Just diagnosed "probable swine flu"

[MrsSpratt]

And given tamiflu, etc....but they didn't do a swab or any blood work "because the system is so backed up with cases..."

I feel crappy, but not at death's door - anyone else had there doctor NOT test them? But diagnose it anyway?

Just curious...

Mrs. Spratt

ps - it really isn't any fun. Can't sleep, no appetite, can't focus, just bleah.

 

[monkeybug]

My son and I both have fever, cough and sinus congestion (the reason I've been on here all day!) I was achey and had headache and sore throat too (my son is three so who knows if he did) Our doctor said he thought it was just a cold virus, not the flu. I have no idea how he reached that conclusion, but it doesn't matter much anyways. The treatment would be the same either way. We would not be given tamiflu because we are not in a high risk category.
To me it just feels like a really bad cold, but with a fever. Not too sick to get me out of doing the laundry!

 

[MrsSpratt]

Sounds about the same - if you don't mind me asking, where are you located?

And I went in convinced it WASN'T swine flu - just a sinus infection - but my fever is hovering at 101.1 and that is why they said it was swine flu.

Bleck.

 

[pigletgirl]

Well, I got really sick towards the end of April, right before the big media circus about it. I had a temp of 102 consistently for 7 days, and then dealt on top of that a horrendous cough with nasal congestion for 2 more weeks. It was AWFUL.

Well, a friend of mine got sick a day or 2 after h1n1 was announced, and she got tested and was postivie. What it interesting is that her course of illness was completely identical to mine. So, I'd say that I had it.

I was never given TamiFlu.

FWIW, I don't want to scare you monkeybug, but the high risk category for h1n1 is anyone < 25 years of age. So, I am surprised your DS didnt get a perscription for Tamiflu.

 

[kathie859]

I'm sorry you're not feeling well, MrsSpratt and monkeybug. I guess this cold/sinus and flu season has everyone a little concerned with all the emphasis on H1N1. I was at Michael's yesterday and the cashier had a surgical mask on--I wanted to ask if SHE was sick or was she practicing preventive measures

Take care--rest, drink lots of fluids and get better quick

 

[Christine]

I'm sure I'm going to sound pretty cranky with my response, but how can "the system be so backed up" that your doctor can't even do the in-office swab for Influenza A or B. That is a 10 minute, in-office test. No, it doesn't diagnose H1N1, but it does diagnose influenza.

What disturbs me is the cavalier prescribing of medication. Drugs are not sugar pills and even Tamiflu has side effects. I wouldn't take Tamiflu unless I was certain I had the flu.

 

[LuvOrlando]

WOW, I can't believe they are dispensing anti-virals like that without proving you need them. I have an Uncle who is a Dr. and something he told me once has never left me, "Never forget all medicine is poison and you only take it when the illness is worse than the medicine." I would be upset if a Dr did that to me. They have a nose swab that reads in 15 minutes, how does that get backed up? The worst part is that those anti-virals are in short supply, it is irresponsible to give out doses unless they are positive it will help you and a test would prevent mistakes.

I have been feeling terrible all week with a mild fever and just about all the symptoms including coughing, exhaustion and trouble breathing, but I came up as a negative. I was diagnosed with a sinus infection and probably mild pneumonia/bronchitis with an Asthma flare-up yesterday. I think she was right because after a super initial double dose of Z-pac I am already feeling a bit better.... well not exactly better but I'm not getting worse any more.

Get this, I think I caught whatever it is that started the ball rolling from my kids' Allergy Dr. I took them in to see him on Thursday and he was coughing a bit while we were there, in a small room with the door shut. I put myself between him and my kids to get the brunt of the germs and thought a quick shower at home would be enough but it wasn't, by Sunday I was feeling it. I still can't get over how irresponsible he was, AND with a high risk population like that! What on earth was he thinking?

I hope you all feel better soon.

 

[ZachnElli]

My nephew (10) was told he probably had it over the phone and please don't come into the doctor's office! He probably did have it. Woke up with a bad headache, bad sore throat and a slight fever. The fever got higher over the next few days and the cough developed, but it wasn't horrible, definitely flulike. They aren't giving out Tamiflu around here unless you are really sick or have something else too like asthma.

 

[Silent1CB]

I'm sure I'm going to sound pretty cranky with my response, but how can "the system be so backed up" that your doctor can't even do the in-office swab for Influenza A or B. That is a 10 minute, in-office test. No, it doesn't diagnose H1N1, but it does diagnose influenza.

