How do you...

[disfan07]

avoid getting the flu??

We just got an email from our school health center that the flu seems to have hit campus hard this past week. They have confirmed diagnoses of about 60 students just from this past week and that only includes the ones who went to the health center on campus. Not the ones who went to urgent care, their own doctors or no doctor at all.

I knew that it would start spreading like wildfire around here sooner ot later. I mean it is college. But I am seriously hoping to avoid it this go around. I got two different strains of flu last year which landed me in the hospital twice.

I can't get the flu shot. I have asthma, a heart condition plus I am on immunosuppresents. Basically, I should be living in a bubble during flu season...lol.

But how do you avoid getting the flu when you are basically surrounded by it everyday???

 

[Jennasis]

I've always been told HAND WASHING, and lots of it.

 

[LaraK]

If you have asthma and a compromised immune system, you should be one of the first people in line to get the flu shot. Go to the heath center and get a flu shot, it's not too late.

 

[minkydog]

avoid getting the flu??

We just got an email from our school health center that the flu seems to have hit campus hard this past week. They have confirmed diagnoses of about 60 students just from this past week and that only includes the ones who went to the health center on campus. Not the ones who went to urgent care, their own doctors or no doctor at all.

I knew that it would start spreading like wildfire around here sooner ot later. I mean it is college. But I am seriously hoping to avoid it this go around. I got two different strains of flu last year which landed me in the hospital twice.

I can't get the flu shot. I have asthma, a heart condition plus I am on immunosuppresents. Basically, I should be living in a bubble during flu season...lol.

But how do you avoid getting the flu when you are basically surrounded by it everyday???

WASH HANDS WASH HANDS WASH HANDS WASH HANDS WASH HANDS
and don't share food, drinks, towels or toothbrushes with others. Use hand sanitizer frequently when soap and water are unavailable.

Are you allergic to an ingredient in the flu shot? Or is there a particular reason that you can't take the shot? Because people who have chronic illnesses, like asthma, heart disease, and immunosuppression are the very ones who NEED the flu shot most. People who have chronic illnesses are more likely to have complications and even die from influenza. You should not take the flu mist--it's a weakened, but live, virus. It is possible to get the flu as a result of taking flu-mist. The flu SHOT is a killed virus-- you CANNOT get the flu from the flu shot.

If you *can* get the flu shot, you should. It's not too late in the season. In fact, the flu is still very active and has not peaked yet. The only other advice i could give you is just stay home as much as possible. Try not to be places where lots of people gather,like church, the mall, the grocery store, school. Influenza is spread by breathing, sneezing, coughing, and touching.

 

[laurie31]

Keep your hands below your chin unless you have JUST washed them.

People touch their eyes and noses more than they realize. Pretend there is an invisible barrier at your chin.


I am surprised you are not a candidate for the shot (killed virus). Studies have shown that even the mist (live attenuated virus) is safe for HIV+ patients and cancer patients, and those are immunocompromised patients. Talk to your doctor; I thought only a serious egg allergy prevented someone from getting the shot.

 

[LaraK]

Keep your hands below your chin unless you have JUST washed them.

People touch their eyes and noses more than they realize. Pretend there is an invisible barrier at your chin.


I am surprised you are not a candidate for the shot (killed virus). Studies have shown that even the mist (live attenuated virus) is safe for HIV+ patients and cancer patients, and those are immunocompromised patients. Talk to your doctor; I thought only a serious egg allergy prevented someone from getting the shot.

Even that doesn't stop you. We just get my son's in the pediatrician's office and he's observed for about 45 minutes.

 

[PixieDustandEeyore]

If you have asthma and a compromised immune system, you should be one of the first people in line to get the flu shot. Go to the heath center and get a flu shot, it's not too late.

OP said they cannot get the flu shot due to medication and medical issues (im assuming their doctor told them that)

 

[pearlieq]

You eat right, exercise, and get enough sleep.

You wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your face.

You avoid exposure to people who are sick, even if they get miffed about it.
You avoid physical contact where you can and don't share food, cups, pens, etc.
You avoid crowded places when you can.

You ask your doctor about your options.

After that, you hope for the best!

 

[pearlieq]

But how do you avoid getting the flu when you are basically surrounded by it everyday???

Is your job/workplace a type where you could work from home?

 

[disfan07]

Thanks everyone.

I can't get the flu shot because I am allergic to eggs. We tried it last year (my allergist gave it to me) since my allergy is not considered severe (its just a moderate allergy) but I ended up having a severe reaction to it so my allergist wont try it again.

Is your job/workplace a type where you could work from home?

Unfortunately, its not a job that is the problem. it's school so i'm kind of stuck.

I did get the pneumonia vaccine last year so we at least hopefully have that covered. But at this point, my doctors and I just kind of go with a watch and wait plan. I cant stop my life because i might get the flu, but if I get the flu, it always leads to complications so we are stuck between a rock adn a hard place. Washing hands is something I do A LOT.

I feel like I am just kind of stuck and my only option is to hope for the best that I dont get it.

 

[LaraK]

Thanks everyone.

