To the woman who was standing in front of me at the front cash last Saturday afternoon: I don't have H1N1. Promise!
I'm really sorry for the coughing fit. I'm sure you were really nervous and annoyed at me, but it couldn't be helped. These coughing spells of mine happen usually out of the blue, without much notice. I'm sure you were pretty happy to get the hell away from me when the second cash opened. I'm so sorry for my choking performance. I would have left the store when my coughing fit started, but wool yarn is on sale this week and it was too much of a bargain to pass up.
To back up, last week I spent the entire week inside because I was showing cold-like symptoms, congestion and a cough. I didn't even venture out to the gym because I was too scared to cough in public. But as the week wore on, I concluded I didn't have a cold. I have allergies.
While this may sound like good news, it isn't. At least a cold ends. My allergy attacks take forever to disappear. I was dreading this may happen. Five years ago, I had a horrific allergy attack that lasted from the end of December to April. I was severely congested and I had a terrible seal-like barking cough. A couple of times I even lost use of my voice. The culprit, you ask? Dust mites.
I've never seen a dust mite. They are too small to be seen by the naked eye. But they make my life miserable. I wait for the day when they are officially on the endangered species list. But I doubt that will ever happen. It is estimated that 10 per cent of the population are allergic to dust mites. Those who aren't allergic to dust mites aren't allergic to the actual mite per say, but they are allergic to their feces. And my allergic reactions to dust mites seem to be the worst in the winter when the house is closed and the humidity is high.
I won't get into the details because they can get quite sickening, but dust mites are everywhere. The only thing that "cured" me the last time was allergy needles. The last time I got a shot was two years ago around the time I got pregnant with darling daughter. Since that time, I've had my fingers crossed that I would never experience anything like that again. But it looks like my luck has run out.
To get me through the last week, I've been using my neti pot constantly and now I'm taking over the counter allergy medications. I'm not too sure how long I can keep up this regiment up. I'm tired because I'm not getting any sleep because I have coughing fits. I'm afraid to go out in public in case I have another coughing fit. But thanks to the neti pot, at least I can breath. Last time this happened it sounded like I had a perpetual cold.
Living with allergies is not fun. The snow has yet to fly and I'm already looking forward to spring.
Showing posts with label H1N1. Show all posts
Showing posts with label H1N1. Show all posts
Monday, November 16, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
My question was sort of answered . . .
Yesterday, I blogged about my excitement of having a question I submitted to a radio station read on air. For days, I've been puzzled about a media report I heard on the radio that stated the World Health Organization was recommending the half dose of the H1N1 vaccine was sufficient for young children and the booster wasn't required. However, I've been having difficulties finding another news article or a WHO press release that confirms the news report I heard.
So when CFRA announced it was accepting questions from listeners, I quickly sent off a short email, asking if my daughter needed the booster. And I got my question answered, well, sort of.
Dr. Vera Etches, associate medical officer of health with Ottawa Public Health, said the second shot is being discussed and a recommendation whether it is needed or not should be coming soon. She hopes the recommendation is made before the first round of children, who received a vaccine a week and a half ago, reach day 21. When we took darling daughter to the vaccine clinic last Saturday we were told she'd need a booster in 21 days. I know a lot of parents are anxious to learn if the booster is required. Hopefully some kind of recommendation, made nationally or locally, is made in the very near future.
So when CFRA announced it was accepting questions from listeners, I quickly sent off a short email, asking if my daughter needed the booster. And I got my question answered, well, sort of.
Dr. Vera Etches, associate medical officer of health with Ottawa Public Health, said the second shot is being discussed and a recommendation whether it is needed or not should be coming soon. She hopes the recommendation is made before the first round of children, who received a vaccine a week and a half ago, reach day 21. When we took darling daughter to the vaccine clinic last Saturday we were told she'd need a booster in 21 days. I know a lot of parents are anxious to learn if the booster is required. Hopefully some kind of recommendation, made nationally or locally, is made in the very near future.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Has it really come down to this?
It appears that the simple things now are the highlight of my entire day.
As many of you may know, I listen to talk radio for most of the day. I feel talk radio keeps connected with the world around me. I also like listening to adult conversations, which are lacking in my household during daytime hours. While I may not agree with their opinions or the topics they talk about, the discussions make for interesting listening.
This morning, CFRA host Steve Madely invited listeners to submit H1N1 questions for an upcoming interview with an official with Ottawa Public Health. I thought this was the perfect opportunity to get an answer to a question that has been puzzling me for days. Earlier this week, I heard a news report that the World Health Organization is advising that the half dose is sufficient for young children. However, I've had a difficult time finding a press release or another news article that confirms this news report.
