[SKL]

How many of you believe (or know) that your family has had H1N1 already? Are any of you planning to get the H1N1 shot anyway?

[momof9wantingmore]

My family had the swine flu, confirmed in my 5 year old who has asthma, the doctor said to just assume that is what everyone else had as the symptoms were the same. I did not get it, praise God, someone had to stay healthy to take care of all the sickies around here. MY doctor said he would not vaccinate my family because they had already established immunity. I guess I will be the only one needing a shot, if it ever gets to my town.

[JackieN]

My family all had swine flu a few weeks ago. It was confirmed in me and my niece. The rest of the family knew they had it because they had the same symptoms. I was surprised how easy it was. None of us really felt that bad. I got sick on Friday and was back to work on Monday morning. I felt sick most of the day on Friday, but by Saturday it was off and on and by Sunday I was all better. It pretty much ran the same 3 day course in the rest of the family.

[zinnia63]

Just curious...
What were the symptoms your family exhibited for swine flu? My son and I are both under the weather now, and if he doesn't improve in a day or two I will bring him into the doctors office. He has had a chest cold and runny nose for a about 4 days. No high fevers...low grade only.

Thanks,
Zinnia

Ps- my son got the seasonal flu shot and got sick 1-2 days later.

[JackieN]

For me it started with a very mild sore throat (the kind you get when you have post-nasal drip) and very mild congestion about a week before I was diagnosed. I went about my normal activities because I had no clue it was swine flu. I thought I was just getting a cold.

On Friday, I woke up with a fever. I ordinarily would not have gone to the doctor, except I was recently diagnosed with gallstones and the doctor told me that a fever could be signs of a gallbladder infection and should be considered a medical emergency. So I still had no idea it was swine flu and thought it was the gallstones getting infected. As the day went on the congestion worsened and I developed a bad cough, general body achiness, headache, and occasional nausea. By Saturday most of the symptoms were gone accept the cough and very occasional nausea and by Sunday I felt fine (a mild cough lingered for a few days like it does with any cold or flu).

So I guess I actually had it for a week, but only really felt sick for about a day and a half.

[SKL]

I believe that I have it now and that my kids have had it. I didn't plan on getting the H1N1 shot and still don't. I am happy if this is it because I wouldn't want to go through the holidays worrying about it.

Our symptoms are basically those of a regular flu. Off-and-on fever which got high in the girls - not so high for me. Feeling crummy but still able to function. We didn't go to the doctor.

[Hopingsoon]

None of us has been sick, so I don't think we've had it or been exposed. Only the health departments have the vaccine thus far, and are offering it to high risk (I guess DS applies since he's a child).

Once the vaccine is available at the doctors office or in some sort of normal setting I will get it for myself and DS. I refuse to get up and stand in line for hours for it in the rain/cold. I watched the news and saw people starting to stand in line at 1AM in the rain to get this vaccine. All I could think is that you are only compromising your immune system more by losing sleep and freezing your behind off standing in the cold.....

[karaboo]

DD and I had it within days of each other a few weeks ago. Mild fever and chills, a little queasy, mostly body aches and fatigue.

[DPline]

Originally Posted by Hopingsoon

None of us has been sick, so I don't think we've had it or been exposed. Only the health departments have the vaccine thus far, and are offering it to high risk (I guess DS applies since he's a child).

Once the vaccine is available at the doctors office or in some sort of normal setting I will get it for myself and DS. I refuse to get up and stand in line for hours for it in the rain/cold. I watched the news and saw people starting to stand in line at 1AM in the rain to get this vaccine. All I could think is that you are only compromising your immune system more by losing sleep and freezing your behind off standing in the cold.....

Sorry to sidetrack this thread, but I really wanted to respond to Hopingsoon. My kids all got the immunization on Saturday at the same location that mom was standing outside at 1 AM. We went in the late afternoon and were in and out in less than 1.5 hours and 90 percent of the time we were inside and the line was constantly moving. It was amazingly well run and efficient. What the news was showing was a sensationalized version of what went on in the morning. You can make appointments at the local county Health Departments near us to get it (don't have to be a resident of the county - I called Oakland Counth Health to check) but after seeing how well this Saturday was run, we will be doing the second dose at the Schoolcraft clinic in a few weeks.

Back to SKL's origional question.

[momraine]

We've been exposed, but have not gotten it yet.

[luv2teach2]

Long post....We were never tested but I'm pretty sure my daughter and I had it June. My daughter started out vomiting and then she had a fever that I could not break for 5 days, the highest being 103. Doctor would not test her as he said just to keep her home and treat her as i would any other time. I started to not feel well about 3 days after she got sick. I had a terrible sore throat and went to urgent care and they said it was an ucler. It got worse so I went to my internist. It was all over my throat, tested neg for strep but had a fever of 102. She said I probably had the flu. I was out of work for 3 days but probably should have been out more. I'll be honest, I have never felt so bad in my life, my mother almost had to fly in to help me out. My dad is a Dr. and is convinced we both had it. That being said, I will still get us the H1N1 shot when it becomes available.

[angelkisses0102]

We are about 99.9% certain my kids both had it in June...but they were NOT tested. DS got his first dose (injectible) of the H1N1 vax on Friday...we are waiting until later this week to do DD (she has strep dxed Friday.)

Because we did not confirm the H1N1 this summer...they are getting the vax since DS is immune compromised.

[Travelkid]

My son had it and I think I had it, I was sick before him and did not go to the dr. He was put on Tamiflu, but still took 5 days to get back to normal.

He was only diagnosed as influenza with test (they are no longer testing for H1N1 in urgent care here). his dr rec'ds he get the H1N1 vaccine as well as reg flu shot so we will get both.

[Kingwait4Dany]

For everyone that was tested, I have a question...I thought the results took weeks to get back. Did they take this long or how do you know for sure it was
H1N1?? Thanks!

[2xaround]

Originally Posted by DPline

You can make appointments at any of the county Health Departments to get it (don't have to be a resident of the county) but after seeing how well this Saturday was run, we will be doing the second dose at the Schoolcraft clinic in a few weeks.

Back to SKL's origional question.

In parts of Illinois the health departments are requiring i.d. to verify that you are a resident of that county. You are required to get vaccinated within your county. They are setting up additional clinics in the various counties, but I can't make an appointment or walk into just any health department here.

To answer the original question, we've not had any flu (knock on wood) and are still discussing whether or not we'll get the H1N1 vaccine. DD has had the regular seasonaly flu mist though.