Amazing thing today. Walmart was OUT of Children's Motrin

[Horse with no Name]

Shelves were empty.
We have a flu epidemic in progress here in Northeast Texas.
In September.

One school district has shut down because of 87% absenteeism. 87%. That is a HUGE number.
In September.

The Doctors offices are full--made an appointment to get my granddaughter her flu vaccine today. Took 2 weeks to get the appointment.
Last night, her temperature spiked to 104.
Her visit to the doc to get her flu shot turned into a sick-kid visit.
Out of school until Monday.
5 days on Tamiflu.
In September.

It frightens me that we are in this state in September.
This is usually what we see at the height of flu season in December or January.

[Nikki Stone1]

1. Twix Voy is on right now. You can ask why retail stock is so low.

..

[Horse with no Name]

2. I don't think it is a matter of low stock

I think it is a matter of high demand.

[FloriTexan]

3. I suspect you are right.

One of my co-workers told me that her son is sick - it wasn't the flu BUT her neice visited their house this weekend and she was sick. Her mom took her to the doctor and they suspect swine flu. She is worried her son will now get it and she's been at the office. Does anyone know what the incubation period is? They reported to child deaths here in the last 24 hours. Differnet school districts.
She's in Garland, neice lived in another local city.

I'll report back tomorrow. hubby and I have our annual physicals scheduled tomorrow. I'll ask my doc about it. Not real happy about going to their office now. Great!

I was wondering how all these people who have it are scattered around the area. Its either just getting started or its in full swing and only a few people are getting seriously ill from it. Regardless, its probably too late for any vaccine round these parts.

[Horse with no Name]

5. I know they have had one child die of H1N1 in Mesquite

Also--for some reason there is a HIGH false-negative results on the rapid flu assays. Practitioners are being told that if it looks like flu (fever, sore throat, aches, pains) that it is flu and to treat it accordingly, no matter what the flu test says.
Also--the cases of H1N1 seem to be linked to positive results on the Type A flu tests.
Stay safe out there. It truly is EVERYWHERE in northeast Texas.

[Ms. Toad]

13. My daughter is on Tamiflu - negative rapid flu assay

but a fever of 101 and other symptoms of flu, so they are treating her as if she has the H1N1 flu. Since she's high risk (chronic liver disorder and UC), that means Tamiflu for 5 days.

Since they don't know (and she's high risk), she probably still gets to have the vaccination when it arrives Oct 22. Oh joy.

The good news is that after 24 hours on Tamiflu her fever is down and she's feeling much better.

[Horse with no Name]

14. Good. I will send lots of kind thoughts her way

I'm glad she is feeling better!

[Ms. Toad]

24. Thanks! n/t

[AuntPatsy]

18. Corpus has had I believe four deaths in the last two months I believe...

I know one of them I heard about was in her thirties..young and apparently had been healthy..this is a strange one..

[FloriTexan]

4. I suspect you are right.

One of my co-workers told me that her son is sick - it wasn't the flu BUT her neice visited their house this weekend and she was sick. Her mom took her to the doctor and they suspect swine flu. She is worried her son will now get it and she's been at the office. Does anyone know what the incubation period is? They reported to child deaths here in the last 24 hours. Differnet school districts.
She's in Garland, neice lived in another local city.

I'll report back tomorrow. hubby and I have our annual physicals scheduled tomorrow. I'll ask my doc about it. Not real happy about going to their office now. Great!

I was wondering how all these people who have it are scattered around the area. Its either just getting started or its in full swing and only a few people are getting seriously ill from it. Regardless, its probably too late for any vaccine round these parts.

[Avalux]

6. I'm in Central Texas; my daughter works in a pharmacy.

They have been inundated with prescriptions for Tamiflu elixir; problem is, the stock is gone and won't be available until the co. makes more.

So the pharmacy is crushing Tamiflu tablets and creating an elixir from that (they are a compounding pharmacy). They filled 72 prescriptions yesterday at $100 a pop. It's been this way for about a week and each day gets a little worse. They are working as fast as they can and just keep getting busier and busier.

