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joann10
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| Posted: Oct 01 2010 at 7:31pm | IP Logged
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while taking care of a houseful of little germ machines??
I am under orders from my many doctors to try and avoid getting sick and avoid being around sick people.
These doctors know that I have 8 kids at home, so it is virtually an impossible task. We all had swine flu by last October and weren't well again before about March or April.
I am already immunocompromised from when my spleen was removed a few years ago and seem to catch everything that comes along harder than most (often ending up in the hospital).....but now, since I am on the chemo meds for my RA the doctors are quite concerned because my system will have a much harder time fighting sickness.
I have had my flu shot last week and the kids all have their shots next week, but what are some practical things I can do to keep myself safe?.....I am already nervous about being out of the house in big, close, crowds, but I know the kids will be bringing home alot of germs.
I guess I am looking for suggestions on how to live safely with 10 kids and stay as healthy as I can??
Thanks for your help, I need it..... 
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KC in TX
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| Posted: Oct 01 2010 at 7:43pm | IP Logged
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One of the biggest is making sure the kids wash their hands ALL. THE. TIME. I know how hard that is.
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joann10
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| Posted: Oct 01 2010 at 7:57pm | IP Logged
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I was thinking of having hand sanitizer all over the house to use, but with the cold temperatures coming, I'm afrain their hands will get all dried out and chapped....
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Nique
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| Posted: Oct 01 2010 at 8:54pm | IP Logged
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Perhaps look for a hand sanitizer with a moisturizer in it.
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wifemommy
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Fresh air!!!
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JodieLyn
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hand sanitizer at the doors so that it doesn't come into the house.. I keep some in my van so that we use it getting into the van.. like last year when it seemed EVERYONE was sick and I was taking a daughter to the public school for speech therapy.. we'd use hand sanitizer as soon as we got in the van when leaving the school.
you can also keep lotions around.. you might even look into things like adding lavender essential oil or tea tree oil or grapefruit seed extract to the lotions for an extra bit of "sanitizing" while moisturizing.
You can use a face mask when in large groups of people. I know a lady at our Church did that when she was going through chemotherapy.. she'd wear the mask except for receiving communion (and she only recieved the "bread" not the "wine" to avoid even the low possibility of something being passed)
Multivitamins helps everyone stay at their best.. I also like giving elderberry as a preventative.. just one dose for everyone after we were in a situation that we were likely exposed to something.. I would also use it for everyone if anyone started to get sick.. 3 doses a day for everyone. And stock up ahead of time so that you can do that without a trip to the store (or waiting on mail order) You could do the same with something like grapefruit seed extract (it can be used internally) or other anti-virals/anti-bacterials like ginger and garlic. Echinacea is good to boost the immune system so that is something you might want to use.. 2 weeks on and then you need a break from it for it to continue to work as well as it could. Doesn't generally help healthy people stay well since it only brings your immune response up to a good normal.
definately fresh air.. don't let the house get too "locked down".. you need air flow for health.. so you might want to crack a window here and there.. I prefer to sleep with my window open just a smidge (if I don't have a new baby in my room and as long as the temps are over 0* at night) but if you're afraid of getting chilled it could be during the day that you crack windows open so that you don't lose much heat from the house.
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mamasue
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| Posted: Oct 01 2010 at 10:46pm | IP Logged
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Maybe hand santizer around the house with lotion right next to it?
Make a rule that each child has to wash their hands with soap and water five times a day and if they remember to do so they will get a piece if candy after dinner ( will only work for the little ones of course)
Keep hand sanitized in the van and get into a habit of each person using it when they get in the car.
Can viruses live on clothes? If so everyone changes shirts when they get home. More laundry but would be worth it in the end?
Don't forget vitamins, eating healthy and staying active even when it is freezing... Getting outside for just a few minutes everyday in the dead of winter always makes me feel so much healthier- mentally and physically.
Hmm I don't know what else to suggest. Cutting out caffeine always makes me feel better but I'm not sure
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Aagot
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| Posted: Oct 02 2010 at 12:13am | IP Logged
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No sugar, lots of Cod Liver Oil, and I second Elderberry juice. OSHA also knocks things out if
you can live through the taste.
Good Health,
Aagot
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: Oct 02 2010 at 6:50am | IP Logged
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I second Aagot. I do all those things, but the one I was going to emphasize for you, JoAnn, since it doesn't require adding or buying anything extra, is the no sugar thing.
Sugar severely depresses the immune system, and while I do allow sugar treats from time to time, if we get sick, it is usually during cold and flu season and happens the week after the kids had donuts in the Church Hall after mass. It is maddening that the most times I allow lots of sugar are the times the kids are exposed to the most germs Fortunately, the refreshment committee has gotten much better about having lower sugar treats like bagels and fruit available which makes it easier in that instance.
Anyway, I know its a difficult sacrifice, but it is one that I think pays off in this area. I'm more lenient during the summer months, but during the winter, especially if someone gets the sniffles, I become a bit more draconian. 
