[Mari]

Hello,

--The regular flu shot is available now. Our nearby Walgreens will have the shots ready Oct 1.

--The H1N1 flu shots are not supposed to be here until mid October or so -- and could be too late.

For some reason I am stressing about the flu/s this year.
Normally I don't get a flu shot but this year I told hubby I want us to get the shots.

For one thing, getting the shot gives you immunity so that others around you with immuno-crompromised systems who cannot get the shots are safe around you.
When I thought about my friend getting chemo, I decided to get the shots.

A student asked me for some hand sanitizer yesterday. I had plain alchohol but she didn't want that.
Today I bought hand sanitizer for both hubby and me to put on our desks to make it easy for students to grab if they want some.

I hope the flu season goes safely and quickly for all.


M.

[Pamster]

I am stressed about it too Mari, I think all th e media attention to it has only served to stress people out, though many may be washing their hands more now. We can only hope.

[befuddled2]

I plan to get both flu shots.

barbara

[Jomar]

I think if you do some internet searches - on some sites it is not as horrible as the press is depicting.

We have some threads in other forums too - I did a quick search -
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/se...uery=swine+flu


What ever works best for each of us

[Abbie]

I didn't get the flu shot for the past few years... I got the flu instead.

I'm kind of in a catch 22.... a shot (B12) was given in my arm and caused my RSD to spread to that location...

Was given a tetanus shot about 6 months ago... sent my arm into a major flair and the prettiest colors of red and purple for several weeks.

Also had to have some blood drawn... several sticks... this did the same thing....


So... do I get the flu, H1N1, and pneumonia shots that are being strongly recommended in my neck of the woods and risk a flair up (RSD can't spread to arms or anywhere a shot would be administered...it's already there) OR do I risk getting the flu, H1N1, and pneumonia??


ARGH....
Abbie

[Mari]

So... do I get the flu, H1N1, and pneumonia shots that are being strongly recommended in my neck of the woods and risk a flair up (RSD can't spread to arms or anywhere a shot would be administered...it's already there) OR do I risk getting the flu, H1N1, and pneumonia??


ARGH....
Abbie[/QUOTE]


Dear Abbie,

Call a dr.
Maybe even a pharmacist can give you some advice.

Part of me thinks that the pneumonia is (most of the time) more serious than the flu.(but I'm not an expert)

Also, the vaccine for seasonal flu can be administered by nasal-spray.

Some states / cities have set up hot lines so you can call with questioins.

Talk to someone you trust.

M.

[Mari]

Key Facts About Seasonal Flu Vaccine
http://www.cdc.gov/FLU/protect/keyfacts.htm


2009 H1N1 Flu: Situation Update
September 18, 2009, 5:30 PM ET
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/update.htm

[Mari]

HI,

CNN is reporting that people
--get colds from surfaces like hands
--get flu from droplets in the air via coughs and sneezes

. . . so handwashing / and hand sanitizers do not work against flu.


And yes I am sleepy and anxious and overwhelmed and so maybe have some (LOTS) of anxiety.

And I work with lots of people.
M.


http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/09/24...ful/index.html
Some doubt hand washing stops H1N1

According to some experts, you can wash your hands all you want, and it won't do much to stop the spread of influenza, including the H1N1 variety.

"Washing hands really is wonderful for preventing many diseases, such as the common cold, but it's not very helpful to prevent influenza," said Arthur Reingold, professor of epidemiology at the University of California-Berkeley.

I gave Reingold two scenarios. The first: I'm sitting in a movie theater next to -- but not touching -- someone with H1N1, and he sneezes and doesn't cover his mouth. The second: Someone with H1N1 rubs his nose, shakes my hand, and then I rub my nose. In which situation am I more likely to catch the flu?

That's easy, said Reingold, an infectious disease specialist who advises on vaccine policy for the World Health Organization. The theater incident is much more likely -- much, much more likely, he said -- to give me the flu, since inhaling particles results in a bigger dose of the virus.

A spokesman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agrees there isn't strong evidence that hand washing fights H1N1.

"We don't have solid data on the effect that hand washing has on the transmission of H1N1," CDC spokesman Tom Skinner wrote in an e-mail.

[waves]

we can't help what's in the air. well, we can wear a mask - and some do in this season here. but when ppl sneeze they also spray particles onto surfaces, from which they can then be inhaled, even if in lesser proportion since not already airborne.

----------------------

when i am out... i do not put my hands to my face, esp nose/eyes/mouth.

as a general rule. i'm in big trouble now because of my macabre cuticle eating issue, which i'm trying to resolve - fight. but i especially try to fight that when out.

when i get to my pdocs i immediately wash my hands with his disinfectant soap.

i use paper towel to dry and i shut the tap with that paper towel, AFTER DRYING MY HANDS -i do not touch tap after washing, nor do i touch the door handle (i close the door using the edge of my wrist).

then i sit with my pdoc. when i leave, he shakes my hand. but i am going out and about again so i no longer consider hands clean anyway. i just like getting them clean while i'm there - because sometimes i cry or whatever, and touch my face.

now. i think this sanitization thing probably works. the thing is i bet a lot of people don't realize that once they're in a heavily populated area, or touch common surfaces, it is likely that their freshly washed hands will become infected.

so do not put them in/near your eyes, nose or mouth!

another issues - different concept. most/many "germs" can be killed with antiseptics or even plain soap/detergent. some cannot. salmonella requires boiling for what is it 10-15 minutes? BOILING, people! or BLEACH.

The HIV virus on the other hand is very delicate and can't survive more than a few minutes outside of blood or body fluids and preferably in the body itself.

Herpes, on the other hand is another resilient one. It might survive a light wash - in fact the process can spread it to other areas of the skin. drying areas with a break out using the same general towel is less than prudent. the virus can survive on a towel for days and when you dry other parts you can re-inoculate yourself (it doesn't change much, but every "site-of-entry" for Herpes is a more likely site of outbreak. Herpes can survive for days in a "hostile" environment ... on various surfaces too. Another reason for extra prudence in public restrooms and not "picking up" that shampoo that someone "abandoned" in the bathroom at the gym. you don't know what's on it, nor how easily you could get it.

so. the other big question is, how sensitive is this influenza virus and what agents kill it effectively?

it COULD be that hand sanitizers - provided you don't then go and touch more stuff and wipe your nose - are in fact helpful. depending on what the virus is susceptible to.

~ waves ~ sorry for the speech. hey at least it distracted me. something medical always manages to distract me. but i am too old and broke to study medicine now, lovely huh.

[Yellowfever]

I am trying to not really worry about it. This is because I worry too much about everything then I end up paying lots of money because of it. This is really dumb but I stopped watching the news all together. I hate the media. I rather read news on the web. But anything other than that NO TV For me! LOL I get paranoid and I can not stand it. But it is always good to know the signs and know what that flu is. When I clean hotels I use gloves and I do not touch my face at all. I wash my hands a lot and I take vitamins as well. I think that will help a bit. I will get my shots soon.

Sharla