Can you catch H1N1 again?

I have been researching this and what I have found is you can if it mutates.  It hasn't mutated to my knowledge.  Am I wrong?  Or is it always mutating into a different form?  I'm so annoyed because I want to be done with this damn flu and want to be worry free now that we have all had it but yet here I am worrying AGAIN about this stupid flu!

Any insight appreaciated

Yes, this is what our doctor told us. The nurse there said that it will be milder the second time. We have had some sort of flu go through our house 3 times in the past month & each time we recovered completely and got sick again. The first time the kids were the worst and we all got it. The second time just DH and I got it and recovered in a day or 2. This time DH and I got it again and it hit us hard, we are on antibiotics for secondary throat infections.

I think it depends on how much it mutates. The reason you can get flu in general more than once is that there are different strains/mutations of it. That is also why the flu shot doesn't work some years when the vaccine strain doesn't end up matching the strain that spreads that year. 

I do know that older people seem not to be catching H1N1 as much or getting as sick from it and they think this is because this flu is so similar to one that was around about 40 years ago and a lot of older people have immunity from having it back then.

Well, this just sucks!  Here I thought I could breathe easier and be done for now with this stupid flu and my kids can get it again?  I'm so depressed

Well, hopefully it will be mild and you know what to do now. Yeah, sick kids and parents are no picnic!

Jojo, were you kids tested or did they just assume and treat them for H1N1?   Most research I have found has suggested getting the vax even if you had H1N1 unless you were tested and it was positive.   

However, what I think is working agaisnt you is how early your children got it.   A long winter is coming up with lots of this.   I really hope you did your turn already and the swines won't be back. GLC]

Damn those pigs anyhow!

Chloe:

were you kids tested or did they just assume and treat them for H1N1

Anastasia Beaverhausen:

DD was tested Tues night and it was positive

I agree, I'm sure you had the same thing.   I bet you are okay.  I have heard of the mutations, but hope that it hasn't mutated just yet.  I hope you are in the clear

I was the only one actually tested.  The dr. said he's sure thats what the kids had too.  He said you can get it again but the chances of that happening is highly unlikely.  Like 1 in a million. FX we are both in the clear and have a flu free winter and spring:)

Camping in the Rain:

I was the only one actually tested.  The dr. said he's sure thats what the kids had too.  He said you can get it again but the chances of that happening is highly unlikely.  Like 1 in a million. FX we are both in the clear and have a flu free winter and spring:)

Anastasia Beaverhausen:

Heading to urgent care tonight because my chest is killing me!

Oh no:(  Hope your ok..It didn't get to any of our lungs.  A few of the kids just had a mild cough.  Hope your better soon.

No.  This is the reason the older population is NOT getting H1N1--because it hit in the 70s (I think it was the 70s, could be off on the dates though) and they got it then and have immunities to it.

Sarah:

No.  This is the reason the older population is NOT getting H1N1--because it hit in the 70s (I think it was the 70s, could be off on the dates though) and they got it then and have immunities to it.

"Do those that have been previously vaccinated against the 1976 swine influenza need to get vaccinated against the 2009 H1N1 influenza?

The 1976 swine flu virus and the 2009 H1N1 virus are different enough that it's unlikely a person vaccinated in 1976 will have full protection from the 2009 H1N1. People vaccinated in 1976 should still be given the 2009 H1N1 vaccine. "

This quote is taken directly from the CDCs webstie.  They are comparing it to chicken pox.  If you get a "mild"case of chicken pox you can get them again.  So if you get a "mild case of swine flu it is possible to get it again, therefore to be safe GET VACCINATED. 

 same here..they only tested my oldest who tested positive for Influenza A and that test further determined that H1N1 was "detected". They said that since one was positive for it the rest of them had it too...no need to test them all. I have heard that if you have had it you are immune to it and that if it mutated that it would only be a mild case.......fingers crossed for us both. I must say though that is was a non-event in my house and I would take H1N1 again over ANY stomach bug!!!!! Yes the fever did get high for my kids but they still never really seemed sick.