7 posts tagged “swine flu”

Last night, we were instructed by the DHS, in three separate phone calls, to go and get tested.  (Well, not Genevieve, as she'd already been confirmed, but swabs for the rest of us).  So I called our GP first thing and the earliest we could get was 2pm.

I called my boss and informed him of the 'great' news about the fourteen days.  He wasn't too happy - mainly coz I am well, and he is actually quite crook (bronchitis) and is working from home.  I also set about organising getting a laptop from work, because even though there's an application for it, they can't seem to get my network access from home working on my mac.

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Tamiflu arrived for Naomi and me.  I've started taking it. (One a day, at the same time each day, so I started at lunchtime).  Naomi, however, can't take it.  OK... they can't actually say that.  What they say (all ducking and diving) is that there are no studies to show that, at this point, Tamiflu is safe for breastfeeding mothers or infants.  So, we decided against it.  DHS suggested we ask the GP (ie: they didn't want to take the responsibility - which I'm comfortable with - after all, give the decision to the person with the qualifications, eh?)

Genevieve's been good with taking hers.  She doesn't quite hate it, but it's not far off that.  Generally, she'll baulk as much as she can.  However, the 'one parent try and fail so make the offer of the other parent giving it' seems to work.  (It doesn't matter which one - just not the first one).  We also have to give her the promise of a treat afterwards.  Jelly, chocolate, or some gingerbread.  She didn't quite finish this gingerbread bear.

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We're all feeling quite 100% well.  No real symptoms at all.  Genevieve still has an occasional cough - quite deep sounding, but really not all that often.  A slight snotty nose too, but again, nothing like as bad as she's had with colds in the past.

So, after some playdough, some cutting and pasting and a bit of TeeV and lunch, we were headed for the GPs.  Naomi was keen to walk (after all, being cooped up in here for now four days, it makes sense to want to stretch your legs).  However, we decided against it.  Firstly, we'd freak people out walking around all masked.  But, the main one... it's quite an ordeal to keep Genevieve masked.  I think we would've managed for the walk there, and perhaps while we were in there, but not a chance once we left.  In the end, it's just as well we took the car, as we were there a tad longer than we had planned (again!)

We got there at 2pm and again, they whisked us down to the specially isolated room down the back.  We were already wearing masks (and Juliette was in her car capsule, with a nappy draped over the top) so they didn't offer us any more.  This time, Genevieve was wearing the DHS supplied better version, which did help quite a bit.  A lot easier to adjust so it would actually stay on.

We waited about 40 mins before a nurse came to take our 'vitals'.  In the ensuing time, admin staff came by about 5 times and asked if anyone had seen us and 'tut-tutted' loudly.

So, the nurse checked Genevieve's and Juliette's temp, and added blood pressure and oxygen saturation to Naomi and me.  Again, all perfect.  No problems at all.

The GP came a bit after that, and the nurse came back in to.  The GP was really nice, and she seemed to have read up on our case as she had a good awareness of where we were at, and our predicament(s).  She'd received an update, timestamped 11:30 that day, saying that those who are not exhibiting symptoms, even if they are quarantined with known cases, do not need to be swabbed/tested.  As this conflicted with the (probably obsolete) instructions we had been given, but also added to the fact that Naomi can't/won't take Tamiflu, she thought she'd call the DHS to confirm.  Another 30+ minutes of being on hold, her explaining the whole situation, put on hold again for someone further up the chain, explaining the whole situation, put on hold again cycle... and we finally got the confirmation that no, DHS did not want us tested.  That means that we could still get tested if we wanted, however we would have to pay for it.  Meh.

They did, however, reconfirm that at this point, we would still be at fourteen days quarantine.  (Thanks to everyone who sent us this article in The Age. I suppose that means that most of the families from Childcare will no longer be quarantined - however, because we have our own little personal confirmed outbreak monkey, we are).

