Hit with a triple whammy! - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Sue · 09-15-2007, 02:29 PM

I don't know where else a health topic would fall under, so I'm posting this here.

This past Sunday I woke up with a sore throat, glands swollen, and a cough. Ok, no big deal, I'd take my vitamin c and other supplements, along with a preventative motrin or 2.

The next couple days I became increasingly congested, so I tested myself for strep throat at work (I work @ a pediatrics office), since my throat still hurt and I had a headache with abdominal pain. Negative. Virus perhaps. Had liquids all week, teas with honey, water..

Went home Thursday after work feeling a bit nauseous. Kept feeling nauseous the whole night, finally making me wish I would just yak and get it over with. My wish came true, and I felt better afterwards. Laid down in bed. Still felt shitty. Had god-awful chills. No sweating though. Sat up in bed, felt that clammy weak feeling you get before you're going to pass out, and my stomach tells me to go hit the toilet again, because I threw up even more. About 4 or 5 more times to be exact. The worst diarrhea you can imagine as well.

Being new to Colorado, I only know where hospitals are at, but since it's still a couple weeks before I get insurance through my job, I can't afford an ER visit. Called my bf, asked if he could look up an after-hours/urgent care type place that I could go to. Every dang place closed at 8! I was like WTF.

Went in to work the next day (Friday) anyway, because I'm still in my 90 day period and wanted to at least show up. Was sent home 30 minutes after getting there.

So today I'm much better, maybe a bit tired, and still laying off the solid foods. I got out of bed, went to the bathroom, and what do I see in the mirror? My right eye is goopy and swollen and crusty. And very very pink. I was like, OH, COME ON!!!

Thankfully I still have my eyedrops from last year when I got pink eye at my old job, so I can at least treat it and not have it get worse throughout the weekend.

So to sum it up, I caught a cold, the flu, and pinkeye all in one week. What the hell. Better now than later I suppose with flu season coming up @ work. Sigh.

I've disinfected everything I could think of. Used Ajax on my sinks, my bathtub, my toilet, lysoled my doorknobs, my tabletops, the counters, the faucets, and the toilet too.

Last time I was this sick was maybe about 10 years ago when I caught the flu in college.

WASH YOUR HANDS!!!!

mfh · 09-16-2007, 09:02 PM

The reason you got sick is not because you aren't washing your hands often enough, or didn't use enough antibacterial cleaners. This is pure marketing and old wives' tales.

* Influenza is not a bacteria - it is a virus, and isn't affected by Ajax or Lysol. Furthermore, viruses do not grow on things like metal and plastic. They require hosts, and can survive only a short time outside of the body. This is basic biology.

* Bacteria can grow on plastic and other materials, but what good does it do to kill your own bacteria that got you sick? Your body is fighting it, and by the end of your sickness you will have the antibodies required to combat another infection.

Did you clean your keyboard and mouse? How about the TV remote? Credit cards? Keys? You can see how fast this will slip into madness.

* You just moved to Colorado, and your body does not have antibodies for the local strains of the flu and bacteria floating around in Colorado. This is the same thing that happens when kids go off to college. Which would make sense, because the last time you got this sick was in college, right?

* This is also the reason why you need repeated flu shots - if it were all the same strain of flu, you'd need only one, like smallpox or other vaccinations.

* When the immune system is occupied or otherwise weakened, secondary infections can happen. This is probably why the pinkeye set in so easily. Also, the pinkeye was probably caused by more different bacteria in Colorado.

Please, please, please do not fall into the trap of overusing antibiotic soaps and scrubs. The only thing this does is cause resistance in the bacteria, producing superbugs. The last thing we want is bacteria that doesn't respond to medically prescribed antibiotics. Then you might have a real problem.

The things you touch every day over and over harbor trillions of bacteria. This is not a fight you can win. Everything is covered with bacteria, mold, and viruses. The only thing you can do is eat a balanced diet so that your immune system can do its job fully.

I'm not a doctor (actually I work with computers), but please, just thinking some things through a little bit will help you avoid getting sick in the future and not spray down your house with unnecessary and toxic solvents and cleaners whose fumes are actually dangerous.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antibacterial_soap
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immune_system
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Influenza

Datalife2 · 09-17-2007, 12:33 PM

Yes i try to stay away from public places, I dont eat boxed frozen food(microwave nothanx). Be all natural. I just quit smoking and the lung flushout that occurs is like having a cold, but all in all its the best thing to do to make a change for the better for me. I hope you get well real soon and fast if your not alreay passed it all by now.

snowy · 09-17-2007, 01:16 PM

Actually, it sounds like you got a double infection with pinkeye to boot. It's too early in the year to be influenza, plus influenza usually doesn't cause vomiting--just incredble body aches and a high fever. I'd say you probably had a bacterial infection in your upper respiratory tract plus gastroenteritis caused by something you ingested or otherwise had contact with. Like mfh suggested, your body is probably unused to the germs in your new environment.

