[Logan&Sierrasmama0609]

Sad and scary

The Columbus Dispatch : Franklin County has 1st swine-flu death

My OB told me today they are recommending and doing the H1N1 vaccine for their pregnant patients. I normally don't fall for what I think might be hype over the latest killer disease and I've never had a seasonal flu shot, but THIS one really scares me and I'm going to trust my gut on this.

[lil duckies mama]

Ahhh its gonna happen sadly....regardless if it is the swine flu or the regular flu. Get immunization? I dont know. How do you stop it from happening except the same things you should already be doing?

[Momma K]

What's really upsetting to me is that flu is already going around. Seasonal flu shots aren't even available til prolly the end of Sept. Swine flu shots won't be available til prolly November, but you'd need a second shot soon after to get full immunity. By that time, both flus will be widespread. What are we suppose to do in the mean time?

I do the best I can at the house to keep things cleaned and to keep my hands washed. I encourage my kids to wash their hands often....but the older two go to school. People have proven time and time again that not everyone thinks any illness is a big deal and go out in public and send their kids to school ill to spread their germs.

I just think it is unfortunate that there is so much hype....on top of some legitimate worry....yet there is no real fool proof solution. 100% of people are not going to follow the recomendations. People will get sick. That totally ticks me off because a whole lot of it could be prevented if people weren't so thick headed.

This is a sad story. I pray that all us Dec mommies to be stay well and flu free.

What's wrong with getting immunization from a disease you don't want to catch? Hand washing helps in that it cuts down how many germs you get from your hands to your mouth, but all the washes and sanitizers in the world won't stop what's airborne.
I tell my kids over and over to wash their hands a lot, but all 3 are in school and I know there are other kids there that don't wash as often as they probably should.

[PinkFireFly]

I am saddened for the family....

But I am not freaking out... I pay close attention to taking necessary precautions and doing what I can to resist possible contact...

[lil duckies mama]

We can already get the shots here....my problem is finding a place that does preggers.

[Momma K]

I'm assuming you are talking about seasonal flu shots cause I know of no where that is doing H1N1 as of yet. As far as seasonal flu shots go, your OB will likely give you one if you want it as soon as they have them available. I just know when I asked my OB about the seasonal flu shot she said by the end of September they will have them...maybe sooner but for sure by then. She said it will be a while on the H1N1. You should call your OB office to find out if they have them yet.

[Easton's Mommy]

Thats really sad.... I have to admit Im starting to worry just a little.

[Banned-Jaylas_Mommy]

lurking. but just wanted to say very scary! im only 30 miles east of columbus.

[jamipeach]

I am about 5 minutes from that hospital and I am officially freaking out..... my BFF who is a L&D nurse at another area hospital said that really nothing has been said at their hopsital about H1N1....... but she said her recommendaiton is just get the shots. I think that I will ask my dr. about it at my next appt. in 3 weeks. I know my family dr. told me 2 yrs ago when I did have the flu that most people get their shots too early in the season and that makes it less effective.... which I would say now is too early. I think I will call them too, to make sure. In the meantime, no public really crowded places for me, and I went and bought my lot of Purell, Dial, and Lysol I will not hesitate to spray in the direction of a coworker who is obviously sick and at work!!!!!


But with all that said, I am by nature a hypochondriac and hope that I am getting all worked up for nothing... I know as of right now, the regular old flu can kill ya as well. As can anything really if it gets bad enough... so if you feel sick, etc. and you have the flu, you will know it and get immediate medical attention!

[Logan&Sierrasmama0609]

I am about 2 hours from Columbus. I didn't know so many of us were close to each other.

[meritaten]

There is plenty of danger in getting immunized. Anyone can have a reaction and a lot of the chemicals they used are proven harmful.

Also, consider the amount of time it took to get this approved. Normally drugs can take 10 years or more to get approved and yet this has only been months. There has not been extensive testing nor has any pregnant woman been tested. This got pushed through because it's "pandemic" which to me just seems like fear mongering, the stats really aren't there when you look at this compared to regular flu. This also means that the companies that are making the big bucks from the vacc are not liable for anything that happens to you or your family no matter how harsh or widespread the problem was (no restrictions because of the 'pandemic' this is and because vaccs aren't as restricted as drugs). There could be mass deaths and literally they are immune from suit.

Take a look at the adjuvants they use in the vaccines, such as squalene before you decide to vaccinate.

I have never gotten a flu shot, never gotten the flu.

There are more deaths in pregnant women from the regular flu, they just don't report them because it's not as sensational as the swine flu.

Just please do some research before buying into this mass hysteria. If you do decide to vaccinate that's fine as far as I'm concerned as long as you actually know what you're getting into.

[bookboarder]

How very sad.

I do believe that I read that this vaccine has been tested on pregnant women. I will be seeking the recommendation of my doctor at my appointment next week.

Throwing out things like adjuvants and squalene in an attempt to convince people that a vaccination is dangerous happens to be fear mongering.
Adjuvants are present in many vaccinations, adjuvants enhance your body's reaction to the vaccination. By enhancing your body's reaction to the vaccination, less overall medication is given. That happens to be a GOOD thing.
As far as the adjuvant in this case being squalene, all higher organisms produce their own squalene including humans. This is not some foreign substance to us. Since a vaccination increases the amount of exposure to whatever you're vaccinating against, it makes sense to increase the amount of squalene along with it so your body will react correctly and make you immune.
Squalene - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A really good reason that you are safer from the regular seasonal flu than from this one is because the regular flu has been around for a while. We have all already been exposed to it and have built up at least somewhat of an immunity. H1N1 is new to us. We haven't spent all these years working up immunity.