Once Steve asked listeners to submit questions, I logged into email account and fired off an email. I've heard reports that the World Health Organization is saying that one dose of the vaccine (they receive half that what an adult gets) is sufficient for young children and they don't require the booster. I quickly typed. What is Ottawa Public Health recommending? Will my 1 year old daughter need the booster?
Well, I was surprised when Steve read my question almost word for word on the air. I was almost giddy. And I would have likely jumped up and down in excitement if Steve had said my name. So, when dear husband comes home this evening and asks how my day went, I'll be smiling because Steve Madely read my question on air.
And to write that publicly makes me sound kind of lame. But when comparing it to the daily grind of cleaning of crushed goldfish crackers, doing laundry and cleaning up toys, of course this is the highlight of my day. Now I've got to remember to tune in early tomorrow morning to hear the answer to my question.
As many of you may know, I listen to talk radio for most of the day. I feel talk radio keeps connected with the world around me. I also like listening to adult conversations, which are lacking in my household during daytime hours. While I may not agree with their opinions or the topics they talk about, the discussions make for interesting listening.
This morning, CFRA host Steve Madely invited listeners to submit H1N1 questions for an upcoming interview with an official with Ottawa Public Health. I thought this was the perfect opportunity to get an answer to a question that has been puzzling me for days. Earlier this week, I heard a news report that the World Health Organization is advising that the half dose is sufficient for young children. However, I've had a difficult time finding a press release or another news article that confirms this news report.
Once Steve asked listeners to submit questions, I logged into email account and fired off an email. I've heard reports that the World Health Organization is saying that one dose of the vaccine (they receive half that what an adult gets) is sufficient for young children and they don't require the booster. I quickly typed. What is Ottawa Public Health recommending? Will my 1 year old daughter need the booster?
Well, I was surprised when Steve read my question almost word for word on the air. I was almost giddy. And I would have likely jumped up and down in excitement if Steve had said my name. So, when dear husband comes home this evening and asks how my day went, I'll be smiling because Steve Madely read my question on air.
And to write that publicly makes me sound kind of lame. But when comparing it to the daily grind of cleaning of crushed goldfish crackers, doing laundry and cleaning up toys, of course this is the highlight of my day. Now I've got to remember to tune in early tomorrow morning to hear the answer to my question.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Mission accomplish
Before I get started, I just want to give a big gold star to the front line workers at Ottawa Public Health's H1N1 flu shot clinics. From what I witnessed today, staff were all professional, calm and empathic while working in an environment of organized chaos. And what I say organized chaos, I don't mean it as a criticism. Having hundreds, if not thousands of people, line up for limited spots, many of whom could be a panicky and cranky, doesn't exactly lend itself to calm working conditions.
As I blogged yesterday, dear husband tried to get a wrist band for darling daughter. Unfortunately, he wasn't successful. He was about 100 people short of getting one. So early this morning we enacted Plan B. Plan B consisted of dear husband getting up at 3 a.m. and arriving at the flu clinic at 3:30 a.m. Mind you, wrist bands were being handed out at 7:30 a.m., with the clinic opening at 9 a.m. Arriving at 3:30 a.m. seemed a little extreme. However, I'd like to point out that dear husband wasn't the first to arrive. One person arrived at 2 a.m. to stake out a spot. Several people who had arrived in the early morning hours had been turned away at previous clinics in the week.
When we went over Plan B late last night, I thought we were a bit crazy. But according to dear husband, the line really started to grow around 4:30 a.m. So maybe weren't crazy after all.
I had my doubts about lining up and waiting for hours for a vaccination. But as the week has worn on, the line ups seem to be getting worse, not better. And while family physicians have been invited to apply for vaccine, it remains to be seen when that vaccine will be delivered and when those flu clinics will open. It could be days or it could be weeks. Who knows? And there are no guarantees the primary health clinic I'm a patient of will have a clinic. So we decided to bite the bullet and have dear husband get up early and line up.
Shortly after 7:30 a.m., dear husband called, saying was on his way to pick us up as we had to be at the clinic at 8 a.m. When we arrived, we were welcomed by a huge line up that snaked from outside and around the perimeter of the lobby. We waited for a good hour before our number was called and get darling daughter vaccinated. Once we were upstairs, it was smooth sailing. We handed in our papers and were led to a nurse who administrated the vaccination. Darling daughter didn't even cry. After waiting 15 minutes as recommended by public health officials, we were done.
