Thread: Swine flu pandemic

Originally Posted by IsaacRN

I have to agree. Im working in the ER in NYC and we are taking it as a Flu problem...in that..if you have it..stay at home..get rest...dont be going out. Obviously if your case is worse requiring medical attention..get it.

To many people read stuff like this in the paper and freak out and panic.

Rest...relax...hydrate...treat the fevers...as you would any other flu. If things get worse from there, you should follow up with your doctor. The worst thing you can do is to be out in the public/work when your ill.

While I am a professional....im not your professional :P so YMMV and all that Jazz.

Yes, this is what I figured Isaac but I wanted someone in the know like you to post and confirm this to put peoples fears to rest!

Thanks

Ill tell you what. Day before and Day after CNN and all the other news stations made this announcement were night and day in the ER. Today we saw a HUGE influx of people that wanted so see if they had the Swine Flu.

Damn media and their mass hysteria :P

I think they are creating these viruses in test tubes. They then release them to reduce the population.

Originally Posted by IsaacRN

Ill tell you what. Day before and Day after CNN and all the other news stations made this announcement were night and day in the ER. Today we saw a HUGE influx of people that wanted so see if they had the Swine Flu.

Damn media and their mass hysteria :P

My mom (who is an RN with a county health department in Kansas...whatever that's worth) just emailed me and said "The pandemic is here. Stock up on Tamiflu and N95 masks." So, either she knows something others don't, or she's been watching an inflamatory media frenzy...

Hmmmm....

Originally Posted by ChrisL

I used to think "the Flu" was synonymous with the "Stomach Flu" until I contracted some Influenza strain in 1998 as a late twenty year old healthy male. I learned at least four things from it:

• I'd never been that sick before or since.
• I'd never been that utterly weak before or since. So weak it was almost impossible to lift a spoon of broth to my mouth. Seriously.
• It had nothing to do with the stomach, nausea or vomiting.
• Slipping into a disoriented state and being largely unable to care for myself along with all of the above, I could see how children and the elderly could actually die from Influenza. If the fever hadn't finally broke, I would have had my girlfriend at the time (now my wife) call 911 without a doubt and have an ambulance cart me away.

Chris L

I had the same experiene in 1997 or 1998, can't remember.
Ever since then I get my yearly flu shot. If you really come down with the flu, then it's game over (as far as being able to take care of yourself).

Originally Posted by JimR

My mom (who is an RN with a county health department in Kansas...whatever that's worth) just emailed me and said "The pandemic is here. Stock up on Tamiflu and N95 masks." So, either she knows something others don't, or she's been watching an inflamatory media frenzy...

Hmmmm....

Or maybe she's just being a good mum.

Ever notice how every year the media search out some illness to scare folks with?

SARS

Avian flu

Swine flu.......

Originally Posted by Rajagra

Or maybe she's just being a good mum.

She's ALWAYS a good mom. I just wish she wouldn't WORRY so!

In the city my girlfriend comes from (2 mln inhabitants, near Mexico City) 2 fatal cases up to now..

When in darkness or in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout. Python.

The more you know, the less there is to be afraid of. Even seasoned professionals can be swayed by the apparent reasonableness of the media hype, given that the news media are selecting the most exciting tidbits to feed you in the fifteen seconds they have. The facts may not be wrong, but you don't shout PANDEMIC in a crowded theater. Some of the newsies are starting to preach calm. I suspect that wiser heads finally taught them a lesson in human behavior.

This is a respiratory illness. Nausea vomiting and diarrhea are not influenza. A high fever, a cough, body aches, really feeling ill, not just wondering if you feel ill, these are symptoms worth checking into. Especially if you or someone you know has travelled to Mexico recently.

This bug has a 48 hour incubation. If you're not sick in 48 hours you probably missed it, or vice versa. If you feel ill, get to your doctor, calmly and see if you have a problem. Treating this flu early will help rather than trying to tough it out.

As Isaac said, YMMV etc. I feel bad for him and anyone on ER duty over the weekend, it must have been hell. I don't even have to see my calendar today to know that I will be inundated with calls.