H1N1

[HFWR]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meadbh Dear diary, I've got swine flu - The Irish Times - Tue, Nov 17, 2009

Quote:

If anyone persists in asking you if you are sure you “really” have it, cough in their direction!

Heh heh...

The swine flu equivalent of "whattaya gonna do all day?"

[CuppaJoe]

Uh, oh,

Quote:

The fact that most of the family got it together definitely exacerbated matters, and we will definitely get the vaccine once it becomes available. Apparently, having had it once is no guarantee against getting it again.

My HMO is out of the swine flu vaccine.

[samclem]

My clinic has no swine flu vaccine or seasonal flu vaccine. They do have many colorful posted notices about the importance of getting immunized against the flu.

Fun with the immunization clinic: Did you ever notice the peculiar way they refer to immunizations?
Them: "Are you here to get Hep A? Oh, I see you are current for tetanus, but you need typhoid."

Me: "Hey, I don't 'need' Hep A or typhoid, that's why I'm here today."

I'm sure they hear this wiseacre remark 20 times per day--but it entertains me, so I can't resist.

[haha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by samclem My clinic has no swine flu vaccine or seasonal flu vaccine. They do have many colorful posted notices about the importance of getting immunized against the flu. Fun with the immunization clinic: Did you ever notice the peculiar way they refer to immunizations? Them: "Are you here to get Hep A? Oh, I see you are current for tetanus, but you need typhoid." Me: "Hey, I don't 'need' Hep A or typhoid, that's why I'm here today." I'm sure they hear this wiseacre remark 20 times per day--but it entertains me, so I can't resist.

I need typhoid. I had that sucker once, and I really miss it.

Ha

[toofrugalformycat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by samclem My clinic has no swine flu vaccine or seasonal flu vaccine. They do have many colorful posted notices about the importance of getting immunized against the flu. Fun with the immunization clinic: Did you ever notice the peculiar way they refer to immunizations? Them: "Are you here to get Hep A? Oh, I see you are current for tetanus, but you need typhoid." Me: "Hey, I don't 'need' Hep A or typhoid, that's why I'm here today." I'm sure they hear this wiseacre remark 20 times per day--but it entertains me, so I can't resist.

One time a young nurse at a doc-in-the-box said to me, "Come get your rabies...". I nearly ran out the door.

[Nanita8140]

I went to take my son to get the H1N1 vaccine because he has a chronic medical condition that makes him top priority, and while there the nurse asked me and my husband,..."why aren't you two getting vaccinated today?"...I said, "we don't have any chronic condition"...she told us it didn't matter and so we went ahead and took it...that was back in Oct...If I recall the day correctly, it was Oct. 21.....so much for the "at risk first".

[MovingtotheCove]

Due to my Sarcoidosis diagnosis last month I had the seasonal and pneumonia vaccines. This week when seeing my pulmonary specialist about the Sarcoid and to begin new meds he said you aren't leaving the building w/out the H1N1 so I got it this week. I'm thankful to have all done and hope to not have any issues in coming months so I can continue to fight the Sarcoid in my lungs.

[megcrispin]

I got the H1N1 about 2 months ago. I have no idea where I got it as I was the only one at work who had it (thank goodness).
I had a temp of 104.6.
Went to one hospital - they gave me meds and sent me home with a 104.6 temp. They did not even test for H1N1. 4 days later, they had to take me away in an ambulance because I couldnt breathe. Of course, we asked if we could go to a DIFFERENT hospital!

I had H1N1
Viral pneumonia in both lungs (one lung full -one 3/4 full of the pneumonia)

I had to be put in a self-induced coma by the hospital for 5 days in ICU because I couldnt breathe on my own. While in the coma, my lungs were failing and I nearly died. Then, to top it off, I got a blood clot in one lung (50% of people with H1N1 end up getting pulminary embolism.)

After the ICU coma, I had ICU psychosis where I was hallucinating and had symptoms of alzheimers (sp?). They thought I may have had brain damage.

BUT... 5 days of dealing with ICU psychosis, and I "woke up." I was able to tell what was real and what was a dream. Another 7 days in a hospital with Physical Therapy to get my lungs used to me trying to walk again, etc.

Where I am going with this is ...
if you have access to the shot - please get it.
H1N1 nearly took my life.
This Thanksgiving has been the best Thanksgiving ever. I have so much to be thankful for.

~M

[MikeD]

Being a transplant, I am in the first-in-line category for the Swine flu shot. Couldn't find it anywhere. My rural county's health dept told me to try the next county over's (more populated county) health dept...

I got it today at my Nephrologist's ofc. My wife is eligible because she lives in close contact with a person who is immuno-suppressed: me. She will be getting at her gyno's ofc on Monday.

We both got the regular flu shot early when it first came out.

Mike D.

[TromboneAl]

Wow, what an experience, Megcrispin!