But mfh, one thing you should note--Lysol does kill viruses, including influenza and rhinovirus. Here is the complete list:

Viruses
- Influenza
- Rhinovirus -The leading cause of the common cold
- Rotavirus - The leading cause of infectious diarrhea in children
- Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) – The leading cause of lower respiratory infection in children
- Poliovirus Type 1
- Adenovirus Type 2
- Herpes Simplex Virus Types 1 and 2
- Hepatitis A

Bacteria
- Escherichia coli (E-Coli)
- Salmonella
- Staph and Strep
- Campylobacter

Fungi
- Athlete’s Foot Fungus
- Mold and Mildew

The CDC has done a ton of research on the best ways to combat getting sick, and regular soap works just as well as antibacterial soap for washing with. However, they do recommend using hand sanitizer on a frequent basis, because it's often easier to use hand sanitizer than to wash one's hands frequently. Disinfecting surfaces where ickies like influenza or viruses that cause diarrhea to be shed in between deeper cleanings is actually a pretty smart idea. You may not totally prevent yourself from getting sick, but you certainly lessen the chances of illness.

Here is a neat poster from the CDC on keeping germs away: http://www.cdc.gov/ounceofprevention...r_12-13-05.pdf

mfh · 09-17-2007, 02:53 PM

I did not know Lysol was antiviral, but my point still stands - what's the point in cleaning your own house? You're already sick, and by the time you're done, you'll have the antibodies.

Wiping everything down is just too close to hypochondria and OCD for my comfort.

Sue · 09-17-2007, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mfh

I did not know Lysol was antiviral, but my point still stands - what's the point in cleaning your own house? You're already sick, and by the time you're done, you'll have the antibodies.

Wiping everything down is just too close to hypochondria and OCD for my comfort.

I had my boyfriend coming over for the weekend. It was for his protection.

mfh · 09-18-2007, 10:02 AM

Why would you have people over when you are sick? You couldn't possibly clean up all the viruses floating around.

Well, whatever helps your peace of mind I guess.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sue

I had my boyfriend coming over for the weekend. It was for his protection.

Sue · 09-18-2007, 04:35 PM

Because. I told him I was sick. It was his decision to still come over.

analog · 09-18-2007, 09:30 PM

People often get "pink eye" after having been sick with strep and/or some kind of gastrointestinal infection which causes vomiting/diarrhea because viral "pink eye" is caused by the same virus as strep throat, so all it would take is coughing into your hand and then wiping your eyes... and there are many bacteria that can cause "pink eye", several of which are already commonly found in your bowel, let alone when you're actively sick. This is generally the cause of "pink eye" in children, as they do not wash their hands properly (or at all) after using the bathroom and then transmit bacteria from fecal matter into their eye.

There are vast quantities of research that prove hand-washing between patients in health care settings such as hospitals and doctor's offices cut the transmission of infection drastically. The CDC has identified hand washing as the single most important means of preventing the spread of infection. If you wash frequently, and effectively, you are not causing "super" anything, because they are being destroyed. Also, the mutation of bacteria and viruses is chiefly found to occur in people taking antibiotics. The bacteria is exposed and enough of it is killed off so as to render you "healthy" again, but it's not gone. This is where it mutates and you pass it to someone else. Then, THEY take an antibiotic and the bacteria is, again, fought off but not completely gone, and once again learns to fight the antibiotic.

This of course happens on a large scale over time, not immediately from person to person, but occurs because people take antibiotics and don't use the full regimen, which allows enough of the bacteria to stay alive and learn to adapt. The other reason this happens is because antibiotics are prescribed like candy to everyone who has the sniffles and demands a course of antibiotics. Most doctors are also more than happy to placate people by tossing a Z-pack at them, without testing to see if they've even got a bacterial or viral infection. It used to be that they'd at least attempt to rule out definitive signs of viral infection... now they take a culture to test for bacteria and give them an antibiotic anyway. I know, I see it all the time first-hand.

Also, per the "move" scenario, changes in things such as average temperature, altitude, and humidity can have a large impact on you and your immune system (though generally just at first), as well.

Quote:

The things you touch every day over and over harbor trillions of bacteria. This is not a fight you can win. Everything is covered with bacteria, mold, and viruses. The only thing you can do is eat a balanced diet so that your immune system can do its job fully.

While I agree that you should NOT sterilize your world, basic preventative measures like frequent and correct hand washing go a long way to help prevent the spread of disease. A large portion of this world is covered with nasty stuff because people are terrible at hand washing. People, in general, don't do it nearly as much as they should, if they do it at all.

mfh · 09-20-2007, 06:36 PM

Yes, obviously you should wash your hands.

