Trying to be braver and not keeping her in a bubble

[soderick]

Of course every child is different. Caution is always wise, but you must also consider that exposure to some germs helps build an immune system. I grew up almost completely normal: public school, sandboxes (I ate dirt and cat food regularly), friends' homes, swimming in lakes and rivers, AND I grew up in the country surrounded by animals.

I would NEVER suggest that every CFer is the same, or even similar, but that is my experience. I'm cautious about certain things, and I wear a mask when it is appropriate (around dust, especially). I can't say that I wouldn't be more healthy now if I had been more protected as a kid, but I also wouldn't have traded my life. I almost never get colds, never get the flu (always get a flu shot, though), and am very careful about keeping my home reasonably clean.

It's always a give and take with any ailment. You don't want to endanger your dd, but you also want her to live. Strike a balance that works for you. Also, speaking from personal experience, once she is older, your being overprotective will just push her away. She will understand, but she will also resent it.

 

[soderick]

Of course every child is different. Caution is always wise, but you must also consider that exposure to some germs helps build an immune system. I grew up almost completely normal: public school, sandboxes (I ate dirt and cat food regularly), friends' homes, swimming in lakes and rivers, AND I grew up in the country surrounded by animals.

I would NEVER suggest that every CFer is the same, or even similar, but that is my experience. I'm cautious about certain things, and I wear a mask when it is appropriate (around dust, especially). I can't say that I wouldn't be more healthy now if I had been more protected as a kid, but I also wouldn't have traded my life. I almost never get colds, never get the flu (always get a flu shot, though), and am very careful about keeping my home reasonably clean.

It's always a give and take with any ailment. You don't want to endanger your dd, but you also want her to live. Strike a balance that works for you. Also, speaking from personal experience, once she is older, your being overprotective will just push her away. She will understand, but she will also resent it.

 

[soderick]

Of course every child is different. Caution is always wise, but you must also consider that exposure to some germs helps build an immune system. I grew up almost completely normal: public school, sandboxes (I ate dirt and cat food regularly), friends' homes, swimming in lakes and rivers, AND I grew up in the country surrounded by animals.

I would NEVER suggest that every CFer is the same, or even similar, but that is my experience. I'm cautious about certain things, and I wear a mask when it is appropriate (around dust, especially). I can't say that I wouldn't be more healthy now if I had been more protected as a kid, but I also wouldn't have traded my life. I almost never get colds, never get the flu (always get a flu shot, though), and am very careful about keeping my home reasonably clean.

It's always a give and take with any ailment. You don't want to endanger your dd, but you also want her to live. Strike a balance that works for you. Also, speaking from personal experience, once she is older, your being overprotective will just push her away. She will understand, but she will also resent it.

 

[soderick]

Of course every child is different. Caution is always wise, but you must also consider that exposure to some germs helps build an immune system. I grew up almost completely normal: public school, sandboxes (I ate dirt and cat food regularly), friends' homes, swimming in lakes and rivers, AND I grew up in the country surrounded by animals.

I would NEVER suggest that every CFer is the same, or even similar, but that is my experience. I'm cautious about certain things, and I wear a mask when it is appropriate (around dust, especially). I can't say that I wouldn't be more healthy now if I had been more protected as a kid, but I also wouldn't have traded my life. I almost never get colds, never get the flu (always get a flu shot, though), and am very careful about keeping my home reasonably clean.

It's always a give and take with any ailment. You don't want to endanger your dd, but you also want her to live. Strike a balance that works for you. Also, speaking from personal experience, once she is older, your being overprotective will just push her away. She will understand, but she will also resent it.

 

[soderick]

Of course every child is different. Caution is always wise, but you must also consider that exposure to some germs helps build an immune system. I grew up almost completely normal: public school, sandboxes (I ate dirt and cat food regularly), friends' homes, swimming in lakes and rivers, AND I grew up in the country surrounded by animals.
<br />
<br />I would NEVER suggest that every CFer is the same, or even similar, but that is my experience. I'm cautious about certain things, and I wear a mask when it is appropriate (around dust, especially). I can't say that I wouldn't be more healthy now if I had been more protected as a kid, but I also wouldn't have traded my life. I almost never get colds, never get the flu (always get a flu shot, though), and am very careful about keeping my home reasonably clean.
<br />
<br />It's always a give and take with any ailment. You don't want to endanger your dd, but you also want her to live. Strike a balance that works for you. Also, speaking from personal experience, once she is older, your being overprotective will just push her away. She will understand, but she will also resent it.

