So happy you are getting treatment for this Hun. Absolutely nothing to fool around with....seems as though the vaccine missed the mark in a big way!  ~[:-(
Please take care of yourself ok. Be better soon my friend!!
Sending lots of healing vibes your way and big hugs too. Stock up on the Kleenex Sandi
<<<<>>>>
Deb

[Rbeth]

Ahhh!

So glad you went & got help!! Yep, if you have good lungs( mine are meh) you should be able to kick this a Flu in the butt!! Drink lots, bundle up, let your wonderful cytokines burn that baby out!

So sorry, your sick, like bein a kid feeling, right?
Take good care & see ya on the other side of Flu!! REST!!
Randy

This mutated Flu strain is apparently resistant to flu shot this year... Shot MAY make it not quite so rough bless ya Linda

[hepcandme]

Just got back from ER

Temp was 103

yep, flu. I hadn't had the flu in ages forgot how fun it was!

Anyway, got blood draw, tylenol (just 650 mg) and a liter of fluid that made me feel better straight away. Honestly, I Love an IV of fluid. Makes that dehydration go away stat!

Doc prescribed tamiflu and ibuprofen but I didn't pick it up either of them. My temp is down to 99.4 and am just going to take it easy, drink lots of fluids and my son brought me some chicken soup

I suppose I could be convinced that the tamiflu is worth taking but the ER doc and nurses said, meh, take it if you want to and seems like I read something bad about it? Med team thought that the most it would do is to shorten my flu by a day or 2

Will see what liver doc says tomorrow

Thanks everyone for all your concern and good suggestions

Off to bed!

Oh, for those who are lamenting Not getting a flu shot, it seems that the shot has only been effective in 20% of cases

[Rbeth]

See how loved you are :-)

[Rbeth]

Linda,

Aw!!! You will be fine, just get checked out so you can treat, if you have! Sounds like Flu, but swab is needed & there is a short window to treat.
Prayers & know you'll be fine dragonslayer... Just Go ;-)
Ran

[hepc4Sandi]

I agree with the above. Do you have insurance so it won't cost you a bunch? It is killing kids and seniors too. It is a terrible flu. Let us know how you are doing. A family I know all got pneumonia. Teenager was in hospital for 5 days, very contagious too.

Best,
Sandi

[AugustineMama]

Agree with above, go. It is horrible and killing kids and those with low thresholds

[Rbeth]

IMHO - go to urgi care now, get rapid flu swab, get anti viral ( tamiflu) if positive.... I'm so not into meds but I got this Tx wk 4 & couldn't take anything & still ( in week 10) filled nasty in chest!!! Do not collect $200- go straight away & get checked , only 48 hour window to treat.... I know I sound terminally serious, lol but this Flu A is nothing to mess with

Healing
Ran

[patra_]

Do you have an 'Ask a Nuese' program through your health Ins or does your hospital offer one?  Might call them, if you do.  But, basically, I am with Jules on this one.

If you decide to go, do you have someone to drive you?

Prayers!  Pat

[jules2551]

Only you can make that decision.  What is your temp and have you taken any tylenol?

Jules