how do you know if you have swine flu or just a common cold?

[michelle89]

hiya
im 31weeks pregnant and have been feeling ill since monday. it started with a scratchy throat which made me cough sometimes, then between my nose and my throat was sore, i kept sneezing and had a runny/blocked nose, last night i couldnt sleep because my nose kept running and i couldnt get comfortable, today i have a headache and eye ache, i think due to not sleeping, ear ache which i think is due to blowing my nose so much, now when i cough im bringing up phlegm, i have pains in my legs and shoulders, my glands in my neck have swollen up but usually do when i have a cold, i have no fever or high temp and no diaroeah or vomiting. im really worried as im asthmatic aswell, my partner doesnt seem to think i have swine flu but how can you tell the difference? + im ment to be phoning doctors to get the swine flu jab on sat! what do people think about this?

thnx

[MunchMummy]

If you haven't had a sudden very very high temperature (came on within less than 2 hours with my 14 month old) then it won't be swine flu, just a bad cold.

Take care of yourself though, nothing worse than being poorly when you're pregnant and can't take anything for it.

[nomorebooze]

hi michelle89! you sound like your poorly sick! i would phone the docs asap to get advice, i dont think you will be able to have the jab on sat with you being so ill sorry dont have any more advice, hope you feel better soon. xx

[sonsmum]

i am no doctor but i suspect you have a bad cold as opposed to swine flu....i have seen people at work develop swine flu over the course of the day....one minute they are fine, the next they are incapable of driving themselves home....the symptoms come on fast and there is always a high temperature.
A high temperature that develops really quickly is a key symptom for swine flu.

I too have what i believe is a cold....slightly scratchy throat initially though now this has gone and given way to a runny nose. Key thing is i don't feel ill and am capable of conducting my day in the way i normally would.....so can't be swine flu.

It is the season for colds.

Hope you get better soon and yes i too doubt you will get the vaccine when you already have some sort of lurgee.