Swine Flu and weight loss

Hey everyone~

Well, I've got the swine flu, and have been in bed for nearly a week now. This is relevant, as I'm having all manner of food shoved at me by my folks (creme brulee, shortbread, chocolate) as well as square meals, and am eating them all obediently (even though I can't taste it!)

The problem is, here in the UK we are given Tamiflu to take to help - a 5-day course of flu antibiotics (im not sure they work, but thats another story). You take them with food twice a day-

And here it comes-

And it makes me vomit. Vomit until nothing is left.

Now, what do I do? Our GP is booked up for emergency and non emergency appointments for the next two weeks. I don't want to stop taking the Tamiflu (as I am feeling really grim from the flu as it is). I've lost loads of weight (ignore my profile - I went maintainence over the last few months and evened out around 142 before i got sick. I'm now at 138.6 :/)

Any advice?

ask the gp for an antiemetic. antiemetics are used to stop vomiting. or ask the pharmacist for something like domperidome... known as motilium. i dont think its contraindicated with tamiflu.

stick with the tamiflu for the course recommended. the last thing you need is a resistant strain of flu

out of curiosity, what were your symptoms with swine flu. what did you suffer from?

I would ask my GP, but as I said - it's impossible to contact any doctor in the UK right now, we are so swamped. Two weeks is the current waiting time :/ I'll get a friend to ask the pharmacist for domperidome :) The Tamiflu packet doesn't say it reacts with very much, so thats a great idea, thanks :D

I've got a sore throat, cough, thick horrible orangey snot and terrifying sneezing, headache, extreme tiredness, loss of appetite (you should see how much chocolate and biscuits i've had to hide from my worrying family) and nausea :3 Hooray!

aw you poor thing. im in ireldan and needless to say we are afraid of the impending endemic! is it a flu or is it the worst flu you've ever in your life had??? we havent seen much... yet.

you should be able to order the antiemetic over the phone. just ring reception. my gp here always gives me prescriptions over the phone. as long as it isnt for a new condition. so your gp would be aware of the nausea and vomiting caused by tamiflu. the motilium should do the job. or also phenergan. its used as an antihistamine but it is also an effective antiemetic which can be purchased over the counter in both ireland and the uk. and finally, while its prescription in ireland, i know in the uk, buccastem (a type of stemetil - also an antiemetic) is also available over the counter. this is useful as it slips inside your cheek beside your gum and crosses into the bloodstream via the gum. so its handy if you are having trouble keeping things down.

as regards the food tell your parents back off with things like biscuits and creme brulee. they are rich and would do your stomach no favours at the mo. toast with a little butter, soup, crackers... bland bland food. try also getting cals via liquid if your weight is dropping rapidly. complan and the like might help. dont worry too much about the weight. when you recover fully you will be ravenous and your body will restore itself but at the moment listen to what its telling you...

sleep a lot, rest a lot, get someone to bring you out for a little fresh air. stick with the tamiflu and get a boxset of dvds

take care and get well soon

It's definately not the worst flu I've had - It's kinda like a really bad cold but makes you really really tired and feeling strange.

I have written down the names of the antiemetics you recommend and am currently forcing a friend to get them for me :) You are a star- thankyou!

Any excuse to stay in bed and watch DVD boxsets is good, too ;) I was going to get someone to take me for a walk, but am really worried about passing it on to people - I don't think I'd be very popular with my friends!!

Thanks again :)

I hope the anti emetics work for you.  It's such a nasty flu.  You need rest.

Too bad we can't send you some oinkment! 

No! BAD clairelaine! ;)  Anyway, it's snout to worry about - I'll just sty at home.

Hee hee.  The devil made me do it.  Besides, I figured you could use a laugh about now.

If it was bird flu, you would need tweetment.

I have just fnished my course of Tamiflu (which made me feel worse than H1N1), but now I am exhausted again and retching, temp all over the show, no concentration, dizzy and generally ill - did your Doctor give you any idea how long the fly lasts as mine didn't :-(

I was just told to take the whole course, then get back to them if I don't feel any better, after, the_dragon :( I've got another day to go - and adnittedly I dont feel a whole lot better, either.

Great :-( mind you Dr Dragon (aka OH) might be phoning the help line tomorrow so will double check on there with them *sigh*

Thanks for getting back to me though

Sorry I couldn't be much more help :( Lovey pub in your picture, btw.

If your GP is booked up, go to an walk in centre, or call another GP.

Kiltias - you do know I am in bed? As in - can't drive myself anywhere, let alone sit in a walk in centre all day shivering, coughing and sneezing. I have friends who can take me to my nearest GP, but not take me miles and miles to other GPs, which I have rung and are all booked up, anyway.

I was only trying to help.

Aye, thankyou. I'm just not at my best and your comment riled me up with it's inanity. :)

It was hardly inane - suggesting you see another GP is a perfectly valid response. Suggesting you go to a walk in clinic is also a perfectly valid response.

I hope you don't mean for your comments to come over as slightly stuck up, but they do.

Suggesting someone who is ill with flu goes to a walk-in clinic is ridiculous - the government has specifically said we shouldnt go to our GPS or to clinics to help stop the spread of the disease. And having someone who has flu sitting in a walk-in clinic is also mad - all the people coming in and out would be succeptable to it, which is really selfish. I don't know what planet you live on where making other people sick - people who may already be ill or elderly or children,  just so you can see a GP is a good idea.

Government guidelines are for normal cases. Yours isn't normal. And it's obvious to anybody that one can take simple precautions to prevent the spread of the flu when traveling - covering your nose and mouth with a tissue/scarf/mask, not sitting in close proximity to people where possible, phoning ahead to ensure there is a private room to sit in whilst you wait.

Of course, it makes no difference to me if you can't be bothered - I offered a suggestion, and you needed it spelt out to you, whilst adding your own dose of rudeness.