<p>Thanks guys - have a good night 
I am really not looking forward to college.
Hey, I have the latter too …</p>
<p>Blackeyed susan–thank you for starting the thread. That’s what happened to my daughter. She had a “cold” and then she seemed to be getting better and then “wham!” They gave her the hydrocodone to stop her cough because she had blisters in her throat from a throat cough from the post-nasal…(Not to graphic)…she thought she’d gotten a sinus infection from the cold…which is the only reason she was even willing to go to the doctor, cuz she figured she’d get antibiotics and be better in a day. 
Not so much. So, watch the cough, regardless! I think she was about a day away from the hospital, but the good news is she actually listened to me and went to the doctor. whew.</p>
<p>Anyway, thanks everyone, you’ve been very supportive. Good luck with your own illnesses. I’m hoping to sit this one out.</p>
<p>My daughter says the cough makes it very difficult to sleep or talk. I just found out that local recreation centers will be giving out the vaccine this weekend to high-risk individuals and young people. Not a moment too soon as in the last week, it seems that this thing is spreading like wildfire in my area.</p>
<p>my doc is 90% sure I have it…couldn’t get my daughter in to see her doc at all…the only way to be 100% sure would be to have the test done at the hospital, which could mean a six hour wait…since it was pretty painful to even get into the car and get into doc’s office, I took her word for it and am taking tamiflu…feel a bit better today , the fever has broken. The worst part of it, hands down for me was the severe body aches.
My doc said that all facilities are " inundated " with patients so she did not recommend going to hospital unless things got much worse.
We have to force ourselves to drink anything…
Back to bed now…</p>
<p>I just got back from taking my 2 of my 3 teens to get the H1N1 mist. We stood outside in the pouring rain for an hour and a half, but were first in line, when a pregnant woman gave up her spot after learning only mist was available. Kids were not happy to be out there, but I think they’ll thank me when it hits their high school. Only 2-24 yr. olds and health care workers were supposed to get the vaccine today, but I think they were giving it to anyone who wanted it.</p>
<p>This is really scary that, as we type, people are getting sick. I heard that a huge majority of the population will end up with it. There doesn’t seem to be any source for the vaccine where I live or where D is in school. I have searched and searched.</p>
<p>My husband heard that 7% of the US population has H1N1 at this very moment.</p>
<p>I live in Dallas and the vaccine is in VERY short supply. Our county health dept. only received 700 doses! I called my daughter’s pediatrician today and lo and behold, they received their order this morning. D is out of school today for fall break, so we went straight over there and got the vaccine. Now we just need to keep her healthy for the next two weeks…</p>
<p>Update: since my D is one of the people who managed to get a horrible case, I just wanted to report in the that the “worst” seems to last for several days and she is much better today, though NOT enjoying the effects of the hydrocodone, has chosen to stay on it through full prescription in order to make sure she fully heals. Also, she has reported to me that many who have gotten it have gotten a MUCH milder version, and that she did it “to myself by running myself into the ground even after I knew I had a cold.” She believes if she had restricted her activities simply to class and sleep and studying, she would not have gotten this sick…So, there’s that. YOU can control that.</p>
<p>Good luck to everyone in staying healthy, and I guess the message is not to try to “gut it out” with this one. The sooner you just get in the bed and sleep, the better. “The good news,” my little scientist said, “is that now I have immunity to this thing!”</p>
<p>[1</a> in 5 U.S. kids had flu so far this month - Swine flu- msnbc.com](<a href=“http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33435251/ns/health-cold_and_flu/]1”>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33435251/ns/health-cold_and_flu/)</p>
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<p>poetgrl - perhaps since she is better, there is a less severe cough suppressant that she could use - and supplement with Tylenol if the hydrocodone she is taking is the combo, like Vicodin.</p>
<p>I agree. I’m not a big fan of the whole opiate thing, nor is she. She said she will run it through by Sunday afternoon from what she can tell, so she will be able to stay in bed. I suggested she call the health center to see what they think. She is a very “doctor’s orders” type…since she plans to be one herself.</p>
<p>On a lighter note, she showed up at the lab today and th TF, who doesn’t know her, handed her a packet by saying, “Stay where you are.” Putting the packet on the table and saying, “call someone you trust and get the lab results and just fill this in later, and GO HOME!” She was shaking her head as D left the room.</p>
<p>So glad your D is better. Hope people remember that the vaccine doesn’t become effective immediately & takes a while to develop antibodies (up to 2 weeks), so hopefully everyone will stay well while their immunities are developing.</p>
<p>The good news is that there does appear to be more Tamiflu around these days than when the supplies were very short this summer & folks wer panicking. That’s another thing to consider if folks have no access to the vaccine, at least knowing that it’s available in the community if the need arises because they have a severe case & catch it early.</p>
<p>Frankly, they ought to just put the tamiflu at the front desk at most dorms right now! Just my opinion. I think it’s so rare that something is more dangerous for this age group, all of them living and breathing on top of each other, that it’s kind of stumped the system. </p>
<p>And thanks! I’m glad both she and roommate are recovering. On a note to the women and men who have raised sons–the boys in D’s dorm were incredibly solicitious and unbelievably caring. You guys have done an incredible job. A boy actually brought kosher salt by and shouted through the door for the girls to gargle with it, many other verry nice things I never knew boys would do. So, Kuddos.</p>
<p>This may be a great time to have your student be off campus and in a single apartment, so long as the student doesn’t get sick. S has managed so far to avoid the flu and since he knows how to cook he’s made up and taken soup to other apartment student friends who have been leveled by the flu.</p>
<p>I had to ask–no, he doesn’t actually go into their apartment and YES he takes it to them in disposable containers. </p>
<p>I remember being really sick in the dorm with Hong Kong Flu in 1968 (it was miserable). But at least there were others around if you really needed assistance. Those parents with apartment kids get the extra worry of who will give a hand if their student gets sick. At least my S seems to be part of a group in apartments who look in on and out for each other.</p>
<p>My son tested positive for H1N1 yesterday but he appears to have a mild case. Health services basically told him to hunker down in his room until 24 hours after the fever is over. But, alas, no slack from his professors! He emailed his biochem professor to see if he could delay a test today by a day or two. The guy said no, so my son trudged to class today to take the test; however the professor did not show up due to a car accident! (Could it be karma?) My husband and I feel helpless so we call him every couple of hours to see how he is doing. </p>
<p>My daughter, a senior in high school, has a more severe influenza-type illness. She has been running 103 all week with fatigue, aches and a sore throat. And this is her second time! (She had a 101 temperature with fatigue two weeks ago but she appeared to get better quickly.) Her physician doesn’t want her to come in at all. We are told just to sit tight, give her lots of Tylenol and fluids and wait for improvement. She is missing so much school; I only hope her teachers are kinder than my son’s professors.</p>
<p>I actually thought that it might be a little better for kids in apts. rather than the dorm situation. In D’s apt (only 2 of them) you can have more of your own space and everyone/everything isn’t right on top of each other. Kitchen/food space not shared by so many people, less people in the bathroom, etc. </p>
<p>Of course, many risks still exist, but perhaps less.</p>
<p>yorkyfan-- I hope you all feel better soon and get a lot of sleep. A lot of people on this thread have recommended tamiflu? I don’t know if that is something you would be able to get, or if it is too late. Good luck. I’m sure your son will be more intelligent than my daughter and not run himself into the ground while he is already ill, but that professor? Man. you’d think the science profs would be the FIRST to say stay home. No?</p>