My 10-Day Ordeal With the Swine Flu

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Interesting reading......although I'm wondering if what I have been getting, every year about the same time of year, is something different. It starts in the sinus, then migrates to the lungs, (but remains in the sinus also.) Of course the sinuses close at night unless using a decongestant, but the lungs......seems like water was coming from the tissues in the lung. It had to be cleared every 2 minutes. Sleep was out of the question. After a period of a week it was like the bug was building a house, terrible stuff I was coughing up. After coughing for 10 minutes straight I felt like the heat in the room had been turned up 15 degrees. I use to wait a week to see if it would leave on it's own, but ended up going to get some medicine. The meds worked, or so it seemed. Another three or four days and I was back to normal. Last year and this year I decided to tough it out, (although this "fall" I was diagnosed with asthma). I have a bronchial steroid, but can only use it twice a day.
The main thing I have become really concerned about is MY WIFE has started getting this same thing every year. She has quite a cough also. We both have had the flu and H1N1 shot earlier in the year.

Steven Atkins of MO 12:28AM January 07, 2012

Who cares if you don't get the flu shot? Not me. I didn't get it either and it's been a week yesterday since I got home from the hospital. Let's play "I can't walk across the floor without loosing my breath," or "I'm not gettting the flu so why should I take a shot for it."
Dying is not crowded. There's pleanty of room for you to stand in line for the next bus to Heaven. Go for it!

jim of AL 11:58AM February 15, 2010

my friend aurora reese inspired me to type this her dad has surgery yesterday and she cant see him all week thats not right ugh i dont like this swine flu thing its just getting people upset and cautious........

christian j of MI 6:21PM November 17, 2009

Wow. Heaps of propaganda out there. I am a nurse and nurse practitioner student and I already had the H1N1. Influenza, especially H1 N1 can be diagnosed without a swab based on symptoms. Every case is a little different so no need to be so anal about your kid's 3 day illness vs another kids's 5 day illnes vs an adult's 10 day illness. Tamiflu shortens the course by 1-2 days. Big deal. Go to bed and stay there til it is over. Chicken soup and Tylenol. Take your temperature and remember that a fever of 102 is no big deal in a kid. Stay out of the ER, the Urgent Care and the doctor's office unless you are very ill and you will know if you are like the author of the article. I have given hundreds of doses of the nasal spray for H1N1 with no complaints of problems. Go to the CDC website and do not listen to your well meaning but ignorant neighbors and friends. Good luck and take care of each other out there.

mashuga of NV 12:02AM November 17, 2009

Who is this lady to be telling people to get the vaccine? The pamphlet for the vaccine warns of a variety of serious side effects from getting the shot, not to mention that its filled with poisons such as mercury and aluminum. Then, there are all the stories of people becoming seriously ill after taking the shot and even dying.
This makes no sense.

Steve Greco of CA 7:19PM November 16, 2009

My wife Kathy is 52 years old, and she was attacked by asthma starting from last year. She took the alergy sources test, and found none of the 40 something might be alergy source is causing her asthma. It's more difficult to convince her when is the appropriate time to go to the clinics to see the doctors when she is sick, as I believe down inside she still can not accept the fact that she is an asthma patient. We are now living in Shanhgai, and we are somewhat hesitate to take the H1N1 vacinne locally. Is there any report or suggestion for asthma patient to take H1N1 vaccine?? thanks.

Ray 9:58PM November 14, 2009

while I do worry about swine flu, especially because my daughter attends nursery where germs spread at exponential speed, i was a bit surprised to come to the end of this article and learn that its author hadn't even been officially tested for swine flu. She uses as evidence to support her conclusion that she had suffered swine flu one doctor's explanation that this virus replicates in the lungs, whereas normal flu replicates in the sinuses. I really find it suspect that U.S. News and World Report allowed the headline to be published for this article.
While swine flu is a very serious illness not to be taken lightly, I find it really unprofessional to capitalise on the fervor surrounding this illness with an article based primarily on conjecture.

cl of CA 4:17PM November 13, 2009

I am not a medical doctor. I just cannot figure out how listening to symptoms a doctor can say for certain if those are due to H1N1 or whatever flu is the flavor of the month. One needs to be tested for anti-bodies to be sure.
I have personal experience of breathing problems associated with serious cough and congested chest. No medication really did anything for me. Then I started making soup with lots of garlic, green chilli, tomato and anything else at hand. I did not fry anything. I just made a thick soup. I started taking that hot 3 or 4 times a day. Within a day my chest felt lighter. I could breath properly. I had productive coughs, instead of painful dry ones. In two days I felt fine.
If I get cold or cough, I just take such soup. The soup worked for me. The proof is I am still alive.
I do not know if it will work for others. But garlic is known to be antibacterial and antiviral and green chilli is full of Vitamin C. So if one eats such soup, one is getting something useful. At least you are eating good food and that should help.

Dr Alok Bhattacharyya 2:17PM November 13, 2009

Please go back and read the history of Polio. Polio was actually far into decline when the vaccine was developed and distributed. Of course, the medical profession hopes you don't find out the truth that the vaccine caused a huge spike in polio cases!
Also, would you care to cite ANY studies that show any long term immunity gained from vaccines? Even the makers of these H1N1 vaccines only expect 25% efficacy (effectiveness) in the short term. There is also a lot of growing evidence that the seasonal flu vaccine makes you more susceptable to H1N1 infection. Add to that the fact that congress and the President signed legislation to shield the vaccine makers from any product liability suits should these vaccines turn out to be as bad as th last crisis vaccination (1976).

Paul of AZ 9:06AM November 13, 2009

So, you are blaming your illness on a diseas diagnosed over the phone? More than 75% of reported cases where testing was actually performed turned out to be NOT EVEN ANY KIND OF FLU!
This kind of irresponsible reporting does not do anyone any good.

Paul of AZ 8:58AM November 13, 2009