If you are scheduled to go in to see your doctor any time soon, review all the steps your doctor thinks you, personally, need to take.

• There are general rules for everyone, such as careful hand-washing, coughing into sleeves not hands and staying home for after a fever ends for 24 more hours.

• You should get the seasonal flu shot, available now.

• You may also need to get the H1N1 vaccine, depending on where you are on the risk scale and the supply of vaccine. Those who are likely to have the worst cases will get the first vaccines.

However, your patient record in the one only your doctor knows. Ask if there are other steps you can take which will benefit you.

Many people report “mild” cases while healthy young families may say everyone was “really sick.”

The response to this flu is highly individual, which is not true of all of them, so be sure you know what your doctor recommends.

CNN

• Seasonal flu, H1N1 and common cold will all be around this flu season
• Without testing, a person can’t tell seasonal flu from H1N1 flu
• The symptoms of both (seasonal or H1n1) are more severe than cold symptoms and include fever
• Expert: If you are having respiratory problems or are dehydrated, see your doctor

Source: CNN, Updated September 20, 2009