I hate being blase about tragedy but what's with this Swine Flu?

We were all going to die from the Bird Flu and SARS. Now we're all going to die from Swine Flu?

Really?

This morning on the news they said the first person, sadly a little child, has died in the US of this flu. However, they also qiuetly mentioned that in a normal year 36,000 people die of flu in the US. That's a lot of people and the rabid newsreaders don't usually scream about it year in, year out.

I'm just confused about the rise and fall of these "super" flus. They seem to bugger up already struggling economies (previously in Asia, now Mexico). But in the end they never end up being all that bad, in comparison to what normally goes on with flu every winter around the world.

So what's up? Is it just a case of distracting us from what is really happening in the world? Is it just poor media coverage/journalism (I know that one would be a big surprise for everyone!)? Is it just another round of social/health panic which seems to sweep us all up every few years?

Any ideas?

So I know you've all been waiting with baited breath... so I won't keep you in suspense any longer.

I had the endoscopy this afternoon... have I mentioned how much I love a general anaesthetic? or at least the junior version, the sedation? Oh what I wouldn't do for someone to turn up every evening and give me a shot of that magic stuff.

But I digress. All is well. In fact the doctor found absolutely no sign of an ulcer or oesophegitis. The only thing he noticed was a possible tiny, eency weency gall stone on my ultrasound scan but said there is no way that would have caused the pain I had experienced (and that is nothing to worry about at the moment).

After all that there is nothing really wrong with me (well, apart from the obvious psychiatric problems you are all familar with). I am putting this whole episode down to a serious case of overeating during the silly season. And possibly a tiny bit of subliminal stress.

For those of you interested in my health "issues", here is an updated. [And why wouldn't you be, it's fascinating stuff!]

a) I'm feeling great. No pain to mention since about last Tuesday.

b) My doctor wants me to have an endoscopy (tube with camera down the throat to check out what's happening in the tummy). She wants to know exactly what's going on down there so she can tell me how long to stay on the medication prescribed by the ER doctor. So I'm booked in for Friday afternoon. Will let you know what they say. [I know you can't wait to find out!]

There's something wrong with me [enough of that!] at the moment. It started with a strange stomach ache, like I'd swollowed a stone which had wedged under my rib cage, last Thursday afternoon. It continued Friday and Saturday, spreading now and again throughout my stomach and then into my upper back. I haven't been sleeping because I couldn't find a comfortable position.

Sunday morning Big Jay took me to the Emergency Room at the Sans. They did a blood test which showed nothing and have said it's probably oesophigitis or something similar but probably not a gall bladder thing. I'm going to have an ultrasound this afternoon which will hopefully cast some more light on the problem.

I have been taking an assortment of stomach pills and Panadol but nothing has helped. Until I remembered that I had some Digesic leftover from my last op. I had some last night which at least helped me sleep for a few hours. This morning I took Somac which is a once-a-day pill for my stomach and it has helped ease the stomach pain. Right now it is the pain around my shoulder blades which is bothering me the most. I don't know if this is related to the stomach thing or if it's just a result of not sleeping and laying around on the sofa a lot.

I don't know what this is but it isn't any fun at all. I'd have 10 hysterectomies for one of whatever the hell this is.