Scared Again!!

[redapple]

Well, some of you know that the stomach virus was going around our
campus a few weeks ago...and we thought it disappeared, but now it's
back again. I think what's going around now is influenza (body
aches, fever, congestion, some cold symptoms, plus v*ing and diarrhea
all at the same time!) One of the nearby elementary schools was
actually shut down on friday because so many of the kids were
v*ing. I went home from college to spend the weekend
with my parents, and just came back today. I live in a hallway
with 40something girls, and there are bathrooms on both side of the
hallway. Well it seems like everyoen has cold symptoms and stuff,
and I just found out that a girl just v*d in the bathroom at the other
end! Sickness travels sooo fast in college dorms! And what
makes it so much worse is that, if this is influenza instead of just a
stomach bug, it is airborne, right? Like, can I breathe it
in? This is going to be a horrible couple of weeks until this all
dies down! What do I do to keep from getting it? I feel
like locking myself in my bedroom until this is all over! Does
anyone know how long flu season typically lasts? I didn't get a
flu shot this year b/c of the shortage. I'm really scared.
Any advice is appreciated.



xo Beth

[mitch4133]

The respirtory flu is transmitted through the air. Like when someone sneezes or coughes, and if you breath in or any droplets get into your mouth you can get sick. I think most people cover their mouths and noses when they do sneeze or cough. I think the best way to still not get sick is by washing your hands. Clean hands is the most important thing. The flu season peak is actually right now. Feburary is the worst month for the flu because its so cold and everyone is inside. All you have to think is we are going thru the worst part, and its only going to get better from here on out. Just wash your hands, and stay away from people that are showing symptoms of the flu. Good luck, its almost over.


Michele

[redapple]

thanks for replying michele. it's so comforting to hear just the
right thing (even tho i've heard it a thousand times) from someone
who's not in a state of panic. its so hard to think rationally
when i'm scared like this.

[redapple]

it's so hard to sleep having all this on my mind. something weird
just happened. i haven't v*d since i was 10 yrs old so i don't
really remembr it well (i'm 20 now). Anyway i was laying in bed
trying to tell myself "it can't possibly be as bad as I'm worrying it
will be" so while i was lying there thinking that, something
suddenly came over me-- i remembered the taste</span>
all of a sudden. It was so weird. after not recalling
something like that for so long, it was really strange, and I felt like
a hot wave of panic washed over me. I could suddenly remember it
so vividly that I got really scared I was sick and had to get up and
out of bed. Anyone ever had an experience like this???

[redapple]

i'm totally losing it right now! I just went and tried to lay
down and go to sleep again and it didn't work! I'm really scared
i'm going to v*. It is after 3am; this is horrible. i just
want it to stop

[charzysbebe]

Awwwww, you will be fine! [img]smileys/smilies_04.gif[/img]Your mind is playing tricks on you. I have had the same experience with remembering the taste of vomit. Very unpleasurable thought! I truly understand where you are coming from.


Try not to think about that. I bet you that you will feel better right away if you start thinking of something else. Try sleeping with the lights on, and maybe a tv or a radio!!


Just remember this...you won't die from vomiting, (even though sometimes it may feel that way because of the fear) and I bet if you did vomit, you would feel so good that you accomplished that!! The actual vomiting is NOTHING compared to the fear we have of it!!! Just remember that! [img]smileys/smilies_01.gif[/img] Charlotte

[redapple]

thanks so much for replying charlotte. im so glad you understand.
it means a lot and it really helped. it's so comforting to
hear from someone who knows exactly what to say. thank you so
much.[img]smileys/smilies_01.gif[/img] i think i might try to
lay down and watch some tv, or read and see if i get sleepy. it
has calmed me down just to read on here for a few minutes. thanks
again



xoxo beth

[donna1216]

If you are afraid of catching influenza, go buy "Airborn" I just saw it yesterday in the pharmacy section of the grocery store, I saw on Oprah that it really works!

[2jo2]

AIRBORN works!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My husband has bronchitis and yesterday I had him take that stuff just incase he's developing something more. He felt horrible yesterday, slept most of the day, and today he feels good, even went to work, only has the cough left, which is good, with bronchitis you have to get that crap out of your lungs.


Ok, about the influenza thing, v'ing happens mostly just in kids, so don't worry about any new strain of flu now making people v and have diarhea. Either they have really weak stomachs or there's mucous making them have GI problems, if they have the flu.


Why aren't they sanitizing your dorms??? If there are outbreaks, the school is supposed to have extra cleaning procedures. Do you have hall meetings? I'd mention something to your RA or something. [img]smileys/smilies_11.gif[/img] Can you stay with your sister again?


I feel so sorry for you. You poor thing. This is going to end sometime. And you know what, you can stay away from it this time. Your roommate and most of (or all?) of your suitemates have had it right? So if you avoid the sick bathrooms, you can avoid "it". Try and look at it that way, you don't have to add more worry that your roommate will get it on top of the general worry about the situation. You'll get thru this!! I promise!!

[donna1216]

I think I will go buy some Airborn since Logan is sick with a bad cold!! Maybe we won't catch it!