Swine flu - anybody else a worrier like me??

[Sutrer]

Hey everyone,

Been a while since my last post! Hope everyone is doing well?

Anyway I'm based in the North West of England and I'm so annoyed with myself for getting scared by all the news coverage of swine flu at the mo (although I do tend to be a bit of a worrier and getting stressed out!! :() The latest reports are now saying worst case scenario is 65,000 deaths in the coming months in the UK alone based on 30% of the population getting infected! I'm trying to stay calm but it's hard and my wife keeps trying to reassure me.
I am a pretty well controlled diabetic but you can't help but worry as we are one of those that they say are at more risk.

Just looking for your opinions on the whole thing and how you guys are all feeling at the mo? Anybody out there confirmed as having had swine flu and how you dealt with it being a diabetic?

Thanks everyone and look forward to your responses - keep well!

Dan x

[GeishaGirl]

If it makes you feel better, I live a few miles shy of Queens, NY, where the largest US outbreak occurred. I work even closer than that, teaching high school. TWO of my students were diagnosed with swine flu, and, even as a diabetic with less-than-stellar control I didn't get so much as a sniffle, even after days of constant, relatively close contact with these students. Neither did my other 118 students.

Also, please PLEASE keep in mind that it's just the flu. Just a regular flu. It may spread a little faster, but that's about it. The ONLY danger is the high fever, which is true in ANY flu.

The media coverage around my was NONSTOP and, frankly, terrifying. After a few weeks, the media started backpeddling, realizing they had totally overblown the incident. Doctors finally stopped bothering to diagnose someone as "swine flu" versus "flu" because, frankly, it didn't matter as it was treated exactly the same and had the same problems attached. As far as I know, a grand total of 2 people died in the US -- one a small child, and one an older (not elderly) man with a heart condition -- both of whom would be at risk for death in a regular flu outbreak.

So, here goes: exposure doesn't mean infection, infection doesn't mean anything serious. Same deal as regular flu: fluids, rest, and keep an eye on your temperature. Anything out of the ordinary, hit a doc or hospital. Fever goes over 104, hit a hospital.

[Sutrer]

Ahh thanks for the reply! I'm feelin a little bit better already! Nothing like a little bit of perspective to help put things into a better light :-)
It's such a good thing to hear other people in our situation with our condition sharing their thoughts (sorry this is sounding a little soppy now!)
It feels like sometimes one half of my brain is telling me what you're saying and the other half is full of stupid paranoid stuff.
Anyway thanks for your insight. :0)

[GeishaGirl]

One of my students had the paranoid thing going on. She was afraid of being at school or on the bus, and she was obsessing over the whole "wash your hands, don't touch your mouth or eyes or anything else." I made a point of licking my hand in front of her, and reminding everyone that you can't live life afraid of something that, essentially, is the flu :)

Yeah, how bad did I feel when SHE was one of the two students who got it?

[soso]

Although I did not go to the Dr and get swabbed I suspect we may have had it about a month ago.. I felt pretty ill and the respiratory angle seems to have stuck around in the form of an asthma resurgence..
symptoms were.. first day muscle aches like I had climbed a mountain, fever and slight sore throat.. wet feeling high in chest and dry non productive cough... that sort of continued for several days, felt generally lousy, but the cough never developed into anything bad and I didn't really have the sniffles or anything.. throat stayed about the same and eventually I was just back to the irritating cough that felt like I should cough hard, but nothing ever semed to clear..
ANd who gets flu in jUne? esp when I had my flu shot...

So don't know what it was, but could have been! DH got it first and me a couple of days later...

[GeishaGirl]

Soso, probably wasn't swine flu. The main characteristic of swine flu is the really high fever. If your fever didn't go above 103, it was probably just the regular flu. The flu shot doesn't protect against every strain, just the most common. Which is why I never get a flu shot :) I let my doc talk me into it the first year I was DXed, and that was the ONLY YEAR IN MY LIFE I got the flu.