What disturbs me is the cavalier prescribing of medication. Drugs are not sugar pills and even Tamiflu has side effects. I wouldn't take Tamiflu unless I was certain I had the flu.

I thought they weren't supposed to be handing out Tamiflu so easily. I thought they didn't want the population to grow resistant to its help or something like that. OP isn't the first poster stating similar easy availability without confirmation.

This is all so confusing. I'm just glad that SO FAR we aren't having thousands dropping dead and its been pretty mild cases.

DH & I both had something about a month ago that started with sore throats & progressed really fast. No fever so it never occured to us to even call the doctor and we treated it as allergies at first then cold (when 2nd person got it). It wasn't like any normal cold we usually get however.

 

[MrsSpratt]

My nephew (10) was told he probably had it over the phone and please don't come into the doctor's office! He probably did have it. Woke up with a bad headache, bad sore throat and a slight fever. The fever got higher over the next few days and the cough developed, but it wasn't horrible, definitely flulike. They aren't giving out Tamiflu around here unless you are really sick or have something else too like asthma.

That was me this morning. I went to the doc because work required it. I have taken the initial zpack dose and tamiflu, and have been feeling WORSE throughout the day....my fever isn't going down. My DH seems to be ok, thank God!

 

[Christine]

That was me this morning. I went to the doc because work required it. I have taken the initial zpack dose and tamiflu, and have been feeling WORSE throughout the day....my fever isn't going down. My DH seems to be ok, thank God!

From what I've heard, Tamiflu is quite effective with Type A or H1N1 types. You should be feeling at least 50% better tomorrow if it is the flu. If it wasn't the flu, you'll probably still feel like crap.

I hope you feel better soon. It's the absolute PITS being sick and the older I get, the more of a baby I am about it.

 

[Deb in IA]

I feel crappy, but not at death's door - anyone else had there doctor NOT test them? But diagnose it anyway?

Actually, this is pretty accepted these days, because:
1. The test for H1N1 has a very high false negative rate, and is not very reliable.

With thanks to PennyKay:

CDC Again Cautions Against Using Rapid Flu Tests for H1N1 Detection
September 25, 2009


CDC today said findings from a recent H1N1 outbreak in the US reaffirmed its recommendation against using rapid influenza diagnostics testing to ID the virus.

However, it said that RIDTs, which typically yield results in 30 minutes, can still be used to detect seasonal flu and suggested they may have value in certain settings, especially in hospitals that cannot afford real-time RT-PCR tests.

The analysis, which relied on a single undisclosed RIDT, said they “detected less than half the cases confirmed by rRT-PCR” and that “[t]he low sensitivity and low negative predictive value of the test during these outbreaks highlight the limitations of using this test alone to establish diagnosis and aid clinical management” of H1N1.

“These results affirm current recommendations not to use negative RIDT results to rule out pandemic H1N1 or to make infection control decisions,” CDC said in a statement, dated Sept. 25 but released late yesterday afternoon.

The analysis was based on an H1N1 outbreak in a pair of schools in Connecticut this spring. It “affirm recent CDC recommendations against using negative RIDT results for management of patients with possible 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) infection,” the agency concluded.

Still, CDC said RIDTs “can be an important tool for patient care,” including making decisions about “isolating or cohorting patients in health-care settings and recommending or restricting patient movements in outpatient settings.”

RIDTs “might be especially important for hospitals limited by the expense of rRT-PCR and in identifying influenza during outbreaks in defined patient groups, such as those in schools or nursing homes,” CDC said.

However, the agency cautioned that “if used for management of patients with possible pandemic H1N1 virus infection, false-negative [RIDT] test reports might result in inappropriate exposure of susceptible persons to infected patients.

2. ANY influenza-like illness (ILI) is considered to be H1N1, by definition, because there is NO seasonal flu yet.

And Tamiflu is very effective against H1N1. But not seasonal flu.

Hope you feel better.

 

[Christine]

Actually, this is pretty accepted these days, because:
1. The test for H1N1 has a very high false negative rate, and is not very reliable.

Deb,

Are the actually giving Tamiflu without even a nasal swab to check to see if it IS the flu? I guess I'm confused. I realized that it is too hard to check for H1N1, but I thought they were covering their bases by at least getting a quick-test for Type A.