I was commenting on the antibacterial soap, sorry if that wasn't clear.

Quote:

Originally Posted by analog

People often get "pink eye" after having been sick with strep and/or some kind of gastrointestinal infection which causes vomiting/diarrhea because viral "pink eye" is caused by the same virus as strep throat, so all it would take is coughing into your hand and then wiping your eyes... and there are many bacteria that can cause "pink eye", several of which are already commonly found in your bowel, let alone when you're actively sick. This is generally the cause of "pink eye" in children, as they do not wash their hands properly (or at all) after using the bathroom and then transmit bacteria from fecal matter into their eye.

There are vast quantities of research that prove hand-washing between patients in health care settings such as hospitals and doctor's offices cut the transmission of infection drastically. The CDC has identified hand washing as the single most important means of preventing the spread of infection. If you wash frequently, and effectively, you are not causing "super" anything, because they are being destroyed. Also, the mutation of bacteria and viruses is chiefly found to occur in people taking antibiotics. The bacteria is exposed and enough of it is killed off so as to render you "healthy" again, but it's not gone. This is where it mutates and you pass it to someone else. Then, THEY take an antibiotic and the bacteria is, again, fought off but not completely gone, and once again learns to fight the antibiotic.

This of course happens on a large scale over time, not immediately from person to person, but occurs because people take antibiotics and don't use the full regimen, which allows enough of the bacteria to stay alive and learn to adapt. The other reason this happens is because antibiotics are prescribed like candy to everyone who has the sniffles and demands a course of antibiotics. Most doctors are also more than happy to placate people by tossing a Z-pack at them, without testing to see if they've even got a bacterial or viral infection. It used to be that they'd at least attempt to rule out definitive signs of viral infection... now they take a culture to test for bacteria and give them an antibiotic anyway. I know, I see it all the time first-hand.

Also, per the "move" scenario, changes in things such as average temperature, altitude, and humidity can have a large impact on you and your immune system (though generally just at first), as well.

While I agree that you should NOT sterilize your world, basic preventative measures like frequent and correct hand washing go a long way to help prevent the spread of disease. A large portion of this world is covered with nasty stuff because people are terrible at hand washing. People, in general, don't do it nearly as much as they should, if they do it at all.

My point was that you weren't doing him a lick of good by trying to "sterilize" your apartment. What a ridiculous notion.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sue

Because. I told him I was sick. It was his decision to still come over.

09-15-2007, 02:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
Sue Teufel Hunden's Freundin Location: Westminster, CO	Hit with a triple whammy! I don't know where else a health topic would fall under, so I'm posting this here. This past Sunday I woke up with a sore throat, glands swollen, and a cough. Ok, no big deal, I'd take my vitamin c and other supplements, along with a preventative motrin or 2. The next couple days I became increasingly congested, so I tested myself for strep throat at work (I work @ a pediatrics office), since my throat still hurt and I had a headache with abdominal pain. Negative. Virus perhaps. Had liquids all week, teas with honey, water.. Went home Thursday after work feeling a bit nauseous. Kept feeling nauseous the whole night, finally making me wish I would just yak and get it over with. My wish came true, and I felt better afterwards. Laid down in bed. Still felt shitty. Had god-awful chills. No sweating though. Sat up in bed, felt that clammy weak feeling you get before you're going to pass out, and my stomach tells me to go hit the toilet again, because I threw up even more. About 4 or 5 more times to be exact. The worst diarrhea you can imagine as well. Being new to Colorado, I only know where hospitals are at, but since it's still a couple weeks before I get insurance through my job, I can't afford an ER visit. Called my bf, asked if he could look up an after-hours/urgent care type place that I could go to. Every dang place closed at 8! I was like WTF. Went in to work the next day (Friday) anyway, because I'm still in my 90 day period and wanted to at least show up. Was sent home 30 minutes after getting there. So today I'm much better, maybe a bit tired, and still laying off the solid foods. I got out of bed, went to the bathroom, and what do I see in the mirror? My right eye is goopy and swollen and crusty. And very very pink. I was like, OH, COME ON!!! Thankfully I still have my eyedrops from last year when I got pink eye at my old job, so I can at least treat it and not have it get worse throughout the weekend. So to sum it up, I caught a cold, the flu, and pinkeye all in one week. What the hell. Better now than later I suppose with flu season coming up @ work. Sigh. I've disinfected everything I could think of. Used Ajax on my sinks, my bathtub, my toilet, lysoled my doorknobs, my tabletops, the counters, the faucets, and the toilet too. Last time I was this sick was maybe about 10 years ago when I caught the flu in college. WASH YOUR HANDS!!!! __________________ Teg yw edrych tuag adref.