[Tattoo azz]

Sutrer... i popped in for a few minutes and already you have nicked my wallet and watch :D flippin scousers!!

Seriously tho, don't worry so much about swineflu, even if you do get it Tammy flu tablets only shorten the symptoms by "ONE DAY!" So really there's nothing we can do except enjoy life. The vaccine will be available in autumn (fall), over here and diabetics will be some of the first to recieve it, in the meantime keep an eye on how you feel, if you get flu like symptoms RING your GP (don't walk in) and they will ask you about 20 questions which will help them decide if you may have it or not then IF you do have swineflu get a friend to pick up the script and take it to the chemist for you and get the tablets, then ask the to POST them thru your door. Easy peesy lemon squeezy.

[foxl]

Tell you what, I got Brisbane in winter 08 and it was awful, and nobody played IT up like this! I swear it was going into viral pneumonia. My entire family had it too.

[Gary_W]

If you look up the stats for how many people 'regular' flu kills in a year it may shock you. For the most part so far, swine flu seems kinder than the regular kind. If it mutates then this could change but at the mo I really wouldn't worry about it. Call me a cynic, but folks worrying about death takes the heat off the politicians about the fact that we're in a right old state with the finances so talking it up and appearing to be competant is well within their interests!!!

Gary

[Subby]

Here's a silly take on the swine flu I heard on the radio the other week... gave me a chuckle.

Victoria: Scared Weird Little Guys (http://blogs.abc.net.au/victoria/2009/05/scared-werid-li.html)

[genie86333]

At least two of the nearby schools shut down because of cases here. One of my co-workers was exposed, but never got sick (thank goodness because the other co-worker was 9 months pregnant at the time.) I got a mild cold, but it's probably the mildest I've had in years (developed a stuffy nose on Friday afternoon, felt like I just wanted to curl up & die on Saturday (but still worked 13 out of 14 hours scheduled!), almost better when I woke up Sunday & totally gone within a week) so I'm sure that's all it was.

So, I haven't been too worried. I think it was mostly just hype.

[UpNorth]

Swine flu... It's just a media sensation... Media is bored and need something to write about;) It's not even transmitted as easily as the regular flu...

[art]

That's going to be the quandary.
The swine flu is a separate shot from the regular flu shot and possibly a booster to go with it.
I'm in the same boat as GeishaGirl. The one time I had a flu shot I got the flu. I haven't gotten one since and I won't get one even at my age. I love to stress out my doctor.

But for this one?? I'm not sure. I think I'll wait and see how the southern hemisphere makes out. Especially our Australian friends.

My gut says don't have the shot.

Art

[Dis-N-Dat]

For the southern hemisphere this is thier flu season and WHO has already noted some early mutations.

The last I read last week, our CDC here in the states has indicated it is currently reminicent of the 1918 outbreak. They expect the vaxcine to be ready mid October and will be provided to children & first responders, first.

I was especially touched by the story of the young mother in the UK who passed immediately after giving birth. How terribly sad.

So I guess we, wait & watch and be diligent with hygieine.

[Dis-N-Dat]

Troublesome update you ight be interested in.

Swine Flu: Why You Should Still Be Worried - Infectious Disease - FOXNews.com (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,533591,00.html)

So any cases it's no use counting???!! Yikes.

Here's to better days.

[Dis-N-Dat]

Vacciine testing for Swine lu are scheduled to begin in August.

I find this comforting.

[mazea]

The swine flu might be normal for most people. But for some it isn't. It isn't flu season in the UK or US at the moment. It is the flu season peak in Australia and Canberra Hospital has had to cancel most of it's elective surgery and buy beds from the private hospitals for the first time just to meet the demand of seriously ill swine flu patients.
It also is affecting some groups more than others, eg aboriginals, diabetics and pregnant women. There were 7 or so healthy pregnant women in ICU in Australia on respirators last week and 1 lost her 32 week unborn baby. So no it is not like the "normal flu" . The difference is that people don't have immunity to swine flu unlike normal flu and it is causing more serious cases than usual.
The royal college of doctors in Australia actually issued a warning for pregnant women to avoid unecessary exposure in public places. I think doctors, unlike the media would not sensationalise the issue.

