I've read all the recent swine flu/flu vaccine threads with interest - but I was still on the fence. I certainly wouldn't normally get a fly vaccine, but I understand that there are additional ricks for pregnant people etc, plus I do usually get a bout of the flu every year. So I was leaning towards getting it, but not acting at all.
On Saturday evening I started getting what I would describe as a very mild gold - sniffly nose & a few sneezes. I woke Sunday morning, got up and was shocked to find I was having breathing 'difficulties'. I was flat out all day, with laboured breathing. Not bad enough to go to A&E on my own (DP & DD were out most of the day), but bad enough not to have the energy to do anything. Going to localy shops to buy grapes was huge effort. It got much worse during the night. I felt like I'd developed athsma.
Went to doctors yesterday morning & have got an inhaler which is helping really well with the breathing. Cold has developed further - it is still what I would describe as a very 'mild' cold but I feel dreadful - but I'm shocked at how this cold has knocked me out so badly and at how compromised my immune system is.
I've never had breathing trouble before apart from a dust allergy when 5 months pregnant with DD. Doctor says I don't have athsma but have a respiratory weakness.
I can't imagine how badly I would be affected if I came down with a flu that actually attacked the respiratory system like swine flu does. This mild cold & the huge effect it has had on my health has really given me a fright and I hate to think what the winter might bring - I'll be getting the vaccine as soon as I'm over the cold & keeping my fingers crossed that it workes.