<p>D is feeling better, today, but not fantastic. “Haven’t been this sick since I was little.” I guess it really is a brutal virus. (This kid really doesn’t get sick, and never stays home, so it must be a wipe out)…calling doc to figure out when I can get a vaccine. ASAP</p>
<p>Some thoughts from a doc on keeping healthy:</p>
<p>Dr. Vinay Goyal is an MBBS,DRM,DNB (Intensivist and Thyroid specialist), having clinical experience of over 20 years. He has worked in institutions like Hinduja Hospital , Bombay Hospital , Saifee Hospital , Tata Memorial, etc. Presently, he is heading our Nuclear Medicine Department and Thyroid clinic at Riddhivinayak Cardiac and Critical Centre, Malad (W). The following message given by him; I feel it makes a lot of sense and is important for all to know.
The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it’s almost impossible not coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.</p>
<p>While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).</p>
<ol>
<li> “Hands-off-the-face” approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap). </li>
<li> *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don’t trust salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don’t underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.</li>
<li> Similar to 3 above, <em>clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. *Not everybody may be good at using a Neti pot, but *blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton swabs dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.</em></li>
<li> *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C. *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.</li>
<li> *Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.</li>
</ol></li>
</ol>
<p>
</p>
<p>Wow! The university my daughter attends encourages sick students to stay isolated - and states that the faculty will work with ill students to ensure that return to class goes smoothly. My daughter contacted each professor with her diagnosis and her estimated return to class. Each professor responded: quizzes, tests, missed group project - rescheduled; TA offered to sit down with notes from 2 missed lectures and go over salient points. My daughter encountered no professor who was less than accomodating.</p>
<p>I think that’s really fantastic. D only has the one prof who isn’t rescheduling anything…but you have to work with what you have got. He’s just “like that,” shrug.</p>
<p>When we were trying to choose among Us, we talked with each U about how they would deal with prolonged absences for documented chronic illnesses. Most Us were pretty responsive but there was one U who said that they will likely ask the student to withdraw from the U if they missed up to 2 weeks of courses in a quarter, NO MATTER WHAT.</p>
<p>The other Us all said that while each teacher has considerable flexibility in attendance & other requirements, they have all had many students who were able to work things out with all their profs & graduate even with chronic health conditions that caused prolonged absences. This was a very important criteria to us in choosing our U.</p>
<p>Sounds like some Us & profs are really causing dangerous situations and that can’t be good for anyone!</p>
<p>Well, I don’t know if it is more than he, and also, I know it is the “official” policy of the school that the kids need to stay out longer. But…D had a test (one of three) scheduled for Wed. and she emailed the prof along with the note from health services saying she was ill and the prof said she could not “make up” the test, but since the final was optional, she would be allowed to take that instead? Don’t know what else to say. All the labs will apparently be full of next weeks labs next week. End o story. If she’d even have been able to get out of bed on Wednesday, she would have gone to take the test, and she knows at least four kids who were slightly less ill than her who DID go. But, where’s the motivation to stay in bed in that? A 50 minute test or a 2 hour final? I feel bad for her.</p>
<p>poetgrl - I wonder if the administration knows about this prof’s policy. It seems really contrary to all the advice being given for a professor to encourage kids to come to class sick. This is a situation in which the guidance should come from the health center.</p>
<p>I know. 
But, she’s just a firstyear and I think this is about all that she can “handle.” She cried when she opened the email…and when she called me. But, she’s also sick and in pain (so crying easily), but she’s reached a peace with it and this isn’t the right “fight” for her to pick. She’s probably going to have this same guy for orgo next quarter, and I don’t think she’s ready for that kind of thing, yet, anyway.
