I have H1N1

[abbeyco]

No, it's not killing me, nor is there really anything I can do about it now, other than to ride it out, stay at home and not infect others.

I'm taking a fever reducer and have something for the bronchial crud - my concern is that I have "crummy lungs" - a medical diagnosis from years back. Could it move to pneumonia, sure - am I in a panic, NO, I'm not.

Flu happens and I guess what I want to say to everyone who reads this is: if you get it, you'll feel like dogmeat for a few days (for me it's been since Sunday) and then, if you're resting as you should, it'll start to subside. I don't have great insurance, so my Dr guided me to inexpensive OTC stuff that helps and hopefully by the weekend, I'll be back on my feet.

I just felt like posting this - it's not the be-all and end-all for me, but again, I guess the rapture on 9/21 would have taken care of me LOL but just be smart and safe - if you feel crummy, please just take care of yourselves and those around you.

Peace out :grouphug:

[NYC_SKP]

1. Yoiks! Take care, abbeyco!

Sounds like you're doing the right things, keep that up!

:grouphug:

[question everything]

2. Get a lot of fluids

it will pass. See Dr. Gupta's report in a different thread.

Hope you feel better soon.

:hi:

[abbeyco]

19. Thanks - and just as a public service announcement

Wine definitely does not help! It makes the throat feel so much worse.

I'm back to water, apple cider & honey or hot lemon and honey.

You take care and don't get it!

[csziggy]

48. When my flu settled in my lungs, I found that citrus juice & ginger ale was good

The citrus (orange juice, lemonade or limeade) acidity cuts through the phlegm and the carbonation of the ginger ale seems to clear the throat. Plus I figured the extra vitamin C didn't hurt.

I'm not sure that what I had was H1N1 but one of my husband's co-worker's kids got sick a few days before he came down with it and the kid has been confirmed officially as H1N1. If it was the swine flu, we both had relatively mild cases, thank goodness.

[Dorian Gray]

55. Wine

LOL. I used to swear getting drunk would kick the sickness out of me. (It seemed to work back in the day!)

[kestrel91316]

3. Flu happens. You know what to do for yourself. And try not to spread it.

[stray cat]

18. It does - and it usually kills 30,000 per year in the US every year - and thats a mild year

[cynatnite]

4. My husband currently has it...

He has a compromised immune system so riding it out was not an option. The doc put him on antibiotics and Tamiflu. He has felt like the dirt under the rug for a day or so and hopefully soon, he'll get to feeling better.

I hope you do, too. :hug:

[abbeyco]

14. Oh, in your hubby's case, I hope he and you take care!

It's me and my doggie at home. I work from home, so I've not been out of my house since Sunday. My doggie will be taken to the doc on Friday to ensure she's okay, too.

I hope the antis and Tamiflu is working for hubby - he'll feel like he's been in the grinder or at the bottom of a bad tackle pile in football, but it does get better.

Take good care of both of you! :hug:

[tavalon]

53. I decided to google that since I have a dog, too

Interesting article from my hometown.

http://www.examiner.com/x-801-Pet-Care-Examiner~y2009m5d5-Canine-Influenza-can-dog-flu-infect-your-pooch

[tavalon]

42. Smart doctor who is actually following the CDC/WHO recommendations

You know that if you start having symptoms that you are also supposed to go on Tamiflu, right? That's to protect your husband.

[sandnsea]

47. How did he know?

Did he feel so sick he had no choice but to go to the doctor?

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. drink PLENTY of fluids and keep hydrated

and hopefully it will not move to pneumonia. Crummy lungs are not fun.

[Sisaruus]

6. Hope you feel better soon.

Glad the OTC stuff is helping,

[virgogal]

7. If you feel up to it use this down time to read a real trashy novel.

Always helps me.


Get well soon !

:-)

[abelenkpe2]

11. truly great advice

Nothing better than an escape into a good novel. :o)

[abbeyco]

15. The Quickie from James Patterson

He's done better books, but this is certainly an easy read. I wish I had my old stash of Harlequin novels - they were the best!

Thanks!

[gleaner]

8. Get well .....

I'm sorry to hear that you got sick. I don't think you'll get pneumonia following Doctor's orders and taking care of yourself.

I understand your worry. I have MS, and pneumonia after any kind of respiratory bug, is a worry. Take care, and thanks for talking about it.:hug:

[Po_d Mainiac]

9. I truly hope u get better, but

in the meantime seek out repukes..they need lots of hugs :evilgrin:

[abbeyco]

20. I hugged my Mom on Sat nite

She's a republic and I don't wanna get her sick, but I breathed all over her Fox-tuned television.

[TheCowsCameHome]

10. Go to a teabagger rally.

..um, seriously, I hope you get better real soon.

