she wont take them to get help!

[pertykitty]

ok i know she isnt being a good mom, she has her share of mistakes but as a person i do really care for her.  its my good friend of many years.  her 2 teen boys are very sick and she says it seems to be h1n1.  the drs office wont see them and told her to take them to the er.  well she called last night late and said one can barely get out of bed she has to help him!!! they are both coughing up blood and when i told her to take them in now, she said its just a little blood from all the coughing!!! well even when i smoked a pack of cigs a day NEVER did i cough up blood when sick.  im at my wits end with her!!! how do you convince someone to get medical help?  she is on pain meds and has been due to a back injury/surgeries.  i think its made her a bit wacked out in the brain.  

i just cant believe she would let it go this long its been a week.  oh and they were out of town when the boys got sick and had fevers and they still stayed rather than come home!!! i think i need a break from her for awhile.....

[adgal]

We had the mask fitting, it was interesting. First they put a big hood over your head (made me think of a hazmat suit hood or something).  Then they sprayed a chemical in (non toxic and very safe for pregnant women).  We had to let them know when we could taste it (it tasted like rubber bands..yuck).  Then they fitted us for our mask...it really seals everything in so even tiny droplets shouldn't get through, and once they had they right fit, back on went the hood (with mask in place) and sprayed again until we could taste whatever this chemical was.  Quite the procedure, but again, I am glad they are taking every precaution.  We have a pandemic planning committee and we are all getting training in how to avoid it as well as what to do if there truly is a serious breakout.  I guess it's considered a true pandemic (or a level 4??) if we have more then 1/3 of our staff away.  All of us pregnant women are then not allowed to come to work, and even prior to that we have the option of working from home.  They truly are being great and trying to protect us.  Its a good feeling.

[swampcritter]

Mask fittings are good...you need a fitted mask to protect you from getting the flu.

[vsentz]

Manda, I think a mask is just not enough since you can get the virus (knock on wood!!!) from tiny droplets of saliva floting in the air and entering your nose, eyes and mouth. You'd need a biker helmet! ;)

Just be careful sweetie, is there a way you can start maternity leave earlier? or maybe stop working for a little bit until you feel it's right to come back? (of course baby would be old enough then...).

I've heard and read that the vaccine is actually not tested yet and could potentially be more harmful..?? I don't see how, but I'm also being careful about the pig flu! lol I always grab desinfecting wipes in the store and wipe down the cart (or at least the handle) and my steering wheel in my car. I always wash my hands before and after going potty and grab a napkin to pull the handle of the bathroom door.

Of course Maddie being in daycare I'm so paranoid about it.... she's got a stuffy nose now, but the minute I sense some fever in that child, she's going straight in the doctor's!
My mom has a nasty cold too.... and my dad is still recovering from the infection he got last weekend (we ended up in the ER!!!), a nasty abscess that almost had to have surgery! (of course, no insurance)

Ahhhh! just peachy here....

At least we are all together and 'healthy', and have our jobs still. =) Can't complain.

[adgal]

Thanks perty, it is so exciting.  I never really thought I would see this day.  The masks are called N1H or something like that. I am glad our organization is taking this possible pandemic so seriously.  They actually have told me (and the other pregnant women I work with) that we can work from home if there really is a breakout at work...we'll see I guess.  How are you?  YOur little girl is soooo cute.  I can't believe how big she's getting!

[pertykitty]

i believe that they have to be special masks. i dont think the masks like you see at the dental office is good enough.  i sure hope you stay away from any sickness.  girl im so excited you are so far along!!

[adgal]

I can't wait until the vaccine is available either.  I will be in third trimester at the peak of the flu season and working hands on with the homeless, well it puts me in a vulnerable position for sure. So many of them have seriously compromised immune systems and get things first.  We just had an outbreak at one of the shelters here, so that means we should see it at our organization fairly soon...monday we have to go for mask fittings.  I find that strange.....I am wondering what kind of masks they mean....I have this picture in my head of a Darth Vadar mask or something.  Weird.

[swampcritter]

Swampy can't wait until the vaccine is available.

[Quinns momma]

The flu is so dang scary. A friend of my DH and I had a heart attack and will be undergoing triple bypass on Monday. I feel so badly for him and would love to go visit. BUT being 21 weeks pregnant I am too scared to go to the hospital and pick up the flu cooties.

I do not think you catch the same strain twice.

[pertykitty]

well i just talked to her.  the drs office said they have it (going by symptoms only).  they told her what to look out for to take them to the hospitol and my goodness they want them near on their death bed before you go in!  at this point it sounds like they arent as bad off as they can be so i will just keep talking to her to see.  

i guess it can take 2 weeks to run its course.  we almost had lunch last friday but by some odd reason i canc because i just didnt feel like going, and i love going to lunch!  my son has a cold, just a cold but i can see i will be freaking out over the weekend.  now my throat is starting to hurt but i think i can pretty much make symptoms seem worse when i stress about it.  i sure hope this season goes by fast!!  

can you get sick from it more than once??

[tatorbug40]

There was a middle school student in town here who died last week because the h1n1 went untreated too long and turned into pneumonia or something...  I am with them-  call protective services or 9-1-1....  what a stressful situation for you to be in!  

[Quinns momma]

Exactly what I was going to suggest. Call 9-1-1. Those kids need immediate medical attn. When I was coughing up blood it was from having full blown pnuemonia and blood vessles were rupturing all over from the severe cough.

[AndiJ78]

Call 9-1-1 to their house. I am not one who messes around with sick kids and coughing up blood is not a good thing in anyone.

[have 2 kids]

That's terrible!   I think at this point I would contact protective services.  It sounds like these boys are very sick.
Friends can be so frustrating..........