Question for those who aren't taking the H1N1 vaccine...

Would you take an anti-viral medicine if you got sick with the flu (regular or H1N1)?? I have been thinking about this recently.........

Re: Question for those who aren't taking the H1N1 vaccine...

I would probably take relenza, but I wouldn't take Tamiflu. Here in the UK we have had a large increase of cases in the last two weeks, however its not viewed as all that serious here, I know quite a few people who have had it and decribed it as either a really bad cold, a bad dose of the flu, or just a miserable experience. I know about 3 people who have had it and said that they would not take the Tamiflu if they had it to do over again, apparently the side effects are worse than the actual flu itself. I would speak to my doctor, but I might not take their advice.

Here in the UK we have a swine flu helpline, you ring them, they take you through a whole bunch of questions and if you meet their criteria (in other words if their computer says yes) you get a voucher number for Tamifliu, you send someone to the chemists to give that number to the pharmacist, and you get yoru Tamiflu. And I do believe its free.

Re: Question for those who aren't taking the H1N1 vaccine...

most likely no. unless I was very very sick. but for a mild case, no, I would try to let the virus run it's course.

I would take extreme precaution with my family though. I would essentially quarantine myself until the danger had passed.

Re: Question for those who aren't taking the H1N1 vaccine...

I feel that if you were healthy before & during pregnancy your body can fight off the swine flu. I would take an antiviral if I felt it were absolutely necessary, because I would rather take that than die from it.

Re: Question for those who aren't taking the H1N1 vaccine...

Only if I was really really sick. For prevention I'm boosting my immune system with diet and supplements.

Re: Question for those who aren't taking the H1N1 vaccine...

I don't think I would. I would try to rest, take vitamins and try and fight it off.

Re: Question for those who aren't taking the H1N1 vaccine...

This is a tough question. In general, i am completely against taking meds etc. while pregnant so my answer to this would usually be No. HOWEVER, from what I understand (and what my OB said) you really can't wait it out and see what happens here b/c Tamiflu only really works effectively if you take it within the first day or so of symptoms. ALso, I think it depends on where you are in your pregnancy. Probably in the first or second you can ride it out no matter what but, my OB said near the end of pregnancy it can be VERy dangerous and by the time it gets to that point it is too late for the Tamiflu. So my answer - i don't know - praying I don't ever have to make this decision!

Re: Question for those who aren't taking the H1N1 vaccine...

I am just getting over the flu and I took Tamiflu. I was apprehensive about it but I felt I had no choice. What another poster said is true - you need to take Tamiflu within the first 48 hours that your symptoms start or it is not effective. So, you can't really wait it out and see if you'll eventually need it. I got a lot worse before I got better and still don't feel 100% but getting better. My OB was really adamant about me taking it. She said if I ended up with 104 fever and in the hospital that that was going to be worse for my child than taking Tamiflu. She told me she had some OB patients with 103 fevers who had missed 3 weeks of work so far.