Live From (possible) Swine Flu Central
Wow, how ironic, after my last post, to wake up this morning to a hot body next to me. No, not my husband, seems that Jenna is sick. She has a fever and a sore throat. Wow, are we part of flu-apoolooza?
I spoke to my pediatrician for the last blog, and I didn’t even know we were incubating something. What an opportunity squandered! She told me at the time that if your child is exhibiting symptoms of H1N1 – fever, sore throat, aches and pains, sniffles and/or a cough then it probably is H1N1. Just because that is the most common thing going around right now.
Oh great, so it looks like a swine and acts like a swine…I guess it’s a swine? As soon as I told one person, they told two people and they two people and now my phone is ringing off the hook. “I heard Jenna has a fever – do you think this is it?” Umm… I dunno.
So what to do? Actually, nothing but monitor her. My lovely, strong-willed daughter was even refusing medicine of all kinds until she woke up from a nap with a temp of 103.5. At that point, daddy bribed her with a princess watch. I think he may be at the toy store right now.
But that moment when she could barely open her eyes and the thermometer registered 103.5, I have to admit, that was a bad moment. My friend the doctor keeps urging me to watch her closely, especially if she is listless. Watch for what? The irrational voice in my head going places that no mother wants to go, and then the rational side slowly taking over – most kids are fine, it could be another virus, it could just be strep throat. (Strep throat would be ok, it’s nice and treatable). I repeat the mantra over to myself.
The Ibuprofen kicked in and now she is on the mend, TV is on again and she is ordering me around. If that was the lowest point then that it wasn’t too bad. If there wasn’t a current of paranoia that underlies each interaction it would just be a run-of-the-mill unexplained virus. We would drink hot liquids, watch movies and snuggle. But with the potential for it to be something more it makes it much scarier.
And at the same time the news is histrionic and the information confusing. Since Jenna is under five, she is eligible for the priority vaccine but now that she has a fever I have to wait. So she is a priority because it is the most dangerous for her? Great. I needed to know that.
So we sit. We are community rejects. All playdates are cancelled; no one can enter these walls. Our weekend is up in the air and we wait.
I know we will look back at this point with the wisdom of experience and wonder why all the emotions? But when you are sitting with a feverish kid, anxiety seems to be the default emotion.
Day 2 is pretty much the same, fever of 103, lots of TV but suprisingly, less anxiety. While she is definitely not well, she is not lethargic and listless so... maybe this isn't it? Instead of paranoia I am just left to wonder. Is this H1N1 or not? And does it matter? And am I going to go through this with each family member?
In the meantime I have an early night planned I have a scratchy throat and the TV overload has started strange Wiggles hallucinations -- are they really doing Disco??
Posted by: Lacie | 2009-10-29 11:43:48 PM
I quite love all the hype that is going on here in Abbotsford B.C. Unfortunately, I have some people that are pissed at me due to the fact that I will not come near then because they have gotten the vaccine just yesterday. I do not know what to think, as others, I too have a child with asthma, and myself also. I have heard that if you boost your immune system, and get plenty of rest, that you can get over it fast, it is like every other flu, just contracts from person to person faster. Where can I go on the net to find out REAL facts, not B.S. I am paranoid, but, I also have common sense. Its the hype that is making me worry. I thank Alex, that wrote that exert above, he seems as though he has done his research. I will continue to be unsure until I know true complete facts. If there is anyone that can give more, please let me know, thanks.
Lacie
Posted by: nurse | 2009-10-29 11:26:55 PM
I really hope that everyone who is posting advice on not to get the vaccine, and why not KNOW that their explanations are COMPLETE and TRUE. One really need to be careful in regards to information passed along, especially if it sounds terrifying, but in reality isn't. Information is good, gossip or a guess to induce fear is not .
Posted by: Abie | 2009-10-29 10:26:59 PM
thanks very much for your advoice,because my son grandmother was begging me to let him take it
Posted by: Tobs | 2009-10-29 9:31:33 PM
By Alex S. (See bottom for contact details)
I keep thinking to myself that quote of Albert Einstein, which paraphrased says pretty much that “genius can be measured, but stupidity is boundless.”
None truer a case than in San Francisco today, where all across the city the first batch of injectable H1N1 vaccines were rolled out to the public, and injections are now happening as I type this. I took most of today and visited each and every single San Francisco H1N1 vaccination site and posted my [Fact sheet] flyers around the perimeter, and at each one saw a line of people of all walks waiting to get their shot, including parents with their children.
