Monday, November 2, 2009

Inconsiderate?

I have posted before about my feelings on swine flu (and if I could figure out how to quote myself I would link it, help?). While I am not overly concerned, I know it could be dangerous for me and I do not want it. I went into work today, said hello to the office assistant in before me then went to say hello to my boss. She just kind of nodded at me and then when I turned to go back into the assistant cubicle said that probably had the swine flu and was trying to avoid contact. WHAT?????

I immediately came clean and said that I am immunocompromised and the flu could be very bad for me. Everywhere you go on campus you see signs saying STAY AT HOME if you have flu symptoms. Why didn't she heed this advice? She also said she plans on going to the events this week but staying away from people. I had to have close contact with her a few times today. She skipped a meeting, though, and I went in her place (which I did enjoy). I texted my dad as soon as I found out and he told me to get out of there, but I need the money. And how was I supposed to pull that off?

I am thinking about sending an email to the other two assistants to tell them to please, please, please Lysol the office before they leave and do everything they can to keep it clean. I could not believe that she would come in while she was so sick and stay there after I told her in no uncertain terms that she could make me very sick.

I am calling my rheumatologist tomorrow to ask what I should do in the event that I do come down with the flu.

I am pretty mad. And I hope that she doesn't go to the events and potentially infect other people who might have a serious problem if they get the flu.

I will be watching for any symptoms the next couple of days. My plan now if I get sick is to try to get home, whether I am able to drive myself, or have to have my aunt or father come pick me up. My father wants me to go to the hospital if I get flu symptoms, but I plan on just going home and riding it out unless it gets severe. There is no use clogging up the ER if I can stand it at home since there is nothing they can do for me anyway unless I become very sick. But, I will get my doctor's advice tomorrow.

1 comment:

ar said...

Mellzie,

Sorry you for contacting you through a post. I didn't know how else to make contact. I wanted to pass along a new Lupus resource.

It is through a website www.lupus.physiciansforpatients.com

It is a community of lupus folks that interact online to give one another support.

There is a dedicated physician on the site to answer questions for the patients.

We originated as a group of doctors dedicated to helping people online in a way to help with high health care costs. The idea is to give a free resource to people that need alternative opinions and information. There are a lot of people that have limited access to health care (can’t find a specialist in their area, long wait times, etc.). This way it is easier for a smaller number of physicians to help a larger number of people.

Dr. Shanahan is the doctor. He is board certified in Rheumatology and trained at Duke University

In addition, we will be incorporating 'health trackers' soon! This tool can be used by the patients to track their symptoms and to see what may be contributing to them.

Physicians for Patients will also be looking for associations (trends in complex data sets of the cumulative data collected in this large community of patients. This is done in an automated anonymous manner). This is the exciting part! Our hope is to identify correlations between symptoms, daily activities, medications, and the environment. This will help us to better understand Lupus and hopefully to guide us to new potential treatments.

Please help us to spread the word about what we are trying to do (any group messages that can be sent/ links/ blogs are much appreciated) In order for us to make some new head way into better understanding lupus through identifying new correlations we need quite a large people to participate.


Thx!

Art

Dr. K