Three weeks from now, we'll have to do it all over again as darling daughter only got half of her vaccination dose today. Hopefully the line ups will have died down a bit. If not, dear husband is willing to get up at 3 a.m. again.
As I blogged yesterday, dear husband tried to get a wrist band for darling daughter. Unfortunately, he wasn't successful. He was about 100 people short of getting one. So early this morning we enacted Plan B. Plan B consisted of dear husband getting up at 3 a.m. and arriving at the flu clinic at 3:30 a.m. Mind you, wrist bands were being handed out at 7:30 a.m., with the clinic opening at 9 a.m. Arriving at 3:30 a.m. seemed a little extreme. However, I'd like to point out that dear husband wasn't the first to arrive. One person arrived at 2 a.m. to stake out a spot. Several people who had arrived in the early morning hours had been turned away at previous clinics in the week.
When we went over Plan B late last night, I thought we were a bit crazy. But according to dear husband, the line really started to grow around 4:30 a.m. So maybe weren't crazy after all.
I had my doubts about lining up and waiting for hours for a vaccination. But as the week has worn on, the line ups seem to be getting worse, not better. And while family physicians have been invited to apply for vaccine, it remains to be seen when that vaccine will be delivered and when those flu clinics will open. It could be days or it could be weeks. Who knows? And there are no guarantees the primary health clinic I'm a patient of will have a clinic. So we decided to bite the bullet and have dear husband get up early and line up.
Shortly after 7:30 a.m., dear husband called, saying was on his way to pick us up as we had to be at the clinic at 8 a.m. When we arrived, we were welcomed by a huge line up that snaked from outside and around the perimeter of the lobby. We waited for a good hour before our number was called and get darling daughter vaccinated. Once we were upstairs, it was smooth sailing. We handed in our papers and were led to a nurse who administrated the vaccination. Darling daughter didn't even cry. After waiting 15 minutes as recommended by public health officials, we were done.
Three weeks from now, we'll have to do it all over again as darling daughter only got half of her vaccination dose today. Hopefully the line ups will have died down a bit. If not, dear husband is willing to get up at 3 a.m. again.
Friday, October 30, 2009
H1N1 headache
Is this pandemic over yet? Because it is giving me a headache.
Sorry if I sound so trivial, but in my opinion fear is spreading faster than the flu. However, with that being said, dear husband and I decided to see if we could get one of those golden tickets (they are now handing out bracelets) being handed out at H1N1 clinics operated by Ottawa Public Health. One could argue that by lining up for the vaccine we are feeding into the fear. And they would have a point. But I'd like to get darling daughter get the vaccine sooner rather than later.
Dear husband went into work early in order to take the afternoon off in hopes of securing us a bracelet for darling daughter. He, and hundreds of others, lined up at a local arena. Unfortunately, he was about a 100 people away from getting a bracelet. Better luck next time.
So we are going to plan B it and do it all over again tomorrow. Now, I'm not hopeful that we will get a bracelet, but at this point all we can do is try.
I can't wait until the fear dies down a bit and health units are able to release some of the vaccines into the hands of family physicians. Because at this rate, it may take three or four months to deliver the vaccine to Ottawa residents who want it.
So we will see what transpires tomorrow.
Sorry if I sound so trivial, but in my opinion fear is spreading faster than the flu. However, with that being said, dear husband and I decided to see if we could get one of those golden tickets (they are now handing out bracelets) being handed out at H1N1 clinics operated by Ottawa Public Health. One could argue that by lining up for the vaccine we are feeding into the fear. And they would have a point. But I'd like to get darling daughter get the vaccine sooner rather than later.
Dear husband went into work early in order to take the afternoon off in hopes of securing us a bracelet for darling daughter. He, and hundreds of others, lined up at a local arena. Unfortunately, he was about a 100 people away from getting a bracelet. Better luck next time.
So we are going to plan B it and do it all over again tomorrow. Now, I'm not hopeful that we will get a bracelet, but at this point all we can do is try.
I can't wait until the fear dies down a bit and health units are able to release some of the vaccines into the hands of family physicians. Because at this rate, it may take three or four months to deliver the vaccine to Ottawa residents who want it.
So we will see what transpires tomorrow.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Dear Ottawa Citizen
Dear Ottawa Citizen,
Today I noticed copies of your Monday and Tuesday editions in my mailbox. I know that you are hoping by providing me -- a former Citizen subscriber -- with free copies of your paper for the next week or so will make me reconsider my position and sign up for a subscription.