So the cut and thrust of it was, we had to wrangle the monkeys to and from the GP's, 2 hrs 15mins in total, for absolutely no reason - and manage to freak out a few people on the street near the GPs in the bargain.  We got home and, no messages from the DHS to say we didn't need to get tested.  Nor have they, at this point in typing, called to confirm how things are - something I was told would happen.  S'OK though, they're probably overrun with the enormity of the situation.  

I'll give them a call to, again, confirm it's still at fourteen days.  Hopefully that may change in the next few days, eh?

Well, last night Genevieve was very sweaty, and moving about a lot in bed.  Babbling on all the time.  I'd say it was a slight delirium.  She was a lather of sweat.  Naomi measured her temp though, and it was finally back down to something pretty normal.

We measured her temp again in the morning, and it was fine.  As it was for all of us.  I had a bit of a headache, but two paracetamol and that didn't return. My thoat was now fine. Nai, still, a tad nasal.  But Genevieve seemed right as rain.  Whinging.  Complaining.  Laughing.  Dancing.  Hugging.  Looking good for just a throat infection.

We rang the doc at 10am.  He rang us back about 45 mins later.

Genevieve had tested positive for Human-Swine Influenza.

We'd be getting a call from the DHS later that day, or early the next day.  In the meantime, we set about SMSing, emailing and phoning people, letting them know.  DHS actually called early afternoon. We had a chat.  He let me know that we could all get Tamiflu, although he couldn't say whether or not Naomi (or Juliette) should take it. We'd read elsewhere that infants, and breasteeding mothers (or pregnant women, not that she is) shouldn't take it.  He suggested to consult a GP.  He also said to make a list of the people who had had more than 20 mins of contact with Genevieve the day before her symptoms came out.  So that would be Sunday.  A visit to friends', the 80th birthday party, and the swimming lesson.  I also said we were at a wedding on Saturday.  He asked if Genevieve had close contact with anyone.  I responded "Well, she's a very cute 3 yr old.  What do you reckon?"  He thought it best if we put them on the list too. :S  He said we'd get a second call for the list.

As you can imagine, there were quite a few we had no idea who they were.  But we started to put a list together, and try to get some contact numbers.

Not long after, we got the second call.  She also said that we could get Tamiflu if we wanted it (which I said we did).  She also suggested we get swabbed tomorrow to see if we were infected.  Finally, after a discussion, she suggested that we wouldn't need to give them a list.  Only people 'at risk' (lowered immunity) should be considered.  So, we contacted those people ourselves and gave them the details - the toll free number and our very own special 'not-so-confidential' case number would get them Tamiflu courier-delivered.

Finally, she said about the quarantine.  Genevieve is quarantined for 7 days after her first symptoms.  However, it can take 7 days for our symptoms to come about.  You got it people.. 7+7= fourteen days of quarantine.  The cruel irony of it is, if we had it, we'd be out earlier than if we're not.

I'd imagine results of our swab test could make a difference here.  I guess we'll find out eh?

Tamiflu - VV says it doesn't taste nice

The Tamiflu arrived late last night, so Genevieve's first dosage was this morning.  She didn't really enjoy it (not like her paracetamol, which being sweet and orange flavoured, she actually doesn't mind).

She still had a temperature, so there was still plenty of paracetamol.  We were also quite aware that she was crook, as she wasn't whinging, nor annoying, nor complaining, nor harping on about something.  She did have enough fortitude to dictate what was on the TeeV however - gotta tell you - ABC-Kids does get to you after the 7th hour.

But today was a day of waiting.  We had the swab - but it was highly unlikely the results would come in today.  Our GP suggested I call him at about 10am Wednesday morning.  So... we posted some stuff online (blog, facebook, forums, etc).  I checked in with work to let them know the deal.  We also filled in our friends and family - in particular the ones we'd seen in the past few days (wedding, 80th birthday, friend's visits). 

