The Doctor Will See You Now
This boy has not had a fun week. The flu hit our family, hard! I am so confused about all of this swine flu/flu stuff. What I’ve heard is that our regular seasonal flu is not even here yet so 99% of all flues now are the H1N1 variety. Is this true? Does this mean we’ve already survived the swine flu?? It all began at Luke’s wonderful 3rd birthday. He was kissed on all day long. Four days later…BAM, he’s sick. Sweet Lily despite all my warnings would not stay away from her sick little brother. I would leave for a minute and come back to her stroking his head. Needless to say, she fell ill.
Now after a week of caring for these two, it finally got me. Paul and Preston are the only two that have escaped, SO FAR. These children have been very sick. Thank goodness Preston is a gadget man and ordered a stethoscope on e- bay a few weeks ago. It has come in very handy. After trips to the doctors office, I’ve been listening for any signs that the lungs are having problems. They did not swab the kids, so I still have no idea what type of flu this is.
Here is my question. I was set on NOT having my kids vaccinated on the swine flu. Now I’m questioning it, because if this was in fact only the seasonal flu, I would seriously hate to see what this H1N1 flu will do. Any one have any information?? All of the information I hear is so confusing. Will you have your kids vaccinated??
I think we are through the worst of it. The love these two have for each other is really incredible. Not a fun week, but they survived together!
My poor Preston is so set that he is not going to get sick. He has been living outside for a week. He asked if he could stay in the motor home. Not a bad idea Preston!
I’m so proud of your new belt Pres. Your mental disciple and focus is really amazing. You have more self control then I have in my little pinkie.
New belt, yellow with black stripe. You’ll be back to orange in no time!
October 8th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Following are Prevention Tips to minimize getting H1N1 (Swine Flu)…
Dr. Vinay Goyal is an MBBS,DRM,DNB (Intensivist and Thyroid specialist) having clinical experience of over 20 years. He has worked in institutions like Hinduja Hospital, Bombay Hospital, Saifee Hospital, Tata Memorial etc. Presently, he is heading the Nuclear Medicine Department and Thyroid clinic at Riddhivinayak Cardiac and Critical Centre, Malad (W). The following is a message given by him:
The only portals of entry of the H1N1 virus are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it’s almost impossible not coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.
While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):
1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications). This is not a joke. Make it a ritual habit…make it part of your daily routine… DO NOT BE LAZY…!
2. “Hands-off-the-face” approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).
3. Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don’t trust salt). H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don’t underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.
4. Similar to 3 above, clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.
5. Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (such as citrus fruits). If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that they also have Zinc to boost absorption.
6. Drink as much warm liquid as you can (such as teas, soups and broths). Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.
My friend sent me this info.
October 8th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
Our family does not vaccinate. I’ve heard so much about the swine flu. For one, they cannot tell if it is the swine flu from a simple swap. Apparently they have to do a more sophisticated test and they are not doing this routinely! They really do not know, most of the time, what type of flu someone has.