Swine Flu Exposure

[that_someone_special]

FI was exposed to a very contagious co-worker that found out they had/have swine flu.

What should I watch out for?? Should I stay home and not go out for several days??

I''m freaked out.

 

[joflier]

Date: 10/16/2009 9:13:21 AM
Author:swedish bean
FI was exposed to a very contagious co-worker that found out they had/have swine flu.

What should I watch out for?? Should I stay home and not go out for several days??

I''m freaked out.

Just because he was exposed, does not mean he''ll get it, nor you. Just be socially responsible as far as germs go. Lots of handwashing. I don''t see any reason you need to stay home if your not symptomatic. If you or he develop a fever, then yes, I would stay home.
Where I live, we are having a very strong outbreak, but if you a normally healthy person, you shouldn''t have anything to be freaked out about. The dr''s where I work feel that the h1n1 flu seems milder than the normal flu strain if you don''t have any health/immuno risk factors.

 

[soocool]

If you get a fever,chills, and bodyaches that come on suddenly that would certainly tip you off . Why don''t you call your doctor and get his advice? Ask about Tamiflu which lessens the length of the regular flu if you take it within a certain timeframe in which your symptoms appear. I don''t know if it works for the H1N1 virus. You''d have to ask the doctor or the pharmacist.

 

[that_someone_special]

Good to know--- I was supposed to see a friend and her newborn baby tonight but cancelled. I just didn''t want to take the risk!

I will watch for symptoms.

Is sleeping a lot one of them?

 

[soocool]

Date: 10/16/2009 9:41:56 AM
Author: swedish bean
Good to know--- I was supposed to see a friend and her newborn baby tonight but cancelled. I just didn''t want to take the risk!

I will watch for symptoms.

Is sleeping a lot one of them?

Nope unfortunately, but it helps keep your immune system up to par. My dog sleeps all day long and he''s very healthy. Maybe I should sleep more?

 

[that_someone_special]

Date: 10/16/2009 9:49:18 AM
Author: soocool

Date: 10/16/2009 9:41:56 AM

Author: swedish bean

Good to know--- I was supposed to see a friend and her newborn baby tonight but cancelled. I just didn''t want to take the risk!


I will watch for symptoms.


Is sleeping a lot one of them?

Nope unfortunately, but it helps keep your immune system up to par. My dog sleeps all day long and he''s very healthy. Maybe I should sleep more?

Phew.

I feel better now. I''m still not going around the baby, but I feel less like I''m on my death bed.

 

[Erin]

Make sure you buy a hand sanitizer whose ingredients include at least 70% isopropyl alcohol.

 

[joflier]

Probably holding off on seeing a newborn is a good idea. I''m taking zinc lozenges. Seems to be helping me stay healthy, and I''m exposed to dozens of H1n1 people cough and sneezing on me each day.

 

[SarahLovesJS]

I am pretty sure I had it last week..they know I had the flu and tested negative for A & B annnd since they don't do the swine flu test we'll never know for sure. Anyway, I agree stay away from the newborn and look for the sudden onset of symptoms. I went from a little tickle in my throat to very ill within a few hours. Felt like the worst cold ever..then got progressively worse every day.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 10/16/2009 9:53:57 AM
Author: Starset Princess
Make sure you buy a hand sanitizer whose ingredients include at least 70% isopropyl alcohol.

But don''t excessively lick your hands after pumping out loads of the isopropyl alcohol because you can become drunk that way! Anyone read that story about the preschool kids who endulged in hand sanitizer and became tipsy? Maybe it''s just an urban legend.

 

[TooPatient]

Avoid the baby. Also anyone with immune problems (old or sick).
Other than that, go to work and live your life.


(I was exposed on Monday -- thanks little brother)

 

[Italiahaircolor]

The swine flu, while scary, is still the flu. Unless you have health conditions that may be servely effected by getting sick (ie: heart condition) take the normal precautions like washing your hands and such. You''ll be ok.

 

[musey]

Step one: calm down

The swine flu is just the flu. It''s just spreading more easily than most flu bugs because it''s an entirely new strain.

I had it during the summer, and while annoying as heck it was entirely manageable.

 

[that_someone_special]

Date: 10/16/2009 4:08:20 PM
Author: musey
Step one: calm down

The swine flu is just the flu. It''s just spreading more easily than most flu bugs because it''s an entirely new strain.


I had it during the summer, and while annoying as heck it was entirely manageable.

LOL I like that first step! I am trying to keep my head on straight. I think I have freaked myself out with the news coverage and think that if I get it, I''m going to end up dying. Blah! *breathes* ok. I''m calm! I promise! Head on straight

 

[that_someone_special]

Date: 10/16/2009 12:54:10 PM
Author: Italiahaircolor
The swine flu, while scary, is still the flu. Unless you have health conditions that may be servely effected by getting sick (ie: heart condition) take the normal precautions like washing your hands and such. You''ll be ok.

Good point!!! Thank you.

 

[that_someone_special]

Date: 10/16/2009 12:17:44 PM
Author: MC

Date: 10/16/2009 9:53:57 AM

Author: Starset Princess

Make sure you buy a hand sanitizer whose ingredients include at least 70% isopropyl alcohol.

But don''t excessively lick your hands after pumping out loads of the isopropyl alcohol because you can become drunk that way! Anyone read that story about the preschool kids who endulged in hand sanitizer and became tipsy? Maybe it''s just an urban legend.

Hahaha or maybe I should do that to pass the day?