Also, at the first sign of a cold coming on, raw garlic is a really great anti-viral. I have a friend who recently began using pickled garlic instead since it is easier to consume and less likely to give indigestion, but I haven't found any so far. I usually cut the garlic into slices and leave it exposed to air for about 10 minutes (my doctor explained why this helps increase its anti-viral properties, but I can't recall why now), and then swallow it all like a pill  Its kind of icky, but I find it is at least as effective (if not more than) Zyrtec.
I also drink Emergen-C daily, and I up it if I'm coming down with something or am afraid I've been exposed to something. In the winter, its not unusually for me to serve Emergen-C to everyone after a trip to Costco or a birthday party, lol.
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Chris V
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I'll third Aagot, and second Lindsay 
Make sure that you're all getting enough Vitamin D too. Carlson brand supplements and oils have D-drops that come in 400 IU, 1000 IU and 2000 IU. During the winter months / flu season, we all up our dosing of Vitamin D and it's proved very effective at prevention, which is what you're after.
Like so many others have mentioned, get real acquainted with our good friend, garlic-clove . Have elderberry on hand, echinecea in the pantry, go outside, and get plenty of rest each day and cut out the sugar.
And just like Lindsay, I drink Emergen-C, as do my kids.
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CrunchyMom
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Yes, Vit. D is good.  Its a big reason the Cod liver oil helps. Also, in getting your fresh air, if you can plan that in the sunniest part of the day (noon to two?) and expose as much skin as possible on your face, arms, and legs (I don't mean strip,  , I meant that in the winter, it is COLD), that will help with your Vit. D as well.
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guitarnan
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If you can tolerate latex, consider wearing latex gloves when tending ill children. My friend, whose mother is immuno-compromized, does this (and she also works at a retirement community - germ central) and she rarely gets ill. (She is meticulous about washing her hands, too. Very, very important.)
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Nique
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My kids get their garlic by eating green olives with a piece of garlic stuffed inside. It comes in a jar. We buy ours from Costco! They it!
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KackyK
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Last year I was pregnant and basically panicked about the swine flu. I added Vit C, did the Elderberry as soon as anyone felt yucky and hand sanitizer in the van, in my purse, in the house. I even stuck it in their lunch boxes when they went to a friend's house. I also limited our activites, no pumkin farms (those inflatables!) and things like that.
Then I felt like If we did catch something, then it must be meant to be. Then I wouldn't second guess that there could have been something else I should have done.
I'd figure a plan, do the plan, and what happens happens...it's how I found peace with the panic!
btw- we never did get the flu...so I'm fully expecting it this year
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Kathryn
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I would second the hand sanitizer/wash hands frequently as well as constantly (prob. daily) changing the hand towels in the bathroom/kitchen. They have those new disposable wipes for the bathroom but I would prob. only use those if there is an illness outbreak b/c they're pricey.
Fresh air is a must too and when we have an illness going around I'm very liberal w/ the Lysol spray on all door knobs, faucets etc. Prob. wouldn't hurt to use that more frequently in your home too or something similar. I suppose a wet, soapy rag would do the trick w/o the bleach but would just be way more time consuming. May be you could find a chemical free spray or make your own for wiping down those high-traffic hand zones.
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LucyP
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our herbalist warned that elderberry can make swine flu specifically worse. Other flu it is fine for of course, but it apparently can increase the bad effects of swine flu. Just fyi.
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MicheleQ
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Wow what a load of info. you ladies are! So glad you asked Joann --I'm bookmarking this for later.
Oh, I would add zinc too, that always seems to help us.
Lindsay, I think the garlic thing has to do with the allicin and that is doesn't get activated until the garlic is cut or crushed but which also dissipates after a while (which is why real garlic is so much more effective than most garlic tabs). Also, I have done a lot of research on Vit. D since I am deficient and it seems that I live too far north for the sun to help in the winter and I am pretty sure Joann lives even farther north so I would skip that part personally. On the other hand I do think making sure you get sunlight in your eyes (and thus stimulate serotonin) is VERY important in the winter because SAD can contribute to a suppressed immune system.
And I hate it but opening the windows and airing things out in the winter does seem to help.
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Angel
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Definitely cod liver oil. Elderberry worked for us last year. I had a friend who swore by keeping the house humidified. She had pots of water on the stove, on the woodstove... etc. Viruses do tend to proliferate in the winter because of lower humidity, so she was probably onto something.
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mamasue
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Odd, I actually have heard the opposite- that elderberry is the perfect match for swine flu. Worth it to research
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Chris V
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| Posted: Oct 04 2010 at 12:41pm | IP Logged
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LucyP wrote:
| our herbalist warned that elderberry can make swine flu specifically worse. Other flu it is fine for of course, but it apparently can increase the bad effects of swine flu. Just fyi. |
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It's my understanding that just the opposite of this is true. With the early onset of flu symptoms (swine flu and seasonal flu alike), elderberry has been show to be an excellent defense at shortening the life of the virus, and easing symptoms. I have some sources that I can post here for reference. I'll dig them up and post them when I've got more than a few minutes 
Also, it would be good to get yourselves and your children on a good daily probiotic; proper immune function and a healthy gut are directly related.
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Topic: How to stay healthy .....
