borked, day five

[the_siobhan]

Axel announced today that he thinks I have swine flu. I hadn't thought I had any kind of flu or anything other than an especially bad cold, but he pointed at some really obvious symptoms and I had to concede that he might have a point.

So I called tele-health this morning. And waited on hold for an hour before getting offered the option of leaving voice mail. At which point I got cut off. So I called back. Waited on hold for an hour. Finally got to leave a voice mail - and the recorded voice informed me that I would have to wait over an hour for a callback.

Apparently there is an epidemic going on in Toronto right now.

You know how in zombie movies there is always one guy who just never notices? He gets into his car every day and drives to work until the day he just can't get through all the abandoned burning cars on the highway so he goes home and then while he's on the phone trying to get ahold of his boss his wife comes up behind him and chews off the back of his head?

That would be me.

Comments

[greylock.livejournal.com]

Man. North America has it *bad* right now. If it keeps rolling through Christmas I may go and get the free shot after all. Axel should get his shots. Apparently people born after 1950 have no immunity.

/PS: I hate automated phone systems like that.

[the_axel]

Germany had an H1N1 outbreak in 1977 & that's where I was living there.

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

That makes it even more likely that you're right about what I have being H1N1 - if this were an ordinary cold you would at least get the sniffles.

[greylock.livejournal.com]

Really? Huh. Maybe you do have the immune system from heck.

[sloot.livejournal.com]

If you have pig flu, then you've exposed Axel.

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

I've been sick for a week now and it hasn't touched him.

The man has a nuclear powered immune system.

[inulro.livejournal.com]

A couple of co-workers had it during the first wave. I got a stinking head cold, but no flu.

Which is kinda weird given that I have a practically non-existent immune system at the best of times, and my new meds depress the white cell count so that I'm probably officially immune compromised (if I could be bothered to be tested).

[panic-girl.livejournal.com]

And there's no saying he hasn't already had it, mildly. Maybe brought it home to you!

I swear, I'm not trying to pin this on him. :P

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

It's possible. It's also been going through work like mad.

[the_axel]

It seems there was an outbreak of H1N1 in Europe in 1977, back when I lived in Germany so I likely caught it then, and probably got vaccinated for it then so I'm probably resistant.

The word on Google is that if you don't show symptoms for a week then you're clean.

Also, the odds are Sio & I would have been exposed at the same time since we work together and Sio rarely goes out without me (and even if she does we'll expose each other within 12 hours :-)

[nicklausse.livejournal.com]

Yeah my sisters are vaxed from the 70s too.

"expose"

[sloot.livejournal.com]

Flashers

Re: "expose"

[tristam08.livejournal.com]

hehe

[dethany.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure I had it - it's totally bizarre who gets hit hard and who doesn't. Mike (37) [there was a somewhat similar one around in '76 that may have helped his ass out? ] barely got it, but it slayed me (33) and even worse my best friend (25). (He had the whole course of nasty fever and tummy troubles.)

The bone ache was the grossest thing - I felt like my bones were actively making cells and leaking them out, it was the deepest most peculiar all-over skeletal ache. Vile. That's when I realized(after about 5 days) ok...maybe this isn't a stupid cold.

Feel better! :/

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

Yes! And my muscles are killing me!

[elusis.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's flu.

Feel better, Sio.

I'm really fucking glad my doc's office came up with a shot for me. :-/

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

I had every intention of getting a shot - but they're only vaccinating high risk people right now.

So much for timing.

[nicklausse.livejournal.com]

"the only strain of flu now circulating in the community is the H1N1 variety" (Montreal Gazette today)

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

At least I won't need the shot.

[nicklausse.livejournal.com]

Silver lining ftw. I've booked the kids for the shot - figure if something similar but more evil comes along in their lifetimes, which is entirely expected by authorities on this stuff, it's definitely worth it for that.

[siobhan63.livejournal.com]

I'm sort of in the same boat. My husband's been home with the flu all this week. I've felt a bit off all week, but my symptoms weren't specific enough (or bad enough) for me to justify staying home (rather save my sick days for when i actually feel really sick). Until today mind you - now i do have specific symptoms, but it's far more cold-like than flu-ish.

[sloot.livejournal.com]

are you the OTHER siobhan? :-)

[siobhan63.livejournal.com]

I don't know - am i? It's not my actual name - just the gaelic version of my real name.

[the-fury.livejournal.com]

Ouch.

I'd be going myself if it wasn't for the immense line ups everywhere. Hopefully I can get Ivy and Caroline out for it tomorrow.

[sharkskitten.livejournal.com]

Oh, dear. i'm so sorry. i really suspected that you had swine flu, but was hoping you didn't.

:: hugs ::

[(Anonymous)]

Today I just got a pamphlet in the mail about H1N1. Based on the symptoms, it sounds like I got it already earlier this year. It was particularly nasty. Perhaps I should get a shot anyway, but I just read that they are advising healthy people to stay away from clinics for now.

Get better soon, and be sure to make some homemade spicy chicken soup with lots a veggies! :)

Jenn