Do you know you may have already caught swine flu and didn't even know it?

[NNN0LHI]

I think I had it about a week ago. Very slight scratchy sore throat for a few days. Overly tired. Some ache in my muscles. A little wheezing. Just didn't feel right. I never felt bad enough to check my temperature. I kept waiting for it to get worse but it never did. Then poof, it was gone.

Anyone else think they may have had it?

I bet just about all of us have been exposed to West Nile virus by now too. I get bit by mosquitoes all the time.

Don

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/sep/18/mild-sufferers-hold-key-limiting-swine-flu/news-breaking/

By MARY SHEDDEN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 18, 2009

TAMPA - It appears some people are taking the constant warnings about swine flu seriously.

Little do they know, they already may have caught it.

This mostly mild influenza strain, also called H1N1, has been spreading across the nation since April. Health officials believe some of those infected have had such light symptoms they may have dismissed them as little more than a stuffy nose or fatigue.

Florida Department of Health estimates show that as many as 12,000 of Hillsborough County's 1.2 million people may have been infected with the virus already. They vary from people with no obvious symptoms to the six county residents who have died from flu-related symptoms. snip

"There are probably people who have swine flu with no fever and just a stuffy nose," said Doug Holt, Hillsborough County Health Department Director. "If we can keep most of them out, it helps."

Swine flu is similar in many ways to the seasonal flu virus, with one significant exception: While roughly 60 percent of the population has immunities built up against seasonal flu, only 10 percent has immunities to fight the H1N1 strain. That's because swine flu has not been seen in the United States since 1957.

[Le Taz Hot]

1. I got the regular flu shot Saturday

and today I woke up feeling like dooky. I'm not sure if it's the regular flu, swine flu or just a reaction to the shot. If it's one of the first 2, I'm SCREWED. No health insurance and chronic asthmatic.

[CBGLuthier]

2. I think everyone in my household but me has had it and survived

The two children (practically adults) still at home were down for about 2 days and now my wife is coughing but none of them ever had a fever.

I don't get sick. It is not in my nature.

[Robb]

3. I had this discussion with my mother in law

I had to explain to her lots of things, besides H1N1, could've given her a headache. :D

On edit: My point seems to have been muddled, it's a poke at untrained self-diagnosis. For more fun, see this list of things that can cause a simple headache. If you're willing to bet your life on it, go ahead and self-diagnose. :D

[shanti]

4. i've been having those symptoms

for a couple of days now. fatigue and stuffy nose. nothing to write home about :shrug: as i ride public transportation nearly every day, i'd be surprised if i didn't get it.

[Ms. Toad]

5. The college doctor thinks my daughter had it.

Pretty mild - achy for a few days on wake-up, sore throat, and a fever of 101.4. She took Tamiflu because she is in a high risk group - and her fever broke within 24 hours, and symptoms (other than side effects from the Tamiflu) disappeared within 3 days. The doc told her that everyone he has seen had very mild symptoms.

[Ian David]

6. Wow. I might have had it too. n/t

[OneGrassRoot]

7. I was wondering about this and was going to post....

to ask if one has most likely been exposed, is there a need to get the shot, especially since there is a shortage? I really think most of us have been exposed already, especially if we have school-age kids or work with the public.

[NNN0LHI]

8. I am still going to get the vaccine when my doctor tells me I should

I pay him for his advice and I trust him so I take it.

Don

[LWolf]

9. I've been repeatedly exposed;

the flu is racing through my school, and many of my students are out with it.

To date, I'm sneezing and have small cough, but that's normal for this time of year. It's allergy related. The rabbit brush is blooming.

[NNN0LHI]

15. The ragweed had been killing me for a couple of weeks too

I get that every year. This was different. The ragweed still has me messed up with the farmers stirring up the fields getting their crops out around here.

Don

[ecstatic]

10. What happens if you get the vaccine after already having it?

Or if you currently have it and get the vaccine?

[BadgerKid]

16. Depends on the strains.

If what you had and what is in the vaccine are the same strains, getting the vaccine is wasted effort since you are naturally immune.

[seabeyond]

11. my youngest had low grade fever four days, slept and coughed. three of us

were all exposed and probably all three of us had it. in such mild ways no recognition.

it took a couple days before we even thought the youngest may have, and two days of him deciding to stay in bed and sleep, and not eat. odd behavior.

[NNN0LHI]

12. I recall my appetite went way down ... for everything except sweets

I will be eating sweets on death bed.

Don

[seabeyond]

14. lol... bah ha

that is funny. well, sweets can be our friend.

[ixion]

13. yeah, I had similar symptoms last week...

slightly scratchy throat, some lung congestion -- a tight feeling in the lungs, and coughing up goo.

And now it's gone. From what I've read of the symptoms, it goes for the lungs, so that may have been it.

[sammytko]

17. I've been feeling like that for weeks now

It comes and goes. Today i woke up with a splitting headache and sore throat. I go to university and one of my ed. classes requires I work 64 hrs at a local school. I'm not going today til after lunch. i had to skip one day last week, cuz i just couldn't get out of bed.

I've had the flu once before and it was awful. This is just chronic and bad enough to ruin my day. I can still get around if I want to, but then i feel totally drained. When i had the flu, I couldn't move. My body was really hurting then.

[old mark]

18. My wife and I have had this for abour 2 1/2 weeks, just recovering now.

I wondered if that is what it could have been. Slight temp for a day or so, just a "virusy" uncomfortable feeling, alternately hot and cold joint and muscle aches, slight sore throat and sinus headache, difficulty sleeping. Not terrible, more annoying than anything else.
It that was the Swine of '09, I 'm glad it's over.

mark

[Kingofalldems]

19. Wait a minute--I thought the flu does not affect the sinuses

I remember a flu expert from UVA on the show 20/20 saying this.