Swine flu

Important information about swine flu

Are you feeling unwell?

If you have flu-like symptoms and are concerned that you may have swine flu, read about swine flu symptoms, stay at home and check your condition using the online National Pandemic Flu Service.

Phone your GP if:

you have a serious existing condition that weakens your immune system, such as cancer,
you are pregnant,
you have a sick child under one,
your condition suddenly gets much worse, or
your condition is still getting worse after seven days (five for a child).

Note: the National Pandemic Flu Service is a new online service that will assess your symptoms. If required, it will provide an authorisation number that can be used to collect antiviral medication from a local collection point.

For those who do not have internet access, the same service can be accessed on:

Telephone: 0800 151 3100.
Minicom: 0800 151 3200.

For more information on the National Pandemic Flu Service go to Flu service: Q&A.

Swine flu is the common name given to a new strain of influenza (flu). It is called swine flu because it is thought to have originated in pigs, but this is not certain.

People with swine flu typically have a fever or high temperature (over 38°C) and may also have aching muscles, sore throat and/or a dry cough (see Symptoms). In other words, the symptoms are very similar to seasonal (regular) flu. Most people recover within a week, even without special treatment.

Pandemic

The virus was first identified in Mexico in April 2009. It has since become a pandemic, which means it has spread around the globe. It has spread quickly because it is a new type of flu virus that few, if any, people have full resistance to.

Flu pandemics are a natural event that occur from time to time. Last century, there were flu pandemics in 1918, 1957 and 1968, when millions of people died across the world.

In most cases the virus has proved relatively mild. However, around the world hundreds of people have died and it is not yet clear how big a risk the virus is. For this reason, and because all viruses can mutate to become more potent (stronger), scientists are saying we need to be careful.

The situation in the UK

UK swine flu cases have fallen for the second week in a row. There were an estimated 53,000 new infections in the past week, down from 64,000 the week before.

There has been a further substantial increase in the number of deaths related to swine flu, with 32 deaths in the UK in the past week. To date, there have been 142 deaths in England, 38 in Scotland, 21 in Wales and 13 in Northern Ireland.

The UK formally moved from a containment to a treatment phase for swine flu on July 2 2009. Intensive efforts to contain swine flu, for example through automatic school closures, ended. This was to free up capacity to treat the people who are contracting swine flu daily.

As in other countries, most of the cases reported so far in the UK have been mild. Only a small number have led to serious illness, and these have often been in patients with existing health problems, such as cancer, that already weakened their immune systems.

Some people believe that the government should only give antivirals to those who are most at risk of developing serious complications from swine flu. In other words, if people are otherwise healthy, the virus should be treated with with paracetamol and bed rest until the person is better, as you would with normal flu.

However, the government's Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (SAGE) believes that there is still some doubt about the risks of the virus. For example, there are reports of some cases in Argentina where young, healthy adults have become extremely ill from swine flu.

While there is still this doubt, the government has decided to offer the antiviral medicines Tamiflu or Relenza to everyone who is confirmed with swine flu.

High-risk groups

Some people are more at risk of complications if they catch swine flu, and need to start taking antivirals as soon as it is confirmed that they have the illness. Doctors may advise some high-risk patients to take antivirals before they have symptoms, if someone close to them has swine flu.

It is already known that people are particularly vulnerable if they have:

chronic (long-term) lung disease,
chronic heart disease,
chronic kidney disease,
chronic liver disease,
chronic neurological disease (neurological disorders include motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease),
immunosuppression (whether caused by disease or treatment), or
diabetes mellitus.

Also at risk are:

patients who have had drug treatment for asthma in the past three years,
pregnant women,
people aged 65 and over, and
children under five.

Swine flu vaccine

The swine flu vaccination programme began on 21 October 2009. The vaccine is being given to those at the greatest risk first.

