Nana has Influenza A

On Friday, Nana WhatsApp to ask if we have a thermometer at home. I don’t remember and I was in Tokyo. If any, they would be in the kids’ room/ bag, an essential during the Covid months. She thinks that she was coming down with a temperature. Just take Panadol lah. She did that. 

When I saw her on Saturday morning, she was a lifeless lump on the sofa. She said that she was feeling bad and couldn’t sleep. She was running a temperature (as per my hand) and down with a bad flu. I gave her medicine and sent her to bed. She said that it was so bad on Friday. Auntie J came with the kids for worship practice on Friday evening and told me that Nana already looked sick.

She fainted once when she had a stomach flu and fever during Covid, which was likely due to low glucose bcos she wasn’t eating. This time, I made her eat something even when she had no appetite. I gave her a little food whenever the Panadol worked to suppress the fever, which brought back a little appetite. 

The annual Christmas gathering took place on Saturday evening. She was still very sick, and I gave her an option to stay at home. She tagged along. I would too; to be alone at home would be so miserable. 

She had a dose of medicine before the gathering and was feeling fine when we arrived. She was generally low in energy, but managed to lead worship with the group and participated in the quieter, non-physical games. I checked on her constantly and made sure that she had some food. 

The fever came back at 9ish, accompanied by body aches, chills and headache. Uncle C suggested that we get a test kit from 7-11 to check if it is Influenza A or Covid. I forgot that Covid still exist. He also suggested that we give her arcoxia, which is Daddy Lim’s strong medicine for his AS, and also a strong medicine for pain, fever and inflammation. To give her arcoxia, which is at home, would mean that she can’t take Panadol in the meanwhile. 

Nana tahaned and was in such misery during the 18 mins drive home. Even Daddy Lim was compelled to drive faster. Damn stressed. We finally made it home and didn’t dare detour for the test kit. 

Nana went to bed after the arcoxia and whatever cough and flu medicine I could find at home. Daddy Lim and I went to the 7-11 and found a test kit. It is the same swab test but improved!

The line for Influenza A appeared so quickly and strongly

Was I suprised? Not at all - we couldn’t really bring down her fever with Panadols and she had such bad body aches. Then I remembered that the previous Saturday, Daddy Lim had the same symptoms but there wasn’t flu symptoms and he recovered the next day, especially after he vomited whatever that clogged up his system. We had thought that he had stomach flu. Maybe not, and he had passed it on to Nana. 

I had contemplated sleeping in Nana’s room but decided that it was a stupid thing to do, especially when Influenza A is highly contagious. The arcoxia is very powerful; her fever had broke when I checked on her at midnight and she was still fever free at 6am. She was feeling much better on Sunday morning but a visit to the clinic is still a must. 

I found one on the Company’s insurance in Potong Pasir and was opened on Sunday morning. She was given the essential Tamiflu, and the clinic staff said that she would feel so much better by the 3rd dose. Tamiflu is a 5-day course medicine and must be completed. So much medicine. 

Nana was actually feeling much better on Sunday morning, even before the medicine. I told her that it is the power of mummy’s love. I was fussing so much over her the entire Saturday. 

It was obvious that she was recovering. She had energy to scroll social media and even went out for dinner with us on Sunday. Her appetite also improved significantly. 

When I checked on her Monday morning, she was feeling good. She was home alone with Mochi and was very bored. Nana said that cats can get Influenza A from humans. Hmmm.. maybe Mochi shouldn’t spend so much time with her. Mochi doesn’t know how to take medicine on his own and that is another nightmare to talk about. I hope that she doesn’t pass on the virus but wouldn’t be surprised if somebody at Saturday’s gathering fell sick. Fingers crossed.

Get well soon ah, baby. 

Mummy Lim

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