1st let me say that I am perfectly aware that others have different points of view regarding this issue. i get it.
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>dbtoo</b></i>
So, how would one explain the <b>FACT </b>that there are quite a number of us <b>OLD </b>CFers, here, who were diagnosed young, sat in waiting rooms with other CFers, set in hospital rooms with other CFers (there wasn't internet back then, so we went and visited each other in our rooms), lived through the period <b>BEFORE </b>the 'rules' (aren't they really guidelines?) about cross contamination were established, and YET we have lived to deal with it?
</end quote></div>
How do I explain it? Here's how I explain it - you older CFers represent 1% of all the CFers who were born the year you were born. <b> EVERYONE ELSE IS DEAD </b> Don't you see that?!
You do not represent the norm, the standard, or the typical. You have something, probably higher glutathione levels than other CFers, that protect you from catching the virulent bugs. You are the exception. All the others didn't reach your age because they did catch the bugs due to those waiting rooms, hospital rooms, etc. If you look at countries such as Denmark who have had cross-contamination rules for many years more than the US, their patients live well into their late 40s.
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Do we feel badly about exposing <b>ANYBODY </b>to our bacteria. We don't know who's immune system is suppressed and sucseptible to our set of germs/bacteria. Do we wear a mask everywhere we go? Are we to be 'bubble boys' and girls? </end quote></div>
One of the 1st things I asked a person who lives in my city is where he shops, goes to the gym, etc. I would never knowingly pass my germs onto another CFer.
We're not talking about "wearing masks everywhere we go" - the topic was being on a plane KNOWINGLY next to someone who has CF. The issue of knowingly passing on bacteria is so completely different ....
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>What about our wonderful doctor's office? Do we really think that the piece of flimsy paper that they have covering only a small percentage of the exam table will actually in any way protect us from previous patients germs? Do they wipe them down with sterilizing solution between patients? <i>I think not! </i> </end quote></div>
Wrong - mine does. Wipes the door nobs down, the chairs, the exam tables, the talbe where he writes on the charts, etc. It's good practice coming from the Netherlands.
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote> But what is this 3 feet thing anyway - how far do the droplets fly when a person sneezes? </end quote></div>
They fly less than 2 feet. Droplets are heavy and therefore fall to the ground quickly.