Two of me ill friends have had mild cases of the flu

Well, my first two friends have come through what we think was the swine flu. Both had thick nasal mucous .. think that's the best way to decribe it. Tip .. if you're finding it difficult to shift .. close one nostril and blow into a tissue/ kitchen towel etc .. then do the same with the other. You might find that you only have to do it with one to clear it though!!!!!!!!

One didn't have a temperature .. possibly because. like me, she's on pain relief that includes paracetamol .. so her temperature could've been controlled when the virus hit anyway.

Both had a sore throat. one had a headache .. the one that didn't was taking pain meds. Her sore throat didn't feel that bad .. more like a grazed feeling but it was still there .. she said as far as her head went she got what seemed to be spots of mild pain here and there now and then but no real headache. Both had mild symptoms though .. except for the nose gunge .. which was totally clear .. no infection.

The woman on the pain meds is also on immune suppressants like me. much the same dose .. 10mg of corticosteroids a day and 1000mg of a steroid replacement med. A bit less than mine.

The flu, if that was what it was, lasted for about 5 days and was very mild indeed. The woman on the steroids etc expected to have a really hard time .. wasn't well ofcourse but nothing too awful .. except feeling frightened I guess because of the risk of pneumonia taking hold because of the meds. Have to say that she was taking large concoctions of herbs and spices. She was drinking mugs of the herbs and spices teas that are said to be anti virals and anti bacterial without boosting cytokines .. bunging it all in together. Drank two and a half small bottles of beet juice too. She forgot to finish the bottle on the first day.

Still feels slightly whoozy and a bit sensitive but the gunge has more or less stopped .. started clearing noticeably yesterday so it wasn't there for long.

Apparently it was quite amazing stuff .. sort of masses .. well, quite a lot .. of thickish clear .. see through .. gunge. Quite a lot means more than you'd usually expect with a cold/flu. No infection at all.

Do phone helplines for advice if you think you have swine flu .. if you have an underlying condition phone your doctor.

My friend on the pain meds was a bit slow phoning for help and advice because she wasn't sure what was possibly happening til the gunge started. If you're in the same situation .. or similar .. that she and I are in with regards to meds phone the doc or help line and ask for help.

Both are still feeling a bit whoozy and sensitive .. no great aches and pains and the gunge seems to be clearing .. well, just a tiny bit today .. had to blow hard to find it. Did wake up with a bit though.