Husband & I both got pneumonia (possible swine flu) - Swine Flu (H1N1) Message Board

ventcrew · 10-26-2009, 01:26 PM

PLEASE SOMEONE RESPOND!!! Here is my story. On Oct 5 in the evening i walked to my mailbox just down the drive. I got out of breath. I was very worried. Two hrs. later I got a temp of 101, and started coughing, aches, headache, chills. Morning of Oct. 7 went to doc. He did not test me for the flu but said I had the flu and was not sure if it was swine. Gave me tamiflu, inhaler and antibotic. About the same Wednesday and Thursday worse temp 102 more coughing. Went to doctor Oct 9 a.m. sent me for chest xray called an pneumonia but just starting. Put me on stronger antibotics, prednisone and tussinex. off work until the following thursday. totally lost my voice for 2 days and i still have laryngititis, coughing but a wee bit better everyday.

Husband: Oct 20 in evening came down with a temp of 102 and coughing. He went to work Wed (against my wishes) and when he came home temp was 103. Had a real hard time getting it down. Thursday went to doc and doc sent him right to ER cause he had pneumonia. They admitted him and kept him until Sunday morning Oct. 25. He had the exact same symptoms as me only worse. The doc had given him tamiflu in the morning just 1. In er they tested him for Influenza A and B which both came back negative. So they said they would not test him for swine. They kinda were vague with us as to what caused this. They said they did not think it was swine cause the test was negative. I asked how two other wise healthy people get pneumonia I am 52 my husband is 47. They just said it happens sometimes. They had him on iv antibotics, tylenol and oxygen.

Does this sound similar to anyone out there that had swine flu (or pneumonia). I am at wits end. Another important fact is we both work for schools. I am in a high school and have direct contact with students daily.

My husband is an electrician and goes to every school in his district but no direct contact with students. When I mentioned this to the docs they raised their eyebrows and wrotes stuff down.

Neither one of us has ever had pneumonia before. We are pretty healthy except high blood presssure (controlled by meds)

Any response would be greatly appreciated.

Karen

irisheyes39 · 10-26-2009, 03:40 PM

Just got diagnosed with flu, possibly swine today. My doctor, who was an Army doc, says that the tests can be negative and you still have it. I know this is true because the CDC website says the same thing.

Ratatosk · 10-26-2009, 03:41 PM

Sounds like h1n1 (swine) -- Did they do a rapid flu swab on your husband? They have a very high false negative rating. Here more and more people are turned away told they don't have h1n1 based on that test only to find out via a blood test that they did have it.

Very well could be he had it and developed a secondary infection.

javelina · 10-27-2009, 07:28 PM

What I'm hearing is if it looks like the flu then it's H1N1 because it's too early for seasonal flu. Sounds like you got it and the secondary pneumonia. Hope you are both feeling better soon!

ventcrew · 10-28-2009, 06:03 PM

Thank you all so much! My husband is back to work tomorrow. He seems to be recovering better than me. I was not in the hospital & he was but he was sicker than me. Yes they did the rapid test for Influenza A & B. They came back neg. so they said they would not test him for swine. They said that was the protocol. I really feel we had it cause neither one of us has ever gotten pneumonia. I have never seen my husband so sick. But thank God he is now on the mend and I am also.

Karen