Swine of '09

Last night Zak was coughing pretty badly so we brought him into our bedroom to give him a breathing treatment. After he finished I got up to clean out the nebulizer medicine cup and when I got back Zak had taken over my spot in bed and my monkey!

This morning when the boys woke up Zak was burning up. I took his temperature and he had a fever right around 102, his cough was worse, and he was lethargic so I called the pediatrician. We went in at 10:30am and as soon as the nurse took us into the back she did a flu test (swab up his nose which he disliked). She came back to the room within about 3 minutes and said it came back positive for Influenza A which means H1N1. The pediatrician came into the room and looked him over along with checking his lungs. She said his flu test came back positive quicker than any other tests she has seen. She said he was wheezing a good amount and his lungs did not sound great, but she felt he didn't need to go to the hospital at the moment. She prescribed him Tamiflu along with giving me a prescription for Ryder since he has a bad cough and asthma as well. She also told me to watch Zak's breathing very closely and if it worsens to go straight to the hospital. Other things that we need to watch for that would result in a trip to the hospital include a fever of 104 or if he stops drinking fluids.

I know I posted earlier that the pediatrician thought the boys were at the tail end of H1N1 on Monday, but today the pediatrician said that wasn't the case. They probably just had their first cold of the season 2.5 weeks ago and not the flu. This time we know 100% that Zak has Type A flu which is being called H1N1 since almost 100% of all Type A flu is coming back as H1N1. Zak is MUCH sicker now than he was 2.5 weeks ago so we are seeing that last time it was just a cold.

To make things even more chaotic Ben woke up with a fever as well. Since Zak had a positive flu test Ben and I decided to get seen by a doctor as well. This resulted in all four of us being given Tamiflu (nobody else was tested for flu, but given the prescription due to symptoms and/or precaution). We don't know if Ben, Ryder, or myself actually have the flu or H1N1 but this way we will be covered if we do have it or it could help prevent us from getting it. Along with the Tamiflu I was also given a medication to help with my hacking cough that I need to take 3 times a day. I am hoping it won't make me to drowsy since I will be home alone with the boys for the next week. Ben asked the doctor about his flight to CA for work next week and was told he was fine to go since the doctor doesn't think Ben actually has the flu and he will have gotten a few doses of the Tamiflu by then.

So at the moment Zak is by far the sickest. Ben is not feeling all that good. I am coughing horribly and not feeling great. Ryder is coughing on and off and running around like a mad man since he seems to be feeling fine.