Attention Germ Phobes.........

[OK!]

Okpeople in a normal trip I would not be this concerned but when you have MULTIPLE people reporting severe vomiting/diarrhea illness, it tends to make me nrotic. Give me a cold, fine i'll deal, just don't send me to the ER requiring fluids to keep me from dying and then i'll be less worried. People that are NOT germ phobes are spreading this illness for sure. Spare the rest of us will ya. Wash and disinfect things for the next person. !!!! Keep your germs to yourself!

How could those of us who, um, don't get sick be the ones spreading the illness?

 

[KQAN]

the bedspreads and sheets dont really freak me out at all. i dont get sick often so i dont get worked up about that stuff. the dvc dishes freak me out a little. i dont like putting things the public have used in my mouth. using those dishes gross me out but i deal with it. its just for a few days anyways

Do you eat in restaurants?

 

[kaytieeldr]

People that are NOT germ phobes are spreading this illness for sure. Spare the rest of us will ya. Wash and disinfect things for the next person. !!!! Keep your germs to yourself!

You know, I disagree that we are spreading any illness - germs don't live long enough outside a friendly environment - but if we ARE spreading germs without getting sick, why do you think that is? Could it possibly be because we have built up immunities through our normal daily hygiene practices of "merely" thoroughly washing our hands with venue-provided soap and water, wherever we go, throughout our lives?

I do happen to be getting over a cold right now and - so what? I caught a cold. It happens. I've had colds before. I'll have more before I die.

I decided to do some Googling - I tried "norovirus, antibacterial products" and got some interesting results: http://www.asm.org/Media/index.asp?bid=42835
In part "Handwashing is known to be one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs and disease" and "In this study [by Emory University and, Norht Carolina State University] a known amount of norovirus was placed on the fingers of volunteers and allowed to dry. The investigators tested one common liquid antibacterial soap and one popular brand of an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to see how effective they were at removing the virus from the fingers compared to rinsing with water only. They found that washing the fingers with plain water gave the greatest level of norovirus reduction, with an average of about 96% removal. Washing the fingers with an antibacterial liquid soap gave an average of about 88% removal. The alcohol-based sanitizer was not effective at removing the virus from the volunteers’ fingers and only resulted in an average removal of 46%. "

The information is out there, folks, and easy to find. I only quoted this one site because both schools involved in the study are respected institutions. There's more.

 

[Belle5]

Mom of six chiming in...just wondering...do those of you who hate vomiting so much not ever get morning sickness? I vomited with all of my pregnancies--usually to the point of breaking all the little capillaries on my face and neck. Nobody LIKES to be nauseous. (That's the bad part--much worse than the vomiting) Each time I have started with the morning sickness I walk over to the toilet and say, "Hello my little porcelain friend. Remember me? I am back." I just am at a loss about those who think they are the only ones who hate vomiting. You are not unique or special in any way. I have yet to meet anyone who likes it.

Someone mentioned how when they had one child they were a germaphobe and by the time they had their third child they would let them lick the floor. I hate to tell you how bad it is for me! "Sure, darling! Wrap up in the hotel comforter and sleep on the floor. No problem." We have taken 24 family vacations to WDW and only become sick (full blown flu) one time.

 

[luvthemouse71]

You know, I disagree that we are spreading any illness - germs don't live long enough outside a friendly environment - but if we ARE spreading germs without getting sick, why do you think that is? Could it possibly be because we have built up immunities through our normal daily hygiene practices of "merely" thoroughly washing our hands with venue-provided soap and water, wherever we go, throughout our lives?

I do happen to be getting over a cold right now and - so what? I caught a cold. It happens. I've had colds before. I'll have more before I die.

