I know I haven't updated my blog in a while. But I have a really good excuse! Oh, what a week we have had. Sophie got really sick with a fever of 104.4. Scared her mommy to death! Went to doctor. Found out she has the dreaded swine flu (don't say that term in a doctors office) or H1N1 virus. And guess who is getting sick now? Yes, the full time home nurse. The one that gets called to assist sick child every five minutes. The one that is running around the house to retrieve requested things such as the thermometer, water, lozenges, wet towels, etc...
Last night I ran to the pharmacy for the fifth time that day. Apparently no one in town has Tamiflu in stock. It is given to patients that have asthma and is supposed to make the flu not last as long. Siblings are able to take it as well to help them not get the flu. But full time home nurses are not given any medication...
Anyway, Sophie calls my cell phone the minute I walk out of the door. "Mommy, I have good news and bad news. The good news is my fever is down to 101. The bad news is the wet towel on my forehead just dropped into my cereal". That made me laugh! Her cereal was the third attempted meal for the night. Each one was rejected after a bite or two. Mommy even ran to get the princess some frozen yogurt. One bite and a "yuck, that tastes gross!". How can vanilla frozen yogurt ever taste gross?
So now for the point of this post. I thought some of you might wonder what to watch for in your children because it seems the subject is tabu and no one talks about it. I knew it was all over our school, but the teachers are told not to tell the parents. No one wants to admit they have it because it is like the plague and no one will want to hang out with you for months! Apparently it is not nearly as bad as the media is making it out to be and there are very few deaths resulting from it.
Here is the story of Sophie's illness: She woke up in the morning saying she had a sore-throat. She seemed to be a bit stuffy all day. By afternoon, she was saying she felt really sick and starting to get a fever. Two hours later, it was up to 104.4 and she was really sick. It comes on super fast and you usually get a high fever really quickly. The fever lasts for a few days and it takes both Motrin and Tylenol over lapping to keep it down. The first night is really tough - Sophie was up all night. You have chills, night sweats, burning eyes, nasal congestion, a sore throat, cough, body aches, head ache and sometimes you have an upset stomach and throw up. The Urgent Care doctor we went to said she just had an ear infection and that the swine flu wasn't as much cold symptoms as sick stomach symptoms. He was wrong. She didn't have an ear infection. If you have all these symptoms, no need to get tested for it as it is very painful to have the swab stuck up your nose almost to your brain. Our doctor diagnosed her based on all the symptoms and everyone in the area coming down with it.
There is one more important thing to know about this illness. You need to go to the doctor within 48 hours of your symptoms starting. If you are a high risk person, they will give you the Tamiflu, but it only works in the beginning of your sickness. The other thing to watch for is if you feel better for a couple days and then the fever comes back - that means it is moving into a secondary infection (such as pneumonia) and those are the patients that end up dying from it. So go to the doctor if you feel sick or if your symptoms return! Most cases are really a simple illness though - just a normal cold/flu bug.
A very exciting update today, huh? Anyone want to come over and scrapbook with us??? We are all on house arrest for a few days... Suzy
Oh Suzy! I normally just read your blog without commenting but want to tell you THANK YOU for posting your experience with this. The media has me scared out of my mind!! I am SO sorry that Sophie is so sick but I am happy she will be getting better soon. I wish you all speedy recovery (if that is what you are getting).
Posted by: Cindy S. | October 17, 2009 at 02:22 PM
Hope you all feel better! Do you know how to keep it from coming back and turning into the pneumonia? Do you keep her home for a few days even when the fever ends, just to be safe? Hope it is out of your house real soon!
Posted by: annie | October 17, 2009 at 05:49 PM
oh NO!! i'm so sorry you guys have been knocked out like that. i'm pretty sure sarah had it too. fever for several days, the terrible cough, sore throat, and so on... she was out of school over a full week, then through the weekend and another monday. her first grade substitute had it! HA! no one else at home got sick (knock wood). is there anything you need? you can call me anytime - i'd be happy to help you out, groceries, medicines, whatever. just let me know.
hope you're all feeling in tip top shape SOON! <3
Posted by: laura | October 18, 2009 at 11:34 PM
oh man!!! Thanks for the checklist of symptoms and prayers for you momma....
Posted by: steph | October 19, 2009 at 09:46 AM
THANK YOU for talking about it. It is so good to know what to watch for!!! (And you have updated your blog sooner than I have mine and we don't have swine flu!! :) ) I hope you stay healthy!
Posted by: Tricia | October 19, 2009 at 11:03 AM