I may catch some flack for this Chris, but I have this feeling that all the anti-microbial wipes and hand cleaners, washing things with bleach daily is only making matters worse.

The whole "germ-O-phobe" teachings over the years, IMHO, has lowered our bodies own natural defence systems.  We aren't building the natural anti-bodies against the germs out there.  

When we do get nailed with something it really wipes us out at the knees.

Just take good care of yourselfs down there ok?  Rest up and re-coop, plenty of liquids and stay warm.

Love you both.

edit: cause I can't seem to type today

I attended a seminar a few weeks ago and one of the speakers was an Infectious Disease physician.

We got into the discussion about how we see so many Moms running after their children wiping their hands with anti-bacterial wipes, lotions, etc. and freaking out if they get a little bit of dirt on them.  When we were kids we played with all sorts of critters in the creek and woods, shared food, drinks, etc. and we survived.

The doc told the story of how whenever his Mom heard of a kid in the neighborhood who had chicken pox, measles or any other childhood illness, she would send her son over to play with the kid so he would contract the illness and "get it over with".  He also joked that he thinks his Mom was trying to get rid of him.

We are beginning to get somewhat of a control on MRSA but now other nasty antibiotic resistant organisms are starting to rear their ugly little heads thanks to the over usage of antibiotics.

The speaker mentioned how some parents get upset with him when he won't prescribe antibiotics for their children when they are sick.  He explains to them that some studies show that their child will recover in the same amount of time with or without an antibiotic and will be better off in the long run without the antibiotics.

I think all of the hype about sanitizing everything in sight has become a bit crazy.  Sure, washing your hands as often as you can and keeping them away from your face, eyes and nose is a good practice but we can't shield ourself 100% from everything.

As far as health care workers or anyone going to work when they are sick, I agree that they should stay home if they can but some people cannot afford to take a day or two off and have to work to earn a living.

Take care of yourself, push the fluids and rest if you can.  It sucks to be sick but sometimes we just have to let it run its course.

Feel better soon.

I had to have a flu jab because of how ill I've been - I'll always have to have them now but such is life, they just make me sick themselves funnily enough!

I can't agree enough though about people who should stay home but don't however - I can't fault them in some ways. When people don't get paid when they are sick they can't afford to stay home. With bills to pay and food to buy who can afford unpaid "leave"? The fault doesn't just lie with the "sickee's" but with the fact they have no choice

Cat-

Sorry to hijack the thread...  I'll be done after I tell this to Cat

I work for a large school district in NC and actually work alot with board policy and handle complaints about attendance.  Just thought I'd share this info with you.  Sometimes school districts can be so punitive and silo issues.


In this county- it is 10 unexcused absences and the student may be retained and have to go to truancy court.   If a student has a medical condition and has doctors notes - no one would pursue truancy , and typically the school would waive those absences.  They would also allow the student to make up time, either afterschool or saturday school.

Also- have you thought about a 504 plan because of your sons headaches?  Since his medical condition could effect his academic performance he may qualify. This would provide some level of protection from the punitive attendance law.   You could ask any of your school counselors there about it-  I would google 504 first to be sure you are in the know- in case the counselor doesn't give you all the info about it up front.  

Hope things work out for you.  Feel free to pm me if you need some more info.


Kelly

Redd wrote on Nov 10^th, 2008 at 4:04pm:


I would have to agree.  Antibiotics are doled out like candy and many, many times the treatment is terminated before all the bugs are killed.  The ones left have drug resistance.  I don't believe in all the hand gels and antibacterial soap.  Plain old soap does a good job if you are through.  My Grandmother had a saying which was dirt makes fat.  It was a rough translation from a german saying which meant getting your hands dirty will make you stronger.  True in many ways!

-P.

I hate to say this out loud and jinx myself but I rarely get sick and have never had a flu shot. I don't use antianything soaps. I do teach art though and wash my hands very often just cause they are dirty, messy or sticky. I have little ones sneeze all over me.

On the other hand my first 3 years of teaching I was sooo sick every Oct. I am watching our new Kindergarten teacher in her 2nd year go through the same thing. She always has a runny nose. I think immunities are built up when you are around this all the time.

I wish everyone would stay home, adults and kids when they are sick but it's just not going to happen. Parents can't afford to take the time off to stay with their kids sometimes and have no choice. That's a whole other issue. Cat, in my school district the key was UN excused absences. If I'm out more than 3 consecutive days I need a doctor's note. We have had a few kids with major long term illness that have home bound tutors. They just can't cope with the long days and the exposure to all the sickness is hard on their immune system.

Charlotte (who better not get sick after saying she doesn't get sick!)

Charlotte,

I can totally identify with the kids sneezing.  Whenever I am on the units at the hospital, we always have little ones sneaking out of their rooms.  They will begin to talk to me and before I know it, they somehow weasel their way onto my lap.  While they are showing me their "boo-boos" or new toy, the sneezes or coughs begin to fly.

The first year I worked at CHOP, I was almost always sick.  We tell all new employees that the first year is the toughest but after that, germs will look at you and run the other way.

Maybe if you drank a shot of hand sanitizer it would work from the inside out.

Feel better

                            JPC

Thanks everyone for the info and the input.  Alex was on IEP and is in the process of being switched over to the 504 (we didn't have that in NE for some reason) so that he can get extra time to make up work if he misses.

Unfortunately the school shows him as having un excused absences even though there are Dr's notes on record, so it's a battle...nothing is ever easy 

Until they get their system sorted out, I either send him to school sick or have to try and get a same day Dr's appt (not an easy thing out here)  Either way, the battle is on, and likely won't stop til they get all their stuff sorted out on the school end (we are still waiting for them to get back to us on the filing of the 504 - no idea what the problem is)

Cat

At the risk of sounding paranoid I wouldn't get a flu shot ever since I have no idea what they're pumping into me. Additionally, influenza is known for its mutating capabilities so what you're being innoculated against may not be what comes to get you, and frequently isn't.

A shot of Reishi tea works just as well and boosts the entire immune system to ward off that stuff naturally. Not unlike most western medicines, screwing with our bodies by introducing unnatural entities is a recipe for immediate or future problems.

Verdict: PASS

I've been getting really slammed the last few days, bad. I'm almost out of trex, and no refills, and because my neuro didn't squeeze me in when he said he would, the next appt is 6 months away. I was at work yesterday, pulled out my kit, and filled a syringe with half a shot in front of my boss.

My left eye is bright red, hurts like a m*ther fucker, half closed, tearing, nose running, shadows are at a constant 8... I can't move my eye, it hurts so bad. I look like hell.

Today, my boss was telling me he threw his neck out in the shower. Kept complaining about it, I offered him some ibuprofen. This afternoon, he kept complaining about his neck, like he was planning on going home, and he kept looking at me, and shutting up. I finally had to go outside for some air. I took one full shot of trex, and headed outside for a couple of smokes. Damn. Trex didn't work.

When I left for the day, an hour later, I was wincing from the pain. Looked like shit. I didn't say a word to my boss about it. Was hoping I could drive.  Hit the O2 after I got home, and the pain finally reduced down to about a 4.

I have another sinus infection, which I've been fighting for months. Got some antibiotics today, and I hope they work.

I've been considering a pred taper, but I can't take it with the Levaquin. In fact, I was reading and found out it interacts with a bunch of meds. Anyone have any problem with taking Levaquin?