I decided to do some Googling - I tried "norovirus, antibacterial products" and got some interesting results: http://www.asm.org/Media/index.asp?bid=42835
In part "Handwashing is known to be one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs and disease" and "In this study [by Emory University and, Norht Carolina State University] a known amount of norovirus was placed on the fingers of volunteers and allowed to dry. The investigators tested one common liquid antibacterial soap and one popular brand of an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to see how effective they were at removing the virus from the fingers compared to rinsing with water only. They found that washing the fingers with plain water gave the greatest level of norovirus reduction, with an average of about 96% removal. Washing the fingers with an antibacterial liquid soap gave an average of about 88% removal. The alcohol-based sanitizer was not effective at removing the virus from the volunteers’ fingers and only resulted in an average removal of 46%. "

The information is out there, folks, and easy to find. I only quoted this one site because both schools involved in the study are respected institutions. There's more.

Actually, we have the germaphobes/hypochondriacs to thank for the fact that many of our antibiotics don't work like they should. Asking the doc for an antibiotic for your kid's cold makes no sense and all those cute little antibacterial things work great, provided it's bacteria we're dealing with. Antibiotics work on bacteria-the cold is a virus. This in turn led to lovely little bugs we'll call MRSA and VRE.

And Purell is ineffective against C.Diff, which can make people very sick and gives you diarrhea that smells like it came from the bowels of hell(ask any of the nurses here how bad it is..).


I'm sorry but carrying bleach wipes with you and wiping down every surface in sight is pathological. OCD, anyone?

 

[srwarden1928]

The one "germaphobic" thing I do is put paper down before using a public toilet. I dont bother with the one at work, because I know exactly who uses it. I also dont bother with the one in the hotel room, because if housekeeping has done their job it is clean.
I have been staying in hotel rooms from time to time since I was SIX MONTHS old. I always sleep in a bed with their sheets, blankets, and bedspread. Yes even at six months--my mother used to love to tell about how there were no cribs available and they put me in the middle of the other double bed in the room. My parents ALWAYS slept together unless one of them was sick. I have certainly had my share of illnesses. The first year I taught school I was sick the entire winter. But I have never to my knowledge gotten sick from a hotel room.
I agree wholeheartedly with those who stated that exposure to germs builds up our immune systems.
As to those who commented on vomiting and diarrhea, sure both are unpleasant, but if I need to do one or the other, I consider it my body getting rid of something nasty.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Yes bring my own sheets. This is due to an incident at a Crown Plaza hotel a few years back. I pulled the comforter back to get in bed and found a dried fresh blood stain! Now if that's not disgusting then I don't know what is! My guess is that the guest before me had an "aunt Flo"(for lack of a better term) issue and the maid never changed the sheets. You could tell that the stain was fresh dried blood!!!!!! Yuk!!!

I don't want to step foot into the bathrooms at all. Of course I may have to sucomb to it a few times a day, but less is better.

What do you cut out fluids?!
This is an awful amount of stress you place on your life.
I'm surprised you even fly, talk about a petri dish

 

[Alesia]

Correct me if i am wrong, but don't germaphobes make themselves more seceptable to germs by keeping themselves in overly sanitary conditions and not building immunities? I am not saying you shouldn't wash your hands but going to the extreme can actually be counter productive making it more likely that you can become sick.

You are not wrong.

But try telling that to a germophobe.

You can't reason someone out of something they didn't reason themselves into.

 

[Belle5]

Well, the stomach bug is visiting our house tonight. DH picked it up while visiting a hospital ER. DS22 picked it up from his Starbuck's manager who had to leave work early with it today. Here's hoping it doesn't go through all eight of us. At least we're all at home and the kids aren't taking exams or anything...I guess if it had to hit us there's no better time than the present...

 

[fla4fun]

My only concession to germ killing is to wash with a Wet Ones towelette right before eating anything. I also do a good soap and water wash first thing when I return to the room. I don't worry about touching things all day - I touch railings, rides, whatever. I know not to touch my face as well. But I do wash before eating anything, and so far (knocking on wood) I haven't contracted any unpleasant illnesses while at Disney.

