6 months after surviving H1N1 ... now weakened immune system?
My daughter had a confirmed case of H1N1 in June of 2009 after being exposed on a trip to Washington DC. She was very sick (never life-threatening) but recovered. This child has rarely, in 17 years, been sick. Growing up she never caught the seasonal flus or colds. Since having H1N1 she's been sick with flu-like or other symptoms repeatedly. This week her symptoms are stomach pain, nausea, sore throat and extreme fatigue but no fever. She's missed more school this year than all the years combined preceding. Could H1N1 cripple a healthy immune system permanently? Are any other survivors seeing this effect?
Re: 6 months after surviving H1N1 ... now weakened immune system?
That actually sounds a lot like how I felt when I had mono.... you might have her checked for that?
Other than that, I have noticed that a lot of what used to be minor viruses seem to be affecting people a lot worse these days than they used to.... I don't know what's going on, but it's a little scary!
Re: 6 months after surviving H1N1 ... now weakened immune system?
A healthy child should have a healthy immune system. And to catch a new disease will just mean that child has immunity for the rest of her life. Why not be thankful?!
Re: 6 months after surviving H1N1 ... now weakened immune system?
A friend of mine is having similiar problems - ever since she had H1N1 in August, she's just been sick constantly. I would consider giving your daughter some immune system support to help build up her system - elderberry is great and very safe to be taken daily. You can find elderberry in lozenges or syrup in the "colds and flus" section of any health food store. Echinacea is another herb good for boosting immunity.
Re: 6 months after surviving H1N1 ... now weakened immune system?
From what I have heard, many people who had H1N1 last year, myself included, are now having difficulties fighting off other bugs. Since getting H1N1 in October I have been sick 2 other times with respiratory/sinus problems. I recently began taking supplements and echinacea and only wish I would have started after my initial illness. H1N1 is a very strong virus that no doubt takes its toll on ones immune system so hopefully in time she will be feeling much better.
Last edited by Alberta Girl; 02-01-2010 at 07:56 PM.
Re: 6 months after surviving H1N1 ... now weakened immune system?
My six year old son has had similar experiences after having Influenza A in October last year (2009). He developed pneumonia two weeks after having the virus and had a very difficult time getting over it. Now it seems like every bug going around turns into a significant respiratory infection for him or maybe the infection never fully goes away. There also seems to be a pattern to the illnesses in that he complains of stomach pains for a few days then he will start coughing and sounding congested and then have a fever that goes up to 104+. This has happened four times since October 2009 and he is now starting to complain of stomach pains again. My son had never been sick with a fever prior to having this virus. I definitely agree the virus compromises the immune system.
Re: 6 months after surviving H1N1 ... now weakened immune system?
I've had the same experience. Was diagnosed with H1N1 in December, then I got another bug two weeks ago. I'm assuming this one is the other flu virus that's going around because I had normal flu symptoms like body aches, fatigue, fever, cough, congestion, etc... just not nearly as severe as the symptoms I had with swine flu. The weird thing is that this time even though the symptoms aren't as severe, they've lasted a lot longer than usual. I still have some congestion after two weeks.
Re: 6 months after surviving H1N1 ... now weakened immune system?
Hi there, I was in ICU for 6 days and another 3 in isolation with confirmed H1N1. This was in November 2009. Although I have not fallen ill again I continue to have sinus and respitory trouble. I was incubated twice in that time period and after being released from the hospital, had a relapse. The first epesode nearly killed me twice but the relapse just took an addition dose of tamaflu. Not my doc tells me that it can take a long time to recover months and months if your lucky. I hope all that got this one gets better and the pro's are still learning so cheers to recovery !
Re: 6 months after surviving H1N1 ... now weakened immune system?
I am a healthy 52 yo who had near fatal H1N1 pneumonia in October. I am now immunosuppressed with no IGG, debilitated, seeing 14 specialists from all the complications. I see an infectious disease doc who is great. One in your area could cover all the bases for you and do the testing your daughter needs.
Last edited by moderator2; 03-29-2010 at 04:59 PM.
Re: 6 months after surviving H1N1 ... now weakened immune system?
Thank you all for your responses. I had contacted CDC with my concern and was "assured" that there were "no reports" of "weakened immune systems" among H1N1 patients. My daughter fought off several bouts with flu-like symptoms over the course of the winter but now (starting in late January) has seemed to be back to her normal healthy state. Last bout of some bug at school that took out several students did not effect her at all. I hope and pray all that have had this virus will recover as she has appeared to!