09-16-2007, 09:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
mfh Upright Location: San Francisco	The reason you got sick is not because you aren't washing your hands often enough, or didn't use enough antibacterial cleaners. This is pure marketing and old wives' tales. * Influenza is not a bacteria - it is a virus, and isn't affected by Ajax or Lysol. Furthermore, viruses do not grow on things like metal and plastic. They require hosts, and can survive only a short time outside of the body. This is basic biology. * Bacteria can grow on plastic and other materials, but what good does it do to kill your own bacteria that got you sick? Your body is fighting it, and by the end of your sickness you will have the antibodies required to combat another infection. Did you clean your keyboard and mouse? How about the TV remote? Credit cards? Keys? You can see how fast this will slip into madness. * You just moved to Colorado, and your body does not have antibodies for the local strains of the flu and bacteria floating around in Colorado. This is the same thing that happens when kids go off to college. Which would make sense, because the last time you got this sick was in college, right? * This is also the reason why you need repeated flu shots - if it were all the same strain of flu, you'd need only one, like smallpox or other vaccinations. * When the immune system is occupied or otherwise weakened, secondary infections can happen. This is probably why the pinkeye set in so easily. Also, the pinkeye was probably caused by more different bacteria in Colorado. Please, please, please do not fall into the trap of overusing antibiotic soaps and scrubs. The only thing this does is cause resistance in the bacteria, producing superbugs. The last thing we want is bacteria that doesn't respond to medically prescribed antibiotics. Then you might have a real problem. The things you touch every day over and over harbor trillions of bacteria. This is not a fight you can win. Everything is covered with bacteria, mold, and viruses. The only thing you can do is eat a balanced diet so that your immune system can do its job fully. I'm not a doctor (actually I work with computers), but please, just thinking some things through a little bit will help you avoid getting sick in the future and not spray down your house with unnecessary and toxic solvents and cleaners whose fumes are actually dangerous. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antibacterial_soap http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immune_system http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Influenza __________________ mike Last edited by mfh; 09-16-2007 at 09:13 PM..

09-17-2007, 12:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
Datalife2 Insane	Yes i try to stay away from public places, I dont eat boxed frozen food(microwave nothanx). Be all natural. I just quit smoking and the lung flushout that occurs is like having a cold, but all in all its the best thing to do to make a change for the better for me. I hope you get well real soon and fast if your not alreay passed it all by now. __________________ where's my lighter?

09-17-2007, 01:16 PM	#4 (permalink)
snowy Kick Ass Kunoichi Location: Oregon	Actually, it sounds like you got a double infection with pinkeye to boot. It's too early in the year to be influenza, plus influenza usually doesn't cause vomiting--just incredble body aches and a high fever. I'd say you probably had a bacterial infection in your upper respiratory tract plus gastroenteritis caused by something you ingested or otherwise had contact with. Like mfh suggested, your body is probably unused to the germs in your new environment. But mfh, one thing you should note--Lysol does kill viruses, including influenza and rhinovirus. Here is the complete list: Viruses - Influenza - Rhinovirus -The leading cause of the common cold - Rotavirus - The leading cause of infectious diarrhea in children - Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) – The leading cause of lower respiratory infection in children - Poliovirus Type 1 - Adenovirus Type 2 - Herpes Simplex Virus Types 1 and 2 - Hepatitis A Bacteria - Escherichia coli (E-Coli) - Salmonella - Staph and Strep - Campylobacter Fungi - Athlete’s Foot Fungus - Mold and Mildew The CDC has done a ton of research on the best ways to combat getting sick, and regular soap works just as well as antibacterial soap for washing with. However, they do recommend using hand sanitizer on a frequent basis, because it's often easier to use hand sanitizer than to wash one's hands frequently. Disinfecting surfaces where ickies like influenza or viruses that cause diarrhea to be shed in between deeper cleanings is actually a pretty smart idea. You may not totally prevent yourself from getting sick, but you certainly lessen the chances of illness. Here is a neat poster from the CDC on keeping germs away: http://www.cdc.gov/ounceofprevention...r_12-13-05.pdf __________________ If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

09-17-2007, 02:53 PM	#5 (permalink)
mfh Upright Location: San Francisco	I did not know Lysol was antiviral, but my point still stands - what's the point in cleaning your own house? You're already sick, and by the time you're done, you'll have the antibodies. Wiping everything down is just too close to hypochondria and OCD for my comfort. __________________ mike

09-18-2007, 04:35 PM	#8 (permalink)
Sue Teufel Hunden's Freundin Location: Westminster, CO	Because. I told him I was sick. It was his decision to still come over. __________________ Teg yw edrych tuag adref.