The following groups are being given the vaccine, in this order:

People aged between six months and 65 years who usually get the seasonal flu jab.
All pregnant women.
People who live with those whose immune systems are compromised, such as cancer patients or people with HIV/AIDS.
People aged 65 and over in the seasonal flu vaccine at-risk groups.

It is expected that virtually all GPs would have received their first delivery of swine flu vaccination by the 13th November.

For more information, go to the Vaccination: Q&A.

Vaccination - next steps

After careful consideration, based on the available supplies and the number of children in critical care and infant deaths the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has decided to focus on young children next aged 6 months up to the age of five and also look at the possibility of offering the vaccine to carers.

Evidence shows that young children are currently suffering the greatest relative impact from the disease. For example, children under five have the highest rate of hospitalisation for swine flu.

While carers have considerable ongoing responsibilities towards the health and welfare of others and are looking after vulnerable people who need to be protected from the risk of infection.

It is expected that the second phase of the vaccination programme will be rolled out shortly, with the precise date to be confirmed.

For more information, see 'Second stage of the vaccination programme.'

To stop the virus spreading

Although the UK has moved to a treatment phase for swine flu, it is important that people continue to do everything they can to stop the virus from spreading.

The most important way is to have good respiratory and hand hygiene. In other words, always sneeze in to a tissue, and quickly put it in a bin. Wash your hands and home and work surfaces regularly and thoroughly to kill the virus.

Sign up for swine flu email updates

Comments

40 Comments about ‘Introduction’

Our rules:

barney7 said on 17 November 2009

For the 3 days I have had a cough which at night keeps me awake the whole time. I did'nt have a temperature but felt tired very quickly when doing normal things around the house. Occasionally I have a headache, I feel groggy all the time and have now lost my appetite and this morning woke up with sweat running down my face and my shirt was stuck to my back. I am 51, very healthy and have had flu twice in my life, the Millenium flu was particulaly bad, but if I have Swine flu (who knows anyway) then it's very different to others and effects people in different ways. The symptoms seem to come and go and are much worse at night I guess when the body is more run down? I am drinking fluids, taking ibrufen and codeine cough linctus at night. Saw my GP who was'nt too concerned and siad to return if i flet worse.

Cathyh said on 17 November 2009

I would like to share my experience as i do agree with other peoples comments that everyone will have the same symptoms or reactions to swine flu, 12 days ago, i started with a sore throat, my ears hurt had ulcers in my mouth and just put this down to a bad cold as had a runny nose i carried on working for a week using the usual remedies when i then started to get a temperature and a really chesty iratating cough achy muscles shivvers and fever sweats, this had now put me in bed i had 3 days where i just could not get up and was wet through in sweat did not see the point in ringing the swine flu line as they just seem to diagnose everyone with it so you never actually know if you have it, after struggling with my breathing i decided to ring them, they told me to ring 999 i felt this was a bit extreme so rang my doctors, who told me to go down for a check up, she said i had definately had some type of flu but hard to tell if swine flu or winter flu as there are lots of types of flu about, she prescribed me an inhaler for my breathing which does help and to carry on taking paracetamol etc, it has been 12 days now, i still feel a bit shakey and my cough is still there but not as strong and the inhaler has helped, to me it feels like this swine flu is like normal flu but that it can interfear with your breathing and chest area, my advice would be if the swine flu is not helpful which they were not to me is ring tour local GP and ask the doctor to ring you back as this is where i got the most help and also to keep warm, drink fluids and take cold and flu tablets cos they really do help.

debbie1967 said on 12 November 2009

i had the swine flu injection 24hrs ago.my arm was very painful and felt as though some one had "dead armed " me today i have gradually been feeling worse and worse.. severe nausea.. crippling stomach cramps..a really bad headache..aches and pains all over my body..and my hands and feet are really cold and tingaly...has anyone had these type of symptoms..as when i rang my doctor she said the would pass but i feel they are getting worse as the day goes on

holdfast said on 05 November 2009

SWINE FLU VACCINATION
As a healthcare worker I was recently vaccinated at my place of work. I understand the seriousness of this infection & the impact it is having on our services.
I have high blood pressure & take Ramipril to control this. Within 6 hours of the injection & after my usual dose of BP medication, my BP dropped & has been unstable since. I have omitted & then moderated my BP med dose under instruction from my Gp who tells me their are other patients on the same medication with similar side effects from the Swine Flu vaccination.
Whilst I believe it is important that as many people as possible are vaccinated if you take medication for high BP be aware that you may have side effects & your gp may need to advise you alter your dose.

