Does anyone else feel like they are a prisoner in their home?? The H1N1 flu is going crazy here right now and I've been trying to just take normal precautions, but other people are taking bigger precautions for me. I can't get the shots because of my kind of chemo treatment, but my family have all gotten the regular flu shots and are waiting for the H1N1 to arrive in our area.
I was supposed to work my daughters book fair this week and the school secretary (who is a personal friend) called that morning and told me not to come to the school. She said they had kids showing up with fevers and germs flying everywhere and she didn't want me close to the building.
My therapist called me on Monday and told me not to come to my appointment on Weds because both her children had H1N1 and other patients had it and she didn't want me in the office. She did a phone consult before my chemoembolozation next week.
My church has got anti-bacterial lotions at every entrance into the church and sanctuary and there is an "air hug" rule around several of us in the church doing chemo or who have other chronic illnesses.
I'd like to hear any other situations you ladies have been in lately to try to ward off the flu, or if any of you have had the flu, or any precautions you are taking.
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H1N1 Precautions
- By lynnwv
- Posted October 22, 2009 at 7:33 am · 14 replies
- In Taking charge: Being a proactive patient
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- By Beachbabe
- Posted October 22, 2009 at 9:22 am
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I know this won't be the popular answer, but my 'gut' told me loud and clear to stay away from the flu shot. So neither myself nor the rest of the family have gotten it. I'm a firm believer in listening to the gut.
I try to keep up with hand washing, no hand/face contact, steering clear of super 'germy' situations--but let's face it--I have two kids in school. I'm hoping my decision was a good one--will report back!
Given your current health situation, it makes perfect sense to avoid overly germy situations, but we still must live our lives. The flu has been around for many years, and while having it is no walk on the beach, we've all survived. It is my strong conviction we'll survive it again this year!
Distant ((hugs)) wrapped in disinfectant! :)
- By Warrior59
- Posted October 22, 2009 at 6:03 pm
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Beachbabe,
I am with you on this H1N1 flu shot. My gut also says no and the more I hear about this the more I want nothing to do with it. Going to do more research and dig a little farther. Will report back with results.
- By Lukesgrandma
- Posted October 22, 2009 at 7:00 pm
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I've had the seasonal flu shot, and I will get the H1N1 if it's ever available to me. They gave it to the kids in three schools here last night. I think health care workers have had it, but they don't have it for the general public yet. Even when my white count was down to 1.5, I went out, and I never go sick except for a real doozy of a UTI!
- By JTM
- Posted October 23, 2009 at 1:33 am
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I''ve always renounced the flu shot because I don't trust them. The "seasonal" flu shot doesn't cover all strains of the flu just like a pneumonia shot doesn't cover all strains of pneumonia. I think the risk of complication is greater than the effectiveness of the innoculation. And the nasal H1N1 isn't something we (mbcp) should have anyway as it contains the "live" virus - whereas the injectable H1N1 doesn't. Anyway - I'm living like a hermit and it really is starting to get to me. My friend and neighbor just had her third baby - a little girl - and I can't even go visit her. Hospitals are the worst place to be! So better safe than sorry. Stick close to home and be thankful you have such caring friends and loved ones looking out for you! This, too, shall pass and we will again see sunlight!
- By lynnwv
- Posted October 23, 2009 at 6:58 am
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I know what you mean about the hermit. My oldest daughter had her tonsils out yesterday (she's 26) and she forbade me to come to the hospital. But Mommy was at her house when she got home!!
Lukesgrandma, it must be a WV school thing, because my younger daughter's school is offering the H1N1 shot to students in the next week or so.
My doctor said I should not be around anyone who gets the live virus nasal spray and I can't get the shots myself at all. I have a lot of trouble with infection when I get chemo treatment and I'm having another embolozation (inserted directly into liver tumors) on Monday. Last time I got a nasty fungal infection.
- By ReneP
- Posted October 23, 2009 at 9:03 am
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i survived h1n1
and while it wasn't fun, it wasn't any worse than any other flu. and my white counts are looooooow.
while i am cautious i feel like i need to live in the world.
