South Florida Nesties
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Poll: H1N1 Virus (Swine Flu)
I attended an event earlier this week that my company held about the upcoming pandemic of the HINI virus. Basically, the event was about raising awareness of what's most likely to come and what companies should start thinking about doing in preparation if large amounts of employees are out sick at the same time.
This has gotten me a bit freaked out honestly. They say that with this upcoming flu season, the virus is going to mutate and get worse and spread more and more.
Here is the poll part:
1. Are you nervous about getting H1N1?
2. Are you going to get the vaccine? Why/Why not?
Feel free to share any other thoughts 
I just think this is so interesting...
Re: Poll: H1N1 Virus (Swine Flu)
1. Yes, I am definitely nervous. We had very knowledgeable doctors and other panelists at this event that were basically saying that this is coming and to be prepared. I have a compromised immune system and if I got it, I would be screwed!
2. Can't because of my illness, but I probably wouldn't anyway. I am nervous because it was made so quickly and that the long term side effects are unknown.
I have been carrying antibacterial soap in my purse and using it all the time, I'm washing my hands more, and avoiding going to someone's house or being around people who say they are sick or feel like they are getting sick.
::fingers crossed that we all don't get it!!::
1. I am very nervous. I'm the type of person that gets sick very easily. The good thing is that I am taking a sabbatical from work right now. This is good because even though we have unlimited sick time at my office, people love to go to work sick so they can show what hard workers they are. One person in my firm already got the swine flu
2. I haven't decided yet if I am getting the vaccine. I have never even got the season flu vaccine. I've been to afraid of the side effects. I think I will wait through the next two months to see if there are reports of anymore people getting sick in my office.
Jessica,
you get unlimited sick time? wow! I wish we had that. people come in sick constantly at work. But you are right, they would probably come to work sick anyway. we had a whole audit team get the swine flu and then they were working in the office and spread it through the office. luckily, I hadn't been there for a while and was not exposed to it.
As for your poll,
Also, I have never gotten a regular flu shot and would be scared to get the swine flu shot. I guess I'll wait and see how bad it gets. I am just trying to be more cautious than normal and I hope that works out for me! haha
1. Are you nervous about getting H1N1? No, ::knock on wood:: I have a very strong immune system, and rarely get sick.
2. Are you going to get the vaccine? Why/Why not? No, for several reasons. 1) Not much research/testing was performed on the vaccine, because it is new, and the pharm companies pushed for it to be released. A previous flu vaccine (many yrs ago) that too was rushed to the market caused several deaths and paralysis b/c of lack of research/testing. 2) No one has died of the flu, only the complications of the flue. I feel that if you are unlucky enough to get the flu, it is important to take care of yourself to ensure it doesn't get out of hand. 3) I think it is important to build your immune system (eating healty and taking vitamins) to prevent being sick in general than to get the flu vaccine. 4) The current vaccine is based on last yr's flu. Every yr the flu mutates, therefore, this yr's flu is going to be prob stronger than last, and the vaccine may not help prevent it.
"If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane" -- Jimmy Buffett
Jessica & Vicky, I can't believe your work environments encourage you guys to come in sick! I work for a small company (so we need everyone there), and we are creating a policy where you cannot come in if you have any symptoms of a virus and need to stay home for a certain amount of days if you have swine flu. Days that won't be taken out of your sick days/PTO...
Jackie, I agree with you about the vaccine. I would be way too scared of the potential side effects. Oh and like you said about it mutating, that's why they are so afraid of with swine flu, that it mutates and gets more lethal
.
No, I'm not too nervous about getting it (even though I'm a first grade teacher and kids are constantly carrying germs!!!). It's just never been too nervewrecking for me (knock on wood!).
I probably won't get the vaccine because of the side effects I've heard it may bring. I've also heard of many cases where people ended up getting the virus regardless.
Guess I just have to keep sanitized and pray I don't get it!
"If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane" -- Jimmy Buffett
1. No. However, it seems to be getting crazier and more people are getting infected.
2. Initially I wasn't going to. Honestly, I'm not afraid of side effects. The chance that there will be a complication are very rare. We can't let that scare us to get medications. I just don't like putting things in my body that are not necessary. I have never gotten the seasonal flu vaccine. I'm considering getting the H1N1 just b/c I don't want to spread it, if I do get it. While I've never gotten the flu shot before; many people do making the chance of spreading smaller. But a lot of ppl are not getting this vaccine, so it may be up to us. In regards to how it was developed. The vaccine was developed in the same way all others are. The seasonal flu vaccine is developed every year in the same way. Pharmaceutical companies do not make money off of vaccines so it's of no interest to them. Make sure you go to legit sources. I went to the CDC website to get questions answered.
