I Survived the H1N1 Virus

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- October 27, 2009 -- As a senior in high school, missing school is something that I avoid at all costs. Whether it is excused or not, it counts against exemptions, and even after a few days out the stack of make-up work can get pretty tall.

So, naturally, you can imagine my despair when I was unable to attend school for an entire week due to the infamous H1N1 virus, or Swine Flu.

The first signs that I had the 2009 H1N1 Flu began Saturday night on October 10 of this year. It was the night of my senior homecoming. We had left the dance as it had begun clearing out, and were spending the rest of the night at a friend's house.

I had a very light, but nagging cough, however I passed it off as a simple irritation of the throat from having to shout over the music both at the dance and in the limo beforehand.

The next day what seemed at first to be a harmless cough had turned vicious. I am not one who gets sick often. I rarely get the flu, and I am always hesitant to get vaccinations. With that in mind, I can only describe the severity of the cough as the worst I have ever experienced.

I woke up coughing like it was going out of style. My throat was sore, and my chest felt as though it were igniting with every cough.

It very quickly became clear to me that this was no simple irritation. I spent the rest of the day drifting back and forth from sleep, and driving my family crazy with fits of coughing that had everyone thinking I was dying.

Fortunately, that Monday was Columbus Day, and we had no school. Despite my less than perfect condition, I went to bed Sunday night confident that after a day of rest I would be well enough to go to school on Tuesday.

Monday morning arrived, and I felt fine. Then I sat up. In an instant it all came rushing back and I broke out in a fit of coughing that left me short of breath.

Almost as vividly as I remember the painful cough, I can recall the intense and overwhelming feeling of exhaustion that haunted me for the rest of the week. I wanted nothing more than to lie in bed forever, and felt as though I were suffering from muscular atrophy.

I remember very little of the rest of Monday, probably because I slept through almost the entire day. By now I have taken every cold and flu medication in the household, most which seemed to be to no avail. Advil and Nyquil were my saviors and would continue to be for the rest of the week.

After a night of broken sleep, I went to my doctor's office where I was diagnosed with Type A Influenza. I had the big bad swine flu. Over the next couple days several friends I knew also came down with H1N1.

From Monday through Thursday, with the exception of times when the sheer amount of medication I was taking brought my fever down, I was consistently clocking in at temperatures ranging from 99-102.8 degrees Fahrenheit.

I spent the week constantly feeling cold as my body temperature rose, clutching my chest in pain with every cough, and in a state of general exhaustion.

However, due to what I believe to be the twice-a-day doses of Tami flu my doctor had me on, I began recovering Friday. My fever began dropping, and while I certainly did not feel well, I could tell I was improving.

The only lasting effect of the Swine Flu has been a persistent cough that has had everyone I come into contact with trembling in fear. The cough still has not completely dissipated, and it has been a couple weeks now.

I am happy to say that I am caught up on school-work and am feeling fine. Fortunately my school has extended the number of excused absences that students may have and still be exempt from exams to four or five days depending on the grade the student has in the class.

'Is it as bad as they say?' has been the number one question I have been asked since I have returned to school.

To be honest, I am not sure, but it is my sincere hope that you never have to find out.