People with germs in public places

[Sunny]

Yesterday I had my latest blood test. Last night I went to my niece's dance recital.
How is this connected? Well, wouldn't you know during the 1st half of the show I had a lady seated to my immediate right who was
coughing and hacking away. Next thing I know, this lady pulls out a full face mask and puts it on. I assume so she didn't "spread" whatever it was she had.
Then the child immediately behind me had a "croupy" seal-like cough. After intermission,my sister was gracious enough to switch places which put me 6 people down the row.
        Then my renal doctor called me this morning (she only calls when my blood tests worry her), to tell me my white blood cell count went from
7,600 down to 1,000 and my hemoglobin level went from 12 to 8 since my last blood draw 4 weeks ago. Creatinine at 3.1. She explained my immune
system is not very good right now, and please go get another blood draw day after tomorrow since maybe there was a mistake.
         So, wouldn't you know I'm not feeling to good this evening and I have a sore throat and that I seemed to be exposed to germs at a time when my body could least tolerate it.
Why do people go out in public when they are sick? Don't they realize the risks for others? What is wrong with people?

[okarol]

Ever since Jenna's transplant I am acutely aware of sick people. I can hear a sneeze 4 blocks away. When someone sniffles I will ask "Are you sick?" and they say "Oh yeah, had a fever last night but now it's just a chest cough" or something similar. Good grief! I try to tell them not to come over if they aren't feeling well, but everyone seems to forget! People take their immune systems for granted!

I hope your next blood test is better. Get some rest and drink fluids and hopefully things will improve. 

[Chris]

What aggrevates me is the woman who coughs and hacks and then puts a mask on. Should have put the mask on to cough and hack! Less chance to spread something with your hands also, not to mention everyone else. Idiots!

Hope you feel better and blood test come back better.

[twirl]

some people just do not care

[monrein]

I'm going to start carrying masks with me for situations like the one you describe Sunny.  Common sense is a very uncommon commodity.

Hope you're feeling better soon.

[Chris]

I use to do that after my transplant, but vanity won over due to people starring.

[MIbarra]

Chris, I started putting smiley faces on my masks after the transplant! If they're gonna stare, give them something to really stare at!

[Chris]

 
But's that not me, I might feel like wearing a Wal Mart Jaclet and greet people!

[thegrammalady]

crud is everywhere. as far as i'm concerned the only reason you keep kids with chicken pox home is for the comfort of the child. you are contagious 3 days before the spots break out. 3 days before you have any idea you are sick. that being said i just spent 4 days in the hospital with some unknown gastrointestinal crud and who knows where i got that. no one i was around was sick that i know of. yes people should be considerate, however.......................

[tamara]

crud is everywhere. as far as i'm concerned the only reason you keep kids with chicken pox home is for the comfort of the child. you are contagious 3 days before the spots break out. 3 days before you have any idea you are sick. that being said i just spent 4 days in the hospital with some unknown gastrointestinal crud and who knows where i got that. no one i was around was sick that i know of. yes people should be considerate, however.......................

Yeah I think the same, it actually spun me out the 1st month of the transplant that I had to go in everyday for blood tests and a check up. Yes it is good that I was being observed at that rate in the early stages of transplant but all I could think of was all the sick people and germs in the hospital and me being there everyday ! Crud is everywhere !

[pelagia]

Sunny, 

I hope you can get the WBC and hemoglobin numbers to go in the other direction soon.  In the meantime, you may have to be more militant about avoiding germs.  I think most folks don't even give coughing in public a second thought unless people are packed close together.   

My husband spends a lot of time in public places for his job.  While he was still in the hospital, he had a visit from an infectious disease doctor.  I don't know if this is routine or if they did it because of Stephen's job.  In any case, the doc asked Stephen questions about his lifestyle and job and then based on that gave him some guidance about how to best avoid the germs.

Here is basically what he said:

Stay out of the crowd (out of coughing distance)
If you can't stay out of the crowd wear a mask (forget vanity; everything like this is a risk, especially early on and you have to decide which ones you want to take)
Don't shake hands (most germs are transferred on contact)
If you do shake hands, wash them asap with soap and water (not purrell)
Limit hugs except to your spouse and kids (avoid them if they are sick)
Wash your hands as much as possible

Then he reminded us that some transplant patients work in healthcare and childcare!

In our short experience, people will try to be helpful and understanding if you let them know "I had a transplant and I am immunocompromised".  I think these days everyone knows what that means.

At our local Ben & Jerry's they will wash their hands and get a clean scoop if you tell them that you are immunocompromised.  Now, there is probably still a chance of something in the case or whatever, but the biggest risks are greatly reduced.

If you are going to a specific public occasion, I think it would be fine to call ahead and see if you can make arrangements for a specific kind of seating.  Let them know that you are immunocompromised.  We did this for my son's high school graduation - my husband walked in with his mask on after most folks had been seated, sat in an area away from the crowd (took the mask off) and left by the back door (mask on). 

I hope that you can rest as much as possible right now as that will let your body put energy into fighting off any germs.

[Sunny]

Much better, Thank you.
Fridays blood draw had my Hemo level at 12.4 and White Blood cell count at 6. The doctor thinks Maybe the lab didn't do a good job last time
or that two inoculations I had last week caused it (yellow fever and typhoid).My creatinine is 3.3, but I've learned to live with that. I've also
gotten plenty of rest in between the two blood lab draws and my sore throat went away. Yay! I'll be staying clear of sick people as best I can.

[flip]

I've decided not to have unprotected sex with strangers any more.

[pelagia]

Oh for the good old days... 

[mikey07840]

Queen Ruth told me to just spray any strangers I meet with some lysol. It's been working really well. Haven't gotten sick in a while.

[rookiegirl]

I know exactly what you mean about some people don't use common sense.

3 months ago, I took a couple of days off work.  When I returned to work that following Monday, one of my coworker warned me that another coworker of mine, borrowed my sweater that normally hangs on the back of my chair.  She borrowed it because she was cold.  Come to find out she had a fever that day and was coughing bad.  Later that afternoon, she was so sick that she almost passed out due to a high fever.  Why would this "idiot" grab someone else's sweater knowing they are sick.  Of all the sweaters in the office, she would have to grab the one on dialysis (ME).

STUPID!!! 

I was so appreciative to have been warned and thankful I didn't get sick.