- By mom2acat
- Posted October 23, 2009 at 11:46 am
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I always get the regular flu shot, never had any problems with it other than sometimes a very sore arm for a couple of days. I probably didn't need it so much this year, but when I was working, I worked in a retail store so I was always around sick people, customers and employees both, during the flu season. I will probably skip the H1N1 vaccine though.
There are a lot of schools closed this week in Michigan because of the flu, and some high school sporting events have been cancelled. There are also hospitals putting restrictions on visitors, such as no one under 18, (some just say no one under 16), no one that is sick (which should be common sense) unless they are there for medical care for themselves. And some hospitals are asking that only one family member accompany patients in the hospital or the ER.
I'm not too worried about it myself; now that I'm no longer working, I can stay home if I'm sick, and if it gets really bad in my area, I have plenty of frozen and canned food so I can skip a few trips to the grocery store if I have too.
I think the news media is actually making things out to be much worse than they actually are, remember the bird flu scare? I think the media has really whipped a lot of people into a panic.
If I do get the flu, I plan on staying home and taking care of myself. I sure wouldn't want to go and sit in a waiting room full of other sick people.
- By PinkMelba
- Posted October 23, 2009 at 12:51 pm
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I received both injections and have a sore arm and woke up the next morning with a high fever. The high fever made me postpone my chemo until today and I will have my scan on schedule net week. All of my healthcare providers wanted me to get the vaccine due to the fact I have a 6 year old in the public school system. My 6 year old also received the vaccine with no ill effects.
Melba
- By hillbillygirl
- Posted October 23, 2009 at 1:36 pm
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I just took the HINI shot last night. I got the dead Virus, got up with a head ache this morning, but it could be the zometa i took on tues. it also gives me headaches the first week. We just had a healthy 28 year old man with 4 kids die at the hosp. with HINI and this small town is wild. they have had two clinics and the lines were long, long long. and people wre turned away due to not enough vaccine. They are telling us there will be another outbreak of this in Jan/Feb. everyone should talk to there dr. and thier childrens Dr. to make a dec.
- By Saraj
- Posted October 23, 2009 at 2:18 pm
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I think our best option is to speak to our oncologist regarding their recommendation on the H1N1 vaccine. Some oncologists allow a vaccine, while in treatment, while others do not. The recommendation of the oncologists, along with a thorough review of good research seems like the most prudent method of deciding whether or not to get the vaccine. A very good friend, who is a conservative, investigational physician, has attended the most recent conferences regarding research on the H1N1 vaccine. He is recommending the vaccine to appropriate patients. Basing a decision on good, well reviewed research may be in our best interest, rather than simply on our gut reaction. I'm with everyone else, wash hands, wash hands, wash hands!
- By LaGata
- Posted October 24, 2009 at 1:27 am
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When I went in for chemo on Monday, my onc told me to get the seasonal flu shot but NOT the H1N1 shot. He said that the full research on the effects of the serum and any interactions with specific chemo drugs has not been done yet.
- By outofthepit
- Posted October 24, 2009 at 4:20 am
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Hey SararJ - I agree with you. This is a decision best made with your oncologist (& gut). I rarely get a seasonal flu shot but now my risk is different as my right lung has been heavily attacked and is now compromised due to the 3 liters of fluid that was around it until it was drained last month. What I have found most challenging are all the issues we face regarding our treatment and how we handle the day to day choices that are part of fighting this disease. With no set mode of operation we each have to find our own way while supporting each other. One of the best quotes I've heard - "You make a decision and then you make it right."
- By jo823
- Posted October 24, 2009 at 10:00 am
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Getting the facts straight on H1N1 Swine Flu
http://www.healthcentral.com/cold-flu/swine-flu-304411-5.html
- By CrazyfortheCoast
- Posted October 24, 2009 at 11:36 am
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I always get the seasonal flu shot because of a life long battle with asthma. This year I was advised by both my PCP and Onco to get both flu shots. As a former health care worker in a pediatric office, I also talked to "my pediatrician.) They fortunately had some adult doses left from the staff supply and he offered me one since no one else in our community had the injections. I had it last Saturday and although my arm was sore, I haven't had any ill effects. Then again, who can tell between chemo and anything else?
Anyway, I want to live my life and not be afraid of everything that comes along. I do take more precautions than I used to but I figured God had a hand in me getting this disease and he will have a hand in the management of things, as well. One day at a time.
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