<p>Worrying about exposure to germs and taking various measures to remain uncontaminated makes sense during a flu outbreak, but to me being paranoid about remote controls, door handles, pens, airplane seats and the like is silly and, given the fact we pretty much live in a Petri dish of bacteria and viruses all the time, useless. Most of us can’t get through a normal day without touching dozens of surfaces and being on close proximity to many fellow humans, but nonetheless we only get sick occasionally, and then it’s typically a common cold that resolves in a week. Unless one has a compromised immune system, there’s no reason to go to extremes. What about the magazines in the doctor’s waiting room? Your kids lunch box that go touched by a few snotty nose classmates? The credit card that the gas jockey hands back to you? You can’t Clorox the universe.</p>
<p>Not all of us get over a cold in a week. I have chronic sinusitis and bronchitis. I caught a cold in mid-Sept. which led to a sinus infection and bronchitis, antibiotics, and another cold and repeat sinus infection right after it. I am just now getting back to normal after four months of feeling sick and no energy. Catching any cold is serious to me. I will do whatever I can to avoid it.</p>
<p>And it isn’t just during flu season either. I helped at a children’s program for just two days at my church one summer, caught a terrible cold and was sick with bronchitis for months. I no longer volunteer directly with children after that episode.</p>
<p>I often go out on errands and come back without having touched any common surfaces.</p>
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<p>Right. That was kinda my point in post #76. You can spend 15 minutes scrubbing down everything in arms length around you only to have the next random passer-by completely re-contaminate the whole area in less than one second.</p>
<p>Washing your hands often is a great idea. And wearing a mask during cold/flu season helps if you are really worried. Getting a flu shot is a must, IMO. But battling to establish and maintain a sterile field around yourself in a public place is a waste of effort. It’s like trying to hold back the ocean.</p>
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<p>Completely agree. Unless someone has a specific reason such as an immunocompromised system, all of this is all pretty much just whistling in the dark. It may make you feel better that you’re not touching the bathroom door handle or the remote control, but then you go back out to the restaurant or other public place and the germs are all around you anyway.</p>
<p>“You can’t Clorox the universe” might be the best line I’ve read in days!</p>
<p>I used to feel this way as well. but i have become a germophobe . I did have chemo during the H1N1 crisis but I just have become unapologetic about wiping things down. I have had two colds that have morphed into bronchtis and sinus infection one currently and I am done. hate being sick missing work. hate feeling lousy. This last cold contracted from my H who wascoughing and seeaing all over the place.
I read somewhere that the biggest depository for germs is the gas pump.</p>
<p>Well, I’m with you, downtoearth. The fewer things I touch when out of my house, the better I feel mentally because at least I am making an effort to limit the number of germs on my hands. </p>
<p>I have had some time periods when I am recovering when my dr. tells me to stay home for a week or two, no stores or public places or church. Just too many germs floating around.</p>