First of all, I'm fine. No flu, yet. My husband, however, has apparently contracted the H1N1 strain of influenza. He told me around a week ago that he felt 'run down' which is fantastically out of character. Then came the sore throat, coughing, body aches, fever, ad infinitum.
At the entrance to the Emergency Room were containers holding wipes, masks, and gloves. My husband donned a mask and we entered. Triage was performed quickly, and we were sent to an examination room with little wait.
A nurse entered with 2 pamphlets from the CDC and Public Health regarding H1N1, proclaiming his condition with certainty. I asked her incredulously, "Aren't you going to test for the virus?" She said that the swabbing was no longer done. "No need," she said. Costs and such. We were released with those pamphlets and assurances from the doctor on call as well that, yes, this was the Swine Flu.
I have been doing some research for the past 24 hours and am disturbed at this cavalier attitude toward diagnosis. My husband's symptoms are virtually the same as the seasonal flu.
I am concerned that without consistent testing, statistics are bound to be skewed.
Apparently only those considered 'high risk' are administered swabbing tests, but to confirm H1N1 without proof seems contrary to my understanding of the scientific method.
My concern is primarily due to the fear that his diagnosis has caused in our small community. We live in a town of 4,000 in California's Eastern Sierras, where once he called in to work, the news of my husband's illness/diagnosis had spread at lightning speed. I went to his workplace that day to do some shopping, and the employees were absolutely terrified, warning me not to tell a certain person because of her already existing fear. Hushed tones were thunderous. I felt guilty even coming into the place, concerned that I could be carrying the flu. Worried about that issue myself, I wore a surgical mask, which proved an enormous attention-getter, probably causing even more worry.
There is so much confusion about this virus that I can't help but wonder how the Healthcare Industry can make diagnostic assumptions so casually. The fear is palpable.
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Laurel,
This is truly unfortunate, both the way your husband was diagnosed almost as a matter of routine, and in the way the people in your town are handling it. It sounds as though there has been too much panic and not enough solid information, which means everyone reacts with fear. Dealing with the flu is rotten enough without having to also deal with that sort of fallout!
Has anyone else had this experience?
October 9, 2009 - 9:03amThis Comment
I am concerned that this has been happening long before this weekend.
October 9, 2009 - 9:39amI have contacted the local Public Health Dep't and am waiting on a return phone call, I think I'll be looking into this much more, since the CDC cannot have accurate numbers-at least from my community.
Thanks for your comment, Diane!
You're welcome, and please let us know what you find out, both from your local health department and/or the CDC. In the meantime, maybe anyone else who has experienced something like this will see your thread and write to us.
Stay well!
October 9, 2009 - 9:51amBoy, this is daunting already! I just got off the CDC site and it is chock-full of data that is somewhat understandable, but I don't suppose many folks would stare at those graphs as suspiciously as I! I did find that the World Health Organization is conducting sample-testing, which makes sense, though I still believe that the world needs those #'s reported with accuracy.
October 9, 2009 - 10:27amAgain, thanks for your support and thoughts-I'll let you know what I find...I am great-Tamiflu has been good to me. :o)
Laurel, I'm glad the Tamiflu has been good to you!
Most hospitals and clinics are no longer testing specifically for H1N1 because the majority of cases right now ARE the H1H1 strain and as you said, the symptoms are pretty much the same.
Unfortunately, people die of flu every year, especially older people and very young children/babies and they are also dying of H1N1. Two of my children came down with flu (soon after starting preschool which is pretty typical) and we assume the odds of it being H1N1 were pretty high. Several other children in their class had the same thing. We did not have them tested as it wouldn't have made a difference in their treatment, although it would have been reported to the CDC, I believe.
To be honest, I'm not sure why news of your husband's flu would "spread like wildfire" as if it was the plague! Are people at his workplace aware that many, many flus right now ARE the H1N1 strain? With this strain, the only practical difference for us is a different vaccination, and my family are electing not to receive it. With all due respect to your husband's co-workers, their reaction was a complete over-reaction! Most of us have been exposed to H1N1 at this stage, and many of us showed symptoms and many us escaped it (me, included, thankfully). I know someone who experienced the same kind of reaction (horror!) in a school situation and she was made to feel like a leper, it was awful.
