http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2009/09/23/i-went-to-afghanistan-and-all-i-got-was-h1n1/ September 23, 2009 I went to Afghanistan and all I got was H1N1 Posted: 09:51 AM ET By Dr. Sanjay Gupta CNN Chief Medical Correspondent It started as a cough. It wasn’t the kind of cough where something is temporarily stuck in your throat. It wasn’t the kind of cough where simply clearing your throat would’ve been adequate. This was the kind of cough that hurts when you do it. A stinging pain that makes you wince and guard and hope that you don’t have to cough again any time soon. I thought I might have a fever, but of course, I was in the middle of covering a war in Afghanistan, and the conditions were… well, hot. So, maybe it was that. Problem was, the next day I wasn’t feeling any better – in fact, I was worse. I woke up in my dusty desert tent and tried to step out of my sleeping bag. Two steps later, I almost hit the deck. Incoming. Except this wasn’t due to any sirens going off, this was due to my own body simply being unable to hold myself up. I was lightheaded and freezing cold – even though it was over 100 degrees outside at that early hour of the morning. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, who contracted H1N1 in Afghanistan, receives treatment. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, who contracted H1N1 in Afghanistan, receives treatment. I was nauseated and my entire body hurt. I tried to explain away my symptoms with lots of different excuses. You don’t sleep much while covering a war. My bulletproof jacket didn’t fit perfectly and was very heavy. There was a lot of dust and dirt, and maybe I had what the Marines referred to as the Kandahar Krud. It turned out to be none of those things. I remember looking over at my camera man, Scottie McWhinnie. He looked absolutely awful. He was wearing a scarf on his head, and it was completely drenched in sweat. He was coughing so loudly and frequently that I was really starting to worry about him – and about myself. We each had it, whatever “it” was. I made a command decision. As a physician reporter in a war zone, I was going to get us medical care. That prompted our visit to a battlefield hospital, not as reporters this time, but as patients. It is worth pointing out the irony of a medical reporter getting influenza type A, which was then ultimately confirmed as H1N1. (The term swine flu is a misnomer, as this strain is made up of several different components, including swine, but also avian parts.) It really didn’t matter if I got tested, as my doctor told me. It was the only flu strain circulating and I had it, and so did Scottie. We both had high fevers, the lack of appetite, terrible sinus congestion, body aches, and yes – that hacking, come out of the blue. I am not someone who gets sick, really ever. And this was the sickest I have ever been. I would’ve much preferred my own bed with all the comforts of home – including a wife who would’ve taken great pity on me and allowed me lots of rest and relaxation. Still, I am here to blog about it, after taking the requisite few days to stay at home and not spread my gift from Afghanistan to all my colleagues at work. In case you are curious, there wasn’t much the doctors could really do for me. Some Tylenol and a sinus decongestant (the same my wife would’ve given me). We also got IV fluids, given our inability to keep anything down. Within a couple days, I felt a lot better, and a few days after that – I was back to normal. It was a lot like… the flu – with a different name. A lot of people will get the exact symptoms I described above, and for most people, it will simply mean a few miserable days, hopefully spent in your home – and not in a war zone. Posted by: Dr. Sanjay Gupta - CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Filed under: Dr. Gupta • H1N1 Flu • Health
I'm at a University, and just found out that I have the flu. They, however, didn't test for swine or anything, just told me to "isolate" my self in my dorm room....
this is from the article posted above, and it's what i've heard doctors saying: "It really didn’t matter if I got tested, as my doctor told me. It was the only flu strain circulating and I had it..." at this time of year, typical flu virus hasn't kicked in yet. when kids were getting the flu over the summer it meant they had swine flu with near certainty...because the typical flu virus dies down over the summer. Also, if you're making lodging accomodations, I'd suggest staying here....I stayed there last night:
I just found it odd that they didn't give me any medicine aside from two Motrins, and sent me on my way. I think may even still need to go to class tomorrow...
because overuse of the antivirals out there will eventually lead to resistance. therefore the CDC wants us to use only in certain highrisk cases. i know lots of parents will complain to me - but I explain to them that if we aren't more judicious about medication uses that we won't have anything available when/if these organisms mutate into something more serious.
So I got sick starting late yesterday. No fever, no aches, no cough. Just sick to my stomach. I don't see the need to go to the doctor, yet. I'd really rather not because I've moved since the last time I saw my general practitioner and I'd prefer not to have to look for a new one today.
It has not been all that bad...here in Austin, they are even holding off on Tamiflu as most cases of Swine flu have been very mild. DD
One of the local high schools almost canceled their football game this weekend as they had 20+ players out. They went ahead and played, but lost 6-0 to a team they would normally beat.
I'm in Austin and I'm freaking out. A five year old at my daughter's small Montessori school died from it last night. My daughter is in a different class but they would both go to the same room for early drop-off. We got an e-mail letting us know that there is a confirmed case for one of the kids in my daughters class. We were not worried about it at all because I hadn't really heard of people dying from it but this is way too close for home and I'm really hurting for that child's family though I don't know them. Overreaction or not, I'm keeping her out and having her checked tomorrow.
We received notice that a child in the infant room in my son's daycare has a confirmed case of H1N1. Also, a teacher in the preschool wing is currently out with "flu-like" symptoms. I hadn't given this hysteria much thought until now. Dang... EDIT: I forgot to add that I'm in Austin, too.
Do you have any more information on this particular death? I can't believe it isn't being reported on news8austin.com. I'm just wondering if you know anything about underlying conditions of the deceased. Thanks.
In the last 1-1/2 weeks, my wife (currently), my 4 yr-old son, and I have all had "flu-like symptoms". Not sure if it was H1N1 as none of us were bad enough to warrant going to the doctor. My biggest concern is the last family member to not get it, yet...my 4 month old son.
I'm surprised that it hasn't been reported too. From all of the info that we have the child was healthy and didn't have any other problems. I took my daughter in today and she was negative for flu. The doctor made it sound like a bunch of kids are getting it but that it's really not that big of a deal, but there are exceptions in a small percentage. I know that they say that the regular flu kills way more people every year, but I've never seen a school aged kid die from it so this still freaks me out.
I've been fighting flu with high fever since this last Tuesday. I just got a call from the doctor saying that flu test was positive. I am getting high fever in the range of 101-103 F every four hours and I have to take Tylenol/Motrin to get it under control for a while.
I think I might've had the swine flu about three weeks ago. One Saturday morning I woke up feeling light headed/dizzy and later that day I developed a fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, and hint of a headache. Symptoms lasted for four days and I finished a box of Nyquil liquigels during that time. That was my first time being ridiculously sick, it was horrible.
