MY COUSIN JUST SENT ME THIS (TAMI FLU)

As you all know Nick was sick this week, but had him tested for flu and it was negative. He actually had double ear infection when I took him in and I was told that was the fever, etc. He never had any cold like symptoms. I still felt he had the flu but I called and asked my doctor about the negative test result and they told me if it is negative then he did not have the flu! However as a mother I knew better and should have had him retested the next day so we could have done the tami flu right away as he is high risk. But unfortunately we tend to trust our doctors who all have differing opinions. Then I saw on the Today Show yesterday that the quick flu swab is only between 40-80 percent accurate (WWWHHHAAATTT???? Why would the even use it then!!!) That is actually how ended up back at the doctor. Because I was freaked out when I heard that and watched a story of an asthmatic girl who almost dies because she kept testing negative for flu and they didn’t know what was wrong with her! I was freaked out and the doctor said they wanted to see him again. Meanwhile, Halle’s symptoms got worse yesterday (still no fever, just cold like symptoms) so I took her back in. This time we got a positive flu test as well as a positive strep swab! The doctor also wanted to test Nick again. Still negative but they gave him a chest x-ray because of his asthma and he has bronchitis probably as a result of the flu! If he had tested positive he would have gotten tami-flu right away and probably would not have bronchitis right now. Now he will stay on his nebs and oral steroids for 5 days and we will pray that will take care of it. They also gave him tamiflu profilactically as they say you can get it back again! (UGH!)

So tami-flu, that is actually why I am sending this e-mail. First of all, no pharmacy has it in stock for the kids, but Walgreens pharmacist will make a compound out of the pills for children. He has to first clear this with your insurance company which for me took forever! They gave us tamiflu for all 3 kids. Halle gets hers twice a day for 5 days because she had flu, others once a day for 10 days to prevent. Got home at 7pm last night, gave Halle her tami flu with no problem. Gave Isabelle hers and was about to give Nick his and realized that Isabelle’s dose was larger than Nick’s which of course should not be as he weighs more! Immediately called the pharmacy and they assured me that it was not a harmful dose. As I was waiting on the phone with them I realized Isabelle was acting very strange! She was very hyper and was running around the kitchen (this started within minutes of taking the tamiflu). Then she was on the couch in lying down position bouncing her whole body up and down, then she laid on the floor and started talking jibberish. At this point I immediately called my doctors office and was trying to decide if I should go to the hospital. I got her to sit with me and she was saying “ I need to go to school tomorrow but I always fall down when my head is spinning” but when asked, she said she did not feel dizzy. Then she complained of severe neck pain in the back of her neck and was trying to lay down saying she was so tired and need to go to sleep. At this point I was about to leave for the hospital and/or call 911 and all of a sudden she calmed down. I distracted her with making shapes out of a rubber band and it was like she just snapped out of it. The nurse called the doctor and the doctor informed her that this is definitely a reaction to tami flu. It can definitely cause neurological symptoms such as hallucinations, neck pain, dizziness, etc. They also said that even though she got too large of a dose, it was not a harmful dosage. So I was told to discontinue the tamiflu for Isabelle and now I am left to wonder what to do about Nick. I will call my doctor again today but I really am afraid to give it to him. Halle already had one dose and seemed fine!

I just wanted to share that info with all of you in case you find yourself in a similar situation! Supposedly the doctors are supposed to warn you about the possible side effects of the tami flu, but we were not warned!

With all that said, obviously we will not be seeing anyone at any parties today. Hope you all have a great weekend!
Val

Re: MY COUSIN JUST SENT ME THIS (TAMI FLU)

Hope everyone feels better soon!!

And my Aunt who is in her 60's also had a similar reaction to Tamiflu- running around the couch in circles after taking it! So far so good for me- just making me a little queezy!!

Re: MY COUSIN JUST SENT ME THIS (TAMI FLU)

Wow! Talk about scary. so sorry you're going through this.

Re: MY COUSIN JUST SENT ME THIS (TAMI FLU)

Hope everyone gets better quickly. I too know 2 people, one a child and one an adult, who had similar reactions to Tamiflu.

Re: MY COUSIN JUST SENT ME THIS (TAMI FLU)

My Godaughter has swine flu, but its mild right now, and this is the reason her ped didnt want to give her tamiflu

Re: MY COUSIN JUST SENT ME THIS (TAMI FLU)

I hope she has a quick recovery.

Unfortunately I heard a while ago that it can cause hallucinations and other neurological issues which is what scares me about not giving the shot (I'm still on the fence about it) - everyone says on you just take tamiflu but my doctors have for a while said they didn't think it was that safe - and then when I did some research I found a lot of scary stuff.

BTW your pharmacy should have warned you of the possible side effects of the medications before you gave it to your children!

I hope she has a quick recovery and no further problems

Re: MY COUSIN JUST SENT ME THIS (TAMI FLU)

Your ped DEFINITELY should have warned you about the potential side effects from Tamiflu! Especially in young children! Unfortunately, these are not even the only side effects I have heard of. My sister took it a few months ago and it made her sicker than the flu - she was throwing up and could hardly eat - she stopped it after two doses. My friend's husband also got very sick from the Tamiflu - sicker than from the flu!

So sorry you are going through this Sending you lots of that your family is better soon

Re: MY COUSIN JUST SENT ME THIS (TAMI FLU)

WOW!!! I hope your family gets better!