Please join us for the next FREE Home Dialysis Central Webinar! Our own Bill Peckham will share the knowledge he’s learned about pandemics in general and H1N1 in particular–with a special focus on practical tips for YOU to protect yourself. Get the latest info!
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MED ACTION PLAN - Pack-M-Ups for pills
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THERAWORX - Theraworx foaming skin cleanser
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Executive Director
The Medical Education Institute, Inc.
Comment: I thought this was a good explanation of the range of reactions to the threat from pandemic flu. The flu is so unpredictable and how it impacts one location harder than another makes it even more difficult for us to process. Reading the article I realize that I keep trying to fit the flu into the “box” labeled weather. The way I’ve come to see the flu is that it’s like we (people on dialysis) are at sea level (increased risk) and a hurricane (novel flu virus) is coming.
Weather is unpredictable - hurricanes can strengthen or weaken. Your town can make it through easily while the town right next door is devastated. The flu is unpredictable in the same way.
Wednesday, Sep. 16, 2009
Who’s Afraid of the Flu? By Amanda Ripley
The brain loathes uncertainty. In laboratory experiments, humans actually fear uncertainty more than physical pain. We are simply wired this way. When we encounter uncertainty, the first thing we do is try to beat it back. The problem is, uncertainty may not be the biggest threat. It may be a distraction — the kind we have to cope with while we do the actual work of keeping ourselves alive.
I don’t know if I will be able to make it anyway as my computer went kaplooey (might be the CPU as it no longer will start) so I am posting from my friend’s home but won’t be on a computer that day. I will be without a computer for 3 weeks unless him or my fiance can fix it. I hope to be able to watch a recording of it once I am back up and running but was hoping to be apart of this before my trip…
For some reason I was not able to post on your blog (I used to be able to … so I don’t know what has changed but the post button is greyed out) so I will post my questions here even though my friend Dave said I can use his computer if need be and is going to be working on my computer.
[ol]
[li]How do I keep myself safe in a public place when being in a crowded place cannot be prevented (such as airports, subways, trains, etc)?[/li][li]What should I bring with me to protect myself when travelling?[/li][li]What are the signs and symptoms of H1N1?[/li][li]How is H1N1 transmitted? Do I have to worry about who touches my luggage and buy antibacterial wipes to wipe it down after it has gone through baggage claim?[/li][li]What masks are safe? I heard N95 masks but are all that are labelled N95 really N95 masks? I saw some at the dollar store.[/li][li]What should I do if someone sneezes on me? Is it too late to be protected at that point from H1N1 if they have it?[/li][li]How can someone keep themselves safe at dialysis units if someone there has the H1N1 virus?[/li][li]Should I wear a mask when going to the mall or movie theater if I go during slow times?[/li][li]How wide spread is this and which areas are the worst to visit right now?[/li][li]I have 2 N95 masks but only one has a respirator. Is there a difference between them? Which is better? Which is more safe?[/li][/ol]
Those are the only questions I can think of to ask if I am not there to ask or if I miss any of those questions when I am there.
Thanks! I am hearing that it is not as bad as the regular seasonal flu but it is just that it comes from 2 different strains or something like that and with my having a low immune system. But catching it is not as likely as long as I don’t go to Mexico. Is that right?
I don’t know why my comment section is balky Angie.
The pandemic flu is much worse than seasonal flu - it is making young otherwise healthy people sick enough to be hospitalized and has caused hundreds of deaths just in the US among young health individuals.
It is not confined to any geographic location - it is a pandemic meaning it is spreading throughout the world.
Not catching it is tricky. People can spread the flu brfore they’re showing symptoms. The messaging is about washing your hands and not touching your face that’s good advice year around.
Talk to your doctor now about when your doctor would like you to seek medical attention. It is hard to tell the difference between the flu and other common viruses - like a cold virus. Have with you (at home or while traveling) a thermometer and blood pressure monitor, you’ll want to be able to describe symptoms if you get sick.
The N95 masks are disposable but in theory can be reused. Remember though that once you wear a N95 mask the outside should be considered contaminated. N95 masks are no guarantee against being exposed but they do offer more protection than a surgical mask. N95 masks have to fit - they have to form a seal around the perimeter so that all air goes through the material before you breath it - this is why they do not work on men with facial hair. Some studies have shown that N95 masks work only about 75% of the time.
If the news reports that the flu is widespread in your community then I would try to avoid crowds. Have on hand medications to treat symptoms - including nausea, diarrhea, head ache and fever reducers.
Do not take this lightly. The flu is highly unpredictable. Betting that pandemic flu will be mild would be like betting on the weather. It’s a bet - there is no way to know in advance.
[QUOTE=Bill Peckham;18615]
The N95 masks are disposable but in theory can be reused. Remember though that once you wear a N95 mask the outside should be considered contaminated. N95 masks are no guarantee against being exposed but they do offer more protection than a surgical mask. N95 masks have to fit - they have to form a seal around the perimeter so that all air goes through the material before you breath it - this is why they do not work on men with facial hair. Some studies have shown that N95 masks work only about 75% of the time.
If the news reports that the flu is widespread in your community then I would try to avoid crowds. Have on hand medications to treat symptoms - including nausea, diarrhea, head ache and fever reducers.
Do not take this lightly. The flu is highly unpredictable. Betting that pandemic flu will be mild would be like betting on the weather. It’s a bet - there is no way to know in advance.[/QUOTE]
Good advice Bill! That does make sense about the mask and not touching the outside! I have 3 different types of masks … all N95 and only bringing 2. The white ones. I will wear the white one that doesn’t collapse and the pointy one folds so I will carry them on me.
I am trying to take along as little as possible of what I can just buy in PA if a problem arises when it comes to the medications however because I have to bring my meds in my purse as I am not sure that my bag will pass as a carry-on. It just makes the restriction size but not sure …
NPR is doing some programming on the new H1N1 vaccine: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113446539. They’ll have a Q&A section, too, where you can ask questions about the vaccine, which was fast-tracked (just 5 months in development).
