Who else is sick?

[erick (Eric)]

I'm off work, AGAIN!

I had 'flu like symptoms back in May. Not full-blown, but the usual upper respiratory tract infection - stuffed head, running nose and eyes, feeling rotten. Disabling when it comes to trying to work. I empty a box of tissues in half a day (and anti-histamines only work on me for the first dose - after that they have no effect). I used to get it about once a year. Was worse when I was younger, but daily vitamins, plenty exercise, yearly 'flu shots and I had it down to about once a year.

Lasts about 48 hours then I recover over a couple of days.

BUT I've had it return three times since the first episode in May. Have seen the Dr at each time. He diagnosed "rundownitis" compounded with a viral infection! Lungs clear. So I've been having days off work, sitting at home, trying to ignore the email piling up in my inbox and the meetings I am having to cancel.

Third time, a minor chesty cough as well, so have gone on antibiotics as a precaution. I know this is going around, and some people are getting repeats like me. Today, I have heard on one with five relapses so far! But I have also heard of two being hospitalised and one other who was one step from pneumonia and is home with persistent bronchitis. These three people I have been in contact with in May. Yesterday I had blood taken to try and identify the offending virus.

So I'm being cautious. But I am annoyed.

How come it hasn't hit the news! So who out these is suffering the same?

[Rob_K]

I feel your pain Eric - and mine! Just starting to get over the worst coldie thing I've had in years - bad chest congestion, thick head, tired all the time. Worst was that it coincided with the busiest, tightest program of field work I've had in years. Unfortunately the boss won't countenance sickies - oh, that's right, I'm the boss!

For the last month I've been doing a whistlestop tour of the SW region of Victoria, lots of driving (over 5000km so far, and in Vic that's something!), bushwalking rain-hail-or-shine, consultation, different motel every night. No doubt spreading disease as I go, but hey! Normally I write things up of a night but it's been a battle just to make a cup of coffee and flake out! Consequently I'm now miles behind on a project with cutthroat deadlines. On the few days I've had home between trips I just seem to sleep.

Anyway, getting better now and efficiency is getting a boost! Good luck with your recovery, sounds particularly nasty!

Cheers -

[Larryp (Laurie)]

Hi Eric
I had bad flu-had to be taken to hospital by ambulance. Never felt so ill in my life before. Vomitting, diarrhoea, hallucinations, could not even stand up,40 degree temp. Gave me intravenous fluids and antibiotics.
Hospital staff told me they were getting a few admissions with it.
Like you say, not much publicity .

[pgc hunter]

I have the worst cold I've had in years. Just like how Melbourne is having it's coldest, wettest gloomiest winter in years - coincidence????

Woke up on Sunday morning with my throat on fire and every swallow felt like a dagger being plunged into my trachea Went through 3 tissue boxes in as many days, now finishing off the serviettes and by day's end I will have graduated to toilet paper.

[brian nordstrom (As avatar)]

I thought it was only me ? I caught the flue in mid may from working with 700 odd guys on a major shut down , it went thru us like a dose of salts ,,, It came from down south .
I had 4 days off the 1st time and I came right , but the bloody thing has came back 3 times now , runny nose , a ****ty chesty cough that wont go away , and feeling run down , Ive been to the doctor twice now and same as you Erick , rundownitis ?? drink lots of fluids and rest ??? thank you $$$$$ 75 dollars at a pop !!!.
I have had enough of it as well .
GRRRRR!!!.
Brian.

[swannies1983 (Dan)]

My newborn baby girl was recently in hospital for two weeks (ICU and then ward) due to a heart condition (heart rate went above 300bpm) and also a case of respiratory synctial virus (RSV). She had to be put on oxygen due to the virus. There were several babies in the ward with the same virus. A baby of a friend of ours has the same virus and was turned away from the same children's hospital we were in as there were no beds available.

The family (wife, baby son and myself) came down with the 2011 variant of swine flu towards the end of March last year. It was the first reported case of that strain in SA for the year. Tough enough dealing with the flu yourself but it was bloody terrible when you also have others with the same virus to look after.

[Varangian (John)]

Half our office (50 people!) were away sick yesterday. Only 3 or 4 have returned today.

[Varangian (John)]

Originally Posted by swannies1983

My newborn baby girl was recently in hospital for two weeks (ICU and then ward) due to a heart condition (heart rate went above 300bpm) and also a case of respiratory synctial virus (RSV). She had to be put on oxygen due to the virus. There were several babies in the ward with the same virus. A baby of a friend of ours has the same virus and was turned away from the same children's hospital we were in as there were no beds available.

The family (wife, baby son and myself) came down with the 2011 variant of swine flu towards the end of March last year. It was the first reported case of that strain in SA for the year. Tough enough dealing with the flu yourself but it was bloody terrible when you also have others with the same virus to look after.

I hope your baby girl is up and about swannies, nothing worse for a parent than a sick child (i know all too well!)