I approached each line of people and asked them point blank “do you know what’s in the vaccine you’re about to get?” I got blank stares in return. “What if it irreversibly hurts you?” – I got back laughs and shrugs, people saying “whatever”. “Are you willing to risk your lives and the lives of others by getting a shot just because someone told you that you should, when you dont even know what the shot is made of? Are you willing to take that risk?”
One person asked me “why, what’s in it?” I said, “You mean to tell me you’re standing in this line to get injected with something when you don’t even know what it is? How smart is that?”
I challenge anyone to ask these clinics to show them the list of ingredients in these H1N1 vaccine shots. They can’t, because the manufacturers have YET to disclose their ingredient lists. MYSTERY SOUP.
I further challenge anyone to ask the clinics: “Why are the H1N1 vaccine manufacturers granted immunity from injury claims, if these vaccines are so safe? And by the way, SHOW ME THE INGREDIENTS.”
To review – here is what you will find evidenced [...] to be in these vaccines:
* LIVE unique virus – this will NOT MATCH the H1N1 strain and will CERTAINLY cause NEW UNIQUE recombinant virus sub strains to form and begin transferring to others who come into contact with the subject for up to 21 days once introduced.
* SQUALENE – derived from shark liver oil, this toxic adjuvant is known to cause Multiple Sclerosis conditions and irreversible Guillain-Barré ascending paralysis
* ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE – pure poison
* THIMEROSOL – pure poison
* MERCURY – pure poison
* MSG – yes, its in the vaccine, in toxic amounts. pure poison.
* if you still need convincing, you need to have your head examined.
I told the last group I visited: “You are all about to make probably the worst mistake of your very short lives.”
All I can advise everyone is – stay away from anyone walking out of these city-run “health” clinics with their white piece of paper that they signed upon receiving their shot – no doubt an indemnification waiver of some kind. Most likely those who get the H1N1 shot are now walking bio- reactive cocktails, contagiously shedding new recombinant viral sub-strains for as long as 3 weeks. STAY AWAY FROM THOSE WHO GET THE SHOT.
The minute anyone is harmed or killed by these shots, those healthworkers at these clinics who administered these shots without proper informed consent are guilty of no less than assault with willful negligence, and at the worst manslaughter or murder.
Excerpt submitted by: cdnintel@hotmail.com / Written by Alex M. Studer - www.labvirus.com
Thanks to Alex (and many others with nothing to gain yet everything to preserve) has FACTUAL information corroborated by science, documentation and proof. DO NOT VACCINATE!
Posted by: Michele | 2009-10-29 9:20:10 PM
April, I just copied this, I think it applies to you----
People under age 65 who have medical problems, pregnant women and children between six months and five years are among the first priority groups, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada, because if they contract the pandemic flu it could be severe, and the complications could be life-threatening.
hopes this helps M
Posted by: dave | 2009-10-29 9:08:14 PM
I live in Cornwall , a small town where a very healthy 10 year old girl died on Monday of H1N1....I'm taking the family for my vacine !
Posted by: April McLaughlin | 2009-10-29 8:45:02 PM
I was told by my Docter that I do not have to get the H1N1 vaccine, because i am 58, But I have a
compermised ammune system. Please get back to me soon!! as I'm confused and scared.
Posted by: angela thompson | 2009-10-29 8:40:17 PM
I am nursing my 16 yr. old daughter at home right now who has influenza. We took her to the emergency on Sunday night with a temp. of 39.9, shortness of breath, all flu symptoms and a full blown migraine headache just to add insult to injury. One common denominator that I noticed while we were waiting for 3 hrs at the emergency, was that almost all people waiting to be seen, were girls and women, with the exception of 2 teenage boys. Has anyone else noticed that this flu seems to be targeting females? Just curious...
Angela
Posted by: April McLaughlin | 2009-10-29 8:28:46 PM
I was told by my Docter that I do not have to get the vaccine because I am 58, But I have a compermised immune system.
Posted by: Linda | 2009-10-29 8:26:29 PM
We just came through it with my ten year old son. I kept him home for 8 days and he did little during that time period. The key was to keep pumping him with ibuprofen and at times tylenol as well and plenty of fluids. We were very cool with it, knowing that the scary stories are few and far between. They're just the ones that make the news. His take, on day two... "Boy, I hope this is H1N1"... "Why, sweetie?"... "Well, I don't want to sit around worrying like everyone... let's just get it over with..." And that we did. Over and done.
