I have the flu, suspected H1N1
Posted by Misty Montano on Friday, October 16, 2009
Under: Home
I decided to write this post because everyone who has found out I and my family are sick have asked two questions: what were your symptoms? and what did the doctor say? This is the answers to those questions, but I can't stress enough this is what happened with us. In no way should my post be used to self-diagnose or self-treat yourself or others. Please call or see your doctor if you are sick. My husband just returned from seeing his doctor, with what seemed to be the exact same symptoms and time line of illness as the rest of us, but his doctor found that he has strep throat and an ear infection, not the flu like the rest of us were diagnosed!
Our timeline and symptoms:
Sunday/Monday
First our eight year old son started having a dry cough midday Sunday. Monday morning he woke up with a fever of over 100 degrees. We kept him home from school and started him on Children's Tylenol cough and cold. Besides the cough and fever he didn't complain of any other symptoms. Then our nine year old came home from school Monday with the same dry cough. By Monday night he had a fever of 101 degrees. We started him on the same medication and kept them both home from school on Tuesday.
Tuesday
Their fevers ranged from 99.1 to normal through Tuesday morning and afternoon. They both had the same dry cough, but had to be constantly reminded they were sick and weren't allowed to play hard or even laugh too hard! They didn't show any other symptoms. So at 1pm when it was time for more medication and they didn't have a fever I gave them a four-hour children's cough medication only. I didn't want to overdose them on fever medication when they didn't have a fever.
I was on the computer while they were on the floor beside me playing video games. I swear they were fine one minute and five minutes later they were sick again. At 5pm I asked them if they were ready for more chicken soup and their next dose of medicine. They both said yes. I finished up an email I was writing and when I turned around I literally saw it in their little faces that the fever was back.
I took their temperatures. My eight year old had a low-grade fever of 99.5 degrees. My nine-year old had spiked a fever of 102.1 degrees! I immediately gave them Children's Tylenol cough and cold. I fixed them soup and raspberry tea with honey and lemon. In less than an hour my eight year old's fever was gone and never returned. It took over two hours for my nine year old's fever to drop to just 100 degrees.
During this, at about 6pm, it felt like I'd been hit square in the chest with a bowling ball. There was no warning. It was sudden and I had a hard time breathing. Every time I moved or tried to talk for a while I coughed. It was a very dry cough that made my throat hurt. I started taking Robitussin DM. That calmed the coughing. There was no congestion, no fever. A head ache set in strong about 10pm.
My nine year old went to bed with a fever of 100.3 and on a dose of medication. He woke up about an hour later throwing up. He threw up again in the morning. At that time his fever was still 100.3.
Wednesday
My nine year old was kept him home from school again Wednesday. However, my eight year old didn't have a fever and hadn't had one since 5pm Tuesday. He went to school.
I still had a very dry cough, had a headache, was exhausted, felt dehydrated and had diarrhea . I couldn't keep my eyes open, and slept heavy except to go to the restroom. I stayed on the Robitussin and when awake I drank tea, many bottles of flavored carbonated water and had soup. Thankfully, my husband worked that evening and was able to go into work late so I could sleep. I got up when he had to go to work so I could care for the boys. From the moment I awoke, every single part of me hurt, but still no fever. It hurt to move; my muscles ached and it felt like even my bones hurt.
Then the fever hit. I went from a normal temperature and in discomfort to a fever of 101.6 degrees and even worse pain than before! It was awful. That's when I drank my first cup of TheraFlu.
My eight year old continued to have only a slight cough and had a good day at school, while my nine year old still fought a fever and a cough throughout Wednesday.
Thursday
Thursday morning I hoped my nine year old didn't have a fever, that he had followed the same timeline as my eight year old. Unfortunately, no, he had a low-grade fever of 99.5. I also still had a fever. I called the pediatrician and my doctor.
The pediatrician checked his lungs, ears, throat, nose and temperature. We went over the course of the illness together. The pediatrician then diagnosed my boy as having the flu, most likely H1N1. There were no other tests. No cultures taken. He told me to continue using over the counter medications and to monitor him. Also told me not to let him go back to school until he had a complete 24-hours fever free.
