After a few friends have asked me about my thoughts on the swine flu, I have decided to divulge. At least this isn’t FB where I would get personally mutilated for whatever stance I take. And since this is MY blog, I will just say, “shove it.” I will be the first to admit I was pretty skeptical about the swine flu hoopla that began last year. I mean, tons more people die each year from the regular flu, so what’s the fuss, I thought. While there is some merit to that question, the problem is rising and making itself known. I have already had numerous patients positive for influenza A, which is being linked directly to H1N1 about 95% of the time (so I am told). And since it takes about a week for the H1N1 to come back, it is a pretty pointless test as far as diagnostics –I am sure it is helpful to know for tracking purposes, etc. Blah, Blah, Blah. What I am trying to say is, the number of patients I have had with flu like symptoms has been a lot larger than previous years. So where does that leave me? In the past, I get the flu shot about every other year, and my method for deciding if I should get it goes something like this: “Hmm, do I want the flu shot? Nope, not really.” I have good genes, I don’t get sick often and I have rarely had the flu.
But. I have kids now and the issue is more complicated. What is best for them? Am I causing viral transformation? Is the vaccine helping at all?
Then it happened. Addy got it. She really got the swine flu. When her symptoms started it seemed like a cold, but quickly progressed, all within a few short hours. She was feverish, vomiting, congested, coughing, and lethargic. For two and a half days she did not move, barely talked, throwing up all day; eating and drinking nothing. Not only was she not hungry (which I wasn’t worried about), she couldn’t keep liquids down. Nothing. Her lips cracked and dried up. She was really sick. Despite round the clock tylenol and motrin, her fever would not break for nearly three days. I’m talking fever of 103 axillary, which means it was higher than that.
Here’s what we did. Be prepared.
1. Around the clock tylenol and motrin, given orally and suppository form (FeverAll); an attempt to lower her fever and stop the vomiting.
2. Quarrantine. Seriously. I tried my best to keep Owen away from her. Andy really wanted to take her into the ER, and truthfully she was probably sick enough that it was warranted. But in my opinion (and I am a nurse, so it helps), I wanted to wait until it was absolutely necessary. A trip to the ER would have been exhausting and I didn’t feel it would really help. Tamiflu or not. In the end I am happy with my decision, but I was an anxious wreck the last few days.
3. Wash. Washing hands, washing blankets, washing towels, pillows, clothes. You name it I washed it. Oh yes, I WILL eventually get off my soapbox. Promise.
4. I was on the lookout. After reading on the CDC that a lot of children were getting bacterial infections on top of the flu, I started looking for signs. For example, Addy started to improve by the third day, but then the fourth day she seemed a little worse. She seemed like she couldn’t hear, “Mom, she says, I can’t hear the tv!” Hmm, that’s funny because I can ONLY hear the tv. Additionally I could barely understand her, she couldn’t even hear herself talk. Poor girl. So I called our brand-new-never-been-seen pediatrician and they had her come in. I was right, double ear infections, respiratory infection and swollen throat.
All this being said, I now stand conflicted. Obviously Addy won’t get the flu shot(s), but I think Owen should have both of them. Addy is a tough kid, she rarely gets sick and usually bounces back really fast. This threw me for a loop, though. If Addy was that sick, then I would imagine Owen would be even worse. As for myself, I already got a flu shot and I think I will pass on the H1N1 vaccine –I have already taken care of multiple swine flu patients and been vomited on by my 4 year old. I think I am covered, literally.
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I am officially scared of the Swine Flu. Oh help us God. Btw, poor addy. And you having your sweetie sick.
So, katherine, here in china there is an official mandate that any person brought in to a doctors office or hospital with a temperature over 101, has to be taken directly to the Swine Flu hopsitals located throughout the city. Even the foreign hospitals. There, they will be tested (immediate results) if they have it, they have to stay in the hospital quarrentined for a week!! OMG, seriously - does that no sound awful?!? i mean, chinese hospitals are really awful, just beds lined up, tons in a row, everyone sitting in chairs with IVs hooked up, im not talking nice hospitals here… ah. there is even rumor that parents can’t stay with their children.
now, that will be a quandry if my kid seems to need an IV from dehydration or something. take them in to save their lives but scar them emotionally? “here stay in this gross hospital and im going to leave you for a week while you feel the sickest you’ve ever felt in your life” or stay at home and wonder if they’re going to die of dehydration!!! AH. don’t tell my mom whats going on over here. Im just praying we don’t get it.
Gina,
I would be freaked out too, especially given everything above. Being in a hospital there sounds hellish. Honestly, just don’t take your kids anywhere even if they are sick. They are probably better off at home anyway. Obviously if they were really, really sick then you would have to take them in, but most likely they will be fine. Addy got pretty dehydrated but she was still peeing and lucid so I kept her at home. Does that make me sound awful? Or if you have to go to the doctor just given them tylenol and motrin 30-45min before and hope their fever is less than 101.
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