Re: 6 months after surviving H1N1 ... now weakened immune system?
yes,yes,yes! My daughter(16) and I had a mild case of H1N1 in the late fall. Ever since we are tired most of the time and can't concentrate. We catch everything that is going around. My daughter (like yours) was almost never sick before even when all her friends were sick. I had a very severe case of Mono when I was 17 and this feels like the months after that. I have talked to other people in my area who also say that are feeling this way.
Re: 6 months after surviving H1N1 ... now weakened immune system?
I'm having the same issue. Came down with the Swine flu on Halloween, was out of work most of November, had symptoms for over 4 months and have been sick almost continually ever since. I thought it was due to stress from the job (teaching middle school) but now I think it's that my immune system has been compromised by the virus. I hate it!
Re: 6 months after surviving H1N1 ... now weakened immune system?
Well here we are, over a year and half since my then 16 year old daughter was diagnosed with H1N1. She's now 18 and a senior in high school and has missed more days of school in the las year and half than all her other school years combined. She still is picking up every bug going around school and was with exaggerated symptoms compared to others. I'm at my wits end trying to keep her healthy. Has anyone else gotten over this effect of surviving H1N1? What are you doing to boost your immune system?
Re: 6 months after surviving H1N1 ... now weakened immune system?
I have also noticed my 17 was less resistant since having H1N1 in Nov2009. For the last 2 months I have been giving her 2000 IU of Vitamin D per day and she seems to be better. She also (voluntarily) quit drinking pop and eating candy and she thinks the reduction in sugar consumption has helped. (She still eats chocolate.)
Re: 6 months after surviving H1N1 ... now weakened immune system?
Quote:
Originally Posted by ksteachermom
My daughter had a confirmed case of H1N1 in June of 2009 after being exposed on a trip to Washington DC. She was very sick (never life-threatening) but recovered. This child has rarely, in 17 years, been sick. Growing up she never caught the seasonal flus or colds. Since having H1N1 she's been sick with flu-like or other symptoms repeatedly. This week her symptoms are stomach pain, nausea, sore throat and extreme fatigue but no fever. She's missed more school this year than all the years combined preceding. Could H1N1 cripple a healthy immune system permanently? Are any other survivors seeing this effect?
Yes, I contracted the H1N1 in November 2009, but mine was life threatning, I am constantly sick every month.
Location: Manchester, England. English but grew up in Greater Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 16
Re: 6 months after surviving H1N1 ... now weakened immune system?
Quote:
Originally Posted by ksteachermom
My daughter had a confirmed case of H1N1 in June of 2009 after being exposed on a trip to Washington DC. She was very sick (never life-threatening) but recovered. This child has rarely, in 17 years, been sick. Growing up she never caught the seasonal flus or colds. Since having H1N1 she's been sick with flu-like or other symptoms repeatedly. This week her symptoms are stomach pain, nausea, sore throat and extreme fatigue but no fever. She's missed more school this year than all the years combined preceding. Could H1N1 cripple a healthy immune system permanently? Are any other survivors seeing this effect?
Sounds like swine flu has hit ur daughters adrenal glands. Have a look at my post 'what i've learned from swine flu & recovery. When ur daughter recovers from this the experts are suggesting she'll have super immunity as the adrenal glands have swollen thus when they repair they will be bigger & thus hold more adrenaline. Took me since may 2009 to get all this figured out but it is well worth it. lots of rest is required along with what i posted in my other post. It can take 6mths to 2yrs for a complete recovery i've read
Re: 6 months after surviving H1N1 ... now weakened immune system?
I am an active 35 yr old father with five children. Besides my children and their little friends, I work in close areas with as many as 20 men and when any of them are sick, I begin taking Echinacea. I had not become sick in the last 15 years, until January 2010. I had a confirmed case of H1N1; it was serious, but not life threatening. Since that time, in just a little more then 15 months, I have 6 times had head colds/congestion that leads to chest colds. Each time, I have had at least low grade fevers, coughing, and severe congestion symptoms that last 10-14 days. I have been to the doctors and he has prescribed antibiotics, as well as cough formulas and inhalers to treat the symptoms. I have to use air filters/cleaners and vaporizers daily. I watch everything I touch and use antiseptic wipes, vitamins, herbal formulas, juices, etc. - something that I did not HAVE to do in the years prior to that "blasted" flu. And I am still getting sick, and half the time I am the first in our family to show symptoms, and cause my children to become sick.
This is something that I have just started investigating when I found this thread. I am not happy that others are suffering, but it does make me feel better about what I am going through.