goodthing said on 05 November 2009

Askas said on 30 October 2009

Hi,
In my case, it started with dry throat and a bit of muscle pain. I also had sneezes, but they were not frequent. Couple of paracetamol tablets would make me feel better almost for the entire day, so I did not suspect that I could have swine flu. I was having normal sleep at night and going to work as usual. After 3-4 days of the first symptoms, one night I could not literally sleep because of almost constant sneezing, coughing, headache, etc. I immediately stopped going to work next day and have been staying at home since. I must say that I didn’t have high temperature at first. I started taking painkillers every 4-5 hours to relieve the symptoms, such as muscle pain. You could say that I was relatively better during the day the next day, and still did not have high temperature. Only in my second night, after discovering that I had swine flu, that I had high temperature. My temperature was 39 and even after taking paracetamol tables it would not go down below 38; at times I was shivering. I could barely sleep at night. Things started improving at the third night, when I finally had a normal sleep; I don’t know maybe because I hardly slept the previous two nights. I am now on the third day and going towards my fourth night and can feel that my conditions started improving. I see from other comments which show that our bodies react slightly differently to the illness. Well, in my experience, I did not have high temperature initially, but I had it little later. I don’t think we should be looking at high temperature only. If you have all other symptoms, except for high temperature, most probably you do have swine flu and should be taking precautionary measures as soon as possible.

smc123 said on 27 October 2009

i am 47 old asthmatic, my daughter has severe congenital heart condition, epilepsy and autism.

we have been diagnosed with swine flu. now 10 days since onset of symptoms and im sloly recovering. thought it might help to share my experience.
had all the symptoms listed including paranoid and increased fear/ nightmares.
i was very worried to read some of you reckon you didnt have a temperature or were told you handnt.

my main point when i worked as a nurse i realised that
EVERYONE has a DIFFERENT average NORMAL body temp and oficially a rise in temp of 5- 10 degress is considered a sign of infection.

so, while you are WELL take your Temperature miday every day for 3days to get your personal temp

ie - my personal temp is usually 36.5 so i know if i have a temp of above 37.5 im ill. and i tell the doctor i have a temperature.
and dont forget if you have taken painkillers, flu remadies or apsrin this will lower your temperature even if you are very sick. so take your temperature before or at least four hours after taking any medication.

Even those with chronic ilness ARE recovering from swineflu.
finally remember not to panick remain positive and focus on getting well.
DONT FORGET TO ASKL YOUR GP FOR FLU VACCINE !

liverpoollou said on 24 October 2009

My son has contracted some form of flu at the begining of this week. He has been pescribed Tamiflu and been taking it since Tuesday. He is really poorly and I am quite worried. He is 18 and a very fit and healthy young man however he has been in bed since Tuesday and although i have been ensuring he is taking adequate fluids, paracetamol ect, he is not eating and his temperature is getting steadily worse, to the point where 20 mins ago is was over 39, his breathing is laboured and it is hurting him to breath!! I have just insisted a GP comes to visit him as all the advice says not to go to the hospitals. however it took me over an hour to get through to someone, as the first thing you here when you call NHS direct is if this call is about swine Flu then call the Swine Flu helpline which tells you nothing else then to call NHS direct or your GP, Very Frustrating...

blackfieldbobbie said on 24 October 2009

If patients are recovering within a few days and only had cold symptoms, then it is very unlikely that they had swine flu or any other type of flu.
Liz I think that it was diabolical that your manager asked you to go to work with that type of illness, whether she/he thought it swine flu or not. To put hospice patients at risk when they are already very poorly and terminally ill is unforgivable. Good for you for sticking up for them.
I am interested in the comments concerning secondary ailments. My 6 year old daughter, was diagnosed and in addition to all the high temperature, aches and pains and vomiting, she had painful blue hands and feet. She recovered but kept a slight cough, a week later, she's back on the sofa with a high temp feeling sick and the same dry cough.

