Finally Hits Home
My daughter, grandson, and I have been staying at my parents home till we sell it, so it won’t sit vacant. My son and husband are still at our apartment.
My son called several days ago that he was sick, so sick he could not only not go to work but could barely get out of bed. I knew he must have a fever from him describing how he got dizzy and could barely stand up.
Luckily I have a couple caring neighbors in the building, and when one of them called him and heard how sick he was he immediately brought my son some flu supplies, for which I’m very thankful.
He’s better today and my husband said he had it too and he felt worse than he’s ever felt with the flu. Everything on his body hurt and although he still went to work, he is sure they had H1N1.
He says he’s better now too, but still feels a little sick. Thank God!
H1N1 Becomes Common Flu
When the first news of the Swine flu hit we were all told to be alarmed and ready for millions to die from it. We were given the impression of this great pandemic which most of us took to mean that we were all in deep danger from it. There was talk about quarantine and the government sending soldiers in to enforce it. We were given the impression if we caught it we’d probably die from it. So what happened?
As far as the experts can tell, H1N1 surprised us by replacing the regular seasonal flu. That doesn’t mean it’s not dangerous for some people, it just means that it hasn’t been as prevalent or deadly any more than the regular flu has been. To add to that the regular flu seems to be down some so that we aren’t noticing any more illness any worse than a regular flu season.
Doctors are still telling us to get the vaccination and it’s probably still a good idea to do so, however you can relax a little and continue on as you usually do during flu season.
FDA Does Not Approve
The FDA does not approve Lyrica, which is a one time treatment for depression.
If this is the drug that has that crazy commercial I don’t wonder why. For those of you who may not have seen it or know what I’m talking about, the TV ad shows a woman and a wind up doll that looks like her. Without the drug she is depressed and her doll is bent over. After taking the drug the woman looks high as a kite and out of it she it holding and staring at the doll. She looks like she’s on drugs with no connection to reality. Who are the idiots that made that commercial?
If You Should Get Swine Flu
- If you’ve already gotten the seasonal flu it will not protect you from the swine flu. You should get both flu vaccines.
- Don’t leave your house unless you are going to the doctor or hospital if you have the flu
- Since viruses can live on surfaces don’t forget to disinfect if someone in your home gets sick, laundry should be done on the hotest settings possible
- Don’t have swine flu parties, or even attend swine flu parties
- Remember to try to avoid the flu by frequent hand washing, face masks may be of little use so don’t depend on them
- Go to the ER if you have trouble breathing or if your skin turns color
The other best advice is not to panic. Determine if you are in a high risk group and discuss this with your doctor.
Santas Lobby For Vaccine
This is something I did not know. As the experts are urging the public to get the swine flu vaccine, there is only enough now to go around to special groups like health care workers and first responders. I also would not have thought about all the thousands of mall Santas that will be handling small children by the hundreds till Christmas.
Of course, sick children should be kept home, but you know there will be those parents who will not use their better judgement over the whining of their kid.
Your Children and the Swine Flu Vaccine
Many parents have not decided yet if they will have their children get the swine flu vaccine, and among the parents who have decided, many have decided not to.
The experts say that during a regular flu season most of the people who die from it are the elderly and people who are sick already. However during this season of swine flu it’s expected that just as many healthy young people could be at risk of death from it. This is why the government is trying to convince parents to have their children get the vaccine.
So far it’s a choice left up to parents. We’ll see what happens during the next couple months when more people are expected to get the swine flu.
My advice is to do your research, learn as much as you can, and consult your doctor and your kids pediatrician. Good luck.
How Colleges Are Managing Their Swine Flu Cases
Young people are starting to go back to school and the CDC has some advice for colleges and universities. The recommendation is if you develop the swine flu quarintine yourself and do not attend classes again until you are without fever for 24 hours or more. It’s important to stay away from the general population so the flu will not spread until most people have hopefully developed some degree of immunity.
Good handwashing and keeping clean in general is still one of your best defenses. Good luck.
The UK and Their Plan to Handle Swine Flu
The UK has a wonderful idea to treat swine flu sufferers and take the overload that’s expected away from their health care resources as in doctors visits and hospital visits. They are almost ready to institute a program by which swine flu victims can get medication by calling or going to the website of their new Pandemic Flu Service.
They have a series of questions that will be asked to determine if a person has swine flu and they have many safeguards in place so they can make sure the person is only getting the medicine for themselves and not multiple doses. The person will be given a number and will work through a flu friend to get the medicine needed.
I think this is a great idea and I hope they have a lot of success with it. Who knows, maybe if it works well there other countries like the US may adopt a similar program. I believe it will save a lot of money and provide faster care for the flu sufferer than waiting for a doctors appointment or a turn at the ER. If the number of flu victims rises this kind of plan will certainly take the strain off health care providers.
Pandemic
By now you all must have heard that the swine flu has been now rated a pandemic by WHO, the World Health Organization. By their rating system, it’s now at a 6 which is a world wide pandemic.
Just so everyone understands and doesn’t panic over this new rating. It has more to do with with the spread of the disease, than with the severity of it. As far as I’m concerned, the numbers are still low, but the fact that they are found all over the world is a concern with governments and the medical world.
Just keep washing those hands and keep them away from your face till they have been thoughly cleaned. I also happened to catch this tip from a popular doctors show. They suggested that when you sneeze or cough you do it into the crook of your elbow, rather than your hands. Of course it’s not correct to do that if you want to be proper, however it makes a lot of sense because you don’t touch things with the inside of your elbow.
Swine Flu Numbers
I’m looking occasionally at the numbers of folks who have caught swine flu and died from it. What I’m seening is headlines saying that the number of dead from swine flu are on the rise, when in fact we’re talking about four or five more people.
I know that it kills even healthy young people and I know if you’re near someon who has it, its easy to catch, but knowing that a regular flu kills 136,000 a year, I find that the numbers of swine flu cases just don’t impress me.
Now don’t get me wrong, I think that it’s more than wise to error on the side of caution. The main thing is the handwashing and the avoiding of the spreading of germs. That is not only useful in avoiding the flu but so many other germs and diseases. Too many people do not think it’s a big deal and that’s why we have so many food recalls.
So, while this might not be a pandemic, you should still be careful and mindful of your personal habits and the habits of those around you.