I hope your husband is feeling well again and he's fortunate to have a wife looking out for him and doing her research! Good for you! But please don't let these reactions from people (similar to HIV/AIDS in the early 80s) cause you fear or make you feel guilty. You didn't do anything to make you guilty of anything and if only all the people knew that their flus were also possibly H1N1, they would not have had the reactions they did. It seems that people hear "swine flu" or H1N1" and go nuts. The reason it's in the news so much is because it's new to us and yes - the symptoms are serious and we are still learning about the virus. But over 35,000 die in America every year from REGULAR flu and no-one seems to be in a tail spin about that! They just shrug and wish the person a speedy recovery. But they hear H1N1 and it's a huge fuss. I'm not downplaying H1N1 but just putting things in perspective.
I hope to hear more from you and I agree that accurate reporting is needed. However, at this rate, I don't see it happening due to the costs involved and the prevalence of the H1N1 virus. Ultimately, I think this strain will blend in to the "flu family" as new strains emerge.
October 9, 2009 - 11:51amThanks for writing, susanc, I am grateful for your thoughts.
October 10, 2009 - 11:09amYou nailed it when you mentioned the fear that AIDS/HIV/H1N1 incur, and I feel for your friend in the school.
You live in the Midwest? I am wondering if you live in a larger town than mine-Bishop is terribly small, everyone knows everyone/thing and rumor tends to be held in more esteem than fact.
I think another problem here is that the virus took so long to arrive. The first confirmed cases were reported in our thrice-weekly newspaper on September 29th, less than 2 weeks ago.
We are a tourism-dependent community and folks pass through without much chance of infecting others. Whether or not that is a factor, I'm not sure, but we are very isolated here.
People have obviously known of the H1N1 strain since early Spring, but I think as a community, we felt somewhat immune.
I am not defending their reactions at all, susanc, but this small-town mentality is something to behold! Folks tend to care for one another as well, so it's not all 'big fish in a small bowl.'
My husband is getting better as each day goes by, but this tough guy of mine has certainly been hit hard.
I am still on the Tamiflu-one more dose, and feel fine...
Thanks again for writing-
Laurel
Laurel,
I'm glad to hear your husband is getting better as each day goes by. But he sure has had a rough time.
Last week, my sister was home with the flu. I cannot remember a time when she has been sick. She is an RN at a hospital and she also has 3 small children still at home who bring a variety of viruses into the house each winter, but she never seems to get them. She must have an incredibly hardy immune system. But this flu was a bear for her. So far no one else in the house has gotten it, thank heavens.
I know what you mean about small towns. My hometown has about 4,000 people. Heck, news travels faster in that town than it does on television, LOL. But they are also the best people in the world, and I imagine you feel that way too.
Yay for the Tamiflu, keeping you healthy. I hope your husband gets better and better this week. Please update us and let us know.
October 12, 2009 - 8:48amWow, do you live in Bishop? That's our population, too. You know, the small town consciousness is something that I have been mulling over for years. We moved here 15 years ago from South Central Los Angeles, and we never made a better decision as a family. The culture-shock was huge, but we adapted because we wanted the small town life. The people are fabulous, they go the extra mile for you once they trust you. It is incredible.
October 12, 2009 - 10:36amI will be praying for your sister, my hubby-back at work today!-was sick for about 13 days!!!
He's been fever-free for around 48 hours, so he (we!) decided work would be ok. It is a very physical job-recycling, so I just hope he takes it easy...
You have reminded me of 'KIDGERMS' so vividly! I recall getting sick constantly when my son was young. Thankfully they're ok.
You take care as well, Diane, and thanks again for writing-
Laurel
PS: I am STILL great-I guess that Tamiflu knows its stuff!
Nope, my hometown is in Kansas, and we also had a culture shock when we moved there from Denver when I was a teenager! We all changed from being tiny fish in a big pond to big fish in a tiny pond. And it was good for us as well. Though there are things we all would change about little towns!! (Have you seen the movie "Doc Hollywood?" Adorable.
So glad your hubby is back at work today. I hope like you that he can take it easy. I'm sure that having experienced something as exotic as the swine flu, he'll have to tell his story 100 times today!!
Stay well, Laurel!
October 13, 2009 - 9:32amNo kidding! He caught alot of flak, though, for staying home, you know, the "rugged manly man" thing here in rural Ca. He's actually worried about their attitudes...jeeze. Oh, well, men!
October 13, 2009 - 10:29amI will be going to the video store to find "Doc Hollywood", we've been looking for a good film. Thanks for the recommendation, Diane.
Take care!
Laurel