The pediatrician told me that he's getting mixed information from those who are suffering from H1N1. He said the reports vary from some saying this flu is easier than other strains, to those who say it's harder because it lead to further problems. He said what we really need to watch was for any worsening, specifically on his breathing. He said he was starting to see cases of pneumonia that had set in when the patient was already suffering from the flu. He made it clear this is the same for H1N1 as it is for any other strain of influenza.
I asked him what I should have done differently. He told me that when the fever was over 100 degrees I should have been using separate fever medication and cough medication. He said often children's medications don't have enough acetaminophen to truly break a high fever.
Then he said that the only other thing I could have done was brought him in earlier so he could have been put on tamiflu. Tamiflu is only effective if it is taken in the first 12 - 48 hours of symptoms. I told him I understood that, but from all that I've heard on the news (I didn't mention I work in the news) was that we were to stay home if possible instead of rushing to the doctors office. He said each doctor is different. He'd rather check a patient then to wait until condition was worse.
Then I went to my doctor. He went through the exact same checkup with me as the pediatrician had done with my boy: ears, throat, nose, chest and temperature. When he looked in my nose he said, "yep, that's definitely viral." He used a mask when he examined me and wiped down everything I touched as I was in the office. He told me this is the first season ever he's taken such precautions. He asked me not to take offense. Of course I wasn't offended! It makes sense to me that he'd take such measures.
He also diagnosed me having a strain of influenza, suspected H1N1 because the other strains haven't been seen yet in Colorado. I also had my flu shot two weeks ago, so I do have some protection against certain strains. Since it had been less than 48-hours since my symptoms had started I was prescribed Tamiflu and also Robitussin AC to help with my cough even more.
Then we talked about the H1N1 vaccine and my recent medical history. He advised me I take the vaccine when it's available because my system was shot this summer due to an emergency surgery that lead to some complications and further infections. He said "you have some strain of influenza, most likely H1N1, but if you have a different strain, or the H1N1 strain changes, your system is very weak right now and you have a chance of getting this again."
He advised me to do more research on my own because the decision to take this vaccine is a very personal one for each of us. He said he's going to take it because he owes it to his patients. However, his wife, a RN and the office manager, hasn't decided if she'll take it yet. "This is a very new vaccine," he said. "They only started working on it in March and with the test subjects we know how it'll affect us in two or three months, but we don't know the long term affects yet. It's only prudent we make wise decisions based on each individual situation because it's so new."
Friday
So that's me and my stepsons. One recovered quickly and went back to school without any problems, although after talking to the pediatrician I feel bad for sending him to school without a complete 24-hours fever free. The other is still recovering, but is not getting any worse. I am recovering, but still in extreme pain and exhausted. Finally this morning I didn't have a fever when I woke up. However I've started to sneeze like crazy and have a lot of dark colored mucous. I called my doctor to ask if I needed to be worried about this. At this time, no I don't. But if I spike a fever again or start to wet cough instead of a dry cough, then I need to be seen again. The concern is something else could set in, like pneumonia. I was told of a recent patient who two days after being diagnosed with influenza was in the hospital and on a ventilator due to pneumonia. Now I'm watching for those symptoms.
As I said when I started this long post, my husband is also sick, but wasn't diagnosed with influenza. He has strep throat and an ear infection. I was shocked when I he told me because he also started out like the rest of us with a dry cough. Now that I think about it, his fever set in quicker than any of the rest of us. He had a slight cough that came on while he was at work. By the time he got home from work he had the chills and a fever of 100.4 degrees. He's had a consistent high fever since then, which is unlike me and the boys. Our fevers would be high, then go to a low-grade fever or break all together. He also had diarrhea like I did, along with the aches and pains.
We were both convinced he had the flu like the rest of us. So again I stress you can't take my post and decide this is what you or another is suffering from because you never know. Right now my husband is the worst out of all of us. His doctor has advised him to go to the ER tonight if he at all gets worse. His doctor is concerned he's lost too much potassium and is losing weight due to being sick. If he can't get a handle on this, she wants him in the hospital.
