Patient (talking to nurse): I'm wondering if I should go to mass on Sunday because you know there are a lot of Hispanics that go to my church and I don't know if they've been to Mexico.
Nurse: Um maybe if you are worried you should stay home.
DUDE. I overheard this while I was in the bathroom next to the exam room. I can't believe the nurse didn't say anything else...like HELLO NOT ALL HISPANIC PEOPLE COME FROM MEXICO.
Because I work in a clinic that is part of a hospital, the swine flu is a big. FUCKING.deal and it is starting to freak me out. I don't really know if hearing about it all.the.time is healthy for me because I can tend to be a freaker outer. I hope this blows over soon and we can go back to worrying about the economy, at least then I don't worry about dying...
About Me
- Penny
- I work. I have a toddler named Eli(born August 2006). I have a dog and two cats and one husband (Teddy). I like to write about mothering, marriage, crafting, and my general opinion on things. I used to have another blog, but I was too liberal with my personal information and got creeped out. I hope to have a permanent home here! I have been on a weight loss journey since May 2008 and I tend to write a lot about my struggles with that. My family just moved from NJ to AL and I'm currently working, but I'm still looking...
8 comments:
I spent an hour last night reading up on the swine flu so I could decide if I thought death was imminment and I should barricade us in our house.
It is freaking me out, and usually I just ignore this stuff. Maybe Bea and Ashley will tell us it is no.big.deal.
Yeah I usually ignore this stuff too, and I probably would be able too if I didn't have to talk about it at work every 2 seconds. I don't like feeling stressed about it!
Well, we're heading to NYC where there's been a few cases...and we'll be all around all kinds of people. Now I will definitely be overusing the hand sanitizer (probably not a bad thing to do regardless) and I'll admit, we are taking our masks JUST IN CASE. You know, in case there is some crazy breakout and there's a run on masks, well, we've already got ours!
Don't freak out!!
i am freaking out too and totally thought about bea when i heard about the first reported death in texas. i am afraid to read up on it though because that would freak me out even more.
Don't freak out. It is the flu. Like any other flu except it comes from pigs and we've never been exposed to it before. That doesn't mean anything because there are several flu strains we have never been exposed to before and are exposed to with each cold/flu season. That is why even if you get the flu shot, you can get the flu. And sometimes you get the been-hit-by-a-truck flu and sometimes you get the sniffles-flu. I have seen both- it all depends on your health, your previous exposure, and if you have had the vaccine. People die from the flu all the time, it is not just the swine flu.
Wash your hands. Do not touch your face. Don't hang around sick people. Even for us in the ER they are only concerned if you have a fever > 101 AND two symptoms (cough, congestion, runny nose) ALONG WITH being exposed to someone who tested + for flu or recently (in last 30 days) been to Mexico. That's a lot of qualifiers.
If you think you have the flu, go to the doctor and get tested for the flu. They will swab you for the swine flu if you have a + flu test. Go home. Drink plenty of fluids. Rest. Take the antiviral, Take tylenol or advil. Come back if you feel worse.
The one "probable" case in Austin is a kid who is resting at home. The kid who died waited a week before seeking proper treatment- they went to like a county clinic/hospital, then were transferred to a larger Mexican hospital, and then to Texas Children's AND they were Mexican (not American) AND NONE of the family members show signs of the flu. This past flu season I had 3 patients die from the flu- one teenager, one pedi, and one geriatric. If your fever is not coming down, you are vomiting excessively, dehydrated, having chest pain/palpitations, have a seizure, faint, etc. go to the ER.
I'll step off my soapbox now. I am NOT looking forward to working the next two days BTW. We are packed with sickies and it is NO FUN.
Thanks Bea, it is helpful to know a nurse! Good luck at work the next several days, I hope you're feeling better too!
ok, i feel a little better now, because i really was starting to get worried. thanks bea!
I never realized how much I touch my face until someone says, "don't touch your face". argh.
Post a Comment