http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/2530511/Flu-experience-full-of-nasty-surprises
As the world and New Zealand become resigned to the flu pandemic, Hamilton student Michael Fresnel found out first-hand what it's like to have suspected swine flu.
I was isolated for suspected swine flu a few days ago people's responses as I walked around Hamilton on my way to isolation, with a mask covering my face, were most interesting.
Think leprosy in the good old days.
Funny looks, people stepping back just a little, one of my closest friends shutting the door in my face.
Without a doubt, swine flu has become a scary topic in New Zealand no-one wants to get it and every little cough brings a comment of: "Hope it's not swine flu," followed by that nervous laugh.
In my case, the cough came about after flying in from Sydney. On arrival I felt a bit flat but having spent six days in the big city I put it down to tiredness.
After a day or so, a cough and temperature developed. I called my GP who arranged for me to come straight in.
When I got there I was the only person in the clinic everyone had been cleared from the room, which is standard swine flu policy apparently.
My doctor didn't quite know what to do he hadn't done a test before.
He made a few calls tracking down how to take a sample, what colour tube he should use and who he should notify.
Once the swab test was done I had to do some shopping on the way home because the isolation period is 72 hours and that's a long time to be stuck in a bedroom without food or entertainment.
It was surreal, shopping in a mask with all these people staring at me. I could imagine what they were thinking. I'd have been thinking the same if I was them.
At the chemist I handed over my prescription and got the nasty surprise of a $75 bill for five days' supply.
Now $75 is a lot of cash if you're a beneficiary or a student on a fixed income. What happens to people on benefits unable to afford Tamiflu tablets?
So I called a few people to find out more. Pharmac funds medicines so I asked Pharmac communications manager Simon England why Tamiflu cost so much.
He said Pharmac funded a seasonal influenza vaccine, which was available fully subsidised to eligible people, but Tamiflu was not funded.
The short answer was that Pharmac doesn't fund Tamiflu because it has never been asked to.
But there is good news. Tamiflu is available free for those people who have either been diagnosed or are suspected to have contracted the influenza A (H1N1) virus.
I was told the Health Ministry administers this and only they can provide Tamiflu free of charge. So I called the Waikato District Health Board and Dr Anita Bell, medical officer of health, confirmed Tamiflu could be got free through them.
"If you have had more than 72 hours of symptoms then we don't prescribe Tamiflu because it would have no beneficial effect. Otherwise we deliver the Tamiflu to your door and it is free this way."
Ad Feedback
The next 72 hours were plain lousy. I woke up soaking wet every night and I was alternatively hot, cold, shaky or vomiting. Leaving my bedroom was not an option I couldn't get up I was so dog tired.
I can see how a flu could kill someone; my chest was constantly getting gunked up and it would get harder to breathe if I didn't keep coughing it up. I was getting fatigued from the constant coughing.
But thankfully, that is all behind me now because on the last day of my isolation period, my results did come in clean. I dodged a bullet. This time.
As the world and New Zealand become resigned to the flu pandemic, Hamilton student Michael Fresnel found out first-hand what it's like to have suspected swine flu.
I was isolated for suspected swine flu a few days ago people's responses as I walked around Hamilton on my way to isolation, with a mask covering my face, were most interesting.
Think leprosy in the good old days.
Funny looks, people stepping back just a little, one of my closest friends shutting the door in my face.
Without a doubt, swine flu has become a scary topic in New Zealand no-one wants to get it and every little cough brings a comment of: "Hope it's not swine flu," followed by that nervous laugh.
In my case, the cough came about after flying in from Sydney. On arrival I felt a bit flat but having spent six days in the big city I put it down to tiredness.
After a day or so, a cough and temperature developed. I called my GP who arranged for me to come straight in.
When I got there I was the only person in the clinic everyone had been cleared from the room, which is standard swine flu policy apparently.
My doctor didn't quite know what to do he hadn't done a test before.
He made a few calls tracking down how to take a sample, what colour tube he should use and who he should notify.
Once the swab test was done I had to do some shopping on the way home because the isolation period is 72 hours and that's a long time to be stuck in a bedroom without food or entertainment.
It was surreal, shopping in a mask with all these people staring at me. I could imagine what they were thinking. I'd have been thinking the same if I was them.
At the chemist I handed over my prescription and got the nasty surprise of a $75 bill for five days' supply.
Now $75 is a lot of cash if you're a beneficiary or a student on a fixed income. What happens to people on benefits unable to afford Tamiflu tablets?
So I called a few people to find out more. Pharmac funds medicines so I asked Pharmac communications manager Simon England why Tamiflu cost so much.
He said Pharmac funded a seasonal influenza vaccine, which was available fully subsidised to eligible people, but Tamiflu was not funded.
The short answer was that Pharmac doesn't fund Tamiflu because it has never been asked to.
But there is good news. Tamiflu is available free for those people who have either been diagnosed or are suspected to have contracted the influenza A (H1N1) virus.
I was told the Health Ministry administers this and only they can provide Tamiflu free of charge. So I called the Waikato District Health Board and Dr Anita Bell, medical officer of health, confirmed Tamiflu could be got free through them.
"If you have had more than 72 hours of symptoms then we don't prescribe Tamiflu because it would have no beneficial effect. Otherwise we deliver the Tamiflu to your door and it is free this way."
Ad Feedback
The next 72 hours were plain lousy. I woke up soaking wet every night and I was alternatively hot, cold, shaky or vomiting. Leaving my bedroom was not an option I couldn't get up I was so dog tired.
I can see how a flu could kill someone; my chest was constantly getting gunked up and it would get harder to breathe if I didn't keep coughing it up. I was getting fatigued from the constant coughing.
But thankfully, that is all behind me now because on the last day of my isolation period, my results did come in clean. I dodged a bullet. This time.