[Nay]

7. I'm in VA, and grandson Nay has a cold. DIL was gonna take him to

the doc, but she called first. Doc said DON'T bring him in unless he becomes dangerously ill -- doc is treating many cases of all kinds of flu, and if Grandson Nay comes to the office, he's gonna get sicker, not better.

[Horse with no Name]

8. Amazing thing today. Walmart was OUT of Children's Motrin

Shelves were empty.
We have a flu epidemic in progress here in Northeast Texas.
In September.

One school district has shut down because of 87% absenteeism. 87%. That is a HUGE number.
In September.

The Doctors offices are full--made an appointment to get my granddaughter her flu vaccine today. Took 2 weeks to get the appointment.
Last night, her temperature spiked to 104.
Her visit to the doc to get her flu shot turned into a sick-kid visit.
Out of school until Monday.
5 days on Tamiflu.
In September.

It frightens me that we are in this state in September.
This is usually what we see at the height of flu season in December or January.

[knitter4democracy]

9. Stuff's going around here already, but it's not that bad.

I've never heard of a school with a percentage that high of kids out. Wow.

The teachers I had lunch with today (subbed in a small alternative high school today for a teacher who had to go home ill) and I all agreed that it was worse earlier than usual, and that's with just the usual colds and such, let alone flu.

[aquart]

10. Climate change also affects the seasons of disease.

Lots of things aren't going to happen like they did.

[babylonsister]

11. Makes me wonder what was known prior to now

that everyone was so worried about. Maybe they were right?

[Horse with no Name]

15. I've been following the flu discussion on Medscape for months

this is precisely what they have been warning about.
I guess that is why it is starting to get pretty frightening.

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. Bingo, me been following CDC and WHO

this is exactly what they have been expecting...

[Uben]

12. Damn Horse, we are 50 miles away and don't have a big prob....

....yet. I guess I'll stay in till I get my flu shot. I hate that crap!

[Mojorabbit]

34. It is what the predictions I have been reading

expected. I am pretty certain the pandemic govt site recommends having a stock of meds in the house as well as some extra food for just in case. I have the flu now too.. I am on day three. Hubby who is a family doc had it last month so I thought I might have some immunity but I let myself get run down the past few weeks and pow. I think the peak of flu season will be interesting.
<a href="" target="_blank"><img src="" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[AuntPatsy]

16. I haven't noticed too many people here being sick but my husband is one of them...

he is on his last day of that tamiflu but still felt so bad that he did not take it today..which would have been his last day..the last few nights I have watched him closely..pretty scary because the last week almost every night his breathing has not sounded the best...I feel for your grandaughter...he still has to work but he does seem to be getting a little better..

I guess that is where he got it..here in east texas, I did not realize it was so bad up here.....thankfully I never get what everyone else has as far as flus and such so I can take care of him when he is here..I have never seen him hit so bad by an illness but he is old school and simply pushes himself plus he told his superiors and they told him well, can you keep going? Of course he said yes and he is doing just that..the fevers are gone though, at least twenty four hours now so hopefully he is on the mend.....

[Mrs. Overall]

17. When is Tamiflu prescribed? For everyone or just if the case is severe?

[AuntPatsy]

20. If they have it in stock then I assume they are giving to anyone with flu

like symptons...I had to call my doctor back home for my husband since we are out of town up north texas and they told me that if the pharmacy up here did not have Tamiflu was it okay if they prescribed him antibotics..I told them well yes...but we lucked out..so I assume they thought the pharmacy's up here might not have any stock left...

anyway..they did not see him..I called them with his symptoms so I guess anyone with flu like symptoms can receive it if the have it...

[Ms. Toad]

23. Antibiotics should not be taken for the flu

The flu is caused by a virus, not a bacteria. Taking antibiotics to "treat" a viral infection increases the possibility of creating antibiotic resistant bacteria (like MRSA). If my doctor's office suggested taking antibiotics for a viral infection I would be looking for an new doctor.