I'm a bit nerovus about germs. I teach kinder, those little kids love touching their nose and then me.
Im scared of getting needle shots, so I will not get the shot or squirt something up my nose (Until its required)
So in the mean time I will just keep taking my vitamins and wash my hands all the time.
My reasons for not taking it is more personal. I was setup to be put on a new medication for my MS that had been studied for 2 years and had amazing results (best results thus far). A couple of months before I received my first dose, they quickly pulled the medicine off the market because two people got a terrible brain infection that is deadly, both have died. They have done more studies, and now they know that this is a side effect of the medicine.
I have participated in medical studies myself, so I know how important it is to be open to new meds, but I just get wary of meds that haven't been studied for long.
I'm wary of the regular flu shot as well. I'm sure it's safe in the long run, I would just be careful and only take it if needed. I wonder if these doctors take it themselves.
Oh no! I hope he gets well soon! Take care of him and yourself!
Michi,
Completely understandable. I just think that a vaccine and meds are different. Totally don't mean to try to convince people. To each his own. But whatever people decide I think we should research it and not just go by hear say.?
1- no. My close friend is a pharmacologist and has assured me that it's no different than receiving the influenza vaccination. And DH is actually at work right now administering it!
2- probably not. this is the first time in 27 years i've gotten the flu, it was h1n1, i'm fine, and now i'm immune :-D
Thanks so much. FYI - the urgent care that we visited does not test for swine flu. When I asked the doctor the diff b/w the flu and swine flu, he said that it is almost the same... and most importantly the treatment is the same: Tamiflu for 5 days, lots of liquids, and Motrin/Tylenol for fever.
"If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane" -- Jimmy Buffett
1. I'm not nervous about the virus, but my pet peeve remains the same: I wish people who are sick with some type of illness (cold, URI, etc) would stay home from work and/or school. That's why this is spreading as fast.
2. There's no way in hell that I'd get the vaccine. I've never had a flu shot in my life and I don't plan on getting one anytime soon. I carry tons of antibacterial gel in my purse and have a ton on my desk, too.
5lbs 9 oz, 18.5 inches long
6 months: 16lbs 15 oz, 27 inches long
1. Are you nervous about getting H1N1? Yes
2. Are you going to get the vaccine? Why/Why not? I've always gotten my vaccinations, however, I'm not exactly jumping in line for this one. I sort of just want to wait a little bit and see what happens. It's so new. I plan on getting my regular flu shot like I do every year. From what I've seen in the news, my age group isn't at high risk, mostly kids, elderly, and those people directly involved with them. So I think I'm ok, for now, I just want to wait a little bit and see what happens.
as long as you guys made sure that you started the tamiflu within 48-60 hours of the start of symptoms, it should start working right away!! I took about 5 days to get my fever to break after starting tamiflu- but my defenses are down right now. Just stay away from him and make sure he drinks a lot of water!! And please, please, don't let him go out in public lol quarantine him!! Hope he feels better and you don't catch any flu- swine or not. we were lucky and neither DH nor Abby got it... I holed myself so I wouldn't infect anyone!
I have instructed him to stay home at all cause. I've been the one running errands, getting food/drinks. He's home alone now, but I'm taking him lunch. He's not even up for leaving/driving, so no need to worry about going into public. LOL Glad your hubby and Abby didn't get it.
Dh isn't allowed on our bed, he has to sleep in the guest room, or the family room, the one he chooses. LOL And everytime I touch him (to check temp) or anything he's touched (computer), I make sure to use lots of antibacterial, immediately.
"If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane" -- Jimmy Buffett
Ugh, I hope he feels better soon and I really hope you don't get it!
My DH is traveling soon and I am hoping there aren't a bunch of sick people on the plane!
Jackie, I'm sorry your DH is sick! I hope he has a fast recovery.
I'm no more nervous about getting H1N1 than the regular flu. The only time I've ever gotten the flu shot is when I worked in a pharmacy through college; it was absolutely a necessity then. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't get either shot, but since we're trying to conceive, I'm going to ask my doctor when I speak with her later this week. I would prefer to have either vaccine before getting pregnant instead of during the 1st trimester, though. Just to ease my mind.
My blog
I work at a school that has had a couple of cases of the H1N1. Actually, one of our teachers just got back to work from being sick with the H1N1. I was with her when I was heating up my lunch and she was coughing up a storm. I am not sure if she was 100% ready for work. Honestly, if I had it and kept coughing that nasty cough, I would stay home so not to infect anyone. Let's just say that I washed my hands as if I was going in for brain surgery when I left that teacher's lounge.