CDC H1N1 Flu | 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine and Pregnant Women


And it would be really nice if people didn't refer to this as mass hysteria.

[jamipeach]

Anyone else just have no real clue what to think or do???!! And lately as I walk around with my big ol belly, I feel like less of a cute pregnant woman, and more of a walking petri dish for h1n1 Sux.......

I will be talking to my dr. at my next appt about this and seeking his medical advice, I honestly do trust him and his recommendations.

I did read that trials on pregnant women will being mid Sep. so as of now, I don't think any pregnant woman has had the vaccine in trials.......

I do think that as long as us pregnant women stay in tune with our bodies, and visit our OB's at any sign of the flu ( chills, fever, aches-non pregnancy related, etc ) we will be treated and get better..... at least that is my hope.

I know having the flu 2 yrs ago, the only time in my life having it, it was horrendous!!!!!!!!! But getting the Tamiflu in time did help lessen my symptoms and got me back to health in no time.....

I just woner in these cases where people have died, what were the underlying conditions they may have had, how long did they have their symptoms etc... ya know....

[Alison81]

I get my flu shot at work, usually in the first month of work, for free. If they offer the swine flu shot, I'll take that too.

[meritaten]

I hardly think saying to look into adjuvants is fear mongering, but ok

And the flu is different every year, the strain can and does alter. That is why they have to make up a new vaccine every year. So each year the strain you get may or may not be covered.

I work in pharma research so trust me when I say the thought of a drug/vaccine that gets approved in such a short time terrifies me.

[silver11princess]

I have never gotten a flu shot, and never got the flu. I don't want to get this vaccine, as I am just to leery. But I work in retail. And I am in contact with thousands of people over the course of the holiday season. I am too skeptical of the vaccine though. I guess I am just going to try to stick to hand washing and sanitizer.

[Momma K]

It's all a bit confusing and sketchy. One thing is said on this "medi webpage" another thing on another, another on the news, and another on the CDC. From the cross reasearch I've done over the last few weeks...the reason that H1N1 is setting off alarms and concern for pregnant women is not because of the total number who die from it...but the percentage in relation to the general population. Pregnant women only make up about 1% of the general population in the US. With what limited amount of swine flu we've actually seen so far, they make up an 13% as of June of this year. Seasonal flu deaths....those 65+ make up about 90% of those deaths.

The problem is...H1N1 hasn't been in the general population of the US long enough to make any a definate profile of it yet. The numbers are still relatively small, so the percentages reflected so far aren't a true representation of the disease. When the numbers get bigger, they will better reflect who is at risk. We will also know better how H1N1 acts and adapts to the population it is infecting through studies. It doesn't mean that what has been reported so far won't continue, but it also doesn't mean that it will. We just don't know. That's why the CDC wants to be cautious about it. But, it was also stated on the CDC website that overreacting to it could be just as bad as not reacting enough. When you overreact and nothing happens, people's faith in what you tell them deminishes meaning they are less likely to follow recommendations about other health concerns in the future.

There just isn't any clear answer. The vaccine is being tested on pregnant women. I read that on the CDC site as well as a couple of other sites. I'm still a skeptic about it...totally unsure what to do there. It has been rushed through, and you have to wonder if they will release all the testing info on it before they start vaccinating the general public or not.

As far as H1N1 scares in general go. I found out yesterday through a local public health official that the majority of cases are only probable cases....they are treated for the flu as normal, but can only be probable H1N1 cases based upon symptoms. The reason being is because the majority of flu cases are also only probable. Most people don't know 100% if they actually have the flu or not. They are just diagnosed based on symptoms. Few are the people that learn which strain of flu they have. Reason being is the CDC doesn't require a nasal swab from every individual that has flu like symptoms. H1N1 protacol is that if the person with symptoms already in the hospital, pregnant, or has died from flu like illness, their nasal swabs are tested at CDC labs. Anyone not falling under that criteria can also be tested but by a private lab and they must pay for the test which is expensive so most opt out of that option.

With that said, there are likely many other cases of H1N1 that are probable but never confirmed. It must be confirmed to go into the percentages on H1N1...they do not include probable cases in those precentages. So...the ratio of children, adults and elderly that are never hospitalized is probably higher in comparison than is shown now. Meaning that pregnant women would make up less than the 13% previously stated. I asked why everyone isn't swabbed and was told that if everyone was swabbed, then the CDC would be backed up on testing and results would take months instead of a few days to a week or so.

Her advice....try your best to avoid the virus. Use good handwashing and cleaning practices. Eat well, sleep good, take your vitamins, and all those things Keep your hands off of your face...especially your eyes and nose. That is the first line of defense for any illness. She recommends the vaccines, but also realizes that vaccinating is a personal choice and not for everyone. The biggest thing is not to panic. Also, if you begin to feel ill in any way, get to your doctor and get treated that day...not until the illness doesn't go away.

That's the other part of the illness statistic...we don't really know for sure how long the people were sick before they went for medical attention. A lot of people don't tell the true answer for "how long have you been sick?" They date it from the time they felt bad. They usually don't say from the first day their throat was scratchy or their nose begin to drip or they had their first sneeze.