[Mrs. Overall]

27. Thanks for the answer-- I hope all is well with your husband now.

I'm in WA State, and at my children's schools (middle school and high school) a few kids are just beginning to get sick. I'm not looking forward to this particular flu season.

[Ms. Toad]

22. The recommendations are that its use be limited to:

# Treatment with oseltamivir or zanamivir is recommended for all persons with suspected or confirmed influenza requiring hospitalization.
# Early empiric treatment with oseltamivir or zanamivir should be considered for persons with suspected or confirmed influenza who are at higher risk for complications including:

* Children younger than 2 years old;
* Persons aged 65 years or older
* Pregnant women
* Persons of any age with certain chronic medical or immunosuppressive conditions (see page 3); and,
* Persons younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy.

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/recommendations.htm

Oseltamivir is the generic name for Tamiflu antivira medications.

Two reasons:
There is not an unlimited supply, and it needs to be available for folks in the above groups
Tamiflu is not without its own risks - so you have to balance whether there are more risks associated with taking Tamiflu v. having the flu

(My daughter is on Tamiflu - she has a chronic liver disorder (bullet point 4 above). Since liver damage/failure is also one of the side effects which has been correlated with Tamiflu use it was not an easy decision - but one her liver doctor encouraged.)

[Mrs. Overall]

29. Hope your daughter is doing well. It sounds like the flu could be very

serious for her due to her existing health conditions.

So, it seems that the doctor really makes the determination about whether to prescribe Tamiflu--one just doesn't request it.

I'm nervous about this upcoming flu season.

[Ms. Toad]

30. She was better, as of last night.

Haven't heard from her yet today.

You can request Tamiflu (just like people request antibiotics for the flu or a cold).

Just like any doctor can prescribe worthless antibiotics for the flu, any doctor can also prescribe Tamiflu (which is not worthless, but is not a risk free proposition and should be reserved for the population that needs it). If your doctor is on top of things, s/he won't just blindly prescribe Tamiflu.

From what the student health clinic said, the H1N1 flu has been pretty mild - very contagious, but mild. The big risk with it seems to be overreaction by immune systems in people with very strong immune systems - and it is the immune system response (cytokine storm) that is causing the deaths. My daughter has two autoimmune disorders - which means she is at high risk for this overreaction. If her chronic liver disorder had been from any other cause I probably would suggested she just hang out in bed and enjoy the break from classes.

[tammywammy]

21. I'm in North Texas, I've had a few co-workers out sick

I got my regular flu shot last Thursday. There have been a few kids die in North Texas too. :(

[Robb]

25. Early season.

I re-found the group that maps H1N1 cases through news reports on Google Maps: http://flutracker.rhizalabs.com/

[renate]

26. interesting and useful--thank you! n/t

[Mojorabbit]

35. for a daily news thread

I am one of the newshounds for flu wiki
http://www.newfluwiki2.com/diary/3982/news-reports-for-september-30-2009

[redqueen]

28. Half the kids are out in my two daughters' classes.

A co-worker took her daughter to one of those emergency clinics, one she's been to before. It's usually pretty much empty, but she said it was absolutely packed this time.

ETA: North Central TX here.

[Thickasabrick]

31. Wasn't there a recall by J&J of kid's cold medicines? nt

[rvablue]

32. I suggest if your local school has 87% absenteeism that you contact a national media outlet.

Can't imagine they wouldn't cover a story that big. Never heard of such a thing.

[FloriTexan]

33. Went to the doc today...

for annual physicals, got there early, waiting room was quiet, just a couple of people at 9:30 am. When I left, it was PACKED! I heard my doc talking to someone in the hall. She asked him when the H1N1 vacine was coming out and he said a week to 10 days but they don't have the protocol yet on who will get it. She asked him if he'd been busy with flu patients. He said absolutely and I heard him say that we had a full blown epidemic but that it wasn't any worse than the normal flu for most people.