The vaccine has been unavailable here in our rural area, and now, all of a sudden they have a surplus, and are giving free shots for anyone on Saturday. I wonder whether it will be crowded?

[haha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by megcrispin This Thanksgiving has been the best Thanksgiving ever. I have so much to be thankful for. ~M

I am very glad that you are OK.

Ha

[WhoDaresWins]

I am getting a physical in January since my older sister is having a cardiac catheterization after Christmas. I figure that she is my "mine canary"...cardiac issues are prevalent on the paternal side. I have not had her high blood pressure issues but mine was a little high recently. I intend to ask if the H1N1 vaccine is available at my PCPs at this time. I will get it if it is going to waste.

[KB]

I have Kaiser and while they are offering the H1N1 immunization, I am not on the list to receive it because I'm either too old or too young and don't have any underlying health problems. So I stood in line on a cold morning last week to get the immunization from the county health department who has removed any limitations on who can and who can't get one. I'm very happy that I was able to get it.

[Goonie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TromboneAl The vaccine has been unavailable here in our rural area, and now, all of a sudden they have a surplus, and are giving free shots for anyone on Saturday. I wonder whether it will be crowded?

The Illinois Department of Public Health announced last week they were lifting the restrictions on who could get the H1N1 vaccines, so starting this week anyone who wanted to get the shot could....for FREE!

Our county health department has been having 'clinics' in the various communities around, and today was our town's 'clinic'. We arrived about 20 minutes before the doors officially opened, and were handed a form to fill out. As soon as the doors were opened, everyone streamed in (and amazingly, in a very orderly manner....I was amazed!). They had 2 people looking over the forms to make sure they were properly filled out, they then gave you a number, and you got in line. We were # 81 and #82, and it took less than 15 minutes in line to get the shot and be on our way. They had 16 people sticking the needles in, and as soon as one was done, a worker would direct the next person in line to that spot.

There were probably about 50-60 people behind us in line, but I'm sure more were going to show up after school or work, and many were waiting until later, so they wouldn't have to stand in line....which they wouldn't have had to anyway, since they really kept things moving right a long.

So let's see...I had my regular flu shot in October at the Kroger pharmacy...I had the pneumonia shot at the Doc's office last week...and I got the H1N1 shot today. So hopefully my 'pin-cushion' days are over for a while!

[travelover]

DW and I got our shots today at a huge free county health department clinic. I was shocked when I walked into the building to see several hundred people in line, but they were very well organized and I was out in 30 minutes. DW went late and just walked in and was taken care of immediately. Too bad it takes 2 weeks to really provide immunization, as we travel in a few days.

[kumquat]

Well, I've heard (and contributed) to a lot of maligning of the Canadian heath care system. I finally broke down and got the shot today. Our province has had mass, free immunizations for month or two. I didn't bother because the lineups were too long. Today was the last day (because of little public interest) so I dropped in. Took about 30 minutes.

I think the media is saying that about 75% of our population has put up with the BS involved. How does that compare with my southern neighbours?

[Gumby]

Our city health department was giving free H1N1 vaccinations at the mall last week. It was limited to people in the higher risk categories, which I was sure did not include me. However, little did I know that having Gilbert's Syndrome would count as a qualifying liver disease, so I got one.

There was no one in line, as they were all busy with their Christmas shopping. The longest part was filling out the paperwork. In all, it was less than 5 minutes - start to finish.

I feel somewhat better about the property tax check I just wrote to the city.

[FUEGO]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kumquat Well, I've heard (and contributed) to a lot of maligning of the Canadian heath care system. I finally broke down and got the shot today. Our province has had mass, free immunizations for month or two. I didn't bother because the lineups were too long. Today was the last day (because of little public interest) so I dropped in. Took about 30 minutes. I think the media is saying that about 75% of our population has put up with the BS involved. How does that compare with my southern neighbours?

I'm not sure about immunization rates, but I'd say where I am in the southeast US in the city, h1n1 shots are easy to find. They have opened up immunizations to all people (not just high risk). All of our county (municipal) health clinics have been giving free h1n1 shots for a few months. Lines aren't too bad now I have heard.

Just got mine this morning and the kids got their 2nd (and final) dose.

I kind of think I already had the h1n1 but wasn't really sure so better safe than sorry.

We got the shots at our doctor's office and the insurance will pick up the tab for administering the shot ($10 each discount rate). The US government apparently is providing the flu shots free of charge to dr's offices and government health clinics.

[Trek]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FUEGO Just got mine this morning and the kids got their 2nd (and final) dose.

and the wife?

[FUEGO]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trek and the wife?

No. She may try elsewhere like the free clinics or an urgent care place.

She may have already had the actual h1n1 virus. Also, she gets a lot of protection by virtue of everyone else in her immediate family having the immunization (micro herd immunity). We seem to catch everything from our kids, so them getting immunized will hopefully help with us avoiding the h1n1.