It's been a long, painful, frustrating and scary weak. I've been told by my doctor to try to isolate myself from my husband because of my current weak immune system. I could very likely contract what he has. This truly stinks. I don't wish this on anyone, but maybe my post will help you make the right decisions for you and your family.
fluFACTS.com
Our timeline and symptoms:
Sunday/Monday
First our eight year old son started having a dry cough midday Sunday. Monday morning he woke up with a fever of over 100 degrees. We kept him home from school and started him on Children's Tylenol cough and cold. Besides the cough and fever he didn't complain of any other symptoms. Then our nine year old came home from school Monday with the same dry cough. By Monday night he had a fever of 101 degrees. We started him on the same medication and kept them both home from school on Tuesday.
Tuesday
Their fevers ranged from 99.1 to normal through Tuesday morning and afternoon. They both had the same dry cough, but had to be constantly reminded they were sick and weren't allowed to play hard or even laugh too hard! They didn't show any other symptoms. So at 1pm when it was time for more medication and they didn't have a fever I gave them a four-hour children's cough medication only. I didn't want to overdose them on fever medication when they didn't have a fever.
I was on the computer while they were on the floor beside me playing video games. I swear they were fine one minute and five minutes later they were sick again. At 5pm I asked them if they were ready for more chicken soup and their next dose of medicine. They both said yes. I finished up an email I was writing and when I turned around I literally saw it in their little faces that the fever was back.
I took their temperatures. My eight year old had a low-grade fever of 99.5 degrees. My nine-year old had spiked a fever of 102.1 degrees! I immediately gave them Children's Tylenol cough and cold. I fixed them soup and raspberry tea with honey and lemon. In less than an hour my eight year old's fever was gone and never returned. It took over two hours for my nine year old's fever to drop to just 100 degrees.
During this, at about 6pm, it felt like I'd been hit square in the chest with a bowling ball. There was no warning. It was sudden and I had a hard time breathing. Every time I moved or tried to talk for a while I coughed. It was a very dry cough that made my throat hurt. I started taking Robitussin DM. That calmed the coughing. There was no congestion, no fever. A head ache set in strong about 10pm.
My nine year old went to bed with a fever of 100.3 and on a dose of medication. He woke up about an hour later throwing up. He threw up again in the morning. At that time his fever was still 100.3.
Wednesday
My nine year old was kept him home from school again Wednesday. However, my eight year old didn't have a fever and hadn't had one since 5pm Tuesday. He went to school.
I still had a very dry cough, had a headache, was exhausted, felt dehydrated and had diarrhea . I couldn't keep my eyes open, and slept heavy except to go to the restroom. I stayed on the Robitussin and when awake I drank tea, many bottles of flavored carbonated water and had soup. Thankfully, my husband worked that evening and was able to go into work late so I could sleep. I got up when he had to go to work so I could care for the boys. From the moment I awoke, every single part of me hurt, but still no fever. It hurt to move; my muscles ached and it felt like even my bones hurt.
Then the fever hit. I went from a normal temperature and in discomfort to a fever of 101.6 degrees and even worse pain than before! It was awful. That's when I drank my first cup of TheraFlu.
My eight year old continued to have only a slight cough and had a good day at school, while my nine year old still fought a fever and a cough throughout Wednesday.
Thursday
Thursday morning I hoped my nine year old didn't have a fever, that he had followed the same timeline as my eight year old. Unfortunately, no, he had a low-grade fever of 99.5. I also still had a fever. I called the pediatrician and my doctor.
The pediatrician checked his lungs, ears, throat, nose and temperature. We went over the course of the illness together. The pediatrician then diagnosed my boy as having the flu, most likely H1N1. There were no other tests. No cultures taken. He told me to continue using over the counter medications and to monitor him. Also told me not to let him go back to school until he had a complete 24-hours fever free.
The pediatrician told me that he's getting mixed information from those who are suffering from H1N1. He said the reports vary from some saying this flu is easier than other strains, to those who say it's harder because it lead to further problems. He said what we really need to watch was for any worsening, specifically on his breathing. He said he was starting to see cases of pneumonia that had set in when the patient was already suffering from the flu. He made it clear this is the same for H1N1 as it is for any other strain of influenza.
I asked him what I should have done differently. He told me that when the fever was over 100 degrees I should have been using separate fever medication and cough medication. He said often children's medications don't have enough acetaminophen to truly break a high fever.
