Flu withOUT Fever? Fainting?

IHeartO · 11-04-2009, 02:39 PM

I will try to keep this brief as I know there are more threads than one can count on this darn flu.

BUT, I can't seem to find any feedback on this...

New reports indicate that you can have H1H1 withOUT a fever. Has anyone had this experience? If multiple family members have the flu, would it not be likely that one would have a fever?

Also, is it ALWAYS the progression from Fever/Cough to other symptoms...I assume there are many variations of "how" this might affect any given individual?

I am 21 weeks pregnant and not sure what I have had this week, although my midwives have suggested that it very well could have been the flu given my other symptoms. Only, both in my case, and my 15 month old LO, neither of us had a fever to speak of - although I definitely experienced the chills, muscle aches etc.

Lastly, about 2-3 days before I became ill, I fainted while working. I know that this can be common in pregnancy, especially at this point, but my midwives also noted that many of their other patients, who have had H1N1 have also reported feeling faint, or indeed fainting at the onset of contacting the virus. This is purely anecdotal of course, but I am wondering if anyone else has had this experience?

Thanks!

cj'smommy · 11-04-2009, 09:29 PM

I read on the CDC website that you can have H1N1 without a fever. I swear I think I had it a couple of weeks ago, either that or it was an incredibly bad cold. I also had the chills and sweats but no fever to speak of or one that wasn't bad enough for me to notice. I never took my temp. My 4 yr old had the same symptoms as I did, and my 17 month old appeared to as well though he couldn't tell me. Can't say I felt like I was going to faint, but I did experience some light headedness.

I think (no med backround here!) that it does affect everyone to different degress depending on their health. As far as progression, I can give you ours as much as I can remember. The boys started with clear runny noses, then I think the cough and congestion kicked in, then my 4 yr old started complaining of a sore throat and then saying his legs hurt. About a week later my 17 month old was walking around holding his head, so I assumed he had a headache too.

We're going on 2 weeks here and we still have the cough, congestion and an on and off sore throat for me and my 4 yr old. I also still have a headache that won't quit.

I hope you're feeling better!

Peony · 11-04-2009, 10:17 PM

All 5 of us had H1N1 last month, only one had a fever. Another MDC momma and her family caught it from us, 3 of out 5 got a fever in that family. I was very dizzy/lightheaded and had to catch myself from falling a few times, I could certainly see how a pg momma might faint.

Our family was very quite varied in symptoms, only ONE had the regular fever/cough progression. DS who is a baby had the first symptoms, only a mild cough, and he didn't feel good but wasn't cranky. DD1 fell ill next, she was the only one who got the real flu-like symptoms. Very sudden onset of high fever, chills, headache, stomache, cough came on more slowly. She was knocked out on the couch for 4 days straight and took 2 weeks to recover. DD2 who is 3 and has asthma never showed a symptom oddly enough. DH and I just got chills, headache, and nausea, along with the dizziness off and on for a few days.

IHeartO · 11-05-2009, 07:18 AM

Thanks ladies...it is so hard. I wouldn't really care except that being pregnant it would be nice to know if I did have it...especially when facing heavy pressure from everyone and their brother to have the vax.

**babygrant** · 11-05-2009, 10:45 AM

My hubby had a low grade fever and within hours of the fever, he passed out in our driveway (on the way down he hit his head on his truck and got a concussion)! He was diagnosed with H1N1 after sleeping post-fall for 8 hours.

celestialdreamer · 11-05-2009, 10:53 AM

Our family had h1n1 recently and I'm in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. Everyone in the family had HIGH fevers...and I didn't have one at all! I felt very lightheaded at times like I might faint and my dh was so weak he literally couldn't get out of bed for a couple days. Our 3yo is immunocompromised so we had him checked out and he was positive for type A influenza, which in our area they said was most definitely h1n1. The symptoms seem to really vary from individual to individual.

IHeartO · 11-05-2009, 12:21 PM

I find it so frustrating that we are all inherently paying for a vaccine, being told to have one etc, but they won't take a simply swab from a "high risk" patient to help make a better decision. I can understand that swabbing every person with the sniffles might be a public health nightmare, but it seems to me that lining up with 800 people for 6 hours in the rain in November with a one year old while pregnant is also one! The "on call" doc actually recommended that I go stand in the line within 48 hours, this in the height of being really ill...this is all beside the point that I am not getting vaxed anyways. I just feel like they shouldn't be surprised that people want to know what they have had after all of the hype that has been created..I was told by the doc that it was likely just a cold but that I should take tamiflu "just in case"...why should I take that if you don't think it is the flu? I had all of the "sypmtoms" except a fever and it seems that individuals are experiencing this on vastly different levels. I actually had someone tell me today that their daughter had been really ill (all symptoms) but went to the doctor and the doctor said "oh, this isn't H1N1, I had H1N1 so I know what I am talking about and I would know it to see it..." What a load of crap. sorry, just venting!