Worried about my mom catching cold

JMulkey
JMulkey Member Posts: 32
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
Ok, this may be silly, but I know that mom's white blood counts are down. They aren't too terribly low, but lower than normal. And just this evening I've started running a small fever and having a sore throat, and I'm the primary care taker. How worried should I be about this? I've got to go to her house tomorrow and set out her meds for the week and am scared to death that I might make her really sick.

HELP!!!

Comments

  • srwruns
    srwruns Member Posts: 343
    #2
    I was told at my chemo 101
    I was told at my chemo 101 class that if someone in my home gets a cold they are the ones to wear a face mask, not me (I am receiving chemo). They also mentioned if I fly in an airplane then I am to wear a mask (because they just keep circulating the same old air). If you don't already have a surgical/face mask you should be able to get a supply of them at any drug store.
  • JMulkey
    JMulkey Member Posts: 32
    #3
    srwruns said:

    I was told at my chemo 101
    I was told at my chemo 101 class that if someone in my home gets a cold they are the ones to wear a face mask, not me (I am receiving chemo). They also mentioned if I fly in an airplane then I am to wear a mask (because they just keep circulating the same old air). If you don't already have a surgical/face mask you should be able to get a supply of them at any drug store.

    Ok, I have some here at
    Ok, I have some here at home. Do we need to tell her onc and get her on antibiotics or something? This really worries me :(
  • srwruns
    srwruns Member Posts: 343
    #4
    JMulkey said:

    Ok, I have some here at
    Ok, I have some here at home. Do we need to tell her onc and get her on antibiotics or something? This really worries me :(

    I don't know if they do
    I don't know if they do anything preventative like that...basically my understanding is that if I ever had a temp 100.3 to call the doc. Perhaps having you both wear masks will help and wash wash wash those hands. I now have those antibacterial hand sanitizers all over the house. I don't hug people stuff like that. Maybe also wear latex gloves while you are over there...I think just being really vigiliant about cleanliness, body contact should be good ... unless you are running a temp with all the symptoms ... then perhaps you should find someone else for that day.
  • clamryn
    clamryn Member Posts: 508
    #5
    Sickness in the house
    I know how you feel. My daughter, her husband and two grandchildren live in the house with me. The children are 5 and 7. We have been through everything... colds, flu, etc. When they get sick, I pretty much stay in my room. And we use the hand sanitizer too. It is all over the house. Ha... my daughter even will spray the lysol around my door to my bedroom. I have been very lucky with not getting too sick if I catch something. It seems like I fight it off pretty good. I try not to worry about it. And I wouldn't give anything for those smiles on those faces I see everyday. That is my medicine.

    Just try to be as careful with cleanliness as you can.

    Linda
  • JMulkey
    JMulkey Member Posts: 32
    #6
    clamryn said:

    Sickness in the house
    I know how you feel. My daughter, her husband and two grandchildren live in the house with me. The children are 5 and 7. We have been through everything... colds, flu, etc. When they get sick, I pretty much stay in my room. And we use the hand sanitizer too. It is all over the house. Ha... my daughter even will spray the lysol around my door to my bedroom. I have been very lucky with not getting too sick if I catch something. It seems like I fight it off pretty good. I try not to worry about it. And I wouldn't give anything for those smiles on those faces I see everyday. That is my medicine.

    Just try to be as careful with cleanliness as you can.

    Linda

    I've called my doctor and am
    I've called my doctor and am going in this morning to see what I've got, then we'll call Mom's onc and see if there's anything they want us to do. I had gotten Mom a few of those hand santizier things to keep in different rooms in the house. The thing that really worries me is that we had our Thanksgiving on Sunday and of course the entire family was there, Mom, my brother, my husband, all five grandkids and six great grandkids, so she was probably exposed to whatever I've got on Sunday, plus I had to take her to her appointment yesterday morning to get blood work up done, so she was probably exposed again :(

    Thanks, so much for your answers and help. I appreciate all of the suggestions, will let you all know what happens.
  • nancy591
    nancy591 Member Posts: 1,027 Member
    #7
    getting ill
    Being the Mom of 2 young school ages boys I am exposed to lots of germs. I also volunteer at the school 2 days a week. I never wear a mask or gloves. I am even brave enough to eat at salad bars. Of course I make sure it looks clean over all. I just went to a party where they served dinner buffet style to over 100 guests. Sometimes everyone in the house is sick except me. Go figure!
  • srwruns
    srwruns Member Posts: 343
    #8
    nancy591 said:

    getting ill
    Being the Mom of 2 young school ages boys I am exposed to lots of germs. I also volunteer at the school 2 days a week. I never wear a mask or gloves. I am even brave enough to eat at salad bars. Of course I make sure it looks clean over all. I just went to a party where they served dinner buffet style to over 100 guests. Sometimes everyone in the house is sick except me. Go figure!

    What common virus would want
    What common virus would want to go hang out in our bodies that are more akin to chemical dump sites?
  • JMulkey
    JMulkey Member Posts: 32
    #9
    srwruns said:

    What common virus would want
    What common virus would want to go hang out in our bodies that are more akin to chemical dump sites?

    Ok, no strep, but I do have
    Ok, no strep, but I do have some kind of sinus infection. So that's not passable. I think it may have started from allergies, but just in case, I'm taking all the precautions you ladies have suggested. Thanks so much for your suggestions and your patience :)

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