A guy I know who wishes to stay anonymous recently took a business trip to Hawaii, where he started experiencing flu-like symptoms. The following interview tells the story.

Just to start it all of, the swine flu is not that bad. The various forms of media really make the swine flu more than it actually is. True it is dangerous, but that is more for the people who have weaker immune systems. For someone of average age and who is fairly healthy, the swine flu is actually easier to deal with than the regular flu. So, for those of you are a absolutely terrified of the swine flu, don't be. Be proactive in staying healthy and be aware of your surroundings and hygiene (washing hands, covering your mouth when you cough, ect.).

GBB: How did you know it was the swine flu and not some other disease?

I actually found out at the emergency room that I had "Class A" flu. Swine flu is in this class of flu, and at the time the doctors were taking precautionary measures and treated me for Swine Flu. They then had to take my positive flu test and get it tested for Swine Flu. I found out after I had finished my round of medication and was cleared for travel, that I did in fact have H1N1.

GBB: What were the symptoms and how did it differ from the typical flu?

The symptoms vary for each person. There are some differences, but again, this is not across the board for every person. With swine flu, vomiting and nausea can be reduced. This was the case for me. I did not vomit as much as I would have if I had the typical flu. Also, body aches are much more apparent. Your body feels as if you had a hard work out the day before and your just sore all over. But again, please know that the symptoms vary for everyone. So if you start showing signs of any flu like symptoms, go get checked. Stay hydrated, and be sure to cover your mouth.

GBB: At any point in life, did you ever caught pneumonia?

Nope, I have been fortunate enough not to have ever caught pneumonia.

GBB: Were you quarantine? What did the doctor's tell you?

Yes, I was quarantined in my hotel room for 5 days while I was on tamiflu medication. The quarantine was a federal travel regulation that I was not allowed to fly until I was fever free for 24 hours. They also said that because I was on travel for work, it would be best to have as little human contact as possible and to be stay hydrated. They informed me of the side effects of tamiflu and sent me on my way.

GBB: escribe the life cycle of the disease and what was the initial symptoms?  

The life cycle for me was only about a week. I started out with a headache and what felt like dry mouth. On day two, I had developed a cough and my headaches were getting worse. I also started to have some congestion. On day three, I had a fever, my body hurt all over, and I felt weak to do anything. That night I went to emergency room, and started my medication. Day 4, my fever started to break, but I still felt bad; coughing, runny nose, vomiting, ect. Day 5, the fever broke and I started to feel better. The cough was still strong, but getting better. Day 6 and 7 were better and by day 8, I was no longer contagious and cleared for travel.

GBB: here did you think you caught the disease?

I think I caught it on the plane or in the airport while traveling.

GBB: How many people do you know of that you passed it on to?

 I know I passed it on to 2 others. They started to show symptoms (cough, headache, some fever, and body aches), but they knew what I had and went straight to the emergency room. They caught it within the "First 48 hours" and started tamiflu immediately. Catching it in the first 48 hours, can reduce the time you are sick by almost 3 days. If you catch it early, you don't even have to deal with all the truly gross symptoms of the flu. That's why you should go to the hospital and get checked if you start to show signs of flu like symptoms. 

GBB: What did you do to keep yourself busy while you were in solitude?

The joys of technology these days. Because I was stuck in my hotel room, I was able to work via internet. I was able to telework and conduct business as usual while in the comforts of my hotel room. I then watched a lot of TV and looked out of the window down at the beach. Not to mention the tons of sleep I got too.

GBB: On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate your overall health?

I would say I am a 7 or 8. I am fairly healthy, but I have my bad habits. I have a bad diet, lots of meats and rice, with very little greens. But overall... 7 or 8.

GBB: At any point in time did you feel life slipping away? If so who did you call?

No, I didn't feel like life was slipping away. I felt sick, but I think I did well.

GBB: What did you learned from this experience?

Be aware, and be proactive. Wash your hands regularly. Have hand sanitizer with you. Cover your mouth when you cough and definitely be aware of the people around you. If someone is sick and coughing up, get away so you don't catch it. Stay healthy and just take care of yourself. Oh, and to take Airborne and vitamins the day before and the day of travel, and if you can, wear a masks while traveling. Its flu season in certain places, and ours is just around the corner. Even if you think you look funny, wear the mask, because it could keep you from getting sick.