[abbeyco]

16. GREAT idea - but I wasn't infected then

but there was a crowd of those sorry 9/12 roaches in Denver and Breckenridge where I was for that weekend.

It's a good thought, but I guess I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy - karma and all that....

Stay well and thanks!

[Maru Kitteh]

34. I LOVE that idea, LOL.

[tavalon]

43. Democrats are too nice for that

Besides, we only know how to do the circular firing squad.

[Mrs. Overall]

12. Take care of yourself and I send wishes for a speedy recovery!

[ezgoingrl]

13. Get well soon Abbeyco

eom

[stray cat]

17. if you start feeling better and suddenly get worse seek help

particularly if you develop breathing difficulties and disorientation. This flu is a bit different as it has receptors that allow it to invade deeper into the lungs so it seems more capable of inducing pneumonia. In some people it does some weird things. In most its staying hydrated and sleeping. Best wishes for a speedy uneventful recovery

[abbeyco]

21. Thank you for the advice.

I'm taking it slowly. I work from home, so I've been in bed and working a bit and alternately sleeping. But having come back from pneumonia, bronchitis and other resp ailments, I tend to take recovery very slowly, esp when it involves my breathing apparati.

Appreciate the good wishes and keep healthy!

[beyurslf]

22. A friend of mine at work has it too.

She has been gone for a week and is not expected back for at least one more week. Pretty nasty stuff.

Hope you get to feeling better soon!

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

23. Did you get some Tamiflu?

[abbeyco]

30. I did not do Tamiflu

for personal reasons. I know Donald Rumsfeld was a major investor in this drug and will not take anything that puts a coin in his pocket.

I did take Zicam at the start and have been taking Motrin for fever and chills, and then a script for my lungs. My doc also advised either Contact or Comtrex - I'm taking the night version of Comtrex so I can sleep. I'm also taking AquaTab(guafenisen - sp) to hack up what's in my lungs. When I'm out of AquaTab, I can take the OTC version of mucus-killer from RiteAid or Walgreens.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

31. Relenza works too.

[tavalon]

44. I'm using your post as a jumping off point only. Don't feel attacked

Tamiflu is one of the biggest weapons we have come this fall in keeping H1N1 in the category of minor pandemic rather than at 1918 pandemic levels. I know it chaps plenty of butts, including mine, that Rumsfeld will make a dime off of anything he puts his filthy war criminal hands on, but we need to not throw the baby out with the bath water. The vaccine isn't likely to be here in time to save the day, so anything, Tamiflu included, has to be utilized in the fight.

Anyone who fits the profile needs to take Tamiflu, no matter who ends up profiting. The biggest profiteer will be our society as a whole and as Democrats, we usually get that. Unfortunately, knowing that Rumsfeld will profit, has muddied people's brains here. Tamiflu isn't a scam, it's a really important drug in this fight.

Now, for the obligatory psa: If you have any flu, practice social isolation, in other words, stay home, stay at least 6 feet away from everyone, cough into your elbow or at least wash your hands every time you cough (or use alcohol based hand rub). Use OTC as desired for comfort and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Rest as much as you can and if you start getting increased respiratory difficulty, go to your doctor immediately.

Social isolation, vaccination and Tamiflu may make all the difference between just another winter flu season and something Armageddon like. Since I work in the healthcare field, I would rather see this winter be the former, rather than the latter.

[get the red out]

24. Hope you feel better soon!

I hope you get well soon. Flu isn't fun, and you are right, H1N1 is still the flu and not instant death or anything.

[Warpy]

25. You will shed virus for about a week after the fever drops

so do everybody a huge favor and dispose of tissues quickly, wash your hands, and cough into your elbow.

Most people say this one isn't any worse than any other flu out there.

It's just a pain in the ass that there are going to be two separate flu types to catch this year.

[applegrove]

26. Vibes for a speedy recovery.

[BlooInBloo]

27. I've heard the flu sucks. Hope you get well soon.

[subcomhd]

28. that sucks, get well soon nt

[TK421]

29. Thank you for sharing this, and do take good care of yourself please

sorry this crummy thing even happened to you in the first place..

[OregonBlue]

32. Get well soon and I agree with previous poster, if you're feeling better but still contageous, could

you possibly make your way to one of the Tea Bagger rallies?

[mzmolly]

33. Get well soon!

:hug:

[abbeyco]

35. Thanks for all the well wishes everyone!

I'm off to snooze now - part of getting in my 10 hrs of sleep while ill.

For everyone reading this - please just take care - I don't have advice to give that means a darn thing for every single case, but please, take care of yourselves, your family and friends and hopefully we all come out of this mean season in tact and ready to tackle the next thing that hits us head on.