Rhodie said on 21 October 2009

Mid August, I started having flu like symptons, which I thought would mean just a few days off work. The symptons continued, low grade fever, mild sore throat, mild swollon glands, night sweats, blocked nose, coughing and fatigued. While over 3 weeks, the flu like symptons abated, the fatigue got worse, I was exhorsted and whenever I started doing something that required energy, e.g. walking my dogs, brain fog set in, unable to think or do anything. I got nausea, which went away after a week or so, but still totally exhorsted, as if I had been through the mill, physically and emotionally, the energy seemed to be sucked into my stomach, strange description, but theonly way I can describe it. . 2 months after the initial flu symptoms, the exhorstion has subsided, but I am still unable to do very much without brain fog setting in and slight nausea. No aches or pains. My surgergy has said it's 'post viral fatigue'. Blood tests are clear.

My partner has also been exhorsted for the past 2 months, similar symptoms, not as bad as me, but also had flu like symptoms, night sweats and now has very little energy and occasional brain fog.

There is very little information available on the length of time of illnesses and infact I have no idea whether it was just the flu, and if so whether it was 'swine' flu. My doc has more or less said the same thing to me. So little is known - it can't be tested, therefore go home and take it easy.

It's very frustrating.

miniminger said on 20 October 2009

I have also now been ill for 5 weeks, it's dragging, still got a chest infection which is one of the secondary complications, still out of breath and fatigued, when will it end? and then everything i've read reckons symptoms last around a week? as my kids would say, yeah whatever!

MarcusD said on 05 October 2009

Spearzy, It doesn't follow that, just because you felt better after taking Tamiflu, that you must therefore have had swineflu. Tamiflu isn't a swine-flu specific drug - in fact it wasn't even developed for swine-flu and it was originally stockpiled by the NHS in response to fears that bird-flu would spread to humans. Nor would Tamiflu actually be capable of curing whatever viral infection you seem to have been suffering from ... it simply speeds the recovery process and makes you less infectious. Indeed, the fact that you felt ill for so long very would very strongly suggests that it was NOT swine-flu that you were suffering from.

badco said on 25 September 2009

was advised today that an antiviral drug could benefit my symptoms of swine flu. I live alone ,what family n friends I have live quite a distance away so obtaining the drug if it was stocked pretty local would not be a big problem, however, the nearest collection point for me is at least 13miles away. looks like I will have to fight this flu drugless. typical nhs blunder

spearzy said on 04 September 2009

gps are looking for fever to diagnose the swine flu anyone seen this? http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/13/health/13fever.html?_r=1 also its clear from reading the comments here people can and do have difficulty breathing and feeling unwell for longer than its bieng made out i have been unwell for months breathing difficulty feeling extremly unwell faint,had 5-6 courses of antibiotics finally get tamiflu,and surprise im feeling better in just 3 days it must have been swine flu then after bieng told theres no way it could be make no mistake swine flu is awfull im not surprised it can and does kill people ive never been so ill for so long in all my life.people need to be checked for this horrible virus its clear not everyone gets better before the results would come back as is believed to be the reason no more testing is bieng done.