[Morris "Type 1"]

I was camping this weekend, my friend thinks he has swine flu thanks to one of our friends having it.

Looks like I am set to get it too, I feel a bit rough at the moment.

[Dis-N-Dat]

Here's what's new in the states today...Yikes!
Military planning for possible H1N1 outbreak - CNN.com (http://edition.cnn.com/2009/US/07/28/military.swine.flu/)

[Scratch]

You don't get flu from a flu shot. Period.

You can still get flu in spite of a flu shot. There are many variaties of influenza and it's impossible to make a vaccine to protect against all of them. Plus the strains are always mutating, which means that over time the virus will evolve to a form that the vaccine wouldn't protect against.

A flu shot is about **** near to being a no brainer as to whether or not to get one. It may not protect perfectly but it gives you the chance to avoid the flu strains it inoculates against. Without that protection, you're rolling the dice on whether or not you can take on the live version of the virus and its ability to replicate rapidly inside your body before your immune system can respond to its threat.

[Lizzie G]

i had the 'swine flu'. its just the flu, i was ill and in bed for 6 days, but as others have commented, flu is flu, some people die, the majority survive.

what incenses me is the focus on groups like 'people with diabetes'. we are no more likely to catch the virus (please look on the NHS direct website if in doubt of this), and like any other flu with diabetes it pretty much boils down to whether you use your brain and adjust your insulin, or you are an idiot and let yourself get into trouble. to me there is no reason on this earth why i should end up requiring hospital treatment, i keep hydrated, i test often, i take lots of insulin, its not rocket science, its common sense.

[GeishaGirl]

You don't get flu from a flu shot. Period.


A flu shot is about **** near to being a no brainer as to whether or not to get one. It may not protect perfectly but it gives you the chance to avoid the flu strains it inoculates against. Without that protection, you're rolling the dice on whether or not you can take on the live version of the virus and its ability to replicate rapidly inside your body before your immune system can respond to its threat.

I don't consider it a gamble. I just look at the facts.

Fact #1: Despite evidence to the contrary (the big D) I am known to have a fantastic immune system. If anything, it might be TOO good (ie, the big D! and possibly celiac). I get seriously ill (as in, I actually take a day off from work) once a year, for 1-4 days in the winter. Usually it's a cold. It's also the middle of the school year and I'm worn out. Add to this the fact that I work in a germy high school where kids sneeze on their papers before handing them to you.

Fact #2: Fact #1 became irrelevant only one year in my life: the year I got the flu shot. THAT year, I had a horrible fever for almost a week, couldn't eat, couldn't even SLEEP because I couldn't breathe, etc.

So, perhaps the flu shot wasn't CAUSAL, but it was CORRELATIVE. Scientific studies have been passed with less proof than this.

[Lizzie G]

I don't consider it a gamble. I just look at the facts.

Fact #1: Despite evidence to the contrary (the big D) I am known to have a fantastic immune system. If anything, it might be TOO good (ie, the big D! and possibly celiac). I get seriously ill (as in, I actually take a day off from work) once a year, for 1-4 days in the winter. Usually it's a cold. It's also the middle of the school year and I'm worn out. Add to this the fact that I work in a germy high school where kids sneeze on their papers before handing them to you.

Fact #2: Fact #1 became irrelevant only one year in my life: the year I got the flu shot. THAT year, I had a horrible fever for almost a week, couldn't eat, couldn't even SLEEP because I couldn't breathe, etc.

So, perhaps the flu shot wasn't CAUSAL, but it was CORRELATIVE. Scientific studies have been passed with less proof than this.


i couldnt agree more and had the exact same experience with the flu shot. it is fairly widely known that the chances of the general flu shot being affective against the particular strain that is around at the time isnt great. i think taking its a gamble, id rather let my own, perfectly healthy immune system cope with whatever is thrown at it.