I didn't quarantine him from the rest of the family, and strangely, we are all still standing. Today is day 10, and yes, he's still coughing, but the fever and aches are gone. We're relieved to be first out of the starting gate and not panicking. Just monitor and sit back in front of the TV, when they're capable of watching. We made the best of the situation and knew it would all be fine.
Posted by: Karin | 2009-10-29 8:02:38 PM
Hello, My daughter and myself,f just when through the same ordeal My daugter had the same, 103.4 temp, couldn't move much, and needed help getting her to the hospital. She's 14. I insisted she be given a ventolin mask, as she could not inhale the puffer she was using. The test for swineflue is uncomfortable, if not painful, as it is not a simple blood test, as well the system is overloaded. Its a foot long, stainless steel plyable Q tip that goes up your nose and down the back of your throat. I left the hospital with information in hand, re the H1N1 virus. I have a large bowl with a tincture of bleach in it, and I rinse my hands often.
I would say it as the swine flu, the hospital in as much said 99.9% sure.
The danger is (as with the young hockey player) it changes within an hour to be serious. Movement when you are exerting yourself and you could pass out frm exhaustion. I found my heart racing at times, while laying still. Then I became worried about the virus that one can get to the heart..... my the mind can go on.
As with all kids, my parents always said, they get sick quick, harsh and get better quick also.
Bless anyone who has to deal with this.
Posted by: june | 2009-10-29 7:59:17 PM
I appreciate your outlook on this. It is really hard not to go in to panic mode when everytime you turn on the TV all you see and hear is someone else has died. My heart breaks for the parents who have lost their young children, as I have a 4 year old daughter and I can't even let myself think about what I would do if I ever lost her. She too was sick a few weeks ago; fever, body aches, sore throat, cough. The fever lasted about 4 days and the cough about a week and a half. I also wonder if she had "the flu". She was never at any point so sick that I was really quite concerned. The Advil and Tylenol were handling the fever and bodyaches nicely and for the most part she laid around watching TV and comlained about how boring it was when you are sick because you don't get to do anything. They say for the most part the symtpoms are mild to moderate but they don't really give you any idea what the "mild" version is and all you seem to hear about are the moderate to severe. If she did have it I would have to say she had the "mild" verion. I have to admit, I would feel better if knew it was the H1N1 that she had then I could stop worrying about it. For now we will just wait until we can get our vaccine (another two weeks and I work in a doctor's office) and keep washing our hands. Hope your daughter recovers soon.
Posted by: October F | 2009-10-29 7:43:34 PM
In response to Mickey SPring...sorry to hear about your daughter, but do watch her carefully. If her fever cannot be controlled, or she begins having problems breathing get her to the hospital. They will take it from there. She should pull out of it as long as she is treated quickly. This flu will come in 3 waves...we're in the first one now. Don't know if you can get hit again, but if you can on the seasonal one, I would imagine you can on this one too. Get your shot....it will still help the family get through this pandemic. If you want to see what has happened elsewhere, check out the web for information coming out of Australia...they just finished their flu season and it was rough. We're just getting it now. Your daughter is lucky to get a note...most doctors are not bothering because they would be buried in paperwork as there are just too many cases of people missing school/work so many are advising you not to bother requesting one. If she really has to have one, wait until she is better before going in to get it. It is recommended that kids/adults remain at home until several days after they are feeling better. Hope this helps.
Posted by: jamie harmon | 2009-10-29 6:25:16 PM
It's hard to know what to do. My asthma specialist has been treating my kids since infancy, now they are 8 and 10. He says that the side effects of the vaccine could be more harmful then getting the virus itself. I've trusted him with my children's lives this long. Am I not supposed to trust him now?
Posted by: Mickey SPring | 2009-10-29 5:30:31 PM
Can't find these answers on Health Ontario websites. 19 year old daughter has the flu.
1. Does anyone know if you can develop/catch the H1N1 twice?
2. Is it too late for family members to get the shot if someone in the household already has H1N1? Considering it takes 3 to 7 days to work.
3. Called the doctors office for note to excuse daughter from schoo, the doctors staff asked her to come in to get note. The doctor had examined daughter yesterday and issued Tami Flu why should she need to go back?
4. How long should daughter stay home if she was diagnosed yesterday?
thank you.
