Going to the doctor tomorrow to be tested for flu....

[SacredCow]

The HR director where I work asked if I would mind, since I had been in Mexico last week. No big deal- they're going to pay my co-payment, so bring it on....

[lizziegrace]

1. Do you have any symptoms? n/t

[SacredCow]

2. No....

My nose is stuffy, but that's perpetual with me during the spring.

[lizziegrace]

3. Interesting request by HR if all you have is your usual stuffy nose

:shrug:

[SacredCow]

4. I think there were some people who expressed concern...

every office has hypochondriacs!

I love our HR director to death, so if it makes her life easier I'll gladly do it as a favor. She's always ready to help me when I have an insurance problem so it's the least I can do.

[lizziegrace]

5. It's worth it it will calm some fears

:)

[TZ]

9. FWIW according to the CDC

people can have the flu and be contagious before they are symptomatic. I think thats why he is being asked this.

[SacredCow]

10. Probably so....

the HR was acting like she was expecting me to be offended by asking me to be tested... I was considering it, anyway. I'd rather know NOW, and hopefully get treatment BEFORE any fever, aches, and other symptoms kick in.

[lizziegrace]

12. That makes sense

Thanks! :)

Is it possible to tell if someone's had it (after the fact test?)

[TZ]

13. Yep.

I think they look for antibodies to influenza...If that comes back positive they do a genetic analysis for the strain. Pretty much anything that comes back as an unknown influenza is considered this swine flu. (its too new to have the specific strain genetics as a match yet)

[lizziegrace]

15. I've been wondering if what nearly killed me was this flu

I've never hit respiratory distress/failure so quickly with a virus in my life. Makes me wonder...

[TZ]

16. When were you sick?

The CDC believes that this flu entered this country roughly around March 28th or so...

[lizziegrace]

18. I got sick March 19th

and was in the hospital on March 21st.

Not likely, but it still makes me wonder.

[EastTennesseeDem]

14. Yeah, someone in my neighborhood voluntarily got tested

since he was in Mexico.

That incubation period is the devil.

[SacredCow]

22. Did he turn up with it?

Just curious.

[EastTennesseeDem]

27. I'm not sure

This was very recent, like within the last day.

[SacredCow]

28. Ah... Gotcha....

I'm hoping they do the quickie positive/negative test for general A/B flu first.

[applegrove]

6. Good luck.

[SacredCow]

7. Thanks....

It means I get to sleep late, at any rate! My doctor's office is, literally, a stone's throw from my front door! :)

[LibertyLover]

8. Sorry to hear that -

hope that the testing is negative and you can put your co-workers' fears to rest. Of course, our EVP just announced that one of our staff who had been in Mexico the middle of April was recovering from what they are calling probable Swine flu. Testing is being done to confirm his doctor's diagnosis. He was in the office on the 20th for a while and everyone he came into contact with is working from home as a precaution and all business trips to Mexico have been canceled for the time being. I'm not particularly concerned because I don't have many projects in Mexico and the attorney I work with the most hasn't been there in several months. Hope all is well with you.

[SacredCow]

11. I hope it's negative, too....

I really don't want to have to deal with this right now...

:hi:

[JitterbugPerfume]

17. TZ knows her business

when it comes to science-y stuff .


I hope you are ok .This flu business is really complicated, and potentially scary.

[SacredCow]

19. With TZ's biology knowledge, and my metallurgical background...

We've got a good start on a team to make a DU cyborg... :rofl:

[graywarrior]

20. I just heard that someone who traveled to Mexico with the White House staff

has tested positive for the flu, so I guess it's best to check it out. Hope you are in the clear.

[SacredCow]

21. Thanks a bunch....

If not, at least I'll be on the proactive side of things.

I really think I drank enough tequila to kill ANYTHING that tried to make me its host....

[graywarrior]

23. Now that would be an interesting cure

[SacredCow]

24. "Take 2 shots of Resposado and go to bed"

Medical advice I am SO down with!!! :toast:

[graywarrior]

25. Or go to bed on a raft that's floating in resort pool

[SacredCow]

26. Even better....

If I do turn up with this crap, I plan to fly back to Mexico and demand to trade for a case of plain old Montezuma's revenge.

[graywarrior]

29. The Turkey Trots