<p>Wash your hands for 20 seconds with hot water and soap every couple of hours. Try to limit how much you touch things in public places…like door handles, computer keyboards, and publicly used pens (use your own pen to sign receipts). Keep your hands away from your facial openings. If you must rub your nose or your eyes, either wash first or use the back of your hands. Stay hydrated and get enough sleep. </p>
<p>If you choose to wear a face-mask, be sure to get the right kind (they are not stocked by the hardware store!) and change it frequently. Once it is dampened by your breath, it is no longer as effective and soon won’t be effective at all.</p>
<p>Wow, Mommusic! That’s AWFUL & the first I’ve heard of two individuals in one family dying from this flu! There is no publicity about such events, just the same, “Very mild, wash hands, cover your cough, everyone who has died had pre-existing compromising medical conditions.”</p>
<p>For travel, try to fly direct and have the shortest flights possible, I guess. Wear a N-95 mask & change it if it gets wet. Move so you don’t get blood clots. Cover your cought, use hand sanitizers & wash your hands frequently. I guess the antibacterial wipes might also be helpful but they haven’t specifically been mentioned.</p>
<p>I firmly believe in Tamiflu and don’t know what I’ll do when there is resistance to it, since it has made a huge difference both times I’ve taken it for prior flus. My docs made me get a Rx of it because I’ve been flying since the outbreak & have significant pre-existing medical condition. They also had my S get an Rx of Tamiflu to take when he travelled this summer, since he’s been flying a LOT & was going to China (tho they denied a visa so no one went). </p>
<p>It’s worth getting your doc to call in a prescription wherever in your area supplies remain (often the hospital pharmacies) if you can get someone to pick it up so you can start taking it within 72 hours of 1st symptoms.</p>
<p>It’s really something…we make sure our kids get all their shots as needed, and they’re protected, then something like this comes along and there’s nothing medical science (yet) can do.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of the good wishes! I have been flat out of it all week and just logged on for a bit today. My advice to anyone would be to get VACCINATED if and when a vaccine is released and if you suspect you have the flu, insist that you get Tamiflu or, oh, gee, I’ve forgotten the other med. Unfortunately, I waited more than 48 hours and became too ill for one of those meds to be useful. Maybe it’s just because I am immunosuppressed, but this has been far worse than “regular” flu; first, a general malaise, then a very high fever, which does not go away quickly, horrible body aches, headache. Five days after I began to feel ill, I broke out in a rash (which not everyone gets but is more common in children- does that mean I’m still young?), and wouldn’t you know that it was covering my FACE?! Then the severe sore throat and of course, the lingering dry cough which keep everyone, including me, awake. So now it’s a full week and I can’t even pick up the cat (alright,he weighs 20 pounds, but the little 7 pounder is impossible too!).
My MD’s office confirms that they are seeing more of this flu than one would suspect from our news reports and no, they aren’t testing for it, since the high fever seems to be the key indicator for them. I’m back to bed, but I’m grateful for your thoughts- I’ll keep you up to date.
D is packing and today managed to find the floor in her bedroom, so there’s a start!</p>
<p>I’ve been surprised how this has dies as a news story over here. In England they are reporting on it daily and they have a lot of cases. It seems there are a lot more here than they are letting on.</p>
<p>mommusic - how tragic. I just can’t imagine.</p>
<p>The other anti-viral that is said to work is Relenza. </p>
<p>I think they stopped publicizing the H1N1 flu because there really is not much anyone can do other than be careful and limit contact with sick folks. </p>
<p>I just went to a party today with about 350 people attending, including 3 month old infants & many seniors. Fortunatley, no one seemed ill, but who knows? I am getting increasingly apprehensive around crowds! The other day when I was out, it seemed that most of the salespeople & clerks who helped me were ill. I used my hand sanitizer, washed thoroughly with soap & water & rested a lot so as to keep well. </p>
<p>Sorry, Mezzo’s Mama, that you’re having such a rough time with the flu and hope you’re better soon! My D’s bedroom has been in chaos since she landed in mid-May & we expect it will be that way when she leaves in 2 weeks–sometimes we have glimpses of her floor as well.</p>
<p>See the CDC’s [H1N1</a> Flu](<a href=“http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/]H1N1”>CDC 2009 H1N1 Flu) site for a complete discussion of anti-virals, masks, taking care of the ill, and travel. Of note, adults aged 25-49 appear to be over-represented among fatal cases.</p>
<p>(HImom – In Hawaii six H1N1 deaths are reported: 4 on O’ahu, 1 in Kona, 1 in Waimea.)</p>
<p>Thanks for the tips on air travel. Here’s the link to the family deaths mommusic mentioned. It’s enough to send chills down the spine of anyone with college-aged kids.</p>