Swine Flu help

CRANKY40

I'd leave it if I were you. Tamiflu is supposed to be taken within the 1st 12 hours of flu like symptoms, and mostly makes you sick.

They gave it to my friend who had meningitis....not only was it useless because the 12 hours had elapsed, it made her sicker than ever and the paramedics didn't want to take her as she'd been told it was swine flu.

sagalout1954

Sounds as if you are parked up in front of your PC, in which case you are highly unlikely to have swine flu. I had it a few weeks back, just before the 'helpline' was set up, for the first couple of days I didn't have the inclination or energy to log on!!!

First dose of Tamiflu made me throw up VIOLENTLY and I was queasy after each dose for the first 3 days or so. Worst of the symptoms subsided after the first couple of days (blimey, my temperature at 39 degrees made me feel like I was going to spontaneously combust and my head didn't half HURT).

Don't fret about not having access to Tamiflu, it's already been said that it won't fix the symptoms you've already got, might just stop you getting worse and might shorten the shelf life of swine flu by a day or so (& might give you side unpleasant side effects you'd rather not have).

Just drink PLENTY of fluids whether you feel like it or not and REST (get off the PC and go to bed or doss in front of the tele).

If you have trouble breathing (more than normal with your asthma) then you must ring your GP and insist on a housecall - DO NOT SETTLE FOR A CONVERSATION WITH THE RECEPTIONIST.

Most of us who've had it have felt absolute !!!!! for a day or two, a bit rough for another day or two - than gone back to work.

sarahg1969

Were you swabbed, sagalout? Or was it assumed to be swine flu?

Right at the beginning, when people were being swabbed, a large number of those who were properly diagnosed were actually not very ill at all.

At this time of year, realistically, it could be any one of hundreds of viruses.

Widelats

Today i have not sneezed as much but i do still feel very tired, i can walk though and all the rest, i did not go get any tamiflu. Breathing is below average but not bad i only had tingling lips twice which is pretty low level, i do actually feel somewhat better, still coughing and runny nose and sore joints but i do think i have had the worst of this cold. If anyone gets this cold you will know what i am talking about when i say its horrible and could easy mistake it for the swine virus.

I still think the system in place is horrendous, and they wonder why old people die in their hundreds every year at home in front of the fire with clothes wrapped round them.

Thank you very much to everyone who has given info it is very helpful,

elfen

Old people are less likely to get this, they think it's a combination of previous flu epidemics giving them a heightened immunity. I'd say if your breathing is still bad, phone the dr and request a housecall, which you should get due to your asthma. And the cold may have developed into a chest infection, which usually happens to me

sagalout1954

sarahg1969 wrote: »

Were you swabbed, sagalout? Or was it assumed to be swine flu?

Right at the beginning, when people were being swabbed, a large number of those who were properly diagnosed were actually not very ill at all.

At this time of year, realistically, it could be any one of hundreds of viruses.

As with the majority of people diagnosed with possible swine flu, I wasn't 'swabbed', but I was happy to take the word of the local GP who diagnosed me. At least it wasn't some 16 year old with absolutely no medical qualifications manning the pandemic helpline!

Wildlats - sounds as if you are feeling a little better, don't try to do too much though.

I think, particularly for those living alone, you do have to do the boy scout thing and "be prepared". When swine flu first hit the UK I bought a digital thermometer, plenty of orange squash, paracetamol and cuppa soup, all came in handy when I actually got it. Hubby was 'Tamiflu buddy' but those home alone should really ask a neighbour/friend in advance if they'd mind fetching it if you catch it.

The Pandemic website does give the local stockists of Tamiflu, region by region (though I don't think it was entirely accurate at first) so everyone should be clear about which chemists/health centres their Tamiflu buddy must go to collect it and what ID they need to take.

Like the majority, it wasn't THAT bad - certainly in words of my GP, "not as bad as seasonal flu".

Amistoso_2

Widelats wrote: »

OK i do not know if i have swine flu, just one of the damn worse colds i have ever experienced i feel dead on the floor, i was trying hard to walk around with my joints aching and nose streaming with snot, sneezing a lot, coughing, its either swine or something nasty i don't know as the doctors wont see me.

I have no friends here or family members, that is why they referred my to primary care to get it delivered, but primary care said they dont deliver - i am going round and round and now i'm skint, can't phone anyone or go anywhere - same situation and no better off for all my efforts. Yes i did tell them i am asthmatic, both nhs direct, swine flu helpline and my doctors receptionist.

bad service for this pandemic.

Now what did they call it before the whole swine flu thing got so popular?
oh yeah I remember it was MAN flu!!!!


lol

Jaffa.

Widelats wrote: »

Got a bad cold ... and in the meantime if your symptoms get worse give us a call back" i said "i told you i can't phone you" she said "Goodbye now"

I think they were trying to say you dont have swine flu/ a bad enough case of swine flu... I mean you can understand that their under pressure not to give anyone and everyone Tammyflu and they cant really see you in person so it's going to be quite hard to diagnose people.

I think the best thing for you would be to stop stressing yourself out with these phone calls because their obviously not helping, relax and treat it like normal flu However I'm no health professional so my advice isn't advisable

I hope you get better though

piratefairy

I had swine flu, and yes, my GP swabbed me, as I had originally thought the start symptoms were somehting else, as i have had bouts of serious anaemia for most of my life.
I had tamiflu, as recommended, and every tablet i took made me throw up, however, as i spent 2 wks unable to get out of my bed (except to go to the bathroom to be sick) and wasn't able to eat/keep anything down, i was mainly throwing up water.
If you can "hop on the metro", "go down the job centre"! etc, i truly do not think from experience that you have swine flu, or if you do, it's clearly a very mild strain, which will be over before you know it.

LemonGrove

Widelats wrote: »

Its a long way, tomorrow i will hop the metro and not pay and if i get caught i will plead emergency, it is the only thing i can think of to getting hold of it.

Cheers.

What's your closest Metro stop, mines Chichester? If you give me your authorisation number I'll pick it up from the PCT 2 mins away and drop it off for you?