Well, I also remove the bedspread/comforter from the bed, but that's more because I just sleep under a sheet than anything else. With those new motion thermostats in so many of the resorts, I can't get the room cool enough to sleep comfortably under anything else.

 

[Tiggernut_jadie]

Okpeople in a normal trip I would not be this concerned but when you have MULTIPLE people reporting severe vomiting/diarrhea illness, it tends to make me nrotic. Give me a cold, fine i'll deal, just don't send me to the ER requiring fluids to keep me from dying and then i'll be less worried. People that are NOT germ phobes are spreading this illness for sure. Spare the rest of us will ya. Wash and disinfect things for the next person. !!!! Keep your germs to yourself!

Actually in the case of C Dif and the Norovirus - two of the bugs most likely to 'send you to the ER requiring fluids to keep you from dying' - the bug is not killed with lysol or purell etc....just good old soap and water!

ETA: Just realised other people have mentioned this already!

 

[RMulieri]

My sil is a die hard germaphobe and sanitizes anything and everything where they go.She carries in her tote purell, and lysol wipes.she brings her own sheets,pillow,blankets, and bottled water...and you know what her kids have had( since Nov) a cold,bronchitis,norovirus, the flu and now pneumonia...I kid you not.They stayed with us over Xmas and I got blamed because I work in a hospital, and "don't sanitize as well as her " ...uh no , maybe you sanitize so well you have essentially disabled your immune system.Well, I do work in a hospital, and pretty much scrub my hands at work so often my hands are bleeding.I gown,glove and mask with our MRSA ,Vre, CDIF and immunocompromised people.I come home and simply wash my hands ,no purell, no bleach on everything...just soap and water.I rarely if ever get sick.My family has not gotten sick either..

 

[RMulieri]

Okpeople in a normal trip I would not be this concerned but when you have MULTIPLE people reporting severe vomiting/diarrhea illness, it tends to make me nrotic. Give me a cold, fine i'll deal, just don't send me to the ER requiring fluids to keep me from dying and then i'll be less worried. People that are NOT germ phobes are spreading this illness for sure. Spare the rest of us will ya. Wash and disinfect things for the next person. !!!! Keep your germs to yourself!

Um...I have news for you.Everyday you walk down the street you are spreading and receiving germs, regardless of what kind of sanitized existence you create for yourself.Like I said moderation is key.I am not a germaphobe, I practice good simple hygeine.I wash with soap and water,I cough into my shoulder,I cover my mouth when I sneeze,I avoid touching my face .I also allowed my daughter to play and crawl around as a toddler( ooh gasp...I let her do it outside too),,and you know what we get maybe 1 or 2 colds a year.The reason we have superbugs is because of germaphobic and fix it now behavior.For years we have over sanitized and overmedicated.We go to the Dr with a cold and leave with a Zpack...eventually evolution allows these germs to find away to prevail.This is no shock.It is actually predicted to get worse,not better.My suggestion is again MODERATION.Unless you have no immunity due to illness like cancer or transplant..a simple soap and water wash should suffice.Purell was designed for those times you simply can not get to a sink, it was never ever intended as a substitue.

 

[maxiesmom]

Here is a tip for all of those who think they picked up some kind of bug flying. One of the tv news shows did a study, and it isn't the air making you sick. It is all the germs in the bathroom, and on the little tray table. They found that everything in the bathroom is covered with little nastys, even the faucet, so washing your hands is not enough. You should use your hand sanatizer as well. And the tray table is just loaded with germs! You need to either cover it with something, or disinfect it before you use it.

They even showed that you can buy plastic seat covers to make sure you are not touching any part of the airplane seat. But that seems a little to extreme for me.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Okpeople in a normal trip I would not be this concerned but when you have MULTIPLE people reporting severe vomiting/diarrhea illness,

You're also not taking into consideration the thousands or tens of thousands of people who are NOT reporting any illness because they did NOT get sick - most likely by simply following normal hygiene practices.

