[ed540]

My father and mother both have speculated swine flu. My Father has been unwell(in bed for four days, sick, aching limbs, coughing and sore throat and cold sweats) the worst that I have ever seen him. I was at first very concerned that it could be something more serious as he's a smoker. He was told by the doctor that in all likely hood he has swine flu but there was no official test. He was not perscribed tamiflu as he had the symptoms for over 2 days. He was told not to leave the house untill all symtoms had gone.

My Mother has also now became unwell(sore throat and coughing), she also has MS which affects your immune system so she could be more prone to complications associated with swine flu. She was immediately prescribed tamiflu and told not to leave the house untill all symptoms had gone.

This was at 5.30 in the afternoon. My doctor informed her that our local pharmacy doesnt stock tamiflu so she would have to get someone to pick it up from 6 miles away from the local hospital whose pharmacy closes at 7. I went straight to the hospital to get the prescription filled but was told that the pharmacy closed at 5. The nurse on duty told me to go to the local supermarkert to get it filled. So I went straight to the supermarket but was told they had no stock and that the nearest place was 20 miles away from where I lived if I wanted it that night or i could order it and pick it up the next afternoon. So that would make it almost two days before the first symptoms to being able to pick up the tamiflu. We are lucky in that he have a car and are able to make the journey without too much inconvenience, what about those who aren't as fortunate to be able to drive.

Since my Father and mother have become unwell so has my sister and her three year old nephew. They have been told by the doctor that they have swine flu due to contact with my dad. My nephew missed his last day at nursery today due to self imposed quarantine as instructed by the doctor. My sisters boss is annoyed that she wont be in work for a week, he thinks that she should be okay to work even though its shop work and she has direct contact with the customers. She doesnt get paid sick and cant really afford a week off work.

As for me, I feel fine and dont feel as though I have or have had any of the symptoms, despite living with my parents at the moment. The doctor has said that I can carry on going to work as long as i feel okay. I informed my boss of the situation and offered to stay home if he wanted but that I felt fine. As we're so busy at the moment and understaffed my boss asked if I could work by myself in a room at the back end of the building to minimise my contact with other staff untill the weekend . At first I thought he was joking but soon realised that he was being serious. Im not allowed to use the front door and I have a toilet to myself. There's now antiseptic sprays next to all the doors and outside all toilets and next to all the machines.

I can understand the reaction as its a family business and his wife, mother and uncle all work in the same building. I know he would have sent me straight home but the workload situation and the fact that I'm the only person who is capable of doing the one aspect of the work means that he would have to reject several orders. I dont get paid full pay for sickness so Im not keen on being at home either, however I do feel slightly embarrased about the whole thing and I now see the same people who a few months ago was saying swine flu was a big fuss over nothing acting differently now that its on their door.

[neilneil]

Sorry to hear of your dilema and familys bad luck.

Originally Posted by ed540

My sisters boss is annoyed that she wont be in work for a week, he thinks that she should be okay to work even though its shop work and she has direct contact with the customers. She doesnt get paid sick and cant really afford a week off work.

This sort of reaction by this "Manager" ought to be illegal in fact if I had my way he would be prossecuted.
Putting somone who you know to have swine flu on the front line serving the general public is exactly the sort of thing that's spreading this around.

The government and Doctors advice is not to go to work if you have swine flu.

[rickinyorkshire]

How is everyone now ed540?

[ed540]

Thanks guys

My Mam is getting over it well and hasn't been too bad. A few sniffles and a couple of nights of coughing. My sister and nephew pretty are pretty much the same. It certainly hasnt slowed down my nephew in the least. Nasty cough but nothing that causes her any concern.

My Dad has been the main concern. This is the second week of him being unwell now. Every night he is up coughing and is often sick. Not really seen him been affected by an illness like this before and it is worrying. He says he has a constant headache and the lack of sleep is beginning to show although he says he no longer feels bunged up. He looks exhausted. He was never prescribed the tamiflu so maybe thats why he's had it so much worse. He was given antibiotics for the coughing yesterday so if he hasnt improved by Friday the doctor has insisted that she sees him. Hopefully it wont come to that.

And myself... not a sign of it. Although I'm still stuck in confinement in work

As for swine flu in this country I can see it having more of an impact on the population than perhaps we care to think. I dont mean as in a killer disease that wipes out a tenth of the country but more along the lines of how mrsa can have a severe impact on sick people in hospital. A contributory factor.

Thanks again guys

[IanW]

Ed,

I sincerely hope that you Dad gets better soon. Try to give him plenty of Vitamin C and water to help his immune system.

Best wishes,

Ian.

[cjf]

Best wishes for a speedy recovery to both Mum and Dad.

[clc.sheff]

Thanks for posting your experience

[aphex232]

ditto, thanks for voicing this

[echrada]

Thanks Ed, hopefully all are better now including your Dad.

[ed540]

Thanks everyone for your kind thoughts.

Just a final update on the family...

Mam, sister and nephew are all well and my dad is feeling a lot better. The antibiotics he was prescribed to ease the coughing worked a treat and with a few good nights behind him he started to feel better. He readily admits that he was absolutely floored by this swine flu and that he has never felt so ill. If you knew my father and the sort of man he is then the fact he said that would make you sit up and take note.

My father, although a smoker, is a fairly healthy and active man so it was worringing to see how affected he was by it. Those in my family who were given the tamiflu never seemed to become too badly affected by it although all still have the remnants of a cough.

I used to joke(like everyone in my family) about the swine flu when the news first started to break about it. After experiencing it directly my views have changed and it does become genuinely scary and real when it affects a family member to such an extent.

Yes.. I know flu kills thousands every year but flu never took it out of my dad like this before. He is fortunate that he is a healthy active man who lives in a country that has an excellent standard of living and healthcare(despite what we all may think at times).