kazza1234 said on 02 September 2009

My swine flu started off as a slight tickle in my chest and an irritating cough. Overnight it turned into an extremely sore throat, aches and pains, high temperature and headache that defied paracetamol/ibuprofen. I took tamiflu. After I finished that, I then felt very unwell and my GP asked me to see her as I couldn't swallow. I sounded like I was talking through a straw. The headache remained and my cough worsened. I found it hard to breathe and had chest pains on the left side. My sinuses had completely blocked. Both ears hurt. My doctor gave me a thorough exam and said that I had a chest infection, sinusitis and infections in both ears. My throat was raw. I had complications of swine flu. I was then prescribed amoxicillin for a week. After i finished those I started to feel almost human again, but somewhat tired. Three days later, I had a very bad headache and a sore throat on one side and had to go back to the Drs. I was then diagnosed with Tonsillitis. I was prescribed Clarithyromycin for a further week. I had to have three weeks off work. My throat continued to be sore for a further week after the 2nd lot of antibiotics were finished and my Dr gave me an anti-inflamatory spray which numbed the pain and eventually got rid of it. All in all, it took about 5 weeks for me to feel "myself" again. Although people say that most cases are mild, I don't feel that my symptoms were mild and felt very unwell. I found out that a boyfriend of a friend of mine who contracted swine flu died in hospital at the beginning of this week so not everyone has a "mild" experience of swine flu.

spearzy said on 02 September 2009

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/13/health/13fever.html?_r=1 why are gps only looking for fever to diagnose when this link shows there isnt neccersarily fever present and i repeatedly get told u cannot have it for long periods of time when looking at some of these comments its clear you obviously can?

lararefaeli said on 26 August 2009

Swine flu is a form of influenza that originated in pigs but can be caught by, and spread among, people.

Swine flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses. Outbreaks of swine flu happen regularly in pigs. People do not normally get swine influenza, though infections do sometimes happen. In the recent past, most human cases of swine influenza have been in people who were in close contact with pigs, such as farmers. In the current outbreak the virus has been spread by person-to-person contact.

The swine flu situation is changing quickly. For the most up to date information please visit the World Health Organisation (WHO) website in Selected Links. They provide information on the countries with laboratory confirmed cases of swine influenza A/H1N1 infection...

User309357 said on 14 August 2009

to all the people complaining about people who being told told by the NPFS they have flu like SYMPTOMS. note not that have they FLU, but flu like SYMPTOMS. would they prefer it if the NPFS wasn't set up until september as orgionally planned. and the pandemic was worse. plus thinking about, how many people have gone to the doctors because the NPFS have advised them to, and the doctor's found more serious condition which has manifested itself with flu like symptoms???

concernedj said on 06 August 2009

Found this link to a document 'Coping with the flu outbreak - Depression'

http://www.oxfordshirepct.nhs.uk/your-health/health-promotion/older-people/documents/PB247_09-coping-with-flu-depression-read.pdf

danny_f said on 04 August 2009

I'm now in day nine. On the evening of the first day I wasn't clear on what it actually was - it felt like a cold coming on, but by the following morning my symptoms were virtually textbook - 102F fever, all-over body aches and pains, thumping headache, sore throat, dry constant hacking cough (very painful,) soaking through the bedcovers with sweat three times a night, and a general feeling of utter fatigue. Website and telephone line both diagnosed swine flu. By day three I was coughing and sneezing up all sorts (blood occasionally). I felt as though day three was the apex - days four and five felt comparitively better - my throat was improving, and the cough was almost gone. On day six I felt slightly worse and on day seven the sore throat was so bad that I am now finding it very difficult to swallow - and bizzarely I have no particular sense of taste at the moment. Now on day nine with no real improvement, and have been signed off work for a further week. GP has said I have a secondary infection which is complimenting the flu symptoms - I am now on a course of antibiotics, having completed my Tamiflu course the day before yesterday. I am told that I should see some improvement before the end of the week, and to be honest I'm feeling so utterly dreadful that it couldn't come a moment too soon. To all sufferers - keep your chins up; it'll pass eventually. Yes, it's desperately unpleasent (to anybody saying it's "just flu, don't be a crybaby" - you really should TRY it before you say things like that - I'm an active person and I haven't moved from my bed for five days) but every day you feel bad brings you closer to the finish. CONTACT YOUR GP or the NHS line if your symptoms develop further or they don't go away within a week or two. It's better to know than to wonder. Take care everyone. :)

Is swine flu mutating in London? said on 03 August 2009

I thought it might be useful to post my story here. I live in North London

I contracted swine flu 16 days ago and had a temperature of 38.2C. I was very achy and my whole body was sore. As I am type 2 diabetic I was prescribed Tamiflu. Within 6-7 days I was 100% better-I felt perfect.

