Help! Anyone have experience with influenza?

[aggie94]

DH has a pretty severe case of Type A influenza. He has been under the weather for several weeks, with symptoms of a sinus infection or something like that. So we're not sure exactly when he caught the flu, but the "classic" flu symptoms of rapid onset of achiness and fever started on Monday. He woke up this morning with a very high fever and was feeling so bad that he couldn't wait for his 2 pm doctor's appointment and went to the ER instead, which is where he was diagnosed. He is on antiviral medication (they don't know if they started it in time to reduce the symptoms, though) and pain reliever, and when I spoke to him this afternoon, I have never heard him sound so badly - he was almost delirious. :( He says he's never been sicker or felt worse in his life.

So my question is this: I was there for the Thanksgiving weekend and last had contact with him on Sunday (the day before he started getting achiness and a fever). When is/was he contagious? I don't have any symptoms (yet) except for a mildly scratchy throat, which I've had on and off for about a week. I'm wondering if he could have passed it onto me, or if I would already know that by now. And is there anything I can do to prevent onset of symptoms?

TIA.

[KristaMB]

Eva, Sorry to hear that your DH is so dreadfully sick. How awful! I have no practical knowledge about how you can prevent getting the flu, or when he was contagious, but this ([URL=http://content.health.msn.com/content/pages/5/4068_103.htm) link on cold and flu prevention has been on the msn homepage today.

For colds, I've had good luck using a product called Airborne (http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jhtml?id=prod19502&CATID=100146&navAction=push&navCount=0). It's sold at Walgreens and Trader Joe's.

I'll keep my fingers crossed that you stay healthy!

[claire797]

Eva,

Whenever I feel the slightest post-nasal drip, I use Zicam for a day. It's a nasal spray that somehow blocks the bacteria from the cold virus to get into your bloodstream.

Here's more info:

http://www.zicam.com/site/home_flash.html

At any rate, it's worked for me in preventing my colds from getting worse. Don't know how it it would work for flu, but it couldn't hurt.

[lhall]

Eva,

Beth's son had the flu. I think they had some medication to give everyone else in the family to either prevent them from getting the flu or reduce the symptoms. Do you have a Dr in Phoenix yet? I'd definately call and ask, or get in touch with DH's Dr.s office.

I hope Che starts feeling better soon.

Leigh

[summer02]

People with the flu are contagious the day before symptoms start and for about a week afterwards.

[Jessica]

Eva,

I don't know anything about the flu, but I hope your DH feels better soon and that you haven't caught the flu. Do keep us posted.

Jessica

[funnybone]

Hope your DH feels better soon. I think catching the flu is the luck of the draw. There are times entire families catch it, and other times it only hits one person. Just because you were exposed does not mean you will get it, or with the same severity as your DH. Hope you can avoid it!

[LaraW]

Eva, I am so sorry that DH isn't feeling well. I have heard that people can be contagious several days before they even know they are sick. If it were me, I'd call the dr. and see if there is some kind of preventive medicine you can take.

Colorado is having a major flu epidemic. They've diagnosed over 4,000 cases, and 6 children have died. :( I wouldn't mess around with it.

[DmOrtega]

I think my ds just got over a mild case of the flu. He had the sinus drainage, sore throat, coughing, sneezing, low grade fever. It lasted about 3 days and he's back to school with just the cough. I don't know if this helped but I put Vicks Vapor Rub on his chest each morning and evening. He drank water every time he started having a coughing fit and I also gave him "lots of mandrin oranges". He is pretty good at spitting up the pleghm (sp), so I think that really helped. I did give him Tylonol on the second day of his fever and Bendryl the last couple of nights. He seemed to sleep pretty good with his head elevated. He told me this morning that he is tired. That's so unlike him, so I think he is still recovering.

My dd had the sore throat and sinus drainage but no fever. I am hoping that my dh and I only get a mild case.

[DocAgocs]

Here's what I do personally when I start to feel the onset of any cold/flu symptoms:
1) Get adjusted by my chiropractor.
2) Drink lots of water.
3) Take extra Calcium Lactate, which has been shown to enhance phagocytosis, one of the activities of immune system cells.
4) Take 6-8 tablets of MediHerb Andrographis Complex the first and second days I notice symptoms. 1 tablet of Andrographis Complex contains:
*125 mg of 4:1 Echinacea angustifolia root(the leaves are worthless) which is the equivalent of 500mg of raw root
* 125mg of 4:1 Holy basil (Ocinum tenuiflorum) leaf extract, which is the equivalent of 500mg of raw leaf
* 100mg of a 10:1 extract of Andrographis panuculata, which is the equivalent of 1.0 gram of the raw herb (standardized to 10mg of andrographolides, thought to be the active component of andrographis that enhances immune system function)
* 10mg of Holy basil essential oil

Since I have been using this regimen for myself, I have yet to be "sick" for more than a day. I've had chills, fever of 104, shakes, muscle spasms, etc then woken up the next day and gone to work like nothing ever happened. FWIW, I recommended Andrographis to a patient who is a bus-driver about two weeks ago. His wife is a physical therapist and she took it when she got sick and was fine two days later. He felt some symptoms, took a few tablets, and was fine. It's a great formula and it has worked great for me the 4-5 times I've personally used it in the last two years.

[lindrusso]

Not much advice to offer either - I hope you don't get it.

I had it once a few years ago and it was miserable. All the classic symptoms and what really surprised me was how FAST it hit. I was sitting on the couch watching TV, was perfectly fine all day and then all of the sudden I started having chills. An hour or two later and I was feeling pretty bad - felt like I'd been hit by a truck! I was knocked off my feet for at least 4 days. Not fun.

The good part though is that no one else in the family got it, so maybe you're okay.

We didn't get flu shots (never do), but this year I'm scared with all the cases I'm hearing about!

I've been washing my hands a lot at school! :eek:

Alysha

[lisas3575]

Eva, how is Che doing today? Sending you both good antiviral thoughts. :p

[SandyM]

Yeah Eva - is he back to his normal self yet? :p :D

[aggie94]

DH is still sick as a dog, but getting better slowly (it would probably be faster if he was actually resting and not trying to do a hundred things for school :rolleyes: ). I got a flu shot yesterday and am still symptom-free (and the sore throat is gone too), so I am hoping I'm in the clear. Thanks, everyone!