[swannies1983 (Dan)]

Thanks. Charlotte is now on meds to control her heart. We have been told she should out grow the condition by the time she turns one.

She got over the virus pretty quickly and certainly wasn't as bad as some of the other kids with the same virus. The girl we shared with had a whooping-like cough. It was terrible when she had a coughing fit

[erick (Eric)]

Well, I feel better now, in a manner of speaking! 1) it's not a new allergy I have and 2) it's not just me with an immune system that can be overwhelmed!

Dan, very sad to hear of Charlotte. Illness in young children is not nice since they cannot understand what is happening. Glad to hear she is well on the mend.

Ambulance and hospital Larry!! I'm hearing that a few times now. I'd better behave myself and rest properly. But I have no idea how to do that unless I'm unconscious. My brain won't let me.

[swannies1983 (Dan)]

Cheers Erik. I hope everyone makes a speedy recovery. It's amazing what a microscopic bug can do to you.

[Varangian (John)]

Originally Posted by swannies1983

Thanks. Charlotte is now on meds to control her heart. We have been told she should out grow the condition by the time she turns one.

She got over the virus pretty quickly and certainly wasn't as bad as some of the other kids with the same virus. The girl we shared with had a whooping-like cough. It was terrible when she had a coughing fit

Great news I have a 4 year old who has a virus and conjunctivitis and we also have a 16 week old in the house. Very little sleep and stressful times. For the past few weeks regardless of whether we get a clear sky here in Melbourne I have been too exhausted to set up in the backyard.

[AstralTraveller (David)]

I'm fit and well, just the normal desire to be elsewhere. My work has been running a major campaign on preventing the spread of the flu. Signs everywhere, emails, awareness surveys, hand washing stations ...etc. When you consider that the flu has cost one employer 50% of their workforce you can see why they need to take it seriously. If you're infectious they would much sooner have you at home and away from everyone else.

As far as treating the flu, rest is the only option. Proper rest. That way it's over in < 1 week rather than it lingering for months as happens to some martyrs I see who are too 'busy', too 'important', too stupid or too stubborn to look after themselves. I generally find that I'm happy to sleep and rest for the first day or two but then I start to feel better and think I can do things. So I try, feel knackered in short order and return to resting like I should.

[erick (Eric)]

Originally Posted by AstralTraveller

As far as treating the flu, rest is the only option. Proper rest. That way it's over in < 1 week rather than it lingering for months as happens to some martyrs I see who are too 'busy', too 'important', too stupid or too stubborn to look after themselves. I generally find that I'm happy to sleep and rest for the first day or two but then I start to feel better and think I can do things. So I try, feel knackered in short order and return to resting like I should.

I didn't realise that you knew me, David Probably "stubborn" is me! In fact, I'm starting to feel knackered now. Overdone it again. Back on the lounge in front of the Pink Floyd DVDs for me. But the new BluRay player wasn't delivering digital surround sound to the amp on the non-BluRay DVDs, so I've been busy downloading manuals to try and solve that. Leave it for another day? Nope. Eric=Stubborn!

[traveller (Bo)]

I was struck down last week after visiting Frankston (I hear the Frankston strain this year is very serious ). I was in bed Monday and Tuesday feeling like death reheated. Recovered slightly Wednesday to go to work for a meeting first thing.
Still feeling very tired and coughs a fair bit. Couldn't really bike work as a result, so training it in every morning and sharing my bugs with everyone else .
Hoping to get back on the saddle next week.
Bo

[Rob_K]

Originally Posted by swannies1983

My newborn baby girl was recently in hospital for two weeks (ICU and then ward) due to a heart condition (heart rate went above 300bpm) and also a case of respiratory synctial virus (RSV). She had to be put on oxygen due to the virus. There were several babies in the ward with the same virus. A baby of a friend of ours has the same virus and was turned away from the same children's hospital we were in as there were no beds available.

The family (wife, baby son and myself) came down with the 2011 variant of swine flu towards the end of March last year. It was the first reported case of that strain in SA for the year. Tough enough dealing with the flu yourself but it was bloody terrible when you also have others with the same virus to look after.

No more whinging from me! Having very sick children is the worst nightmare, hope everything goes well for your child and the other sick kiddies.

Cheers -

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Commiserations to you all.

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

I got flu 2 weeks before the Venus transit and am only now feeling almost normal again, but still get bouts of coughing, especially at night. The cold night air doesn't help so i can't do much astronomy before it gets to me.

[Ric]

Sorry to hear so many of us are under the weather.

So far I've managed to avoid the dreaded lurgy but we have lost quite a few in our area at the moment.

One poor lady has even been diagnosed with the Hooping cough.

[Lester]

Looked after our 2 grandsons on the weekend, they were not well with cough/no energy. Now grandma and grandpa have it Dr. suggested rest for the week. Seems many have similar. All the best to you all.