Jo C.'s Comments
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Nov 5, 2009 | rating: 8.4 | comments: 70
Jo C. Nov 16, 2009, 1:55pm EST
Oh, and I did want to add that while it was a very different situation, we live in a home where a woman got polio from changing her baby's diaper - live polio used in that shot. These situations are very, very rare. I want to stress that. However, it did happen. I would assume reactions to flu shots are very, very rare but I don't have the info about how quickly they put out the H1N1 flu shot and I do wonder why people are scared of this shot. THe option for the shot is being offered at our son's school but (so far) info I've gotten is that signed permission forms aren't exactly flooding in. Why?
Nov 5, 2009 | rating: 8.4 | comments: 70
in reply to a comment by Jo C.
Jo C. Nov 16, 2009, 1:52pm EST
If you check above, you can actually see the article I wrote. It details our experience. Here is the link again, hope it shows. I am not URGING anyone to read that unless the exact info is desired, start to finish. our experience, but you have to click to see article where it says CLICK HERE

To answer your questions, Sarah. I don't know if he was misdiagnosed but I do know that if I KNEW he had H1N1, I would not have him get the shot. Why should I? Wouldn't that be depriving someone else of the same shot, especially since we have had shortages of those shots? Finally, he got better nearly overnight but I don't know if it was the Tamiflu or Cipro. Knowing which medication worked would certainly have let me know if it was a flu or bacterial infection, wouldn't it?

I'm no expert. I'm still learning.
Nov 5, 2009 | rating: 8.4 | comments: 70
in reply to a comment by Jo C.
Jo C. Nov 16, 2009, 2:36am EST
I myself am frustrated. I'm frustrated that our son was given an antibiotic and Tamiflu. I'm frustrated that he was clearly in pain but couldn't get a diagnosis. I'm frustrated that my request for a swine flu test was denied and that I was told they don't give them. We have since been notified that vaccines are scheduled to be given within a week or two at school. However, they may run out before then. Misinformation runs rampant. My husband was able to get a flu shot at Costco and now we are being told none will be in stock at that particular location for the rest of the season. I wonder if even that is true.
Nov 5, 2009 | rating: 8.4 | comments: 70
in reply to a comment by Jo C.
Jo C. Nov 15, 2009, 6:56pm EST
I don't wish to participate in an argument between you two. I have no idea why there is such antagonism or anger here. I only know what I was told and I did NOT misunderstand it. It does take time for swine flu tests to come back. Not all hospitals or express care centers test for it but they see plenty of kids with symptoms. That is what I was told. I'm sorry you don't believe me.
Nov 5, 2009 | rating: 8.4 | comments: 70
in reply to a comment by Jo C.
Jo C. Nov 15, 2009, 6:52pm EST
I did not misunderstand what was said. Why would a doctor prescribe BOTH Tamiflu and Cipro. If a bacterial infection was truly diagnosed, we wouldn't have been given Tamiflu, would we? The doctor tested for strep and mono. My son had neither. At that point, the decision was made to give those drugs. I have the receipt. I'm going to look for the info that shows how few people were tested for H1N1 but were treated for it anyway. I know there are plenty of articles out there about that.
Nov 5, 2009 | rating: 8.4 | comments: 70
in reply to a comment by Jo C.
Jo C. Nov 15, 2009, 6:49pm EST
Sarah - I can't absolutely dispute your statement about hospitals testing. I can, however, tell you that we were told by a doctor that most hospitals were not testing. I can also refer you to newspaper sources which note that in Indiana, only a certain number of selected hospitals or medical groups tested for the H1N1 strain. Why? Because the test results were not instant and we were told (by the same doctor) that Tamiflu needed to be taken within 24 hours of symptoms showing up.