But, to be fair, I actually don’t think he “sees” it as encouraging kids to come to class so much as just “letting” them substitute the grade from the final. Se la vie.</p>
<p>I don’t blame her for not pursuing it. I wonder if he’ll make it to class if he gets sick.</p>
<p>I’m so sorry she’s sick and has to worry about class. When they call home crying, it is heartbreaking.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I got my shot earlier this week too (I am working in healthcare). It didn’t hurt at all, but since getting the Gardasil shot, no other shot hurts very much. :)</p>
<p>Once we get enough vaccine to start the flu clinic (most of our initial allotment went to employees), I think we’re opening it up to everyone, high risk or not, because the CDC says we’re not supposed to turn anyone away.</p>
<p>Hmm, my son now has Swine Flu - and got a prescription for Tami Flu along with the diagnosis.</p>
<p>Not officially diagnosed but I think it is in my house. First daughter, then I, now my son. Fighting the high fever by alternating Ibuprofen and Tylenol. He is feeling really lousy…
Only started today so a few more sleepless nights. I am SO looking forward to it 
But at least I have my kid close to me. My heart goes out to all of you that are nursing them long distance…</p>
<p>I’m amazed that there are schools out there that are handling this so badly. The university that two of my Ds attend have made it clear that students are not to attend class if they are exhibiting flu symptoms. They have even changed their usual requirements for deferment of assignments and mid-terms for medical reasons. A doctor’s certificate is not required. The online system at the school has been set up to include a function where students are able to report illness, and symptoms they are exhibiting, and they are asked to update it on a daily basis for the duration of their illness. It’s not discouraging kids from seeking medical attention - those instructions are similar to the ones that most schools and businesses here are posting - but rather the school is trying to make the kids understand that if they are sick, they shouldn’t be out spreading their germs around to others. A missed assignment or mid-term or lab can always be made up once they’re feeling better.</p>
<p>^^alwaysamom - this is great!
Our HS does typical double standard - stay at home if you are sick BUT you will be penalized for not attending classes at the same time. It will take years to change the system, especially at the HS level where so many are eager to abuse it :(</p>
<p>I think this is a real outlier situation, all of the other profs URGED her to stay away until she was well, and I also think if my D was a year or two further into school, she would have been able to make it NOT go this way. But, she’s too new and still figuring it out and so she was unable to get what she wanted this time around. No matter, the fever is gone and they have her on generic hydrocodone, so she won’t be coughing on anyone…I really actually think the kids are more likely getting it in thier dorms than anything else. Anyway, I hope everyone else stays as healthy as possible. </p>
<p>Advice: watch the cough. If you’re coughing get to a doctor. It goes from tickle to nearly pneumonia in like 12 hours. Best of luck to everyone.</p>
<p>^^my kid is coughing but the cough looks more like a throat cough than a chest one.
BTW, you always cough with the flu.
My advice, and I have been an RN for more than 20 years - just watch your symptoms and be smart. It is normal to feel miserable and have a high fever with the flu, feel extremely tired, loss of appetite etc. Should you have a feeling of shortness of breath, difficulty breathing and getting worst instead of better - go and seek medical advice. It is OK to alternate Ibuprofen with Acetaminophen. And make sure you drink. Even if you do not feel like drinking - drink. I have been pushing fluids to my DS till he finally said a few minutes ago “one more tea and I will puke” :(Be smart and stay on top of it. Once it is over, you will be immuned ! 
Having said that - I have had it with this flu! Have been cooking almost nothing but chicken soup for almost two weeks now!</p>
<p>In both profiles I have heard of teenage boys who had very serious cases - one died and the other was on the 60 Minutes spot so I don’t know what happened with him - both sets of parents said that their sons seem to be getting better and then had a relapse. Within hours, they were near death. Is there some pattern that right before an infection really sets in, there is a period in which the patient feels better?</p>
<p>Please, do not scare me!
I always sleep near my kids when they are sick. Am going to do the same tonight.
Anyway mine is still really sick and not getting better - it has been less than a day !
I am confident he will be fine and then immune for whatever comes his way :)</p>
<p>I didn’t mean to scare you. You are well prepared to take care of yours and I’m sure everything will be fine. I just don’t want people to think their kids are feeling a little better and are completely out of the woods. As you said - stay on top of it. Of course, most of us are not with our kids. My D’s room mate left the third week of school and she has an extra bed so I may be sleeping there if she gets it.</p>
<p>I completely understand. I’m the OP of this thread and after hearing so many horror stories in the news about the secondary infections, I flew up to be in the same city with my son who’s a freshman with the swine flu. (Was coming up at the end of the week for Parents Weekend, but I came early to help him recover.) Just being here made me feel better. And the first thing I did after arriving was finding some chicken soup and bringing it to him. It’s amazing how quickly he recovered after that! He’s doing well now and back at classes – but with a lingering terrible cough.</p>
<p>There are some kids you can say “if you have trouble breathing go immediately to an ER” and they take it in, and there are some kids that you know it will completely freak them out. I have the latter.</p>