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Source: http://www.fox4kc.com/wdaf-h1n1-patient-story-100809,0,1366857.story
VIDEO
Metro Woman Shares Life-Threatening Brush With H1N1
Meryl Lin McKean Meagan Kelleher, FOX 4 Web Producer
October 8, 2009
An Excelsior Springs woman didn't know what hit her Sunday afternoon. It turned out to be the H1N1 virus and it quickly became life-threatening. FOX 4 medical reporter Meryl Lin McKean talked with the woman in her hospital room where she's urging others not to delay if symptoms worsen.
Deborah Shadley had a headache last weekend. Then Sunday afternoon, sudden severe chest pain, and Deborah is uninsured.
"She was scared to death saying, 'I can't be put in the hospital. We don't have the money,'" husband Frank Shadley said.
But Frank called for an ambulance that delivered Deborah to Liberty Hospital. She tested positive for flu, later confirmed to be H1N1. It was attacking her lungs. Early Monday morning, Deborah's condition worsened and she was brought to the intensive care unit.
"Her lungs filled up in an instant almost. I can honestly say, almost lost her," Frank said.
"I don't remember nothin'," Deborah said.
Dr. Mary O'Connor, an infectious disease specialist at Liberty, said don't delay if you're short of breath or having chest pain.
"Also if they were getting better and become ill again and have a secondary bacterial infection, that certainly would need to be treated with antibiotics and could be a very serious situation," Dr. O'Connor said.
Dr. O'Connor said while most severe H1N1 cases have been in people with underlying health issues, there is still a risk for people who consider themselves healthy.
Deborah said she has high blood pressure, but thought she was pretty healthy at age 52.
"It's something you don't play with. If you've got the symptoms, they need to go get it taken care of," Deborah said.
Deborah urges others to get the H1N1 vaccine as it becomes available. She said she's getting the seasonal flu shot, knowing other flu can also be life-threatening.
Deborah is thanking her caregivers and she was able to go home from the hospital late Thursday. Her husband has been told he'll still need to wear a mask at home for a week to protect him from infection.
VIDEO
Metro Woman Shares Life-Threatening Brush With H1N1
Meryl Lin McKean Meagan Kelleher, FOX 4 Web Producer
October 8, 2009
An Excelsior Springs woman didn't know what hit her Sunday afternoon. It turned out to be the H1N1 virus and it quickly became life-threatening. FOX 4 medical reporter Meryl Lin McKean talked with the woman in her hospital room where she's urging others not to delay if symptoms worsen.
Deborah Shadley had a headache last weekend. Then Sunday afternoon, sudden severe chest pain, and Deborah is uninsured.
"She was scared to death saying, 'I can't be put in the hospital. We don't have the money,'" husband Frank Shadley said.
But Frank called for an ambulance that delivered Deborah to Liberty Hospital. She tested positive for flu, later confirmed to be H1N1. It was attacking her lungs. Early Monday morning, Deborah's condition worsened and she was brought to the intensive care unit.
"Her lungs filled up in an instant almost. I can honestly say, almost lost her," Frank said.
"I don't remember nothin'," Deborah said.
Dr. Mary O'Connor, an infectious disease specialist at Liberty, said don't delay if you're short of breath or having chest pain.
"Also if they were getting better and become ill again and have a secondary bacterial infection, that certainly would need to be treated with antibiotics and could be a very serious situation," Dr. O'Connor said.
Dr. O'Connor said while most severe H1N1 cases have been in people with underlying health issues, there is still a risk for people who consider themselves healthy.
Deborah said she has high blood pressure, but thought she was pretty healthy at age 52.
"It's something you don't play with. If you've got the symptoms, they need to go get it taken care of," Deborah said.
Deborah urges others to get the H1N1 vaccine as it becomes available. She said she's getting the seasonal flu shot, knowing other flu can also be life-threatening.
Deborah is thanking her caregivers and she was able to go home from the hospital late Thursday. Her husband has been told he'll still need to wear a mask at home for a week to protect him from infection.