Flu/Swine Flu/H1N1

[texaslady22]

Despite H1N1 running rampant around our town, several children from our son's preschooling having it, and the district 4 miles from our home shutting down for a full week, we've been feeling really good. In fact, I was actually starting to believe that we were going to make it without getting it! Unfortunately, though, not so much.


On Friday I received a concerned email from a friend. We had spent some time together the day before having dinner and our little boys are in the same class at preschool and she was just diagnosed with Influenza Type A. They got her on some TamiFlu and she's at home feeling pretty good. I assured her we were all feeling great and that there were no problems.


Yesterday morning I woke up with a sore throat and little else. As the day progressed, I developed some "stuff" in my throat, a fever, some body aches, and just feeling cruddy. My son's had a clear runny nose for a week, but yesterday he started to seem a little bit tired and not himself. He still ran around a played, jumped on the bed, and everything else, but he said a couple times that his stomach hurt.

Now, here's the dilemma: I'm pregnant and my son is three. What do we do? I called my 24-hour Nurse Line for my insurance company and she said we need to get tested but there's nothing they can do for me since pregnant women can't have TamiFlu.

I sort of want to stay at home, drink fluids, and just ride it out like people do when they have the flu. My ears hurt a little bit, I'm running a slight fever (like 100.3) and I have some body aches. My son is up playing for awhile but he's resting more than usual. His highest fever has been 99.8. and he said his throat hurt and his stomach is a little upset.

So what do we do? Stay home, drink soup, and go to the doctor if things get worse or rush to the nearest ER and get diagnosed (even though there's nothing they can do for me and probably nothing for him since it's not within 24 hours).

We're not coughing or having respiratory problems. We're not running really high fever. But I have a pretty good hunch we have H1N1.

[melodyjg]

Man thats a tough call! If it was me I would call your doctor in and ask him what he thinks you should do, He's the one that knows you best right now.

[CW&M Mom]

Go to the ER and get diagnosed...pregnant women can take tamiflu...and you are at the highest risk...being pregnant.

From the CDC website: Antiviral medicines can be taken at any stage during pregnancy.

CDC H1N1 Flu | What Should Pregnant Women Know About 2009 H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)?


Now looking over your symtoms...it could be h1n1...it could be strep as well....which you would need abx for.

Good Luck!!!


Normal flu has a death rate for pregnant women of 1%. For h1n1...it is 6%. But h1n1 can cause many other complications as well..

[kittensqueak]

Please go get checked...H1N1 isn't very nice to pregnant women or the child they are carrying.

Hope you are feeling better soon.

[dwshrty77roc]

Yes you can have Tamiflu, I was 34 weeks pregnant when my kids got the swine flu and my dr prescribed it for me and I didn't have any problems. You should definitely give you dr a call so that she can get you started on meds like yesterday. A high fever(flu) and pregnancy and pregnancy don't mix. I hope you guys get to feeling better real soon. Does your dr have a 24 call line that will page our dr for you are on the dr thats on call tonight. Please don't waste any time debating on what to do, you need to medical attention and you need it NOW.

[manders13]

Agree'd with pp's, dh has it right now, My sister has it as well. I've been exposed to both and im hoping it by passes me. OP please go get checked and your little kid. I don't always trust them nurses lines. I'd call the Dr. 1st thing in the morning!

[Macaela25]

PPs are absolutely correct - I am 32 weeks pregnant and took Tamiflu a few weeks ago after being exposed, even though I never developed any symptoms other than a low fever. Call your OB immediately and have both of you seen by a dr.

[texaslady22]

I just talked to my midwife and she said to stay home & rest unless things get worse. Tamiflu is a Pregnancy Category C, that they normally don't give to pregnant women, and she doesn't recommend its use in this situation. She said just a few months ago the CDC said no Tamiflu during pregnancy and now they've changed their tune, so that worries her. :shrug7:

If I start to have fever above 100.5 or a cough I'll go in immediately, but otherwise I'm to assume I'll get over this like any other seasonal flu.

Now, my son has started to have a cough, so I've got a call in to the pediatric nurse at their office. We'll see what she says.

Thanks for all the help!!

[dwshrty77roc]

I pray that you both start feeling better soon. Please keep us posted on your progress.

[texaslady22]

Thanks for the prayers!!

We're actually feeling much better. My son is 100% better--no fever & he's running, jumping, playing. He has a runny nose and that's all.

I feel great--lots of energy, no fever, no more symptoms except my ears hurt

We've both had an appetite throughout this whole thing, so no worries there. I'm glad we were able to get over this!!