Posted by: Brainiac | 2009-10-29 4:59:49 PM
The whole H1N1 thing is just a hype. I've had it, and it was no worse than a regular flu. The only thing that separates H1N1 from its cousins is how contagious it is. H1N1 does spread faster than your normal everyday flu, but the symptoms are no more brutal than the symptoms you'd get from a regular flu.
The only reason that H1N1 has been, and still is an issue is to indeed make the government look as if they are doing something helpful to society ... And maybe to get some coin off it in the process. The hype is nothing more than a scam, an exaggeration of the real deal used to bring attention to the government. Since most people run to the big guy for help when they hear about a coming disaster, they took advantage of that and look ... It was as easy as taking candy from a baby.
For those who have lost loved ones, I am sorry for your loss. It's possible that it was by H1N1, or another sickness. I just don't anyone else to feed into the lies that the government is feeding the people.
-Brainiac
Posted by: Husband and Wife ( healthcare workers) | 2009-10-29 4:01:21 PM
Here's is something else to think about. Why do people die of H1N1? Do their immune systems react too strongly to the virus thus causing death of the host? If so, do those same people die of the vaccine because there immune system reacts so strongly that they end up with an autoimmune disorder called Guillain Barre. Therefore, does it really matter whether you get the vaccine or not?
It has been documented that people have developed Guillain Barre after vaccinations of any kind. What makes the H1N1 vaccine so dangerous is that it contains an adjuvent that causes a cytokine storm. In plain english, this means the vaccine is designed to cause an immune system over reaction which can lead to sepsis or shock like states.
Furthermore, you can stress all you want about the flu and walk out your front door and get hit by a bus. People die every year of influenza!. There are over 100 viruses that cause flu like symptoms and only one is getting attention. Right now, kids are out of class for sore throats and colds that are not H1N1 because of media hysteria.
Why do we not hear of those dying of influenza? Influenza also kills healthy people.
Remember what happened the last time the Canadian dollar got too high: we had mad cow disease and SARS. What has happened to SARS?, the last I heard of it was in 2003.
I know this does not offer any comfort to the families of those who have lost someone but for the rest of us, we need to examine whether or not the vaccine would really have helped. I think it is a bigger tragedy for those parents who have lost their kids to H1N1 and have to live with the thought that it could possibly have been prevented. I don't think it can be prevented. As parents of two babies, we hope that the parents of the deceased children can live knowing that the vaccine is just a media hype and that giving it to their children may have made them sick enough to die anyway or simply not been effective at all.
Read the evidence, do not simply go like cattle to the line ups and be injected. Keep in mind governments have to make it look like they are doing something even if what they are doing is absolutely useless for the sake of saving political face.
Posted by: greg | 2009-10-29 2:14:53 PM
i hope your daughter is feeling better.my 2 boys 15 & 17 had a virus first ,youngest son had more flu like symptoms but no big problem but my daughter12 got it had high fever which tylenol kept under control but she couldn,t walk for 2 days ,tonsils got infected.doc. gave her peniciian.she passed out twice once in my arms, she was listless.scared the hell out of me.the next day she was jumping on me like her oldself.i,m a single dad i should mention.then i got it. felt like some one used my tonsils as a punching bag.i had already started my regime of cold fx when the first sign of sickness hit the house but took the recommended 9 pills the first day.next day i was much better,pains and aches gone.3rd day normal self.was it h1n1 i hope so.....that was 2 weeks ago.i can only wait and see as i hear evryone knows someone with some kind of flu and cold.i hope everyone well. G.
Posted by: Kathy | 2009-10-29 1:16:16 PM
Good luck!
My sons and I have been dealing with swine flu since Monday. For us, the fever comes and goes. It is like a rollercoaster. The rest of the symptoms are just like any other flu. We have had the other two influenza viruses since September. This has been a tough flu season for us.
Posted by: James Barss | 2009-10-29 11:43:07 AM
on
on
Nov 2
Posted by: James Barss | 2009-10-29 11:41:49 AM
Lunenburg Community Center, NS Vaccination clinic Regestration : 12:30 - 1
Posted by: Krista | 2009-10-29 9:07:09 AM
I hope your little girl is feeling better today.
I'm of the opinnion that if you have a cold, or a sickness..just stay home. Get some rest. Eat well. and Dress for the weather. I know it's the end of October and un-seasonably warm but seriously! it's October. Wear a jacket. Keep your neck covered!
Posted by: Nej | 2009-10-29 7:01:17 AM
Hang in there!! Having a sick kid is stressful no matter what name you give to the illness. Here's hoping Jenna is running around tearing up the house and causing "chaos" today.