Germ-phobic mom on heightened alert

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By Darci Jordan, Contributing Writer 5:04 PM Tuesday, October 20, 2009

I admit it, as I have in the past, I am a “germophobe.”

I will not touch door handles or faucets with my bare hands; I carry hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes in my purse; and the Clorox and Lysol people love me.

With the H1N1 virus adding fuel to my anti-germ fire, I have become germophobic (not the technical term, but you know what I mean) to the point of being obsessive.

I have good reason and she comes in the form of a 2-month-old infant not eligible for any kind of flu vaccination.

Bringing this new strain into our house is not an option.

My sons wash their hands the minute they set foot in the door after school, they take multi-vitamins daily and we stocked up on the vitamin C gummies. They cannot touch “The Sister” on her face or hands, or give her kisses if I hear one sniffle from their noses.

While I am confessing, I will say when Noah’s teacher told us about the daily student handshakes — I cringed (despite the supply of sanitizer and wipes in the room). I also cringed at the end of every soccer game when the kids “good gamed” and shook hands — then ate a team snack.

I’m all for being friendly and a good sport — I’m also a little embarrassed by my neurotic germ warfare — so I never spoke up (nobody wants to be “that mom”), but I am now.

My goal is to keep my children safe and healthy. But in the interest of health, do we really sacrifice safety with the H1N1 vaccine?

Our pediatrician recommends the vaccine, like he does the regular flu shot or mist.

However, I have also heard the H1N1 vaccine is recommended only for children ages 6 and older. The shot is preserved with mercury so the mist is safer, and since it’s a new vaccine it could have long-term adverse affects.

How do we separate what of this is true with the recent info-overload?

My brother’s family has already been hit with H1N1 — including my 11-month-old niece. It was frightening. Fortunately, they all recovered.

Happy to be healthy again, my brother has considered wearing an “I survived the Swine Flu”  T-shirt.

Deciphering fact from fiction and dispelling media hype is exhausting.

We will continue to weigh the options, but I’m leaning toward the vaccine for my family. Getting the vaccine could pose a risk, but so could not getting it.

In the meantime, we will continue to wash, wash, wash.

Contact this contributing writer at motherhoodcolumn@ yahoo.com.

MOTHERHOOD

darci jordan

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I too have been EXTREMELY cautious about touching public things. Door handles, faucets etc...

I washed my hands at least 10-12 times/day.

Guess what ? I still got sick! I ran a 102 temp yesterday. I haven't had a fever in (20)years up until then.

Sometimes you're just at the wrong place at the wrong time and stuff happens.

Keep washing your hands and if you are sick, STAY HOME FROM SCHOOL or WORK !!

Cover your mouth when you sneeze and couch too!!!

Katmandu
9:39 AM, 10/22/2009

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I am right there with you. So I know what you are going thru

Jim
8:20 AM, 10/22/2009

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Our soccer coach has stopped the good game hand thing due to swine flu.Churches stopped handshakes,why shouldn't we.This flu kills kids.Prevention is key and handwashing is the single biggest tool.I am upset that children in Fairfield City Schools do not wash hands before lunch and many do not use alcohol bases sanitizers.My kids go to school with these kids who do nothing to prevent the spread,even though there are confirmed cases.Im vaccine nervous also, but doubt it will be avail anyway.

practical
11:24 AM, 10/21/2009

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I am right there with you. I am so afraid of my kids getting the H1N1 that I spray the house twice a day with lysol we also each have out own hand santizers we carry wius, our hands are drying out from all the washing, i wipe down the counters and tables with lysol wipes. My 8 yr old has had the flu but they would not test him to see which one he is fine now. I hope that we all stay healthy. My daughter asthma really bad and that scares me. So you are not alone with the germ fears

concerned mom
8:52 PM, 10/20/2009

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