Take care all my DUers and families - you're too precious to loose! :grouphug:

[DesertRat]

37. Get Well Abbeyco!

:hi:

[bobbolink]

36. I hope you feel much better soon.

On the other side, you are very fortunate that you are ABLE to stay home... many people wouldn't be able to pay the rent if they took time off.

Second, given that I am living in my car and ALSO have "crummy lungs", this has me scared. I CAN'T REST BECAUSE I HAVE NOWHERE TO REST.

I hope you are grateful for your good fortunes.

[abbeyco]

50. Oh bobolink,

Thank you for the message and I am sorry, so sad for your situation. I am thankful for my fortune and my heart hurts and is troubled by folks in your situation.

Is there a clinic or someplace you can go, should you fall ill with your crummy lungs? I know those of us that sometimes struggle to breathe are just a few respirations between life and death.

I hope that you're able to find some emergency assistance or shelter in your area. Can I or the rest of us DUers in any way? I'm more than happy and ready to see if there's a way I can assist you.

PM me if necessary

[bobbolink]

59. Thank you so much, abbeyco! The kind words mean so much to me!

I was hesitant to say what I said to you, because so many people take it so negatively, and you know DU.... some can react in such a harsh way. I so much appreciate that you took what I said in the spirit I meant it! We really do tend not to think of how something relatively simple like this can pose so many problems for other people---I know that I was compassionate before becoming homeless, but wouldn't have thought of these things, either. Something as simple as RESTING becomes impossible....even to the point of being hassled by cops, which some homeless people are.

So, first, I want to say that while my situation is painful and grim, it certainly isn't as hard as some people have it! For instance, I've experienced harassment from cops, not nothing like it is in some places in this nation. And that is something we MUST work harder on! That harassment must Not be allowed to stand.

As for a clinic... that is not the issue for me personally, and what I was really responding to was the problem is REST. You can't nap and rest in a clinic, and not only that, with so many really sick homeless people, the danger is catching something even worse! TB is a problem for homeless people, and with my "crummy lungs" (thanks... I like that.. better than saying COPD!), I would be a prime candidate. AND, as if that isn't bad enough, more and more what is going around is the Drug Resistant form, which is a real nightmare. Again, there is not nearly enough attention paid to this, and shelters are a prime venue for the spread of DRTB!

Again, the issue you brought up was REST. Not only can homeless people not just REST (just getting enough sleep in the best of situations is often not possible--homeless people are usually sleep deprived!), but the added problem of the need for more rest when ill simply isn't something that is available to most homeless people.

For me, personally, a clinic isn't an answer anyway. All they do is give me antibiotics, which my body doesn't tolerate, and I'm worse off than when I began! Many years ago I had another bout of bronchitis, was given an antibiotic which ate a hole in my stomachh which took two years to heal! That was a case of the cure being worse than the illness! I won't ever go that route again!

For years I've tried a lot of things, and a really good preventive for me is hot peppers. Gak... not my favorite thing. I had a lot of problems and finally figured out I was reacting to the pollution, so I can't be in a city. My bad case of pneumonia finally clued me in to that. I tried so many different things, but finally I found something that works for me... it's called Clear Lungs, is a Chinese medicine, and it has really made a huge difference for me. Because of this flu going around that attacks the respiratory system, I'm taking a maintainance dose of it to try to prevent it.

Thanks so much for your kind concern, and please keep your fingers crossed that the flu doesn't come after me!

I hope you're feeling much better now!

[femrap]

38. Sleep, Sleep and

Sleep some more.....drink lots of water...take vitamin C. And think good thoughts.

Keep us posted, OK?

[MrMickeysMom]

39. Your OP did a lot of good today!

Come back slowly, eat well, drink well, take in the good... and write some more!

[roguevalley]

40. hugs, sweetie. my sis was flat on her face for a week with it just a

bit ago.

[tavalon]

41. I'm just getting over a flu

I didn't go to the doctor. It was surprisingly mild but definitely flu. All the cultures from this area that have been flu have been H1N1. The scary thing about H1N1 isn't its deadliness, it's the fact that until last spring 0% of the world's population had any immunity to it. That's why it's called a novel flu. It's pandemic because of it's rapid spread. If it turns more deadly, then you (and probably me, now) will be safe. Anyone who hasn't gotten H1N1 won't be so lucky. Unfortunately, I'm kicking myself for not going straight to my doctor and getting a definitive diagnosis. Now, when the H1N1 vaccine comes, I will still feel obligated to get it, even though I'm fairly sure that's exactly the flu I've had these last nine days.

[Harry Monroe]

45. My son and niece recently had it

The doctors said it was headed straight for my son's lungs. They caught it early and he was put on Tamiflu immediately. Rest up, drink lots of fluids etc. What eveyone else is recommending. And get well soon.