Re: 6 months after surviving H1N1 ... now weakened immune system?
YES! Our son who is now 16 had H1N1 in the fall of 2009. He missed most of his fall semester of high school as a freshman. We have been to no less than 9 doctors as our son has had strange flu like continued symptoms: Vomiting, sleeplessness, low grade fever, diahrreah, and just plain lack of energy. Prior to this he was a star baseball pitcher on two travel teams. Now he has trouble even doing basic tasks. The worst part is we as parents KNOW he is sick. He is sleeping 14 to 18 hours per day (average is 16) so there is NO WAY he can go to school. We have him on a homebound program. But if he were to go to school in order to wake up on time he would have to literally get off the bus and go straight to bed. We just want our son back -- and he doesn't have to be an athlete -- but we are at our wits end. We know of no where else to turn. We have a new pediatrician who has done all sorts of tests. He has been on a gluten free diet and that has helped wtih the IBS symptoms. lBut he still runs a low grade fever, has just stomach nausea and sleeplessness. Then when he goes to sleep he is down for the count. We have tried tylenol pm or benadryl and those are not working like they used to before he had h1n1 when he had trouble sleeping. What is wrong with his immune system? That h1n1 sure did a doozy on a healthy athletic child. And we have as a family been in counseling, as well as him individually and the pychologist insists he is not depressed so that is not the reason for the sleeping. How is your daughter doing? Please know you are not alone. Thanks. Mama Dye
Quote:
Originally Posted by ksteachermom
My daughter had a confirmed case of H1N1 in June of 2009 after being exposed on a trip to Washington DC. She was very sick (never life-threatening) but recovered. This child has rarely, in 17 years, been sick. Growing up she never caught the seasonal flus or colds. Since having H1N1 she's been sick with flu-like or other symptoms repeatedly. This week her symptoms are stomach pain, nausea, sore throat and extreme fatigue but no fever. She's missed more school this year than all the years combined preceding. Could H1N1 cripple a healthy immune system permanently? Are any other survivors seeing this effect?
Re: 6 months after surviving H1N1 ... now weakened immune system?
We have a very similar situation but it's still going on for our 16 year old -- we've seen 9 docs since h1n1 initial infection in Fall of 2009 and now here in Spring 2011 he is not much better. The stomach stuff is better (we got off gluten for a while and just slowly added it back and that worked for the stomach pains, diahrreah, and vomiting ... but the severe fatigue, low grade fever and not being able to go to school (has to sleep 16 hours or so and depression has been ruled out) are just heartbreaking. He was a complete athlete before, loved being outside and never stopped. Now he has to even "work at it" to do basic chores and school work at home. It is so disheartening, more to him than even to us heartsick parents. After 9 docs we feel in a stranglehold with his compromised immune system and have no where to turn. Any ideas from ANYONE on tests that can be done? Saw an immunologist and he said it's spru but the stomach stuff is better so that doesn't jive. Help. And I hope your son is recovering better than ours at this piont. Anyone: Any ideas which are constructive?
Mama Dye
Quote:
Originally Posted by tshack27
My six year old son has had similar experiences after having Influenza A in October last year (2009). He developed pneumonia two weeks after having the virus and had a very difficult time getting over it. Now it seems like every bug going around turns into a significant respiratory infection for him or maybe the infection never fully goes away. There also seems to be a pattern to the illnesses in that he complains of stomach pains for a few days then he will start coughing and sounding congested and then have a fever that goes up to 104+. This has happened four times since October 2009 and he is now starting to complain of stomach pains again. My son had never been sick with a fever prior to having this virus. I definitely agree the virus compromises the immune system.
Re: 6 months after surviving H1N1 ... now weakened immune system?
My daughter (also had H1N1 in Nov 2009) has had similar issues but not as severe. She was NEVER sick before this. This winter was not too bad- she was sick a number of times and has been a lot more tired than she used to be but not as bad as last winter. I think part of the reason she has been somewhat improved is all winter I was giving her VitaminD (5000iu 3 times per week) and she decided to give up candy and pop (she still eats chocolate but less). Both these things may have helped. I also noticed that I am more tired if I don't carefully control my carb intake (I also had H1N1).
Why don't you try putting him on a low carb diet (low GI/GL which is basically a South Beach diet). See if that reduces his symptoms. I found that a 'phase 2' version works for us but you may need to keep him on 'phase 1' for awhile. If you don't notice an improvement within 3 -4 days then that's not the answer. (Make sure he doesn't cheat!)
Re: 6 months after surviving H1N1 ... now weakened immune system? 
