It is accepted that for a virus to thrive it must multiply via hosts,it then changes its face and infects new hosts.

About five years ago I was exposed to a room full of newly arrived to Australia Indians.

Within seven hours I felt the rapid onslaught of the worst flu I have ever experienced in my life...no immmunity see, had never been so close to a group of Indian people in an air conditioned room.

Ten days it took to feel half well, I was living on Codral cold and flu tablets but the rawness of my throat was incredibly painful.

The aches in my legs were severe, I felt so bad.

My point being dont write this off as just another flu strain.

I'm pretty sure I had it at the end of April/beginning of May. I already had the flu in October and February this year, so this was a third flu for me, and I think it was swine flu, because I had the worst stomach to go with it (in fact that's how it started).

I would not describe it as a mild flu at all....though I've had one that was scarier for me about 10 years ago, this one was awful and different to any other flu I'd ever had. I wound up with glands so swollen i could barely move my head, and leg pains the likes of which I'd never experienced before, and got for more asthmaey than I usually get, and after it finished my legs were like jello for days and I still felt like I had asthma for a week or 2 after. I didn't start to feel better until about day 6 or 7.

omg you guys I just seen everyones new replies and I am so thankful for all of the info. Just a quick question for you all... Now my daughter was the first one sick, again she wasnt taken to the Dr. because she was ill very briefly. Now, after I got sick everything seemed to be okay. Just a week ago my youngest daughter got sick. 105 temp, chills, all of the above....the next day she was fine so we didnt take her in. But the night she was sick I started feeling the symptoms all over again as well as my husband, mind you he was never sick. I was thankful the next morning because we ALL were fine but is there any PROVEN long term effects from the swine flu... or is there a possibility that this virus creates some other type of sickness? I am just very skeptical and nervous about this whole thing. I know I may be over reacting but we stopped drinking tap water just in case it was tainted.

I am glad that you are not one of the casualties we keep hearing about. That does suck that you had to go through that with the hospital. I remember when I came down with meningitis and was locked up in ICU for 2 weeks. But I did happen to have a few hot nurses. Thats always a plus in my book. I wonder if they will force you to get the vaccine since you were already exposed to the virus and survived? Anyhow, glad your still with us

We are pretty sure we already had it in our house too.... we stayed in for 2 and a half weeks, not to spread it, got better, and feel better than ever now actually...

I figure, cool, we are immune! Now we can refuse their mercury filled poison vaccines since we already had it.

I think the only survivors on this planet will be those who caught it in the early days. We have hashed out our plans tonight for 3 weeks rations, water, plenty of fuel for our generator. We are pretty much ready for quarantine if the SHTF. I wonder when it will go 'deadly' weeks, months?

hi, im 40 and i live next to chicago. My son is 5 and he got really sick on june 12th. His fever was 103 104... I took him to the Er and they tested him positive for type A influenza. They never sent his swab for further testing. However,, according to the CDC almost 98 percent of all influenza is the novel h1n1 at this point. He had a runny nose, said his head and neck and back and legs hurt. He had a cough. He had a fever for 7 days. After his fever went down, he was still coughing for days. Sudenly his fever went back up about a week after not having a fever at all. It only got to 101 this time around and the fever lasted about 3 days. He has now been fever free for a week again, with some slight coughing. I on the other hand, have had a very mild stuffy nose, some slight chest congestion and some odd pains around heart and ribs that dont hurt alot but are worrysome. and the pains arent there every day, I also have had a low grade fever on and off for 2 or 3 weeks myself. I cant help but wonder if this virus is causing me a very MILD illness, or if it is incubating in my body only to attack full force at some point. It is very scary. I keep hearing about people dying rather quickly, and I also hear of other cases who have been in the hospital for weeks or a month or more.. has anyone else had this experience with the low grade fever on and off??

Glad to hear you're feeling better and sorry to hear you went through so much pain.

I have a general question about the testing...maybe someone here will know or maybe I'll ask in the main topic on this...but many people here have mentioned think they had what might have been this flu in late 2008, early 2009.

Does anything linger in the body for any length of time after the flu has run its course? In other words, if I think I had in in January, can they run a test now to see if that is what I had? Or does it just go away entirely? I think that some viruses (like chicken pox) stay with you forever once you've had them.

I'm starting to wonder if it is "just a regular flu strain". I was not worried about the H1N1 virus, until I got it myself on Monday 7/6/2009. I was sitting on the couch after work and I sneezed 1 time. With in the next 30 minutes I was overcome with several flu-like symptoms. I got ill so quickly that I looked at the clock and noted the time in case I had to go to the doctor.
( So I could specifically tell the Dr. the time I got ill- I don't know why I did this, I guess It came on so strong so fast it scared me). The next 5 days were hell! The body aches were a combo of deep muscle aches, joint pain and all the skin on my body was irritated with pain. The fever was mostly from the shoulders up. From the shoulders down was freezing. I would warm my icy hands on my own hot face. Other symptoms were congestion (of course), shortness of breath and a cough that had a whistle to it, similar to that of pneumonia. Unfortunately I have an underlying chronic condition. I get reoccurring sinusitis. So when the flu virus was done (if it is...) I was left with a terrible sinus infection. The Dr. I saw told me I had H1N1 but it 'should' be over by now (10 days later), she prescribed amoxicillin and clavulanate for the sinus infection. The part that has me wondering what really happens to your body with this flu is I'm still very ill. It almost feels like the virus is still with me. I woke up with a soar throat this morning, I have extreme brain fog, occasional dizziness, fatigue, and a migraine. I just don't feel right yet, it seems to be taking a long time.

I have had the flu before, but this one is strange, it works quickly and one time in my 5 day illness I thought I was better, just to be way sicker the next day. Its tricky and very painful. Thank goodness no one else in my family has had it. I DO NOT wish it on anyone.