Don't even need to go to Mexico to get the SWINE FLU! *LONG*

[rach220]

Just to be clear, I do NOT have the SF...yet.

But I could be getting it any day now...

 

I work in direct care at a boarding school with kids from all over the country, and we are having a SF scare right now. Last Sunday (May 31) all the kids returned from a one-week vacation period at home with their families. Monday night, one kid became very ill, showing all the symptoms of the swine flu (or regular flu). On Tuesday, he told a staff member that his brother (back in Mass.) was just diagnosed with the swine flu and maybe that's what he has. WTF?! If the parent knew that one of her sons had the SF, why would she send this kid back to a boarding school with other kids?

 

They initially sent any staff members home who were pregnant, very old, or immuno-compromised and immediately sent that student home. He left on Tuesday night and they thought everything was under control. Well, before he left, he managed to infect some of the other kids he lives with (the kids live in cottages with 10-12 other kids) and now we have sent new sick kids home each day with "flu-like symptoms." About 20 kids have gone home sick in the past week! And they are continuing to quarantine cottages and keep the kids out of school and other common areas.

 

I was with the initial sick kid so they have continued to put me with sick kids. They don't want to put me with healthy kids and they don't want staff that haven't been exposed to be with sick kids...

 

I don't really know how I feel about it. I keep telling myself that I could get this any day now. With staff calling out left and right (either falling ill or faking it because they don't want to catch it) there has been a ton of overtime and a ton of extra money for me. I have been with sick kids every day since May 31st and haven't gotten anything. I don't know if my immune system is just that good or what?!

 

The one thing that sucks is I had to cancel my bachelorette party this past weekend. After I heard on Tuesday, I didn't want to take any chances, since I was CONVINCED I would have it by the weekend. I didn't want to be out spreading it around the bar, or drinking so much that my immune system probably wouldn't be able to fight off whatever it is. And I have a friend with a heart condition and another friend who just had a baby...looking back, I should have just done it since I'm not sick, but I'm glad I was careful. I just hope we can reschedule now ::

 

The kicker is we still don't know that it's the SF. We did have a confirmed case of the regular flu, but that very first kid's case has not been confirmed. Who knows...he could have been lying about his brother in the first place?

 

I just think it's so ironic that with all the craziness about going to Mexico, I'm more likely to get it here. When I told my mom last week she was laughing so hard she couldn't even speak. She thought it was funny that 6 weeks before I fly to Mexico to get married, I could get the swine flu at home! I'm not sure I think it's funny...but I guess it's ironic.

 

Keep your fingers crossed for me. Today I have been told I have to wear a mask and gloves all day. Not sure if that means it's getting worse? I only have 3 kids to look after...they have now separated the kids by "sick," "exposed to sickness," and "healthy." The healthy kids get to go to school, the exposed kids have to stay with the other exposed kids out of school, and the sick kids have to stay in bed. I'm with the 3 sick kids who will probably be sent home later today as soon as their parents can be contacted. But one lives in Florida and I'm not sure it would be so smart to put him on a plane home...

 

Now that I've written a book, I'm going to put my mask back on and go take their temps again.

 

Has anyone else been "exposed" or have this kid of thing going on near them?

[sunstarsmoon]

I know exactly how you are feeling. I run a home day care. We had alot of cases reported in my area. I was very careful, washing my hands and the kids hands, making sure they cover their mouths etc when coughing and sneezing. Well about 3 weeks ago one of the boys was coughing alot, I did not think much about this because he has ashtma and tends to cough alot anyways, well then his mom came to the door and she had been home all day with a temp of 103, body aches, throwing up and all the syptoms of a flu. I freaked, I can't take time off work, if I am not available the other parents have to find alternate care. Anyways by wednesday half my kids were off sick, high fevers lasting up to 3 days. One parent took her girls to the dr and he said it was just a viral infection well unless they due blood tests how are they going to know if it was the SF or not. Anyways I never got it, but out of all the kids I watch only 2 did not get it, It swept thru my house like the plague. But still have no idea if it was just a flu or the swine!

[ACDCDCAC]

wow thats crazy! FX that you stay healthy and it all turns out to be just a scare and the regular ole' flu.

[FoxyBride]

Since you're still not sick, this is hilarious. It appears that swine flu makes normal, healthy people not sicker than regular flu so even it you do manage to contract it, you will probably be fine. You'll have a shitty couple of days, or even weeks, but at least it should be all cleared up come wedding time.

[Jacilynda]

WOW! We have some cases here and really all you can do is wash your hands and be careful. Don't freak out, as of now its still milder than the regular flu.

 

By sending these kids home are you putting them on busses or planes? If so maybe you should just keep and quarantine them instead of putting them somewhere crowded where they can continue to infect others, the more it spreads the more its going to mutate and cause more issues as it goes.

[Jen_S]

Oh that is crazy the sad part is that Mexico is having such low travels now because of the SF. In the town I work and go to the gym there are 9 known cases I could get it easier at home then in Mexico. I really hope you do not catch it good luck!

[JoLo908]

My mom's School district which is 20 minutes away, has a bunch of cases of SF. They sent letters home to the kids parents, and my brother had one of those parents at his work who was freaking out. And YET people are still weird about going to Mexico! Craziness! My friend is a nurse as well by Rutgers, and she said that people keep coming in with SF, and she is like stay home! Get better! Don't spread it to everyone!!! Crazyyy

[BillysBride]

Ironic indeed! Wow.

 

I think the thing to continue to remember is that regular, run of the mill viral infections are STILL running rampant across the country even in the midst of ole swiney. Each one of my kids got trampled by a regular kick ass virus this past week, one by one like dominos. High temps in the 103 range, lethargy, runny nose. I never once thought swine because up until a five days ago, they were still in pre-k running around with the same kids they have caught a dozen viruses from all year long. Since swine flu is the flu, just an uncommon strain of it, I think that it's understandable that we fear it more than a regular strain...but we still gotta keep our wits about us.

 

I'm sorry you are having to deal with this and it says a LOT about your character and commitment to your students and job that you aren't one to call in just to avoid the risk. Good for you. Wish everyone had the same level head, work ethic and commitment to students.

[rach220]

Ahhh...thanks ladies...I'm in the same cottage and my number has gone from 3 to 6 since this morning. We can't send the kids home because they are from so far away and would have to take some sort of public transportation (they usually fly home). All the kids that have been sent home lived within a few hours and their parents picked them up. We did have a confirmed viral infection so I'm hoping maybe that's what it is too. Who knows...I work at a public high school too, and I told them today I'm not coming back for the rest of the year (it's only this week and next week and I'm unpaid so it wasn't really a big deal). It also gives me the time to pick up more OT here and save up for the wedding!

I really wouldn't freak out if I got the SF. I would much rather get it now than when I'm in Mexico! But I have a birthday party this weekend (for my flower girl-she just turned 3!) and I really want to goooo...I don't think I'm going to be able to. Even though I'm not sick, I would feel so awful if I were to pass along to someone else. I guess I just have to continue to lay low...and work a LOT.

 

Thanks for all your concern/well wishes!

[Geralyn]

I am a teacher in NYC and there have been a bunch of swine flu cases...some of the schools closed for a week. There were a few cases in my school...but we didn't close(I was hoping we did). I just keep a bottle of purel on my desk and use it all day long and also use it on the kids and hope for the best!