Clean hands!

[mommamorin]

I have been diligent about washing my hands before removing and then putting in my aligners but... I recently went on vacation to a rally in NY where there were thousands of people with only portapotties to use and no means to wash the hands. BBQ's and all sorts of meals were included so I was popping in and out my aligners for 5 days straight not being able to wash my hands until getting to the motel. In any event, I was the only person in my party to contract the H1N1 swine flu virus. Please everyone be sure your fingers are clean!

[lemon tree]

ditto - clean hands are germ-free hands!

i always bring a small dispenser of hand sanitizer with me (habit from when i used to work in a hospital).

it also helps that i work for the department of health and so there are hand sanitizers everywhere...

(btw - sorry to hear you caught H1N1 - hope it is a mild case and you get over it quickly!)

[Zoso]

Yes, defintely the sort of scenario where a little bottle or some individual sachets of hand sanitiser would have been ideal.

Sorry you got sick - I echo lemon tree's hope that your case is mild and you recover quickly.

[myhollywoodsmile]

Poor you! I have two children off school as there is swine flu at their school so I am being extra vigilant. Only problem is that my hands are sore from all the sanitiser.

How did you react to the H1n1? I hope you are feeling better by now.

[havingitdoneintheuk]

Get well soon momma

[mommamorin]

Thanks for well wishes! I am finally feeling better albeit still a little dizzy and nauseas and a dry nagging cough. (not a bad thing, can stand to lose a little weight :-) )

Hollywood, it was not as bad as having the yearly strain of flu where you feel like you're gonna die and want to die. That's what is so scary about it, there are many "walking ill" as they call it around these parts, that is why it is spreading so fast, people don't realize just how sick they are. I did my 5 day stint on Tamiflu, finishing Friday and today is the first day I am actually feeling well enough to go out and about. The frustrating thing was I didn't feel sick enough to sleep all day but not at all well enough to do anything. My eyes hurt so bad I couldn't watch TV or read.
Just FYI, it started out with a bad headache, then neck ache then general aches. Low grade fever, nausea, dizzy, stomach cramps, dry cough and my eyes looked like nobody was home. Dr. says my eyes look like a dead fishes, and the sensitivity to look at anything was enormous.

[Weeeyin]

Oh my goodness - get well soon xx

It's good you've shared this horrible bug with us all, its a lesson to everyone for clean hands esp when you're sticking them in your mouth on a daily basis. Your description of the symptoms is the most honest I've heard about - my mum defo only has a cold after I read your symptoms -I've been avoiding her all week - perfect daughter not!

[myhollywoodsmile]

Sounds nasty Mommamorin, glad you are starting to feel better. Here in Australia swine flu is absolutely rife, it has just run amok amongst the general community. Fortunately it hasn't mutated yet.

At least I suppose now you have had it you might have some immunity if it comes around again in a worse form. I had read elsewhere about the effect on peoples eyes. I'm trying to keep my daughter away from it as she is severely asthmatic.

Anyway, thanks for the tip, I'm washing my hands constantly now!

[Sunny]

Myhollywoodsmile I work in an industry where we are in constant contact with people and there mouths. We get daily updates with regard to the swine flu, and it's minor here in Oz, in fact most cities haven't yet made areas in their hospitals for isolation, as it's considered a waste of time and space ... which I agree with. More important is taking care of ourselves if we should get a flu ... any flu, as the common flu kills people every winter.

It's also known that masks, or keeping your hands clean will not prevent you from catching a flu. You'd need full body cover and your own filtered air supply for that to happen. It's still very important to keep your hands clean, but even more important is to keep your hands dry, so that bacteria will not flourish in the moist areas it needs.

Momma sorry to read you've been one of the unlucky ones to catch H1N1 and hopefully you're feeling heaps better already!

[Brissiegirl]

Hello, I am also in Australia, Brisbane. Swine flu is not a problem here, but I am still fanatical about washing my hands. I always have the sanitiser in my handbag.

Rachel

[Zoso]

More important is taking care of ourselves if we should get a flu ... any flu, as the common flu kills people every winter.

It's also known that masks, or keeping your hands clean will not prevent you from catching a flu. You'd need full body cover and your own filtered air supply for that to happen. It's still very important to keep your hands clean, but even more important is to keep your hands dry, so that bacteria will not flourish in the moist areas it needs.

As far as I understand it, H1N1 is simply another strain of Influenza A. It's not actually especially virulent, nor is it a particularly bad flu once you have it, but it was not a strain against which people were immunized for the past winter's (northern hemisphere) flu season, hence it spread more. As with any other flu, it poses most risk to those who have weaker/compromised immune systems, or those who are more prone to complications, such as people with heart disease, diabetes, or asthma. I think it's good you highlight that point, because a lot of people just do not recognise that regular flu is a killer too, even today.

Of course it's true that there is no sure-fire way to avoid catching swine flu (and masks are far more useful if worn by the infected, than if worn by those who are not ill). But since the flu virus can remain viable on surfaces we touch (such as door handles) for around two hours or even longer - yes, even dry surfaces - it is indeed extremely important to keep our hands clean, especially if we are going to be touching our mouths, noses, or eyes.