I had H1N1

[nerdtonurse?, BSN, RN]

Well, it happened. I haven't been posting that much recently, and it's because I thought I had a killer case of bronchitis, due to being in school full time and working full time, and I just haven't had much energy. About 2 weeks ago, I wasn't feeling that good at work, and I took my temp hourly, thinking I had bronchitis (bronchitis doesn't make me spike a temp, usually). I knew I'd been exposed to H1N1 positive and strep positive kids during clinical, so I'm being over cautious and paying more attention to how I feel and taking my temp. So, in the middle of the night, my temp goes from normal to above 100, I dutifully tell the house supervisor, and go home with a script for tamiflu. At no time did I feel like I had the flu; it really just felt no different than a bad case of bronchitis, and my sniffles were easily attributed to the fact that I'm allergic to most of the stuff that goes on in the fall; in fact, I got grief from some of my lovely coworkers who seemed to think I wasn't that sick. I didn't feel all that horrible, but if I had a temp, I didn't want to be spreading anything if I did have something. After I got home, I felt bad for about a day, but since I'd never had tamiflu, I thought it was a mild reaction to that.

After about 12 hours, my fever snaps, and I go on back to class/clinicals after being fever free for 24 hours with a doctor's note; the doc agreed it was likely just bronchitis and a sinus infection to the point where he pulled his mask off during the exam. They did the "flu a/b" swab and it was negative, but they also did the H1N1 "just in case." I go off, thinking everyones gone hysterical, and feeling pretty stupid for going home when I "just" had bronchitis and a sinus infection..

Today I come home from class, and there are 3 messages from the MD's office to call immediately. Not a good sign. I call back and find out I was H1N1 positive. That's despite getting the regular flu AND the H1N1 vaccine. They wanted to know if I still felt under the weather. I'm in my late 40's, working full time, in school full time, of COURSE I have body aches and joint pain, it's not unusual for me to get bronchitis if I'm burning the candle at both ends during the height of my allergy season, and the slight sinus infection I had would explain the temp. If I hadn't been in health care where I was so worried about passing/spreading it, I'd have probably gone on to work, thinking I had nothing contagious. I still don't feel 100%, but I'm not expecting to until after the semester's over and I can catch up on my sleep.

So...I had the pig. Oink.

[KristiePDX]

The more I hear about what other peoples experiences have been with H1N1, the more I think I have already had it too.

Back in August I had the worst "cold" I have ever had.

Rapid onset of symptoms (4 hours)

Extream fatigue (laid in bed for 4 days, on the couch for another 3)

Constant running nose, couldnt breath out of it.

Horrible cough, non stop and tasted like blood.

Nausea, no appatite.

Mild headache

Sore all over

Oddly I had NO fever and no sore throat.

After that week, I had reactive airway issues with pollutants or stale air. I had "bronchitis" like symptoms for about two months after. I would be fine for a few hours, then start coughing all over agian. Terrible.

I was 12 weeks pregant at that time.

In September I got the seasonal flu shot. I reacted to it as my usual. Swollen lymph nodes on the injection side, temp 99.1. Then bad fatigue for about a week an a half. That is pretty typical of me.

Then when I got the H1N1 shot, NOTHING. No fever, no fatige, barely a sore arm. NOT typical of me. I wonder if I had H1N1 back in august and thats why no reaction to H1N1 vaccine?

[WalkieTalkie, RN]

I'm pretty sure I have it... got my H1N1 vaccination about 10 days ago, but symptoms started yesterday, so not enough time for full immunity.

Temp of 37.6 (I've also been popping Tylenol and ibuprofen for my sore throat so hard to say if it's been higher). Sore throat, cough, aches. Multiple exposures at work.

Called my doc and she gave me a refill on my inhaler just in case (haven't used it in years). Also started on a course of Tamiflu as a precaution since I have asthma. I'm hoping my partial immunity will keep me from the worst of it.

The funny thing is that I don't think I got it from work where I wear PPE. I think I got it from a Halloween party I went to because one of my other friends who was at the same party is now also sick with flu-like symptoms. Of course, it's impossible to pinpoint the source.

[chelynn]

About three weeks ago I thought I was getting a head cold. I remember thinking how strange that I felt fine and within 2 minutes tops I was miserable. Runny nose, congestion, sore throat, headache, backpain, fever, fatigue, diarrhea, sob, horrible cough. This all lasted about a week but I still have the occasional cough and SOB with exertion. So thay's my story!