That H1N1 Thing

Posted by narrowband - 05/10/09 at 10:10:38 pm

Not too long ago, I found myself coming face to face with the H1N1 virus that hit our shores like a wave of tsunami. I didn’t think that I, or anyone close to me, would come even remotely close to contributing to the alarming statistics that, at that time, was still on a very steep northerly trend. I was in Singapore when when I was told that Sis had fallen ill.

Thinking that it was one of those seasonal attacks, she was taken to our family doctor where she was given antibiotics and other meds for her persistent cough. When her condition did not improve, she was brought to a nearby hospital for an X-ray. The doctor there suspected that she had bronchitis, which startled me, who was 300km away from home at that time of course.

My family never had such medical history! How did this bronchitis even come about? I later learned that the hospital (medical center, hospital, same, no?) did not have anymore rooms for Sis, especially the single ones because her condition was contagious. An attempt at warding her in another neighbourhood private hospital was futile because it was also full house. Luckily a third attempt paid off – a private facility which was not too far away from home.

Because of the fever that came along, we were told that it could be dengue. The various diagnosis that cropped up in a span of just 3 days began to worry me. Then suddenly I received an update saying her fever had subsided. Thinking that she was already warded and that she’d have sufficient medical attention, I actually heaved a sigh of relief. And then the next day came the bombshell. ‘Pneumonia’ was by no means a small word! A quick check on Google with keywords ‘pneumonia’ and ‘h1n1′ only returned frightening results.

In view of the escalating numbers of H1N1 infections reported by the papers, not to mention the number of fatalities, I was worried sick. Within 3 hours after receiving that phone call, I hopped onto the next available MAS plane home, the last of the day, and the most expensive I had ever taken, plagued by anxiety and, believe it or not, fear. I was actually very afraid. I had never been that scared in my life before.

I applied for an emergency leave, and spent the remainder of the week shuttling between home and the hospital where Sis was warded. By then it had dawned upon us that it was actually H1N1 that we were dealing with, but since her infectious period was already over, the question of quarantine did not arise. She responded well to the treatment and the (mild) pneumonia that was detected earlier had gone.

And the fever did not return throughout that period. Her condition improved. By the 10th day or so she was allowed to return home. But because of her weak immunity she was given a further 1-week M.C. to recuperate. Thinking back, I was pretty sure god heard me when I said my silent prayers in my flight seat the night I flew home. Sis has now fully recovered, and everyone else in the family is as healthy as a bull.

8 Comments »

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  1. wow… must hv been a nightmare for the family, huh… but am glad that all’s well ends well… nvr take our health for granted.. avoid crowd and those who cough/sneeze! aitelyu, all these ppl who cough/sneeze in the public without using any tissues/hankies should be punished!! so ‘bo akai’… and i also think that the govt should teach ppl the ‘correct’ way to cough, ie. cough onto (or into?) our sleeves/baju..

    whatever it is, keep clean… wash your hands each time you step into your home! stay healthy, david! :-)

    Comment by angel — October 5, 2009 #

  2. God blessed.

    Comment by Jason — October 6, 2009 #

  3. thanks guys ;)

    Comment by narrowband — October 6, 2009 #

  4. Glad to hear that your sis is alright now and the rest of the family is fine. Phew!

    Comment by mumsgather — October 6, 2009 #

  5. I’m so glad your sister is alright..
    God bless you and family :)

    Comment by Lobak — October 6, 2009 #

  6. Good to hear your sis is alright now. God blessed :).

    Comment by emotionalistic — October 6, 2009 #

  7. good for your sis…

    someone i know had her nephew admitted into hospital due to flu-like symptoms… he died… of pneumonia… not h1n1… but pnemonia. young chap… no medical history of lung infection..

    Comment by zewt — October 6, 2009 #

  8. Glad to know all is good now. :)

    Comment by Che-Cheh — October 7, 2009 #

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