Then he said that the only other thing I could have done was brought him in earlier so he could have been put on tamiflu. Tamiflu is only effective if it is taken in the first 12 - 48 hours of symptoms. I told him I understood that, but from all that I've heard on the news (I didn't mention I work in the news) was that we were to stay home if possible instead of rushing to the doctors office. He said each doctor is different. He'd rather check a patient then to wait until condition was worse.
Then I went to my doctor. He went through the exact same checkup with me as the pediatrician had done with my boy: ears, throat, nose, chest and temperature. When he looked in my nose he said, "yep, that's definitely viral." He used a mask when he examined me and wiped down everything I touched as I was in the office. He told me this is the first season ever he's taken such precautions. He asked me not to take offense. Of course I wasn't offended! It makes sense to me that he'd take such measures.
He also diagnosed me having a strain of influenza, suspected H1N1 because the other strains haven't been seen yet in Colorado. I also had my flu shot two weeks ago, so I do have some protection against certain strains. Since it had been less than 48-hours since my symptoms had started I was prescribed Tamiflu and also Robitussin AC to help with my cough even more.
Then we talked about the H1N1 vaccine and my recent medical history. He advised me I take the vaccine when it's available because my system was shot this summer due to an emergency surgery that lead to some complications and further infections. He said "you have some strain of influenza, most likely H1N1, but if you have a different strain, or the H1N1 strain changes, your system is very weak right now and you have a chance of getting this again."
He advised me to do more research on my own because the decision to take this vaccine is a very personal one for each of us. He said he's going to take it because he owes it to his patients. However, his wife, a RN and the office manager, hasn't decided if she'll take it yet. "This is a very new vaccine," he said. "They only started working on it in March and with the test subjects we know how it'll affect us in two or three months, but we don't know the long term affects yet. It's only prudent we make wise decisions based on each individual situation because it's so new."
Friday
So that's me and my stepsons. One recovered quickly and went back to school without any problems, although after talking to the pediatrician I feel bad for sending him to school without a complete 24-hours fever free. The other is still recovering, but is not getting any worse. I am recovering, but still in extreme pain and exhausted. Finally this morning I didn't have a fever when I woke up. However I've started to sneeze like crazy and have a lot of dark colored mucous. I called my doctor to ask if I needed to be worried about this. At this time, no I don't. But if I spike a fever again or start to wet cough instead of a dry cough, then I need to be seen again. The concern is something else could set in, like pneumonia. I was told of a recent patient who two days after being diagnosed with influenza was in the hospital and on a ventilator due to pneumonia. Now I'm watching for those symptoms.
As I said when I started this long post, my husband is also sick, but wasn't diagnosed with influenza. He has strep throat and an ear infection. I was shocked when I he told me because he also started out like the rest of us with a dry cough. Now that I think about it, his fever set in quicker than any of the rest of us. He had a slight cough that came on while he was at work. By the time he got home from work he had the chills and a fever of 100.4 degrees. He's had a consistent high fever since then, which is unlike me and the boys. Our fevers would be high, then go to a low-grade fever or break all together. He also had diarrhea like I did, along with the aches and pains.
We were both convinced he had the flu like the rest of us. So again I stress you can't take my post and decide this is what you or another is suffering from because you never know. Right now my husband is the worst out of all of us. His doctor has advised him to go to the ER tonight if he at all gets worse. His doctor is concerned he's lost too much potassium and is losing weight due to being sick. If he can't get a handle on this, she wants him in the hospital.
It's been a long, painful, frustrating and scary weak. I've been told by my doctor to try to isolate myself from my husband because of my current weak immune system. I could very likely contract what he has. This truly stinks. I don't wish this on anyone, but maybe my post will help you make the right decisions for you and your family.
fluFACTS.com
In : Home
Tags: "swine flu" h1n1 influenza flu diagnosis
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Misty Lou, Misty Jean, Mystical and even Extrafancy are just a few of the nicknames to which I answer. The most important names though are Wife, StepMom and, soon to be, Mom. With all these names it's sometimes hard to know who I am! This blog started as a Nebraska girl learning, trying, succeeding and failing at gardening in Colorado. Along the way in growing my garden, I grew my family too as I married a wonderful man and became stepmom to two precious boys. Now our family grows more as I'm pregnant. So here is all of me as I share my family, home and garden. BTW my middle name is Jennifer; my name is Misty Jennifer Montano.