Then a full week after I felt perfect (during this weekend just gone) i started with a bit of sneezing and non productive coughing and suddenly I had a rising temperature. Yesterday evening it went up to 39.95C- i felt even worse than the first time and ~I even had mild convulsions.

I am now off work and feel very achy from head to toe-my temperature has dropped to 37.5C. I am waiting to speak with my doctor to see if I can take the Tamiflu again.

I feel sure that I have caught a more extreme version of this flu this time round.

concernedj said on 01 August 2009

Two sites that I have found useful are:
1. Flu survey
http://www.flusurvey.org.uk/index.php

2. Wikipedia 009 flu pandemic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_flu_pandemic

Now on Day 21 of flu like symptoms. (Still breaking out into sweats, finding it more difficult to cook and clean or to concentrate for long on written work or problem solving. Nose is running more in the last week than the first week.

I got doctor's certificate for week 2. During week 3, I was fortunate to be able to work from home.

Searching on the internet I'm finding ‘health authority’ and ‘news’ statements saying most people recover completely in a few days / week and a few are hospitalised.

Possibly there is a third group - those who are not recovering quite so rapidly....For me the symptoms are disappearing one by one or a group at the time. I also know other people who are finding that it is taking longer to recover. If I got cold or too tired each time it seems to knock me back.

I believe people are contagious whilst they still have symptoms. Please advise on (i) the various patterns this condition can take, (ii) how long it takes people to recover in each case and when they can return to work and (iii) how best to regain strength / beat post-viral fatigue. A little more info would help allay fear and ensure fit people can get back to work ASAP.

billy65 said on 31 July 2009

Hi
I'm hoping someone may have some guidance/advice on time off from work.My partner and I have had it for 7 and 5 days.We both work with the public and still have symptoms.We have self-certificated but there's no guidance on NHS or government websites on whether this self-cert can be extended.I have read that some GPs may refuse to give a Med 3 as we were diagnosed by the pandemic website.I can't even e-mail nhs direct as this service is temporarily suspended.
The Pct I work for has no guidance at all.
We don't want to spread the virus and have been at home to prevent this but along with many other people we have bills to pay.
Where do we find sound advice on what to do next.?

Russ_Trew said on 31 July 2009

Yet again we see the media playing a negative role in society. This 'pandemic' is no less severe than seasonal flu, which kills people all over the world every year - the difference? A psychological identification to a name. If it was known as just 'the Flu' no one would balk. Because it has been labelled 'Swine Flu' it takes on a more personal role in people's minds. It is influenza. That's all. It kills some people, makes others ill and breezes through some people without a problem. That what flu does. Calling a hurricane Ralph may anthropomorphise it, but it's still a hurricane.

bison21 said on 30 July 2009

David - sensitivity to light is a symptom of meningitis & could indicate your son's illness is more serious. As meningitis symptoms are similar to flu symptoms you should get this checked out by a doctor & not rely on phone diagnosis.

TedW said on 30 July 2009

David - sensitivity to light is not a symptom of swine flu, but is of meningitis, which also shares other symptoms with swine flu. See http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Meningitis/Pages/Symptoms.aspx. Please contact your GP immediately.

