to be really wound up at people posting on FB with 'hee hee I have swine flu and I'm at work!'

[laumiere]

Seriously, it's really getting to me. Before I went on mat leave I was involved in the pandemic plan and part of the reason people are advised to stay home (even if they feel fine) is TO PROTECT OTHERS. So if I see another post with 'shh, I've got SF and I'm in work/clubbing/out for drinks' I'm going to scream.

I can understand it more if you've got no option, if you're a temp or self-employed you may not be able to afford taking unpaid days, but for most people, you have sick days, use them!

I'm esp pissed off as we have 2 LOs (3 and disabled and 5mo) and if I get sick and then DH gets sick we could lose up to 10 days pay while he's off as he works in corporate security and gets no sick pay. So some dumbass who thinks he or she is being clever could lose us up to a third of a monthly income...

[roulade]

YANBU But! I also get no sick pay so if i felt fine there is no way i could afford to be off work so i would go in as i still have rent/bills to pay.

[giraffesCantRunA10k]

YANBU. I feel like shit with it. Have sort of passed out this morning and am really worried that if I am not better in time then my surgery next week will be postponed

[psychomum5]

giraffes.

OP, YANBU. I know that for lots of people it really is not that big a deal, but for others (and I would come under that as I have a child with an immune deficiancy) it can be pretty serious if and when we get it. I really don;t want the risk taken up for me by people just not bothering to have a social consience

[OhBling]

I don't get it - all those people who say they have swine flu but feel fine? Do they really? Or do they just have a cold?

As I understand it, Swine, or any other kind, of flu doesn't just come on as a slight sniffle. You get sick. you feel achy. You cough and splutter. Going to work is ridiculous?

I have noticed that everyone with even a small sore throat now thinks they have swine flu. I've had lots of colds over the last few years, but I'm not sure I've had a single case of actual flu. I can tell the difference.

[peppapighastakenovermylife]

YANBU and I understand where you are coming from. I think the problem for some might lie in people not knowing whether they have had swine flu? This does not excuse people posting like this though (and I bet they dont really have flu if they are up to thinking it is hilarious).

It is so confusing though. I have some kind of illness. It is not like flu that leaves you unable to get out of bed. It is more than a bad cold I would say. Although I feel terrible there are things I have to get on with so have got on with doing them. I have however made sure I do not go to meetings / childrens play centres / cinema - anywhere enclosed just in case. Anyone I meet up with I warn about the symptoms and give them a choice. Lots of hand washing etc.

I am confused - I cant stop my every day life and work because I may have an illness. I am thinking I probably dont. If the media hadnt hyped this I would just think I was ill. I would never ever think it was funny I might make someone ill though.

This obviously doesnt account for the idiots thinking its funny

[laumiere]

peppa My son apparently managed to catch the ordinary flu (as it was it went to his chest and we had to get antibiotics) but even so, he was only mildly ill (bit of a temp, cough and cold) as was DS2, DH and myself. we avoided people we knew with kids/health probs and myself and LOs stayed in til we felt better, but I'd never call that the flu.

I've had the flu, my temp went over 40 degrees, I hallucinated and was unable to eat solid food for 3 days afterwards. I think a lot of people are saying they've got it to make a song and dance (look, I've come in anyway!)

roulade I sympathise, it's difficult when you're in that situation, we're praying neither I or DH get sick!

[jellybeans]

YANBU people are extremely selfish.

[laweaselmys]

I think the problem is a well if you ring the helpline the default answer seems to be that you have it. So lots of people have the idea that it's nothing (including employers) and you should work go out if you feel able instead of thinking about other people.

[giraffesCantRunA10k]

I can tell the difference easily - I want chocolate, but I am too ill to go and get it. I can hardly stand up today. If I had a cold I would be on my 2nd bar by now

[FimbleHobbs]

I have heard that swine flu is mild (for most) and I think this makes it hard to judge. I've had a yukky cold/bug/virus lately, but no temperature, so I did struggle into work on some days, because I don't think it was swine flu. Most of my colleagues are on holiday so there was only one person, on another floor, to potentially catch it, and I used anti bac gel religiously.

If it was SF I would not have gone to work though, YANBU about the facebook prats.

I hope you and your family stay SF free.

[laumiere]

Fimble the temperature seems to be the decider, if it's 38 or over AND you have 2 other symptoms you've got it.