However, you are doing the exact opposite. In the last week or so, I have been inundated with articles and broadcasts related to H1N1 in order to make a decision in terms of getting the Swine Flu vaccination for myself and my daughter. I have made a decision. We will be getting vaccinated. However, it remains to be seen when we will get our inoculations as the line ups at the vaccination clinics operated by Ottawa Public Health have been swamped by clients. I am now faced with the situation: do we wait in line for hours in the cold and risk darling daughter contracting illness or do we sit at home, unvaccinated. We in Ottawa can take some small comfort that we aren't alone as it is a similar story across the country. (Check out this article).
When I turn on the television, H1N1 leads the national and local newscasts. When I turn on the radio, H1N1 is what people want to talk about. At least I can turn off the channel or frequency when I've heard enough. Now, to my surprise, I'm getting H1N1 news delivered to my doorstep. Your papers were promptly filed away in the recycling bin. I tried calling your reader sale and service department today, but it was closed. I will call first thing in the morning to get your company to cease delivery of your product to my doorstep.
As a former journalist, you would think I'd be reading your paper with rapt attention, trying to education myself on the current situation. But I'm not. I am a mother to a young toddler who just can't take any more bad news. I do not want to mitigate the deaths of anyone who loses their life to H1N1. Their deaths are a tragedy and my heart goes out to their families. However, I can't feed into the fear. Like the virus itself, I'm eliminating my exposure to news related to H1N1. Depending on the wait times at local clinics, I will get vaccinated. But in the meantime, I've got to vaccinate myself against the news, even if that means temporarily putting my head into the sand.
Sincerely,
Valerie McLaughlin
Friday, October 23, 2009
H1N1 crunch time
Ottawa Public Health will be opening its H1N1 flu vaccination clinics on Monday. For the first seven to 14 days, Ottawa residents who meet certain criteria -- young children, pregnant women and health care workers -- will be able to receive the flu shot.
For the most part, I've been able to tune out most of the media reports in regards to H1N1. Sometimes ignorance can be bliss. But it hasn't been easy as the swine flu leads most newscasts. If Max Keeping and Carol Ann Meehan aren't talking about it at 6 p.m., then you can usually hear about it from Peter Mansbridge at 10 p.m. And if you want a double dose of H1N1 news, you can always tune in for Lloyd Robertson's newcast at 11 p.m.
Yeah, I think we are all H1N1-out.
Even though I have been able to tune most of the news out, there is no tuning out the fact that the flu season has arrived. For the last two years I haven't giving the flu much thought. For the most part I do get the seasonal flu vaccine, but I haven't received a flu shot in the last two years. And like most Canadians, I'm a little leery of rolling up my sleeve and getting a shot of vaccine that I feel hasn't been adequately tested enough. But at the same time, I don't want to fall ill from H1N1. It is a classic catch-22.
While I've got some time to give the subject some thought before deciding if I should roll up my sleeve, dear husband and I are still on the fence about darling daughter get the H1N1 vaccination. It is such a tough call. Right at this moment, I'm not too sure what I'm going to do. I guess all I can do is do some research and come up with a decision that I can live with.
For the most part, I've been able to tune out most of the media reports in regards to H1N1. Sometimes ignorance can be bliss. But it hasn't been easy as the swine flu leads most newscasts. If Max Keeping and Carol Ann Meehan aren't talking about it at 6 p.m., then you can usually hear about it from Peter Mansbridge at 10 p.m. And if you want a double dose of H1N1 news, you can always tune in for Lloyd Robertson's newcast at 11 p.m.
Yeah, I think we are all H1N1-out.
Even though I have been able to tune most of the news out, there is no tuning out the fact that the flu season has arrived. For the last two years I haven't giving the flu much thought. For the most part I do get the seasonal flu vaccine, but I haven't received a flu shot in the last two years. And like most Canadians, I'm a little leery of rolling up my sleeve and getting a shot of vaccine that I feel hasn't been adequately tested enough. But at the same time, I don't want to fall ill from H1N1. It is a classic catch-22.
While I've got some time to give the subject some thought before deciding if I should roll up my sleeve, dear husband and I are still on the fence about darling daughter get the H1N1 vaccination. It is such a tough call. Right at this moment, I'm not too sure what I'm going to do. I guess all I can do is do some research and come up with a decision that I can live with.
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