 

[PedsNP2007]

Hi,
It's a balancing act between allowing her to be as normal as possible and trying to protect her from the inevitable (pseudomonas). I grew up being treated as normal with my 2 other CF siblings. I was encouraged to play everywhere. Granted, we did not have animals until I was in high school nor did I routinely go into wooded areas or barns.

I would stress caution of barns, heavily wooded areas, and stagnant water (ie. ponds). There are a lot of microbes that have potentiality of causing issues. Aspergillus, Blastomycosis, and other fungi love that environment.

Here's some sites:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbmd/disease_listing/blastomycosis_gi.html
">http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbm...blastomycosis_gi.html
</a><a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbmd/disease_listing/aspergillosis_gi.html
">http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbm...aspergillosis_gi.html
</a>
I have treated healthy kids who randomly have gotten blastomycosis. It's a horrible infection and luckily some of these kids have survived after a long ICU course. I have cared for immunocompromised kids who have contracted aspergillus.

That being said, I did horseback riding in which I was in barns for a year and did some minor camping trips into the woods with ponds. I never contracted a fungus. However, that was when I was younger. I did notice I had more asthma type symptoms after each riding session. I was also allergic to the environment (horse or hay or dust?) and that's why I stopped after a year.

Now, I will wear a TB type mask (N95) to go anywhere where I think a fungus (and other microbes) could be. I wore the mask to the State Fair this past summer while going in the barns... My dr insisted and I concurred with her. I got funny looks, but heck, I was protecting myself and that's all that matters.

So, I would encourage masks if going into a dusty, dark, moist environment, such as a barn or shed, or even the woods. One day pseudomonas will most likely show up, but you will want to keep it at bay for as long as possible.

So enjoy her being as normal as you can be, but realizing that it's hard to protect her from pseudomonas as it lives in the soil etc.

jenn
30 yo cf

 

[PedsNP2007]

Hi,
It's a balancing act between allowing her to be as normal as possible and trying to protect her from the inevitable (pseudomonas). I grew up being treated as normal with my 2 other CF siblings. I was encouraged to play everywhere. Granted, we did not have animals until I was in high school nor did I routinely go into wooded areas or barns.

I would stress caution of barns, heavily wooded areas, and stagnant water (ie. ponds). There are a lot of microbes that have potentiality of causing issues. Aspergillus, Blastomycosis, and other fungi love that environment.

Here's some sites:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbmd/disease_listing/blastomycosis_gi.html
">http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbm...blastomycosis_gi.html
</a><a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbmd/disease_listing/aspergillosis_gi.html
">http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbm...aspergillosis_gi.html
</a>
I have treated healthy kids who randomly have gotten blastomycosis. It's a horrible infection and luckily some of these kids have survived after a long ICU course. I have cared for immunocompromised kids who have contracted aspergillus.

That being said, I did horseback riding in which I was in barns for a year and did some minor camping trips into the woods with ponds. I never contracted a fungus. However, that was when I was younger. I did notice I had more asthma type symptoms after each riding session. I was also allergic to the environment (horse or hay or dust?) and that's why I stopped after a year.

Now, I will wear a TB type mask (N95) to go anywhere where I think a fungus (and other microbes) could be. I wore the mask to the State Fair this past summer while going in the barns... My dr insisted and I concurred with her. I got funny looks, but heck, I was protecting myself and that's all that matters.

So, I would encourage masks if going into a dusty, dark, moist environment, such as a barn or shed, or even the woods. One day pseudomonas will most likely show up, but you will want to keep it at bay for as long as possible.

So enjoy her being as normal as you can be, but realizing that it's hard to protect her from pseudomonas as it lives in the soil etc.

jenn
30 yo cf

 

[PedsNP2007]

Hi,
It's a balancing act between allowing her to be as normal as possible and trying to protect her from the inevitable (pseudomonas). I grew up being treated as normal with my 2 other CF siblings. I was encouraged to play everywhere. Granted, we did not have animals until I was in high school nor did I routinely go into wooded areas or barns.

