Guest guest Posted July 14, 2009 Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 I'm wondering what we should all be doing to protect ourselves from the H1N1 virus. I read today that it is related to the virus of 1918 pandemic. People that survived that outbreak supposedly show resistance to the new one. The most discomforting thing I read today is that the H1N1 can replicate in the lungs which the article said most flu viruses don't do. So we need a current pneumonia shot. Access to Tamiflu? A regular flu shot? What about masks? What else? I'm going to have to stop reading. I guess our pulmo dudes (dudess in my case or is that chick?) will have all the input. Terre Higgs, IPF 6/08 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 14, 2009 Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 Terre It's not that complicated really. First, is precaution. Do what you can to avoid all germs, especially during flu season. Have your flu shots...yes, shots. There will be two this year. Have your pneumonia shot if you haven't. Masks may help some. Second, is response. If you feel anything even starting to hit, immediately get care. That's not schedule an appointment in three days or wait a day to see if you're better. Treat it as urgent. Now, as to H1N1, there will be a vaccine. Then if you get it you get quick treatment and you'll be put on tamiflu. Antibiotics are used to protect against infection. > > I'm wondering what we should all be doing to protect ourselves from the H1N1 virus. I read today that it is related to the virus of 1918 pandemic. People that survived that outbreak supposedly show resistance to the new one. > The most discomforting thing I read today is that the H1N1 can replicate in the lungs which the article said most flu viruses don't do. > So we need a current pneumonia shot. Access to Tamiflu? A regular flu shot? What about masks? What else? > I'm going to have to stop reading. > I guess our pulmo dudes (dudess in my case or is that chick?) will have all the input. > Terre Higgs, IPF 6/08 > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 14, 2009 Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 Terre, I can speak to this only from my own experience. I had the 14th confirmed case of H1N1 flu in North Carolina. I was hospitalized at Duke from Thursday May 21st thru Sunday May 24th. My illness was mild and short. The only reason I was hospitalized was because of my underlying lung condition and the doctors in the ER were uncertain whether my chest x-ray showed pneumonia. The pulmonary doctors later determined I did not have pneumonia and I recovered fairly rapidly and with no complications in the hospital and then later at home. I had a full course of Tamiflu and everyone who I had been in contact with just before I got sick was also treated prophylactically with Tamiflu. No one else in my circle of family and friends became ill. There has been some interesting information put out in the last few days about H1N1. It does seem to have some relation to the flu of 1918 and some research does show that it replicates in the lungs which is a bit frightening. I had absolutely no respiratory sypmtoms with this flu. I had fever, body aches, nausea and vomiting. All of these symptoms were very short lived, less than 24 hours. Basically in my opinion you should be doing all the things you would normally do to protect yourself. Your pneumonia vaccine should be up to date as should your regular flu shot. Once there is a vaccine availiable for H1N1, we should all get it. Be careful when out in public. Avoid people who are obviously ill, wash your hands frequently and keep your hands away from your face. I do all those things and I got it anyway. It's highly contagious. However prevention aside the single most important thing you can do is get immediate medical attention if you become ill. Don't wait, a few hours can make a HUGE difference. I woke up the morning of May 21 and I felt awful. I had nausea, vomiting, body aches and my temp at home was 101.6. I called my pcp's office and was told they had no appointments and that I should go to an "urgent care". I chose instead to go the the ER at Duke, where my temp had risen to 102.4 and I was admitted to the pulmonary unit. They suspected flu from the outset. Type A flu was confirmed on Friday and H1N1 on Saturday. Tamiflu was begun the day I was admitted. The immediate treatment with Tamiflu is likely the reason I recovered so quickly. So my advice would be be, take precautions and then if you get sick, get to the doctor. Don't take chances. Our lungs don't give us alot of leeway to be wrong. The docs in the ER said they were admitting me out of "an abundance of caution". We all have to act out of that same abundance of caution. Talk to your pulmo about this, ask lots of questions and take care of yourself! Beth