[Odin2005]

46. Hope you get better!

:hug:

[usregimechange]

49. Don't forget to sleep well and drink water, two of the best things I have found

[Caliman73]

51. I am just getting over it too.

It hit me fast and hard but I am pulling through ok. I went to my doctor and it was kind of sad. I felt like a leper a bit. I basically used tylenol to keep the fever down and a bunch of vick's vapo rub to keep my airway clear. Just be careful with people in the high risk areas like younger kids up to 25 and people with other medical complications.

[tavalon]

52. Yeah, the last adult in the household just came down with it

He suggested maybe he should go to the doctor so he could get a rapid flu test. But, since I know the drill, he stays home on OTCs unless he gets too sick. It makes no sense for him to go to the doctor and to risk exposing anyone else if possible. And yes, I'm quite sure if he went to the doctor they would do the isolation gig. Everyone is really jumpy about this virus (with good cause, actually).

[Dorian Gray]

54. Feel better soon

That sucks. Take your meds and rest a lot! I hope you recover quickly!

[LeftishBrit]

56. Get well soon.

[Xenotime]

57. It's too bad that we don't a national healthcare system to help you get better.

[blueamy66]

58. Take care of yourself.

Hope you're feeling like yourself again soon.

[Liberation Angel]

60. Sambuca, black elderberry tea, star anise (chinese five spice) & my old girl

Maybe pastis or other liquers with star anise, which is used to make tamiflu as it has an antiviral property.

Prices for star anise went up and supplies dwndled when it was sold in large quantities to make tamiflu (which i read is now being made with some sort of E Coli - but that might be a misread).

A quick google of star anise (which is used to make sambuca and pastis liquers and possibly anisette (altho brands differ) will show that it is a virus killer and is effective, according to reports, for H1N.

A little sambuca might be better than wine for sure (on the rocks it is swell).

I believe black licorice also helps (used to color Guinness beer too)

There are phytochemcals in these and in other plants like black elderberry (whose scientific name is sambuca something) which are anitvirals that might help.

Tea, a little "hot toddy" maybe with sambuca MIGHT help.

BTW I do believe that my old Australian Cattle Dog (she was 13) succumbed very quickly to the H1N1. She had a dry kennel cough and was walking around and seemed okay, but just collapsed one day and could not breathe at all. We had all been exposed in my family (daughter works in a seasonal job where she handles money and a lot of her teenage coworkers had what seemed to be H1N1 - she was coughing for a week and so was I for two weeks). We have no health insurance and rode it out, but I noticed that my old female "mad max" mama dog had the cough but otherwise seemed okay until one day she stopped eating and just collapsed and died within a short time. Because we all had the same kind of dry cough (which actually I have found to be helped with goldenrod tea) my feeling that it is this weird, seemingly military grade, bioflu that killed her is unshakeable. Her name was Trixie and she was a great and troublesome clown, doting mama, and a frequent visitor to the doggie lock up for running off with strangers and for frolics.


ANYWAY - google star anise, make some five spice Chinese rice and have some tea or liquer. It can't hurt and may make you feel better quicker.

Cheers, i am still feeling the damn thing, but it only had me floored for a week or so. And good luck everyone.

[barbtries]

61. i'm pretty sure

that's what's got my 17-year-old suffering. but as with you, it's not too severe. NC is getting hammered apparently.

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/updates/us/

hope you both feel better soon. his grades are going down the tubes...

[ddeclue]

62. Dammit! Now I have to run Norton Anti Virus on my computer..

:rofl:

:D

I'm getting over some crud for the last 3 weeks too - I don't know if it is H1N1 though because I don't have insurance and don't have a doctor.

:(

[librechik]

63. ask your doctor if it's too late to take an anti-pneumonia vaccine

they last ten years--had mine 3 years ago--Take care!

[Liberation Angel]

64. Shitake, Maitake and turkey tail mushrooms help (antiviral)

I think chicken of the woods and hen of the woods (maitake) are in season most places in the ild.
These wild mushrooms are used in oriental medicine (have ben for thousands of years) to fight viruses
check out the wiki page

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicinal_mushrooms

a lot of these grow in the wild and are safe and easy to identify with few or no poisonous or dangerous mushrooms that look similar.

check out the chart which shows th antiviral and antimicrobial power of these mushrooms

If you can afford the shitake then go for it and maitake can be bought at whole food.

turkey tail is easy to spot in the woods (looks lie a turkey tail) and you make tea with it.

I have been using this stuff to great advantage and they are in season in the wild and they freeze well for later use.

Even common mushrooms are listed showing they have powerful medicinal properties (one study showed women who ate mushrooms and drank green tea, according to this wiki site, had 90% fewer incidences of breast cancer))

cancers are like viruses in that they can be beaten by a strong immune system and good metabolic/hormonal functioning.

Mushrooms of all sorts can help, but some kick viruses asses.