All that I note that I was told is accurate. Whether it is based on medical truth is another matter -and by that I mean...did my son have to take Tamiflu within 24 hours to get the maximum effect if he had H1N1? Why was he given Cipro? Why didn't they test him for swine flu, if only to have more accurate statistics about how many people had it?
Nov 5, 2009 | rating: 8.4 | comments: 70
in reply to a comment by Jo C.
Jo C. Nov 12, 2009, 5:13pm EST
Nippy (wow, getting used to this new Gather format), it is par for the course here. Only a few select hospitals test for the disease. The rest? They assume the worst and treat for all possibilities. Just to be clear, my son is in his late teens and has no underlying related health conditions or risks, unless one consider being a teen to be a major risk factor in and of itself.
Nov 5, 2009 | rating: 8.4 | comments: 70
Jo C. Nov 12, 2009, 3:01pm EST
Sue,
I'd never taken the drug before and there were no signs this could happen. However, it is a sign that everyone's body is different and all drugs have risks.
Nov 5, 2009 | rating: 8.4 | comments: 70
in reply to a comment by Jo C.
Jo C. Nov 12, 2009, 1:58pm EST
Well, I don't know what went wrong. Trying again Swine flu scare
Nov 5, 2009 | rating: 8.4 | comments: 70
Jo C. Nov 12, 2009, 1:57pm EST
Here, you can read a little about it at my blog, which is not montetized: I'll see if the link shows up. Disclaimer: if you click on the link TO the article and read the article, that site is monetized but it isn't my site or anything. I just wrote the article there.
Nov 5, 2009 | rating: 8.4 | comments: 70
Jo C. Nov 12, 2009, 1:54pm EST
I was very alarmed about giving my son these drugs. In fact, I wrote an article about it but I don't know if I'm allowed to link it here (Gather's TOS?) In any case, he was ill enough that I didn't want to take a chance. However, I had a major reaction to an antibiotic this year and had to have my gallbladder removed because it set off liver and gallbladder inflammation.

I'd rather have KNOWN whether my son had flu or an infection before pulling out the big guns of antibiotics -and Cipro is a big gun, according to the doctors - not to be used lightly.
Oct 26, 2009 | comments: 35
Jo C. Nov 12, 2009, 11:58am EST
This is a complex topic - what makes a happy marriage? I think every marriage is different and what makes two people happy in one marriage might well drive two other individuals batty. ;) Some people are happy with very little actual communication of feelings (in fact, they may feel threatened by them) but have marriages where they feel safe, protected and secure. Others need that communication (I know I do). I don't think many marriages thrive when the couple depends only on each other.

After all, most marriages are going to end someday, at least in the sense that the two people are together in this lifetime. I am NOT talking about divorce. Death happens, as much as we want to deny it. So it helps to have a strong support network of friends (even a good friend or two) and family. It helps to have separate interests and realize that one can survive, married or not.

The person who realizes his or her own strength(s) is likely to be able to be part of a strong marriage, too, not feeling threatened by being dependent sometimes and/or being strong for the other person. It shifts from day to day.
Nov 12, 2009 | comments: 54
Jo C. Nov 12, 2009, 11:52am EST
I'm eager to see what comes out of this. Yes, more Americans need to be put back to work. What I think people sometimes forget is that this situation was building BEFORE Obama took office. He inherited a massive economic crisis and we are a society that often wants that "quick fix". I'd rather have a system that works better for the long haul and avoid the kind of disastrous economic weaknesses and lack of oversight systems that led to this crisis in the first place.
Nov 12, 2009 | comments: 1
Jo C. Nov 12, 2009, 11:34am EST
Thanks for the info! It is always confusing to kids to figure out why some schools are closed and others are open.
Nov 8, 2009 | rating: 9.5 | comments: 32
Jo C. Nov 11, 2009, 8:41pm EST
Yay! I don't know if the parents or kids love these days more. I miss those times. We have one son in college who (yes, I'll brag a bit) got into law school, free tuition. His grandfather had hoped he'd go to college, never imagined law school. Although the grandfathers are dead, I know he'd be so proud! In a way, it is like those school celebration days never end, just live on in our hearts as we watch our children leap into life.
Nov 9, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 15
in reply to a comment by Peter Joseph Swanson
Jo C. Nov 11, 2009, 8:35pm EST
Hi, you inimitable you!
Nov 9, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 15
in reply to a comment by Ina ♥ Tagline Free Since September '09 ♥
Jo C. Nov 11, 2009, 8:34pm EST
I like coming in and seeing that my points seem to build, even when not here. But I miss having time to come here. However, there is good money to be made in writing and we have a kid in college, etc.
Nov 9, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 15
in reply to a comment by Marianne R.
Jo C. Nov 11, 2009, 8:34pm EST
Super to see you. I you still geocaching? Did I get that right?
Nov 9, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 15
in reply to a comment by Connie C.
Jo C. Nov 11, 2009, 8:33pm EST
I am fine. Thanks to your articles, we always have a well-stocked pantry and enough food to last....a very long time.....even without a stove ;)
Nov 9, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 15
in reply to a comment by Amanda "middle of nowhere" C.
Jo C. Nov 11, 2009, 8:32pm EST
And I love seeing your writing at other sites, too. Talented writer! I hope you get plenty of page views :)
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Jo C.
Midwest

I used to be a raccoon....
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