Moderator Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08 To: Breathe-Support Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 2:53:55 PMSubject: H1N1 virus I'm wondering what we should all be doing to protect ourselves from the H1N1 virus. I read today that it is related to the virus of 1918 pandemic. People that survived that outbreak supposedly show resistance to the new one.The most discomforting thing I read today is that the H1N1 can replicate in the lungs which the article said most flu viruses don't do.So we need a current pneumonia shot. Access to Tamiflu? A regular flu shot? What about masks? What else?I'm going to have to stop reading.I guess our pulmo dudes (dudess in my case or is that chick?) will have all the input.Terre Higgs, IPF 6/08 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 15, 2009 Report Share Posted July 15, 2009 Thank you Bruce and Beth for the info. Hopefully they develop a good vacine for the H1N1 flu in a timely manner. It was encouraging to hear that you came through your bout with the flu fairly easily. I'm sure it was not fun, but the outcome is encouraging. Thanks agian for the good information. Terre 6/08 > > Terre, > I can speak to this only from my own experience. I had the 14th confirmed case of H1N1 flu in North Carolina. I was hospitalized at Duke from Thursday May 21st thru Sunday May 24th. My illness was mild and short. The only reason I was hospitalized was because of my underlying lung condition and the doctors in the ER were uncertain whether my chest x-ray showed pneumonia. The pulmonary doctors later determined I did not have pneumonia and I recovered fairly rapidly and with no complications in the hospital and then later at home. I had a full course of Tamiflu and everyone who I had been in contact with just before I got sick was also treated prophylactically with Tamiflu. No one else in my circle of family and friends became ill. > > There has been some interesting information put out in the last few days about H1N1. It does seem to have some relation to the flu of 1918 and some research does show that it replicates in the lungs which is a bit frightening. I had absolutely no respiratory sypmtoms with this flu. I had fever, body aches, nausea and vomiting. All of these symptoms were very short lived, less than 24 hours. > > Basically in my opinion you should be doing all the things you would normally do to protect yourself. Your pneumonia vaccine should be up to date as should your regular flu shot. Once there is a vaccine availiable for H1N1, we should all get it. Be careful when out in public. Avoid people who are obviously ill, wash your hands frequently and keep your hands away from your face. I do all those things and I got it anyway. It's highly contagious. > > However prevention aside the single most important thing you can do is get immediate medical attention if you become ill. Don't wait, a few hours can make a HUGE difference. I woke up the morning of May 21 and I felt awful. I had nausea, vomiting, body aches and my temp at home was 101.6. I called my pcp's office and was told they had no appointments and that I should go to an " urgent care " . I chose instead to go the the ER at Duke, where my temp had risen to 102.4 and I was admitted to the pulmonary unit. They suspected flu from the outset. Type A flu was confirmed on Friday and H1N1 on Saturday. Tamiflu was begun the day I was admitted. The immediate treatment with Tamiflu is likely the reason I recovered so quickly. > > So my advice would be be, take precautions and then if you get sick, get to the doctor. Don't take chances. Our lungs don't give us alot of leeway to be wrong. The docs in the ER said they were admitting me out of " an abundance of caution " . We all have to act out of that same abundance of caution. Talk to your pulmo about this, ask lots of questions and take care of yourself! > > Beth > Moderator > Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08 > > > > > ________________________________ > > To: Breathe-Support > Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 2:53:55 PM > Subject: H1N1 virus > > > > > > I'm wondering what we should all be doing to protect ourselves from the H1N1 virus. I read today that it is related to the virus of 1918 pandemic. People that survived that outbreak supposedly show resistance to the new one. > The most discomforting thing I read today is that the H1N1 can replicate in the lungs which the article said most flu viruses don't do. > So we need a current pneumonia shot. Access to Tamiflu? A regular flu shot? What about masks? What else? > I'm going to have to stop reading. > I guess our pulmo dudes (dudess in my case or is that chick?) will have all the input. > Terre Higgs, IPF 6/08 > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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