We'd separated the sleeping arrangements.  I was with VV in our bed.  Naomi was in the spare room with little Juliette.  Genevieve had slept OK until about 3 am, and then each hour I convinced her that going back to sleep was a good thing.  Consequently, I woke pretty tired.  But, I think, there was a little bit more.  I felt like I was fighting a sickness.  Not much though - just barely off 100%.  You know 'that' feeling... well I had 'that' feeling, but only really mildly. Naomi had a bit of a sniffle - but then, she was sleeping in the spare room, which has more dust in it.  Juliette seems fine.

Many friends were quire concerned for us.  Particularly for Genevieve.  But really, she seemed OK.  We were just worried about Juliette getting it.  The advice was to keep her seperated from Genevieve, and for Genevieve to wear a mask.  That's pretty impossible for a 3 yr old.  We're also supposed to stay 1 - 2m away from her.  Again... we just ignored that one as soon as we heard it.  If a kid feels bad, a kid wants cuddles.

So... it's just wait and see eh?

Last night (Sunday night) we received a phone call from one of the workers at Genevieve's childcare.  A child in the room next to hers had been officially confirmed by the DHS as having tested positive for Influenza H1N1 (9), aka Human Swine Influenza aka pig flu aka the butt of most jokes going around at the moment.  So... not in actually VV's childcare room, but the carers do swap rooms from time to time, and at times during the day, the kids do play together a lot in the rooms, as well as outside and in the cubbyhouse etc.

So, we didn't really think too much of it - excepting the fact that we may stop VV from going there today... as she's not in on Tuesdays anyway, so by that stage we'd know more.

About 3:20am, VV woke up.  Upset.  Wet.  So we changed her and she came in with us, for a while.  It was obvious she wasn't going to go to sleep again (she was actually really happy and chatty), so for the sake of the other two, I took her into the lounge and we watched WALL(E) and a few other things until dawn.

She had a bit of a temp, a headache, and a cough, and a sore throat.  At times, she also complained of aches.  But really, it's only the temp and the headache that's been the new thing (there are a few infections about the place at the moment).  There was a bit of lethargy, but hell, we'd been up since 3am. I decided to take a day of carer's leave, as Naomi was really under it - and between the two of us, we could control the hordes.

Anyway, throughout the day, with paracetamol, the temp didn't budge.  38.5 (ish).  So early afternoon we called the local GP.  They said call the Royal Children's Hospital.  So we did that.  They said ring Nurse On Call (1300 60 60 24).  We did.  I spoke to a really nice woman who ended up being quite annoyed at our predicament, and that the GP should've sucked it up and seen us, with those symptoms, and with the prospect that our little monkey may have played with the outbreak monkey.  So we rang the GP again and forced the issue.

I can now understand why the GP was avoiding it.  The flow of information is either thick, heavy and continuous (updates and info sheets) or almost non-existant (what to actually DO).

How do you keep an adult mask on a 3 yr old?

We convinced Genevieve that I would take her (as Naomi had to look after Juliette, and Daddy didn't have boobs to feed Juliette).  So we rugged her up and jumped in the car.  Of course, as soon as we left the house she was instantly half as crook.

 When I announced who we were, we were to be whisked to a backroom and provided with masks.  I suppose not too many dads were bringing in 3yr olds dressed in pink, so they quickly made the assumption and ushered us up the back. Even though most of the people getting this are kids, the DHS have only distributed adult-sized face masks.  I ended up tying it on with her plaits.

After a 10 min wait we were attended to by a nurse in hastily donned plastic/rubber disposables and a face mask. The nurse wrote down the details, and took some vitals, including temp and oxygen saturation.  (Once I convinced Genevieve it would be fun, and wouldn't hurt).  There was a container of alcohol wipes on the table, which cleaned everything that G touched. There was also some antibacterial hand gel, and, bizarrely, that plastic floor covering stuff they used to put in display homes.  Or roman styled houses.  I had visions of Outbreak, and flesh eating viruses. 

Hmm... plastic sheeting on the floor!?