David in London said on 29 July 2009

Our 11 year old boy has this flu. He is complaining of very sore eyes and they are reddened (bloodshot) around the visible periphery. He cannot stand any direct light and is in bed with the curtains drawn.

harry pig said on 29 July 2009

er yes, well, believe i may have had a version of it swineflu went like this, sat 25/7/09 sore throat and ear,sun26/7/09 sore throat,ear, and mild headache,27/7/09 sore throat,sore ear, bad headache,aching back legs and neck muscles and bit of phlegm in morning, 28/7/09 felt hell of a lot better during afternoon but weak and tired,29/7/09 much better today but still feel weak and tired no antivirals as dont have anyone to do errands was refused by neighbour once so dont like to ask, instead used inhouse stuff beechams and throat sweets was fine oh also gargled with TCP nasty stuff but good effect.

marjie62 said on 28 July 2009

S.S.B
Iam very interested in your report on your symptoms as they are similiar to my own..i have been ill for 4 wks now , first week thought i had a cold even although i had stomach cramps and dyhria i thought i may have eaten something nasty , then the sweats , jelly legs , headache from hell ( which i still have )...sore throat , aches in muscles off legs , got diagnosed over the phone the second week then tamiflu prescribed on week 2 1/2 finished those now and still have severe cramps in bed at night and a stiff neckj which is creeping up to the bony part off my head behind my ear ! i know ( hopefully) that iam not dying but just dont feel 100% and geting really fed up now as i am reading online that it only lasts a few days ! iam on 4th wk

S.S.B. said on 27 July 2009

4 weeks ago diagnosed swine flu over the phone by my doctor.Tamiflu had bad side effects :vomiting,feeling sick and tired.After that as result of Tamilu developed Candida infection of the tongue,which is still here after 2 weeks-although taking 2 different medicine.Constant low grade fewer in my face,and cold hands and body.Muscle tension in my neck and head.Feeling tired.And what is worst my blood sugar levels are all wrong and having another test tomorrow.I was healthy person before and my blood test were always ok,and after Tamiflu complete nightmare.NHS hasn't got a clue and I should't have taken Tamiflu without swab which was never offered.

concernedj said on 26 July 2009

I was diagnosed with suspected swine flu 2 weeks ago today. I am still feeling rough- sweats, sore throat, aching, nose running, sneezing ( having bad nose bleeds today also). I have stayed at home and been off work already for 2 weeks. I am concerned that I might now also be off tomorrow. Please could someone provide some % s showing recovery rates with time? i.e. What % of patients recover in 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks etc - such that they are 'fit enough to return to work' (rather than not contagious). I guess these sorts of figures must be available by now - ConcernedJ

rafterman said on 25 July 2009

I've had two kids that have had swine flu, and it's nothing to panic about. It's no worse than a normal heavy cold/flu, and both recovered in a few days. Tamiflu was prescribed, but two tablets in we took them off it as it made them violently sick, and I wouldn't take it myself having seen the side effects. All my kids needed was calpol/calprofen to get them through the worst of it. My wife and I both had symptoms but they never got past the stage where we just felt a bit off colour.
There's way too much fuss been made about this illness, for the vast majority of people it's just flu.

liz4561 said on 24 July 2009

I'm just recovering from the swine flu - I was diagnosed over the telephone while on holiday in the UK - I originally thought I was getting a cold, but after a week realised it was something more. I was quite poorly for about ten days (really bad sore throat, high temperature, couldn't sleep and stomach pains) but am now much better.

I followed the doctor's advice and kept away from people. I also spoke to my own GP on returning home - as I still felt unwell and wanted to know if there was anything else I could do - same advice, rest, time, and keep away from people.

My concern is that because I was diagnosed over the telephone I'm not counted in the "reported cases" in my home town. My line manager at work stated that there were only ten reported cases in my home town, so it was unlikely I had the swine flu and said I could go back to work.

I work in the NHS (in a Hospice) - and this was the only thing about the swine flu that left me reeling!!

That advice can be posted on the net, through our doors and on TV and radio - yet my own line manager, an NHS employee, said "come back to work". Obviously I ignored her "advice" and am going back next week - symptom free.

