Flu updates.

And now I have the flu too.

no fun!

I drove myself to the ER (not affiliated with any hospital, more like an urgent care place, for emergencies too. I presented with a fever that spiked out of nowhere. Severe body aches, a cough, congestion, nausea. The doc runs a rapid flu and strep test. (well, first of all, I could have told him that it wasn't strep. I have no tonsils or adenoids, and know NO ONE with strep right now. Plus, my throat wasn't that sore.. and the little bit that it is, is from the coughing that I've been doing. doesn't even hurt to swallow. AND I've had strep throat so many times I can't even count. I am well aware and remember clearly the pain of strep throat) Well, they both come back negative. BIG surprise, as the rapid flu test is only 50-70% accurate. That means that it has a 30-50% FAIL rate. DUH.

The findings confirm an earlier study by the CDC that found quick flu tests caught just 40 to 69 percent of swine flu cases. That study, released in August, looked at three popular flu tests -- BinaxNow, made by Inverness Medical Innovations, Becton Dickinson's Directigen EZ Flu A+B test and Quidel's QuickVue.

Both of my kids have flu. Big A has had it for a week, and is still not feeling 100%. Little A is still running a fever, for 3 days now. I am presenting with the symptoms and rate of onset typical with the novel strain H1N1, just like my children. Who live in the same house as I do. Who I have cuddled and kissed despite their being sick with the "hamthrax" as my friend calls it. I wipe their noses, feed them medicine, cringe when they cough in my face. I have the flu too. DUH.

Anyway, the doc proceeds to deny me a script for Tamiflu, even though the CDC's recommendations are to prescribe it for those with underlying conditions even upon a negative rapid strep test to prevent those of us with Asthma, from ending up in the ICU. From a CDC briefing on Sept 3rd:

or example, you have trouble breathing or you have an underlying condition, such as diabetes, pregnancy, heart disease, lung disease. For people who do have an underlying condition, it's important to be seen promptly if you get a fever. That could make the difference between being severely ill and recovering well. Treatment in the first 48 hours can make a big difference in hastening your recovery....

And:

his flu season, antiviral drugs are being used mainly to treat people who are very sick, such as people who need to be hospitalized, and to treat sick people who are more likely to get serious flu complications.

So, after all the run around I got at this ER Centers of America, I am FINALLY able to get ahold of the doctor on call who immediately called in the script, giving me no trouble at all once I told her about the asthma, and that my kids have it, and all my symptoms.

So, I've been taken care of, and thankfully my children are getting over it just fine, without the tamiflu. (they are really healthy kids, we're doing symptom relief, and watching them VERY closely to make sure they don't need to be seen by the ER again, but I think this time we'll go to a REAL ER, instead of that awful place i went and wasted my money on.

So, if you get anything out of this post, let it be this:
*don't bother with the ER if you are otherwise healthy. If what you have isn't H1N1, you'll probably come home with it, as the ER's are FILLED with flu patients.
*If you have an underlying condition that affects your immune system, or have chronic respiratory conditions, don't take "NO" for an answer. If they won't prescribe Tamiflu w/o a positive test, remind them that the rapid tests are as low as 40% effective, meaning that there could be a 60% rate of FALSE NEGATIVES, and that the CDC is recommending treating patients who are at higher risk of complications from the flu.
*Don't go to ER Centers of America.

Here's to feeling better tomorrow!
Prayers would be much appreciated, as it is really difficult to take care of kids while sick with the flu. lol!

-Megs