ED nurse shares her flu ordeal and encourages vaccination as hospital admissions rise
Flu cases are increasing rapidly in the community with 59 people admitted to hospital with flu in Northern Ireland over the last seven days.
South Eastern Trust Emergency Department Nurse, Sara Finlay described being struck down with flu as the “sickest I have ever been.”
The 35-year-old had planned to get her flu jab before she started experiencing symptoms which floored her and resulted in a recovery period of five weeks.
“I had planned to get the Flu vaccination this year, but I came down with Flu before I even had the chance to get it,” she explained: “I became really unwell, it was probably the worst head cold and flu like symptoms I have ever had.”
Sara recalled how her symptoms started with a severe headache, “a tickly throat which developed into becoming particularly painful to swallow and general fatigue and body aches. I was in bed for three days.
“I have two children and my son is asthmatic and I was very concerned about passing anything onto him.”
Sara stressed how she would advise those who are eligible for their flu vaccination to take it.
“We have so many people attending hospital, from the young, elderly, vulnerable and immunosuppressed,” she continued.
"I thought I should be doing my part too and limit their exposure to the flu by getting the vaccination.
“I was fit and healthy before I came down with the flu. I did bounce back eventually, but had I not been so fit and healthy, I do not know how things would have turned out.”