Well, is it or isn't it?

[PatsGirl]

the flu? DD woke up this morning with a slight fever and cough. She had a bit of a cough last night before bedtime but I thought nothing of it. She says that she had a headache last night and fever symptoms so she didn't sleep too well. Today was her last day of school but I kept her home.

Let me say that I almost never take my kids to the doctor ~ We are supposed to leave tomorrow morning for a four-day beach cottage vacation with a friend of mine and her two kids, and a DD's good friend. So, I want to rule out the flu. I call to speak with her doctor but they refuse to see her and tell me to take her to the ER first thing where they can swab her.

So, off to the ER we go where their first response was "we aren't swabbing for the flu" ~ I tell them my doctor sent us and they reluctantly assign her a exam cubby. Long story short, doctor doesn't want to swab her, fever is now gone, says its a viral respiratory infection, treat with tylenol and fluids, it'll last a few days. Is she contagious? Yes, any type of virus is contagious. Well, I know that, but is she like swine flu contagious Doctor becomes very evasive and that's that.

I'm thinking I just need to call DD's friends Mom and let her make her own decision as to whether her daughter should go with us or not, as well as the others (who would have far less contact with her because they are boys and will have their own room and will not be hanging out too much with her).

The cottage is two hours away, and the others (my friend and the two boys) will come a day later than us. DD will rest all day today and tomorrow as well for the drive and the weather is supposed to still be sucky anyways. So, if it isn't the flu she should feel better by Wednesday I think, if it is the flu we have then contaminated everyone and wouldn't she be ill all week at least?

Don't know what I'm looking for here - maybe for someone to tell me it is unlikely to be the flu because she really isn't sick enough? Or that it definately is the flu and we should just suck it up and stay home (and take the $400 loss) ~

 

[Gabes_mommy]

A few weeks ago I had a cough that turned into a really bad cough (the worst of my life and I'm 33) with a fever and bad headaches. I went to the doctor and my doctor said she had the same thing the week before. She said it was a bad respitory infection and she gave me a really strong antibiotic. She said nothing about the swine flu. I was really sick though for over a week, even while on the antibiotics. I would say it was the worst infection of that type I've ever had.

I hope your DD feels better soon.

 

[krcit]

My dd is just getting over the flu(type A which the swine is) She woke up not feeling well on a Monday-sore throat, bit of a headache and slight temp, by the afternoon she had 102.9 and was miserable. Horrible sore throat, was dizzy and had a bad headache. Took her to the Dr on Tues and they did a strep test, a blood test and when they were allnegative they swabbed her for the flu. She was out of school for 7 days.Once the fever broke late Tuesday night, she felt much better but ws still not herself until about Saturday. I hope your d is feeling much better asap. I guess just call th other family and see what tomorrow brings-I think if it's flu you'll know it by then.

 

[Enchanted_Mama]

we've all just gotten over exactly what you're describing (fever and cough). Fever broke after two days, but the cough has lingered. Just a bad cold virus, IMO. Hope your daughter feels better soon!

 

[PatsGirl]

Thanks everyone. DD's fever broke shortly after my first post and she has been feeling much better. I've made her stay in bed and she did take a short nap this afternoon but from what I can tell she does not have the flu. It's unlike her to have a fever and that is what caught me off guard. She's eating, drinking, and staying awake and has no fever so I guess we're good to go I don't expect she'll be at full speed for the next couple of days but...

Everyone joining us made the decision this morning to take their chances either way Of course, it is me who will be stuck with four sick preteens in the worst case scenario I will pack plenty of ibuprofen! and Vino

 

[Tinijocaro]

Did they swab her for strep? DS 13 had swine flu two weeks ago, 100 degree fever, headache, body aches, chills. That's it. First day all he had was the chills, second day, all the other symptoms. Next day, all better. He was confirmed by the health dept for swine flu.

Today, I brought my two dd's to the peds, thinking it could either be swine flu or strep. Both had strep. Similar symptoms. Doc said before they checked "It's not swine flu-fever isn't high enough and they don't have a bad cough." I told him that DS who had swine flu had a fever that didn't go above 100 and no cough at all. He didn't really know what to say.

Headache and fever usually make me think of strep-sometimes no sore throat at all, sometimes body aches, sometimes a rash. The symptoms of the two illnesses can be very similar.

 

[PatsGirl]

Wow, only three days with the flu, beginning to end? That's great.

DD was not swabbed or tested for anything Just sent home to wait it out. I didn't know that strep didn't always come with a severe sore throat so I'll be sure to keep an eye on her for a few more days even if she doesn't get a high fever.

 

[Tinijocaro]

It was actually only two days-one day of chills, the next day other symptoms, and the third day all better. One of the more mild cases and I wouldn't even have brought him in to the doctors if it weren't for my dd7 who has asthma. I had a feeling he had swine flu and I was worried for her.

The funny thing was, the school sent home a letter stating that there was a mild case of swine flu at the school. As if the word mild really makes any difference-it was mild for him, but may not be for someone else. I hate all this trying to ease our fears stuff and telling us not to panic. They wouldn't say that if there were no worries at all about this flu. I'm not at all panicked, but certainly very watchful with my children.

Toonight, ds9 has a fever, sore throat and his lungs hurt. We've had every symptom under the sun for strep, but never hurting lungs. He rarely gets sick and rarely complains when he is sick. He's complaining tonight so of course I keep thinking "What if it's swine flu?" The painful lung thing has me a bit concerned. He's going for a strep test tomorrow so I think I'll insist on a nasal swab for influenza A also, just to easemy mind. DS # 1 told me his nasal swab felt like someone shoved a jalepeno pepper up his nostrils! Very painful!

 

[HeatherC]

PatsGirl - we are also in Massachusetts and I think almost every kid in our school has had the same thing. (Not really, but it seems like it.)

All of my kids have had it over the past week....sore throat, small cough and generally really crummy. Then they get the fever. But with all 3 of them the fever broke the next day and they were fine.

Who knows what it is, but at least it appears to be mild.

Hope you have a great vacation!!

 

[LynnTH]

Took my DD8 to the Dr. yesterday. She had a small fever last Wednesday night and cough (which many times is her asthma). So, we started her on Tylenonl and Cough Medicine and her inhaler every 4 hours. Fever went up a bit on Thursday and by Friday Morning it was at 103.3. It was a few hours before the Drs office opened and I took her temp and it was back to normal. Stayed normal most of the day but would spike occasionally during the weekend (not real high - maybe 100.8 at the most). Still was going up and down so took her in yesterday. They did a chest x-ray to rule out pnemonia and a flu test and a strep test. Turned out she had strep even though she had no sore throat. The flu test came back today and she does not have that.

She had to wear a mask in the Dr's office and the nurses and Dr's did for any patient who had a fever and cough. They said there was so much stuff going around quickly so they all had to protect themselves. (Can't blame them or the whole staff would be out sick).

So, DD is on Penicillion now and is feeling tons better. Wish I would've taken her earlier but I thought we were over the worst since her fever had broken.