How can I be polite and say "GET AWAY FROM ME IF YOU ARE SICK!"

I have decided, against everything that I was taught growing up, to be “rude” and tell people that I don’t want to be by them if they are sick. If they look shocked I explain why. Interestingly people seem to be very accepting of this so far. I won’t let anyone kiss me on the cheek…that is just too close. It is my health and I don’t want to take the risk of relapsing.
If they weren’t accepting of my explanation, I’d just figure “to heck with them” as this is a vital health issue.

I wish people would stay home if they are sick but they don’t. They also send their kids to school sick so the whole class gets infected…sigh. People are so into themselves nowadays that they just don’t think of others and I think that they just need a reminder sometimes.

Interestingly, my daughter (and husband) ALWAYS has 2-3 colds by Christmas. I have been giving my daughter Vit D…and she hasn’t had any colds and I know for sure her friends in class all have colds (they are on their second round). My husband is on his second cold and we just found out he is low Vit D. It is another possible alternative for you vs exposing yourself with unknown consequences.
Besides the vitamin D, I also try to wear gloves a lot so if people force their handshakes on me it isn’t touching my bare skin (which I might have touched my face or nose) and I use Purell a lot…plus wash hands a ton. Whatever the case, I swear I haven’t been this healthy in years.

Julie,
Your health comes first. Kevin’s friends moms KNOW I don’t want them over if they are sick, if they show up sick, I make them call their parents. they say, well Kevin gets the germs at school, I say yes, but I don’t have to have your kids coughing up his boogers all over xbox and wi. No more mister nice guy, obviously others don’t care and just want a free babysitter and meal. now in your case, it is a party that you went to, inevitably you are exposed to people with colds. I probably would just use a little respirator mask and wash my hands. If someone was really hacking, the mask would give them a clue to stay away. When my mother-in-law had pneumonia, I made my husband and myself wear a mask so as not to bring it back to Kev. Obviously we can’t walk around the world like that, but if we know we are going into a situation, every man for himself!! Good luck, hope you feel better! Kevie is dragging too!!
Dawn Kevies mom

Julie, I don’t have a good answer for you. Mask is probably the safest but who wants to go to a party like that. My situation is actually more serious since the recent Rituxan treatment eliminated most B-cells. My lymphocyte count is below normal. Recently I told my daughter I didn’t want to come if anyone in the family was sick. She is a doctor and understands very well immunosuppression. So we go there for Thanksgiving and her husband is sick. When I said something her response was: ” Don’t worry, you have enough immune system left to fight it off.” Having the family together for the holiday obviously was more important. She is an ER doc and cracking chests and treating gun shot wounds or trying to save the lives of accident victims probably makes concerns like mine less significant. And my SIL probably doesn’t give a sh**. Thursday night on our trip to Oklahoma we stayed at their house over night. He was still coughing spraying germs all over the place. “Cover your mouth,” she says to him.
In a couple of days my SIL will come here to my MIL house from Houston with her two little boys to spend the holidays. I hope I survive.:eek:

Julie,

That is awful that you try and go out and have some fun and end up sick!

It takes all our energy just to muster enough strength in the first place to go out and then whammo you get sick. Not fair!

At my house, I have put a sign on the front door asking guests to please use hand sanitizer that is by the coats and boots. For the most part everyone is good about this. I also get the “talk” for people that my teenager and hubby (he is a teacher) will bring home the germs. They might have germs but they also use the hand sanitizer and understand that I am sick enough without cold or flu bugs!

Try to stay warm and cosy and I hope you feel better soon,
Rhonda

Julie, these masks are great. Maybe I can talk Carol into making me one
using a conventional one and painting on it.
take care

Norb,
Get a patent! I bet everyone would buy them. I think I am going to make some!!!! Julie, if you find out where to order those, let me know!!
Dawn Kevies mom

Maybe I’m rude but I just flat tell people that since I am on 2 immune system suppressants that if they are sick I need to stay away from them. So far most everyone has been very understanding and as to the few people that want to take it wrong I just tell them I’m sorry but I just can’t take the chance of getting whatever it is they have.

There has to be a frog one!! Something to do with croak!!! I am glad you are toughing up for next time. I have learned that others really don’t care about anyone but themselves, so why shouldn’t we. I must tell you my life has been alot less complicated and stressfull.
Dawn Kevies mom

Julie, Hope you feel better soon!! No sew masks are pretty easy to make. just get a spool of grosgran ribbon-so it won’t unravel, some cotton fabric-a fat quarter is plenty for a few masks, and some fabric glue. Cut the ribbon long enough to tie around your head-you can do the measuring from either side to side or up around the ears to the back of the head. Then cut the fabric to a square that is big enough to cover your nose and mouth and glue the ribbon along the edges of the fabric. You can even pick awesome fabrics whatever suits your mood or attire. Make them to match your party outfit and you have a cool acessory! Man I could go on and on about these-now the creative juices are flowing….
I can see You with all sorts of cool print masks, Julie! Party down with no worries Hun!!! Hey maybe everyone else will get the message and want one Too!!:D
A poly/cotton fabric would work as well-I just wouldn’t go will nylon or anything like that-not easy to breathe through. Just think you could embellish it with sequines and the such.:)

super cool mask ideas !

Julie I do hope you are feeling better soon !

