On Saturday evening I was at a party celebrating the Arts Trail – on Sunday morning I woke up with a raging sore throat, aching all over. I was immediately concerned that I had swine flu.

The first thing that entered my mind was the disabled woman who died at Whipps Cross Hospital recently. I am both asthmatic and mobility impaired, and the last time I had flu, there were complications. After waiting a couple of hours only to find I was getting worse, it was time to see how the NHS would deal with me.

I called NHS direct and – after 15 minutes on hold – they went through my symptoms and arranged for my out-of-hours doctor to call back as soon as possible. However they warned that there were delays of 8 hours for a callback in some areas.

After just 2 and a half hours, a Waltham Forest GP phoned me. After several questions, and ascertaining that I receive the flu jab so there was no chance this was a normal seasonal virus, I was prescribed Tamiflu. The GP faxed a prescription directly to the pharmacy, which my husband picked up. Ironically, he was sent to the Polyclinic in Leyton – the very facility that I’d had problems with in April – so I was able not only to direct my husband, but to show him what it looked like via the photo in the paper!

I took my first dose of Tamiflu within 9 hours of experiencing flu symptoms, and I think it’s already helping; I felt rotten yesterday but today my mind can organise sentences, and although I’m tired and aching I don’t need to stay in bed. All in all, I’m impressed with how the NHS – and Waltham Forest PCT – handled things. I got the attention, diagnosis, and treatment that I needed, even though it was a Sunday. It seems that swine flu really is as mild as the medical reports say, although I was advised to stay at home until I no longer have any symptoms, so I don’t spread the illness to others.

Between dozing and listening to cricket on the radio, I’ve become the Expert Patient. I’ve learnt how Tamiflu stops the virus replicating and the difference between flu and a bad cold (symptoms of a cold kick in over a couple of days, whereas flu hits you like a train in just a few hours).

Swine flu isn’t that scary after all. I feel comfortable with flu now. Indeed, if anyone was to send me one of those cute and fluffy Giant Microbe toys, I'd probably take it to bed with me.

But I'm hoping to be well enough to leave the house soon.