I can't get the flu shot because I am allergic to eggs. We tried it last year (my allergist gave it to me) since my allergy is not considered severe (its just a moderate allergy) but I ended up having a severe reaction to it so my allergist wont try it again.



Unfortunately, its not a job that is the problem. it's school so i'm kind of stuck.

I did get the pneumonia vaccine last year so we at least hopefully have that covered. But at this point, my doctors and I just kind of go with a watch and wait plan. I cant stop my life because i might get the flu, but if I get the flu, it always leads to complications so we are stuck between a rock adn a hard place. Washing hands is something I do A LOT.

I feel like I am just kind of stuck and my only option is to hope for the best that I dont get it.

That is really really surprising to me. The effects of flu on someone with a compromised respiratory system are significantly more severe. The allergists and epidemiologists I know say that unless the allergic reaction to the shot is severely anaphylactic, it's better to get the shot. I'm not your doctor...I'd go with what they say, but it is very surprising to me that someone with a moderate allergy would have anaphylaxis with a flu shot which has such small traces of any egg protein.

In that case, I'd suggest that you either hide in your room or wear a mask when you go out. You can stay away from people with obvious symptoms, but people can be contagious before they show the symptoms. Wash you hands a lot and good luck.

 

[LilyWDW]

Thanks everyone.

I can't get the flu shot because I am allergic to eggs. We tried it last year (my allergist gave it to me) since my allergy is not considered severe (its just a moderate allergy) but I ended up having a severe reaction to it so my allergist wont try it again.



Unfortunately, its not a job that is the problem. it's school so i'm kind of stuck.

I did get the pneumonia vaccine last year so we at least hopefully have that covered. But at this point, my doctors and I just kind of go with a watch and wait plan. I cant stop my life because i might get the flu, but if I get the flu, it always leads to complications so we are stuck between a rock adn a hard place. Washing hands is something I do A LOT.

I feel like I am just kind of stuck and my only option is to hope for the best that I dont get it.

Could you speak to your universities disabilities services? Perhaps the university could help you figure out a way to protect your health while still completing your courses. Maybe they could set up a way for you to do most of your course work from home with assistance from your professors if it gets to that point.

 

[DisneyScraps]

I wash my hands a lot. I eat right and I exercise.

Lisa

 

[Tinijocaro]

I'm 46 years old, have never had a flu in my life and have never had a flu shot. I practice basic hand washing, nothing special. I don't use hand sanitizer. I frequently touch my face (always feel like I have hairs on my face??) I'm ateacher who is constantly touching children's hands.

I don't know why I've never gotten the flu-I've done nothing to deserve it.

 

[honugirl]

I'm a college student with a rare disease, on steroids, with a compromised immune system and asthma as well. Fortunately, I can and did get the flu shot. My strategy so far has been to sit in the very back row, very last seat next to the door. I figure if I'm at the back, then people can't be coughing and sneezing on me. I try to avoid visibly ill people and cringe when I hear the person next to me sniffling or coughing. I don't share anything with anyone, including pens, calculators, etc. I wash my hands a lot. I make sure my vitamin D levels are high and also take vitamin C. Not much else I can do I don't think. Just have to hope and pray I don't get it because it could land me in the hospital or worse if I do.

Disability services was of no help in my case.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Both my kids have Asthma so I totally hear you & understand your fear Watch what you eat & drink, keep a close eye on your peak flow & temp, and know the signs of both effusion and pneumonia... Definitely know what a blood infection looks like. Last year I was jumping through hoops to keep my kids safe including getting the shots and we all still got H1N1. DD ended up with plural effusion and a nearly fatal blood infection while the rest of us, who got sick in a cluster a month later, had the mild form.

My DD caught hers from my niece who lives & goes to school in the East Coast epicenter that was in Queens in 2009 because, of course, my imbecile in-laws hid her illness from us by giving her Sudafed ect and let her throw herself all over my DD. I only realized the kid was sick when I caught them giving the kid tons of medicine I still don't know how I didn't get sick from DD yet got sick a month later, this form must be very difficult to transfer.


I think the rest of us all caught it from contaminated food at a New Years Day party. DH was the first down, then me, then DS, but for us it was shorter and less devastating. This form was really easy to transfer from person to person. I wouldn't eat anything prepared outside the home that isn't piping hot and would only eat with wrapped utensils.

Just know what is normal for you and what isn't and go see a private Dr instead of an ER Dr if you can, the ER was the worst experience ever. They wouldn't believe me that I had H1N1, lab & later State confirmed, or that my family Dr sent me and didn't want to call & ask him so they left me coughing on people for 3 hours in the waiting room until I walked out because I was afraid of endangering people.
what a mess

FWIW, don't be afraid of the Tamiflu hype. WE all had it twice last year and were perfectly fine with it. By we I mean me, DS11 & DD10 (at the time) and DH and I'm a big wimp with medicines. I can't say if it helped or not, we started DD and the rest of us on it the moment she was diagnosed Fri but she still landed in the hospital in less than 72 hours. Then again, the rest of us ere only sick for about 4-5 days, could be the Tamiflu helped, could be the vaccine helped, could be both