Stacey

Thanksgiving went to friend’s house and everyone got a stomach virus. I was down for days-in my house alone/couldn’t eat/rise my head off the pillow. Most of the group felt ill for less than 24 hours.
I called later to see if anyone else had felt ill and was told yes. Seems someone’s toddler had been sick the day before the dinner. I certainly understand how it is to rarely go out and then catch what ever is out there.
I don’t bounce back as easily as others. No on gets it-that a simple bout will floor me for much longer. Almost very major holiday this happens…..
Wearing a mask isn’t a bad idea at all.
I try to find out as much as I can when going to a house/party/place I’ve not been before. This summer I was invited to a river house for the day. Didn’t go as I knew couldn’t do 8 hour visit. Later was told the place had no A/C and this the hottest month of the summer…. I woulda curled up and melted.Plus it turned into a 16 hour visit.
Listening to my inner intuition more.

Hi Julie,

Funny that you brought this up. I have been a germ freak even before having cidp. I get a freaky at the airport too.

One day I got off a flight and was marching up the jetway behind someone of course and the guy in front of me, as he is walking turns directly around and sneezes real hard back at me. There was nothing I could do. I was like AHHH!
I am in a cloud of mist! OMG!

Then Last week, our Real good Friends and neighbors are over. If anyone we know, they should understand most what I have because we spend many hours together on weekend.

So my friend Frank is hacking, snorting, sniffing and constantly clearing his throat. So I say to Him wow, you don’t sound so good! and he replies his
Allergies are bothering him. the week prior his wife Cindy was doing the same thing. So I tell him, you have a cold Frank, and he would not admit it. In denial that he may have a cold or what. Pathetic. then he even goes as far as to tease me after he took a Decon, Saying the meds helped his allergy.

Well, At least I don’t look that good, so people don’t try and kiss me as much as you Pretty Ladies! So Us men may be a bit safer.
Its pretty much another case of most folks are totally tuned out to anything but what is in their world.
Could try wearing the mask and when asked about it say you have TB and they will stay away but thats no fun.

I have another idea that will work garantied. Turn the table 😀 If anyone asks you whether it really is contagious you can always be vague and say:” Well, there have been discussions about this.” Which is true, here on the forum someone asked about it some time ago.

[IMG]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3287/3115624513_ce5dcf7b4c_o.jpg[/IMG]

Norb,

That is a good one!!!!

This is a great thread! Glad you are feeling better, Julie! Honestly, I think most people are really clueless about how chronically ill people fear the possibility of catching colds, flu, stomach viruses. I recently handed out bottles of Purell to all of my co-workers. I HATE going to work only to have co-workers sneezing and coughing all over the copier, phones, counters. We have generous sick leave but some people come to work when they are sick and then use their sick leave as an extension of their vacation time. Ok, that’s my pet peeve for the day. Time to get off my soapbox!! 🙂

[QUOTE=Iowagal] Honestly, I think most people are really clueless about how chronically ill people fear the possibility of catching colds, flu, stomach viruses. [/QUOTE]

I think that they are simply clueless about everything. Today I went and worked out a Curves with my mom. As we were finishing up the circuit, a woman was telling everyone, as she was leaving, that she was just getting over the flu. Why would someone go work out, with mostly 70+ year old women (and the rest of us younger ones with compromised immune systems) and expose them to the flu. I don’t get it. My only hope is that she said it was the stomach flu vs the regular flu…and I made sure I both washed my hands and then put on Purell.

I always pretend it’s for THEIR benefit. “Oh, I’m on pred and I pick up everything–I don’t want to accidentally get you sick!”

and i’m very big on the purell and hand washing. i’ve actually been healthier since I started the pred 10 yrs ago.

-marie

Hey Julie! Cool looking mask! LOL! Well now! Instead of you wearing the mask, I think I would take several of these mask to the Party and make everybody wear one. LOL! Let you walk around with a little freedom for a change. Awesome mask! Hugs!

LOL I don’t have to worry about anyone. My mother lives next door. She is a momma bear. She stands outside my door with a big stick!:p It is nice having someone understand me, she is a breast cancer survivor. We hold on to each other.

Cheers to Moms.

I wish Julie was still checking in … she was working on a silk screened surgical masks idea that I think would go over really big.

The silk screens were animal-istic and really looked cool.

Gary

[B]Hi folks! This Forum Form Format drives me nuts- But Look I’m 4 yeears int my DX
prendisone, for too long
IVIG failed reselts
for the last two years i’ve been on MYCOPHELALATE- Cell Cept
I’m still able to walk, drive, and the Hopkins Doc thinks my isease is “stopped”
Just Yesterday, when I tried to explain my persistent issues;
swallowing problems, inability to walk with a gallon of milk across the room or holod a book , swing a hammer, turn a wrench WITHOUT MY FACE GOING NUMB!!!!!!
i was told to BREATHE INTO A BROWN, PAPER BAG!!!”

aS i left, I, realized thethe CIDP Epert was, maybe suggesting I am either hyperventilating or a Hypochondriac!

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT MEANY EXPERIENCE W THE BROWN BAG THEORY?
MY FREGULAR E-MAIL IS heronemus on aol
please use it, I’m terribe about logging in here

peace through strength!
Eric[/B]

How about wearing a plain white mask, and also wear a button on our shirt which says: GBS (French Polio). People would back up and keep their distance once the word ‘polio’ clicks in their mental processes.