"Sweety - let me just put your mask back on again"

20 mins later, Dr Karl came in.  (No, not THAT Dr Karl, nor THAT other one).   He had more, and thicker, hastily donned plastic/rubber.  He also had a different mask and wrap around glasses.  "Daddy, that looks like a duck.  See, he has a bill" was what my loving daughter actually said.  Gold!

"Sweety - let me just let me help you with your mask again"

He seemed nervous.  QUITE nervous.  I think, during the long consultation, that I got an insight as to how he would have been on the morning of his big exam at Uni.  We went through everything that we'd explained to the nurse who just saw us (and the woman on the phone at Nurses on Call, and at the Royal Childrens, and when we'd phoned the GP on both occasions, but we won't go there).

"Sweety - your mask's just slipped.  Here you go, let Daddy help"

He hurriedly read the latest DHS update (1:30pm that afternoon, all nicely DTPed).  He said to us that he'd had a few from the childcare, as well as from the primary school.  He asked if Genevieve had had direct contact with the known case.  Because she's not in the same room, I said that it was about as likely as it could be unlikely - shared rooms, playground, toilet etc.  I said we weren't overly concerned, however the fever is what triggered it for us, and we probably would've brought her to the GP anyway, to which he agreed.

"That mask just doesn't want to stay there, does it Sweety?"

Over the next 1 hr 20, there were phone calls to DHS, home, the childcare, SMSs, back to DHS, trying to get a handle on the situation.  The DHS are a finite resource, and so they currently are doling out their assistance to the areas of most need.  Fair enough.  However, to substantiate who is of most need, people need to have had direct contact with a known case.  And (and this is the killer) be able to site that person by name.  Now, when the childcare contacted us, they didn't disclose the kid's name.  And that's fair enough, I reckon.  Naomi managed to get a case number out of them.  Should be enough.  But when DHS was called, they had no way of looking up our childcare.  Then, on the second call, they could only work with names, but not the number, because THE CASE NUMBER WAS CLASSIFIED.  Yes folks, they were happy to banter names about - but not anonymous case numbers.  FFS!

"If you move your mouth like that your mask... now you're just doing that on purpose aren't you?"

OK, so by the end of it, they were happy that Genevieve's potential contact with case number [I won't share here, as it's CLASSIFIED!], combined with her symptoms of sufficient severity, that she was a risk.  So, we were put in 7 day lockdown.  She was swabbed (another 40 mins of farting around) and we'll get the test results on Wednesday.  She will also get a dosage of Tamiflu.  All of these things can be done by anyone, however DHS will only pay if they've made the decision, and there's only so much Tamiflu to go around.  Also, non DHS virus tests are likely to get done in 2017 some time.

"OK, let Daddy just move your mask down a little"

So, swab time.  I explained to Genevieve that Dr Karl was gonna get some of her boogies on a little cotton bud.  She thought this was quite funny and gladly gave up her mucous.  The next was from the back of the throat.  Now... if someone sicks something around your epiglotis, what do you do?  You cough.  Dr Karl almost jumped into next week.  Deer in the headlights does not do justice to the look of terror in his eyes.  Hilarious - poor bastard.

"You can take your mask off again when we leave. OK?  OK."

So, some final paperwork, and a medical certificate for me for work, and we were out of there.

"No, no, Sweety.  I know Daddy said when we leave, but we haven't left yet. [sob sob]  No... you have to put it back on until we get to the car.  No... OK.  Outside.  That should be fine.  Can you put it back on for Daddy?  You're SUCH a good girl"

So here we sit, ensconced, for the next seven days.  Or, until we get the all-clear from the results. 

Interestingly, I arrived feeling fine, and left the doctors with a sore throat.  Ironic eh?  Masks do that, so I'm told.  So do throat infections, which is probably what we have.

Postscript.  The Tamiflu arrived about 3 hours later, delivered to our door by a courier, who should either get a face mask, or some danger money. It was liquid form too.  For kids.  Supposedly, they don't have too much of that either.  
 

This was taken the night before Genevieve's first symptoms.  Check out what she's washing Juliette with.

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