This Little Piggy Cried “Wee Wee Wee!”: Figuring Out the Swine Flu
No doubt you have heard of the H1N1 virus, commonly known as Swine Flu. Maybe some of you (your children, spouse, significant other, co-workers, bus drivers, mailman, whomever) know someone who has come down with it. So tell me: is it as bad as the media is making it out to be?
Due to my asthma, I’m what the medical field calls “special” (I’m socially “special” too, in case you haven’t figured that out yet) and am now eligible for the vaccine. Breathing is an important part of my daily life. Much more important than blinking, hair growth, and even my digestive track (Jamie Lee Curtis has convinced me that Activia takes care of all that). Last time I had bronchitis, I asked my doctor what her opinion was. She said:
1. The media is blowing the Swine Flu out of proportion and it’s not as dangerous as they want everyone to believe.
2. She, as a medical professional, is not getting the shot.
3. As an asthmatic I’m a high-risk case, so I should definitely get the shot.
I found her counseling to be a bit confusing, kind of like the return in popularity of fluorescent-colored socks and shoulder pads.
I wasn’t going to get the vaccine but I’ve been having a difficult time with the regular sitting at my desk breathing and have had near asthma attacks each time I do cardio (just ask my trainer… I gasped and then nearly barfed on him last week), so I thought the shot might not be such a bad idea.
This morning I called the doctor’s office and not only was I put on hold for 15 minutes to really bad hold music (think Michael Bolton), but the three times someone (the same someone) picked up the phone and asked what I wanted, I asked the same question (“When are you getting the vaccine?”) and was told each time to wait.
I was finally rewarded with, “We don’t have it, don’t know when we’ll get it, and if/when we do it will only be available to children and pregnant women.” “But I’m a high risk case and HHS said people in my situation can have it now.” “Oh. Well, we don’t have it. Bye.” I hung up before she did, just to let her know her customer service skills suck.
All I wanted was a few options: 1. We don’t have it yet but we’re compiling a list of patients who want it. Can I have your number? -OR- 2. You can go to X and get it there.
So before I stand in line with the masses at the free clinic on Saturday, anyone have an opinion they want to share?
Feel free to read my post on H1N1… Please don’t take my opinion as gospel. I think everyone should make an informed decision on their own. Don’t let other people make the decision for you.
I did read your post… thank you. And you’re right. This isn’t a decision for my doctor or Brian Williams to make. It’s up to me and me alone.
If you are concerned about your breathing, maybe you should get it… I’m in relatively good health, so I’m going to take on the virus head on… No help from synthetics
Good luck with that… wish I had healthy lungs, too.
My son just had some form of the flu…maybe H1N1, maybe not. He wasn’t THAT bad off and the tests to confirm it are so iffy and take so long in hospitals full of sick people that it wasn’t really worth it to check.
How’s your son doing now?
On the other hand, I just saw a lady here at the U that I deal with fairly regularly on Monday afternoon, and she said her 12-year-old daughter – who has asthma – was hospitalized for 10 days with the H1N1 back in September, 8.5 of which days were in the critical care unit. She says they almost lost her.
You’re not 12, but I’d say there’s some anecdotal reason to be concerned.
No, I’m not 12 but sometimes I act like I am. That won’t help me fight off an infectious disease though, will it?
Because you have Asthma you are considered to be in the high risk group; your Dr. office should allow to to receive the shot (if you want it) with the first round they offer. FYI: Walgreens stores nation wide are receiving the vaccine as well and will be offering it for $17. You can call your local Walgreens for their schedule if they know it yet. Ours says it should be sometime next week. The person who commented above about not letting others make the decision for you is right. Do what you feel is best for you. I would just add that you should be informed when you make that decision, which I know you already know!
I called CVS. They’re out and don’t know when they’ll get another shipment. Guess I’ll be standing in line at the free clinic after all.