 

[Deb in IA]

Christine,

I've seen it being done both ways. I think that the swab (looking for Type A) may be done in less severe cases, where the diagnosis is not clear-cut.

If it is most certainly an influenza illness, I think most are just going ahead with Tamiflu, especially if it is a high risk patient (asthma, young child, health care worker, etc).

I hope that's clear . . .

 

[Christine]

Christine,

I've seen it being done both ways. I think that the swab (looking for Type A) may be done in less severe cases, where the diagnosis is not clear-cut.

If it is most certainly an influenza illness, I think most are just going ahead with Tamiflu, especially if it is a high risk patient (asthma, young child, health care worker, etc).

I hope that's clear . . .

Thanks. I really didn't know that.

My coworker took her daughter to the doctor yesterday because she definitely has all signs of the flu and she has a history of mono. They swabbed her for both strep and influenza and she was negative on both. So, I guess not everything is the flu.

I really don't like taking medications until I know I really need them so I don't think I would take the Tamiflu (I also don't have any of the risk factors) but that's just me. I have had too many experiences with side effects that I'm just way more careful than I used to be.

 

[mamacatnv]

I think everyone including the medical community is confused. I just returned from urgent care with DS who is a college sophomore. He lives on campus and has been fighting a cold, sore throat, cough and mild fever all week. He called me this morning he was not feeling well enough to drive himself, and asked me to take him to the Dr. so I went and got him and off we went.

The Dr. looked in his ears and his throat and stated: "Influenza and we are not even bothering to test CDC says tests only for extreme cases or the endangered population.... pregnant woman, small kids"

He gave him an RX for a cough syrup to help him sleep, a note for the classes he is missing and told him to stay away from fellow students although "half the Univ. is sick"...........

He told me to keep an eye out for a spiking fever and other than that the usual, rest fluids etc.

 

[MrsSpratt]

I think everyone including the medical community is confused. I just returned from urgent care with DS who is a college sophomore. He lives on campus and has been fighting a cold, sore throat, cough and mild fever all week. He called me this morning he was not feeling well enough to drive himself, and asked me to take him to the Dr. so I went and got him and off we went.

The Dr. looked in his ears and his throat and stated: "Influenza and we are not even bothering to test CDC says tests only for extreme cases or the endangered population.... pregnant woman, small kids"

He gave him an RX for a cough syrup to help him sleep, a note for the classes he is missing and told him to stay away from fellow students although "half the Univ. is sick"...........

He told me to keep an eye out for a spiking fever and other than that the usual, rest fluids etc.

Thanks.

My fever seems to be going UP, not down, and I feel worse moment by moment - I am so glad they gave me tamiflu, etc. i wouldn't wish this on ANYONE!

I really appreciate the feedback/encouragement...

Mrs. Spratt

PS - DH (who has asthma) seems to be fine. I hope it stays that way. I think I will sleep in the guest bedroom, though....

 

[tomthebarncat]

Please take care of yourself and get some rest!!!

 

[monkey68]

At our hospital ER, and family health center, we aren't testing people anymore unless they're getting admitted, and they're not getting Tamiflu unless they have some other comorbidity. It's not because of fear of resistance, it's that we've heard that some pharmacies in the area are actually running out. And really, the rapid flu test isn't so accurate for the H1N1, and to do the definitive testing, it won't really make a difference because by the time the results for that are back, most people will be feeling better, so if it doesn't change the management, why do an extra test that will just cost more money?

 

[MrsSpratt]

At our hospital ER, and family health center, we aren't testing people anymore unless they're getting admitted, and they're not getting Tamiflu unless they have some other comorbidity. It's not because of fear of resistance, it's that we've heard that some pharmacies in the area are actually running out. And really, the rapid flu test isn't so accurate for the H1N1, and to do the definitive testing, it won't really make a difference because by the time the results for that are back, most people will be feeling better, so if it doesn't change the management, why do an extra test that will just cost more money?

That is basically what the doc said. He did prescribe tamiflu, and I was able to get it, but I understand supplies are low - I obviously am sick, but I feel guilty that I could be "taking" meds away from someone else...especially a child or expectant mother. That being said, I still got the prescription filled. And I am taking it.

Can you please define comorbidity? (Oh, yeah, I can google it - never mind...) Ok, so I googled it - do you think he gave me tamiflu because of the sinus infection?

Thanks,

Mrs. Spratt