ETA: Just realised other people have mentioned this already!

Nah, don't worry. It can't be said enough!

 

[momtotwoteens]

Mom of six chiming in...just wondering...do those of you who hate vomiting so much not ever get morning sickness? I vomited with all of my pregnancies--usually to the point of breaking all the little capillaries on my face and neck. Nobody LIKES to be nauseous. (That's the bad part--much worse than the vomiting) Each time I have started with the morning sickness I walk over to the toilet and say, "Hello my little porcelain friend. Remember me? I am back." I just am at a loss about those who think they are the only ones who hate vomiting. You are not unique or special in any way. I have yet to meet anyone who likes it.

Someone mentioned how when they had one child they were a germaphobe and by the time they had their third child they would let them lick the floor. I hate to tell you how bad it is for me! "Sure, darling! Wrap up in the hotel comforter and sleep on the floor. No problem." We have taken 24 family vacations to WDW and only become sick (full blown flu) one time.

I don't think any of us who hate to vomit have said that we are "unique or special". I hate to vomit and it's not normal compared to everyone else in my family (except my DS who is like me about it!). My DH would rather vomit and feel better. I'm sure the majority of people don't like to vomit. Who would? For some of us, it's really a phobia- and it's not much fun. I can't help it. I can't even be around anyone who is sick. I just wanted to let you know that I don't think I'm unique or special because I hate to vomit. I'm glad you don't feel that way about it. I would never say that that being nauseous is better than vomiting. Give me feeling nauseous any day!

 

[daveyc150]

I like be clean but come this is a bit of an obsession.

 

[SGMCO]

I was wondering if the Noro stomach Virus is caught from just
something you touch or is it also airborn?

 

[savvy?71]

Here is a tip for all of those who think they picked up some kind of bug flying. One of the tv news shows did a study, and it isn't the air making you sick. It is all the germs in the bathroom, and on the little tray table. They found that everything in the bathroom is covered with little nastys, even the faucet, so washing your hands is not enough. You should use your hand sanatizer as well. And the tray table is just loaded with germs! You need to either cover it with something, or disinfect it before you use it.

They even showed that you can buy plastic seat covers to make sure you are not touching any part of the airplane seat. But that seems a little to extreme for me.

It's not the air, specifically, no; however airplane air has low cabin humidity, which causes our mucus to dry. This in turn temporarily weakens our immune system. I should have been more specific in my earlier post.

Anyway this is one of the reasons pushing fluids while flying is helpful (non-dehydrating fluids, not alcohol or coffee, which exacerbate the situation)

Hand sanitizers are ideal for air planes for all the reasons you mentioned. Everything we touch from seats, tables, magazines, bathrooms... (I try to avoid plane bathrooms unless the length of holding time more risks a UTI than a sniffle )

 

[savvy?71]

Ha Ha, me too, regarding the laid back attitude to germs and being a nurse. I was talking with an infectious disease physician once, and he said that's why allergies/asthma are running rampant, because people don't expose their kids enough to germs. I know nurses who work pediatrics, and they have some of the strongest immune systems, because they get exposed to everything.

My immediate family (and my best friend) is comprised of health care professionals. They/we are rarely sick . But we are also big on naturally preventative measures (eating right, exercise, vitamins if/when needed, no unnecessary antibx, etc...)

A germophobe I knew a few years ago was scared to pieces to have her child in any preschool or playdate setting (Good grief, the mere thought of theme parks would send her into a tizzy). She rarely had that kid out with others.

That poor kid was slammed in the first few months of Kindergarten Yeah, it's gonna happen that our kids go to preschool or K and come home with the occasional cold. But she was getting back to back bugs and after a while it's had to determine what is viral and what is bacterial.

We can't live in a bubble, people. If we have standard to above standard healthy immune systems, they must be exercised. If you don't use it, you lose it.