Aren't parents of infected kids supposed to be careful? Looking for good medical reason

[Anonymous]

If a co-worker's kid had swine flu, shouldn't she stay away from pg women? Is there a rule of thumb how long she should wait to be sure she is not carrying H1N1? (I'm 35 weeks pg & got my vaccine a couple of weeks ago. I already threw away a "care package" of bottles she brought me 2 days after it was announced her 5 yo child was sick. At that time I told her I would not give her a hug to thank her b/c I was concerned about the virus--she backed out of my office & mentioned 40% of the kids at her DD's school were sick. I said I need to be careful b/c the antibodies take 2 weeks to build up after the vaccine, and it had been less than a week so I am not protected. Now a week has passed & she keeps trying to stop by my office & talk to me--I've been way way too busy so it has not been hard to avoid her, but wondering why she thinks it is OK, and want to be prepared for the next time, b/c she keeps coming back. I could just ask her if she is sure she is not carrying the virus, or I could tell her I've heard that it is dangerous to be around parents of kids who have recently had swine flu, even a mild version as she alleges it was.)

[Anonymous]

You are likely coming in contact with people that are either infected or living with people who have H1N1 every day. You just don't know it. You have been vaccinated a few weeks ago, it seems like that is enough time to be immune. Since it seems like you've spent a lot of time worrying about this, you should probably just call your doctor and have them reassure you that you are immune and can stop worrying at this point.

I think throwing away the care package is a little overboard - couldn't you have just washed the bpttles??

[Anonymous]

This's totally truth! you should tell her to stay home.

[Anonymous]

Even is she been vacinated, what about some other people around.

[Anonymous]

You are being extremely anal. She obviously cares about you enough to bring you things she thinks you could use for your baby. And then you say she keeps stopping by trying to talk to you like she's some sort of disgusting alien or something. You're taking out your paranoia on someone that's just trying to be helpful and friendly. You are a piece of work OP. I would definitely be honest with her and tell her you don't want her around because you're paranoid that she's going to get you sick. At least give her an opportunity to stop wasting her time on someone who doesn't care for her.

[Anonymous]

I think you're going a bit overboard. PP is right in saying you are likely exposed to the virus by other people and you just don't know about it. I also agree that you could have just washed the bottles she gave you.

[Anonymous]

She asking for opinion,and not to be ofended.

[Anonymous]

You sound crazy to me but I am not pregnant so what do I know. Check with your doctor to see when you can expect the vaccine to protect you. Then get a grip, stay home, or wear a mask.

For future reference, bottles are washable (can even be sterilized), and if you left them in the bag for a week or so no virus could survive.

[Anonymous]

If it's been two weeks since you got your vaccine, your immunity is as good as it's going to get. People all over the place have this flu. The odds of both her being contagious and your vaccination not being effective are pretty darn low. I would just try to relax, if I were you, and deal with her normally, and keep washing your hands and using hand sanitizer and not touching your face and so on.

[Anonymous]

OP here--I have been extremely polite & nice to this woman. I did not tell her I threw away the bottles. I am posting a medical question anonymously b/c I did not know the answer. I won't do that again on this forum. I am not anal, crazy, or mean. I was legitimately concerned about the effect on my baby. Maybe that makes me stupid, but it does not make me anal or crazy. I work so hard I don't have all the time in the world to become so educated about the flu, nor much extra time for long daily chats with this co-worker, but of course I'm nice to her, I barely have time to call my doctor's office and they are not very responsive (downtown doctors are often too busy to spend much time on every little question a patient may have). Sorry to have offended you all with my question.

[Anonymous]

I am 22:42 and I don't feel like my answer was mean. Some of the others have been a bit harsh, but on this forum you have to get used to that. Some people are just like that.

[Anonymous]

OP -- the vaccine takes 7-10 days to take effect. If you indeed had the vaccine a few weeks ago, then you are immune and there's no reason to avoid this woman or any gifts from her. Also, fwiw, viruses only live between a few seconds and up to 48hrs on non-porous surfaces including plastic, glass and wood. So, if those bottles had just sat for a day or two and then been washed, there would have been zero live virus.

I am 28wks pregnant and so I definitely empathize with your concerns. But, I'd urge you not to give in to hysteria. I think PPs responded strongly because throwing away things that people touched does sound a bit panicked. If you are that worried, even though you are busy -- make it a priority to get informed via the CDC website or local department of health websites so that you have accurate information and can relax a bit.

[Anonymous]

neurotic much?

"I already threw away a 'care package' of bottles she brought me 2 days after it was announced her 5 yo child was sick."

???

Have you heard about sterilizing?

You are one weird chick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She asking for opinion,and not to be ofended.

She herself is being offensive. She's only getting a dose of her own medicine.

[Anonymous]

I think if you've reached the point where you think healthy people should be avoiding you for your own peace of mind, then it's time for you to stay home. If it concerns you this much, then you reallly should take the time to do your homework and call your doctor. That you have time for neither (but yet have time for this post) suggests to me you're not that worried about it and enjoy being melodramatic. And the thought of you throwing away perfectly good baby bottles makes me want to cringe. You could have easily donated those products to someone in need.