 

[asscherisme]

Date: 10/16/2009 4:08:20 PM
Author: musey
Step one: calm down

The swine flu is just the flu. It''s just spreading more easily than most flu bugs because it''s an entirely new strain.

I had it during the summer, and while annoying as heck it was entirely manageable.

I agree with musey, you are over reacting a bit by wanting to stay home when you don''t have symptoms. And this strain is mostly attacking children.

I was at the emergency room today with my daugher because after going to her doctor first, she sent us to the ER due to severity of symptoms and my daughter needing IV fluids.

THREE of my kids have swine flu. I feel fine (thankfully and hopefully I won''t get it) My other child is fine too.

Only my daughter that needed emergency care was tested but I was told since they all have the same symtoms and obviously caught it from each other I can assume thats what the other kids have.

Other than having him avoid my other kids and even sharing my bathroom with me instead of his siblings like he usually does, I am not going to keep him home from school if he has no symptoms.

I asked the ER doctor and he said that of course I should send him to school if he has no symptoms. The school district guidelines are that they must be fever and symptom free for 72 hours before they return to school.

As an adult, your risk is less than children''s risk.

On the other hand, I had a handyman scheduled to come this week and called him and said he might not want to enter my house due to sick kids and thats before I realized it was H1N1.

I am definately worried about my kids. However, care wise, its no different than a regular flu.

And I''m curious, what makes a co worker very contagious vs just regular contageous? Contangious is contagious right?

 

[Ara Ann]

I think DH and I both had it too...there is a nasty bug going around our area right now and our local news basically said the ''flu'' like virus going around IS the H1N1... I got a BAD case of bronchitis from it, it was almost pneumonia, but DH didn''t develop that, he just had a bad cough. I went to the urgent care because I had problems breathing and was wheezing and the Dr. totally blew it off...I knew it was viral, since I caught it from my hubby, but the Dr. gave me a very strong antibiotic anyway (an dI had an allergic reaction to that, UGH)...when I mentioned I thought it could be H1N1, the Dr. blew that off too and said they don''t even test for it anymore, once it''s already been diagnosed in a given county...we had several confirmed cases last year, so they won''t even test for it now.

It took me about a month to feel better, still not 100%...it IS a nasty bug and takes longer to recover from than the regular flu (for me anyway)...but the virus is everywhere at this point.

Just REST and drink lots of water if you do get it.

 

[asscherisme]

The ER doctor told me today that the H1N1 is the only flu going around the country right now so if you have the flu its H1N1. I don''t know if thats true of the country but it seems to be where I live.

 

[that_someone_special]

Date: 10/16/2009 5:35:05 PM
Author: asscherisme

Date: 10/16/2009 4:08:20 PM

Author: musey

Step one: calm down

The swine flu is just the flu. It''s just spreading more easily than most flu bugs because it''s an entirely new strain.


I had it during the summer, and while annoying as heck it was entirely manageable.

I agree with musey, you are over reacting a bit by wanting to stay home when you don''t have symptoms. And this strain is mostly attacking children.


I was at the emergency room today with my daugher because after going to her doctor first, she sent us to the ER due to severity of symptoms and my daughter needing IV fluids.


THREE of my kids have swine flu. I feel fine (thankfully and hopefully I won''t get it) My other child is fine too.


Only my daughter that needed emergency care was tested but I was told since they all have the same symtoms and obviously caught it from each other I can assume thats what the other kids have.


Other than having him avoid my other kids and even sharing my bathroom with me instead of his siblings like he usually does, I am not going to keep him home from school if he has no symptoms.


I asked the ER doctor and he said that of course I should send him to school if he has no symptoms. The school district guidelines are that they must be fever and symptom free for 72 hours before they return to school.


As an adult, your risk is less than children''s risk.


On the other hand, I had a handyman scheduled to come this week and called him and said he might not want to enter my house due to sick kids and thats before I realized it was H1N1.


I am definately worried about my kids. However, care wise, its no different than a regular flu.


And I''m curious, what makes a co worker very contagious vs just regular contageous? Contangious is contagious right?

By very contagious, I mean, not taking precautions to prevent the spread of it. Generally a not very clean person....

And I''d rather over react and not give it to a newborn baby than go see the kid and if, god forbid, they got sick because I was magically sick,... well... I''d just rather be careful. Their isn''t really harm in that right now.

 

[TravelingGal]

I just came back from Texas. My coworker met me there and he lives in Madison, WI. Half the school seems to be out with swine flu. Both his daughters got it. They are doing fine.

 

[LtlFirecracker]

Here is the most up to date info on being sick with the swine flu

CDC patient info

 

[Indylady]

Its all over my university. I think that you should be fine; if you notice symptoms, get yourself to a doctor. The elderly or very young children are the ones who are most at risk. If you are not in either category, or have an extremely weak immune system for other reasons, I don''t think you should stress.

 

[LtlFirecracker]

Date: 10/17/2009 12:59:36 AM
Author: szh07
Its all over my university. I think that you should be fine; if you notice symptoms, get yourself to a doctor. The elderly or very young children are the ones who are most at risk. If you are not in either category, or have an extremely weak immune system for other reasons, I don't think you should stress.

Actually, it is manly younger children who are being affected by this disease. The elderly not had nearly the complications they have had with the regular flu.

Pregnant women are considered high risk as well and complications have been seen in that population.

 

[Maisie]

Everyone in our house has swine flu apart from my oldest son. He has gone off to the cinema today. He has no symptoms so hopefully he isn''t a danger to anyone.

It was his first date in ages. Nobody could persuade him not to go