[Dis-N-Dat]

Here's another take worth considerng:
Interview with Epidemiologist Tom Jefferson: 'A Whole Industry Is Waiting For A Pandemic' - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News - International (http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,637119,00.html)

[jtausch]

My experience was back in 1976 or 77 not sure but they also worried about the swine flu then. I was in the military and was supposed to get the swine flu shot, never did because the shot was worse than the swine flu itself, more people died from reactions to the shot than from the swine flu. I don, trust the government this time either I think rushing this like they did then will cause problems. I wont get a flu shot let alone the swine flu shot.

[dgrilli]

The Flu Shots will contain Mercury. But Mercury is good for you right? How about the Cancer Virus Strains in the stuff?

Not me and not for my children.

Their is is some very fishy things going on with the way they are hyping this up.

Who stand to make billions?

Eugenic's.

Refuse

[Mindstorm]

My view on swine flu is "oh ****, it's swine flu", and if I get it and end up dying from complications due to the flu then so be it. I don't see any point in worrying about anything related to the diabetes (like contagious diseases that could put us in a bad way before we could get somewhere to be stabilized), and I more or less just take some basic preventative measures and deal with the issues as they pop up.

If a vaccine comes out and a couple months go by without reports of people dying from or having severe complications with the vaccine, then I'll probably get it. I'm definitely not going to be first in line though. I've got a contingency plan in place for flus which cause severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. I've got the same meds they would give me at the hospital to stop the puking (some of them, anyway) and can deal with the other stuff through OTC's for a while.

Basically, I am thinking of swine flu just like the regular seasonal flu, only swine flu has got 25% extra strength free in every bag.

[Dis-N-Dat]

I've been thinking, if vaccinations for swine flu (which is being managed by the federal government in the states) is run like the "Cash for Clunkers" program (which is out of money after 4 days), we won't have to decide whether or not to get the
shot(s), there won't be enough available.

***I can hardly wait to see how they run health care***[/CENTER]
[CENTER]:banghead:

[Nicci]

I admit, I haven't read all the posts on here, but just wanted to add my 2 cents.

I had swine flu two weeks ago. Only difference I found was that my temp went alot higher. It went up to 39.4C... pretty much my experience went like this:

Sat night, sore throat, Sunday; sore throat & cough, horrid headache and a little bit over a temp.
Monday (early) morning; fever, temp sitting around 38.9.
Monday day; stayed around the same temp, went in to the doctors, got tested.
Monday night, temp rose to 39.4 and stayed like that until Tuesday lunch. Vomited a bit on Tues morning.
Lunch time Tues, temp gone, just felt weak for the rest of the week, by Thursday I had a cough, which is gone now, but still have a blocked nose.

My sugar levels stayed fine the whole time, and the doctor I saw, who is also a diabetic, didn't even mention anything about my diabetes, except that the government would give me the tamiflu tablets cos I'm in the high risk category.

People are over reacting over it; I got kicked out the chemist, however the person behind me was coughing her guts up, and could have had it, but hasn't been tested. I only got tested/went to the doctor because I was a diabetic. People I never even spoke to at my work were getting tested after just having a runny nose.

It really wasn't that bad, and if you do get it, I'm sure if you have decently controlled diabetes you'd be fine. I have pretty bad control of my diabetes & I'm alright ;) lol.

[dgrilli]

They are using this Man Made Virus to accomplish their World Order Goals.

Has there anyone researched this issue of the Swine Flu or the vaccine?

I did not see one Post in all of these in this thread that truly gave us any information that could help you wake up to what they are actually doing.

This will be apparent when they blame people who didn't get the Vaccine.

This Swine Flu is nothing more than a controlled way of implementing Population Reduction through out the world.

They will be posting Military in Towns and by force making people take this Death Serum.

Please if you do not have any back ground information on this don't pooh this.

Do some research on what these Vaccine's contain and if the vaccine is not going to be effective because the strain has mutated why pump your self full of Live Cancer Virus's and Mercury.

The New World er's are Getting ready to do something big.