I’d like to add this for your consideration: Remember Carrie & John? (our close KU friends who are now living closer to us) John is a microbiologist with Roche that was involved with the H1N1 design. After a lot of wonder about the vaccine we decided to contact him about the specifics of the vaccine and wondered if he recommends it, plans on or has already had his family get it etc. Yes and yes to both of those. He added that the media has greatly distorted the facts about the vaccine. ie: there is no antifreeze in it or other similar ridiculous claims. He also said some who don’t get the vaccine could get H1N1 and still have a mild case, but that’s a risk each individual will have to take and that it’s not a risk that high risk people ought to take.
Nope. Don’t remember them but I know their names. I appreciate his input (and thank you for getting it).
I have actually e-mailed him recently to ask him to answer some general questions that people want the answers to from someone that actually knows first hand. He’s traveling right now but I’m hopeful that when he returns he will be able to provide that to me so I can post it so stay tuned…
post it on my blog that is…
Gotcha
The advice we’re given in UK starts ‘If you think you have swine flu ….’ which my doctor says is a load of garbage; generally, you need a blood test to determine whether you have swine flu or ‘ordinary’ flu (which can kill you, depending on the circumstances).
I’m not liking my chances already.
She says if you think you have flu, it’s probably just a bad cold; if you really have flu, you’ll know it.
If I’m worshiping the porcelain god, I’m quite confident I’ve got the flu.
But, it’s still wise to take every precaution you can; even with a bad cold, you can spend 24 hours thinking you’re going to die, and three days wishing the hell you had!
I pretty much want the Earth to swallow me on a daily basis. I don’t think dying would be much different.
Of course make your own decision but I’ll bet you’ll be just fine. Remember I’ve had asthma A LOT longer than you and have zero plans for the shot. But to each their own.
I don’t think you’ve got asthma. It’s scar tissue and residuals of whatever happened when you were born. You definitely should get it or not. You don’t interact with basically anyone. I, however, use public transportation every day.
Unfortunately I can’t help you out with that because of my geographic situation. The only thing that I can suggest is maybe calling the CDC if they have a hotline #? I was going to tell you about how sick I am and how I’m hoping that I don’t have some killer Spanish version of this flu. But then I got distracted….
You want me to call an almost government agency and expect help? HA! You obviously don’t have much experience with all the good folks in bureaucracies. The customer service is out of this world!
What in the name of all that’s holy is going on in your ‘80’s fashion’ image? First of all why are her hands hanging to her knees? Is this the missing link? Second, and most importantly, what exactly is going on between her legs? It kind of looks like a dinosaurs neck and head hanging down, holding a drinking straw in its mouth. But that can’t be right.
It’s so totally obvious… aerobic chick is bending over to pull up her leg warmer. Where did you see dinosaurs? What kind of Spanish medication are you taking? Seriously. I bet you can purchase some interesting stuff without a prescription.
I hope you find the vaccine!
I’ll be standing in line at the free clinic on Saturday. I can’t think of a more frightening place to spend my Halloween.
My son’s still coughing a bit but he’s back in school as of yesterday.
Good. I’m glad to hear it!
1. Congratulations on being special.
2. Breathing is important for my daily life too.
3. Jamie Lee Curtis is special too.
4. With my luck, I’d stand in line all day with a bunch of sick people and either have them run out of the flu virus, catch a completely different strain of flu from someone in line or get crapped on by a seagull.
1. Special is as special does.
2. But is it as important as growing out your hair?
3. Jamie Lee Curtis taught me many special things in her 80s flicks, especially Trading Places.
4. Crapped on by a seagull. Do they even have seagulls where you live?
The question isn’t whether you’ll get swine flu or bird flu or dog flu but whether or not you’re the type that DIES from it. You don’t need to call CDC. Their website at http://www.cdc.gov is good.
It is overblown as regular flu can kill you too. If your lungs are that reactive…get the vaccine.
I drove by on Saturday but 98% of the people in line were mother with small children. I kept driving.
We’ve got a FEW gulls here in Virginia Beach…and the hair thing has taken on a life of its own…
The hair thing could be interesting. Are you documenting its progress? Do you plan on coloring it or getting a perm so you’ll look like Greg Brady?