As most of you know I spent 13 days in the hospital last month most of these in ICU and 8 of them in a drug induced coma on a ventilator fighting for my life. I contracted the H1N1 Virus which settled into my lungs and caused a horrible case of double viral pneumonia. The pneumonia that comes with H1N1 is worse than regular pneumonia because it normally comes on fast, it’s viral so there aren’t any antibiotics that work with it, and it doesn’t just fill up your lungs with fluid it deflates the air sacs in your lungs and stiffens them so you cannot get enough oxygen (see the video illustration in the article attached). The doctor said that small children under six, elderly over 60, and persons with compromised immune systems (especially those with diabetes, severe heart disease, cancer, HIV, asthma, obesity, other immune disorders, and pregnant women) are the most susceptible.
If the H1N1 is diagnosed early (within 24-72 hours) then your symptoms can be decreased through the use of the antiviral medications such as Tamiflu which your doctor will prescribe. Sadly, the test that they run in the doctors office can be wrong 20-30% of the time. This was the case with me. I went to the doctor when I got sick and the test showed negative for H1N1 flu and the regular flu. I was told to go home and “ride it out” and was given a prescription for antibiotics “just in case”. A few days later I was so sick that I had to be driven to the doctors office. They took me from there to the hospital in an ambulance. I was tested again for H1N1 and this time it came back positive. However, due to the delay in the diagnosis the pneumonia had already set into my lungs and was very severe.
I am asking everyone to please spread the word about H1N1 and encourage those who are at risk to receive the H1N1 vaccine as soon as it becomes available in October. I am so blessed and so thankful that the Lord carried me through and that he still has a purpose for me here on this earth. Most of you know that I can still barely talk about this blessing without tearing up. With that in mind I am on a mission to share my experience with everyone that I can. I am hoping that you will also share this information with your friends and loved ones. If just one person who may be at risk reads this and takes the necessary precautions to avoid this terrible virus then that could be one life saved which means this email was more than worth my time to sit down and type.
I am attaching a link to an article that comes from “The Early Show”. It gives the best and clearest description of H1N1 that I have come across. After reading the article please click on the video to the left of it. It gives a great illustration of what happens when someone is infected with H1N1. The statistics they give at the end of the article and during the last 10 seconds of the illustration are very sobering.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/09/02/earlyshow/health/main5281696.shtml
Thanks for giving me a few minutes of your time guys. I pray that everyone stays healthy and blessed.
Hugs,
Dawna
"I will move ahead, bold and confident. Taking every step in obedience" - While I'm Waiting ~ John Waller, Album: The Blessing
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. – Jeremiah 29:11