NB - I stayed on holiday as I was in my own static caravan and could keep away from people there.

VMF said on 23 July 2009

How can reliable figures for swine flu be published when only a very few of the so-called cases are confirmed by laboratory tests. Every year I have a headache, sore throat, a cough, feel dopey and often have a sore tummy and aching limbs - it is hay fever (or so I have been told in the past) and I treat it accordingly. If I rang NHS DIrect now, stating the above, would I be confirmed as having swine flu. Also, if you think (without any laboratory confirmation) that you have had swine flu this summer, might you be rather careless about being in contact with sufferers in the autumn/winter.

staycalmdon'tpanic said on 23 July 2009

chemoflu ...... try typing "chemotherapy" "flu" and "swine" into the search facility at the top of this page.....all the info I think you need....... sorry if this seems an obvious thing to do

clare-clare said on 23 July 2009

Just over 2 weeks ago i felt unwell, suffering from a sawthroat, persistent headache to the point where i was waking up with one and falling back asleep with one, i felt lathargic and generally under the weather, i didn't think much of it, infact i put it down the the change of the weather. However, last week i flew out to Spain, within a day i started to feel dizzy, and suffered from pains across my chest, this seemed to worsen throughout and by the end i was finding it hard to breathe and couldn't catch a full breath, the only time i would feel resonably ok is when i would lie down, i started to panic as i suffer from frequent chest infections and regulary need to take my inhaler. On my return i phoned the surgery, who reluctantly told me to stay by the end of the phone until a doctor could phone, i fortunately was allowed an appointment after me demanding that i didn't think i had swine flu, but just an infection in my chest, i have been perscribed anti-biotics, but so far it hasn't made any sort of an difference. All i'm saying is, whether you feel you have Swine Flu, or contracted some of the symptons, yet the doctor is adiment you have it, you might not and they will refuse to see you, your best bet is to rest at home, with a pack of paracitmols and bare it out. People are being perscibed tamiflu when all they have is a minor cold, i've heard if you've already picked up tamiflu, you won't be perscribed it again, just be very cautious! However scary 'swine flu' appears we musn't worry ourselves, becuase the fact is if we are going to get it, we're going to get it!

chemoflu said on 23 July 2009

I am currentley having Chemotherapy and am unable to have a flue jab and I would assume the vaccine for Swine flu, yet nothing is mentioned on this website. I have been told , incorrectley by NHS staff, I should have a winter flu jab. Can someone add a paragraph about chemotherapy patients please?

User297618 said on 23 July 2009

the number of new cases will increase not because more people are getting swine flu but purely because more people are getting diagnosed with it.
if you go to your GP today with a temp and flu like symptoms then he will start you on tamiflu without testing because we are in the treatment phase.
so a lot of people will get treated with for swine flu even if they dont have it, its just the way the system works.

shwann said on 22 July 2009

I have runny nose, which doesn't give me a break. followed by continous sneezing and this been going on for the past 2DAYS. at the begining I had sore throat but now I don't currently I am taking normal pracetamol. I have some rushes on my neck AND i am not sure if I have swin flu could someone professional reply to me. thanks

Sue from London said on 11 June 2009

I have recently returned from a cruise in the Med. Upon my return I felt flu like, within 24 hours I called my GP with concerns regarding swine flu - I have all the severe symptoms, but as previous comments have mooted, as I had not been to a particular country with high swine flu confirmed cases, I was told too that it was probably just a usual commen flu. Whilst I am fit and health, I too am concerned that the Government seem to giving out one message along with the WHO, but the Healthcare Professionals on the ground are not taking the appropriate action. How can we say in England that confirmed cases are moderate when they aren't being investigated and like others, I too am concerned for those at risk, the old and the young. In the Autumn and Winter, how will we cope if the cases of swine flue to reach high volumes. I do hope that someone is passing on these comments to the DH for them to act upon and ensure that PCTs and GP's act responsbily for the benefit of everyones health.