I would stress caution of barns, heavily wooded areas, and stagnant water (ie. ponds). There are a lot of microbes that have potentiality of causing issues. Aspergillus, Blastomycosis, and other fungi love that environment.

Here's some sites:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbmd/disease_listing/blastomycosis_gi.html
">http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbm...blastomycosis_gi.html
</a><a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbmd/disease_listing/aspergillosis_gi.html
">http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbm...aspergillosis_gi.html
</a>
I have treated healthy kids who randomly have gotten blastomycosis. It's a horrible infection and luckily some of these kids have survived after a long ICU course. I have cared for immunocompromised kids who have contracted aspergillus.

That being said, I did horseback riding in which I was in barns for a year and did some minor camping trips into the woods with ponds. I never contracted a fungus. However, that was when I was younger. I did notice I had more asthma type symptoms after each riding session. I was also allergic to the environment (horse or hay or dust?) and that's why I stopped after a year.

Now, I will wear a TB type mask (N95) to go anywhere where I think a fungus (and other microbes) could be. I wore the mask to the State Fair this past summer while going in the barns... My dr insisted and I concurred with her. I got funny looks, but heck, I was protecting myself and that's all that matters.

So, I would encourage masks if going into a dusty, dark, moist environment, such as a barn or shed, or even the woods. One day pseudomonas will most likely show up, but you will want to keep it at bay for as long as possible.

So enjoy her being as normal as you can be, but realizing that it's hard to protect her from pseudomonas as it lives in the soil etc.

jenn
30 yo cf

 

[PedsNP2007]

Hi,
It's a balancing act between allowing her to be as normal as possible and trying to protect her from the inevitable (pseudomonas). I grew up being treated as normal with my 2 other CF siblings. I was encouraged to play everywhere. Granted, we did not have animals until I was in high school nor did I routinely go into wooded areas or barns.

I would stress caution of barns, heavily wooded areas, and stagnant water (ie. ponds). There are a lot of microbes that have potentiality of causing issues. Aspergillus, Blastomycosis, and other fungi love that environment.

Here's some sites:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbmd/disease_listing/blastomycosis_gi.html
">http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbm...blastomycosis_gi.html
</a><a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbmd/disease_listing/aspergillosis_gi.html
">http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbm...aspergillosis_gi.html
</a>
I have treated healthy kids who randomly have gotten blastomycosis. It's a horrible infection and luckily some of these kids have survived after a long ICU course. I have cared for immunocompromised kids who have contracted aspergillus.

That being said, I did horseback riding in which I was in barns for a year and did some minor camping trips into the woods with ponds. I never contracted a fungus. However, that was when I was younger. I did notice I had more asthma type symptoms after each riding session. I was also allergic to the environment (horse or hay or dust?) and that's why I stopped after a year.

Now, I will wear a TB type mask (N95) to go anywhere where I think a fungus (and other microbes) could be. I wore the mask to the State Fair this past summer while going in the barns... My dr insisted and I concurred with her. I got funny looks, but heck, I was protecting myself and that's all that matters.

So, I would encourage masks if going into a dusty, dark, moist environment, such as a barn or shed, or even the woods. One day pseudomonas will most likely show up, but you will want to keep it at bay for as long as possible.

So enjoy her being as normal as you can be, but realizing that it's hard to protect her from pseudomonas as it lives in the soil etc.

jenn
30 yo cf

 

[PedsNP2007]

Hi,
<br />It's a balancing act between allowing her to be as normal as possible and trying to protect her from the inevitable (pseudomonas). I grew up being treated as normal with my 2 other CF siblings. I was encouraged to play everywhere. Granted, we did not have animals until I was in high school nor did I routinely go into wooded areas or barns.
<br />
<br />I would stress caution of barns, heavily wooded areas, and stagnant water (ie. ponds). There are a lot of microbes that have potentiality of causing issues. Aspergillus, Blastomycosis, and other fungi love that environment.
<br />
<br />Here's some sites:
<br /><a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbmd/disease_listing/blastomycosis_gi.html
">http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbm...blastomycosis_gi.html
</a><br /><a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbmd/disease_listing/aspergillosis_gi.html
">http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbm...aspergillosis_gi.html
</a><br />
<br />I have treated healthy kids who randomly have gotten blastomycosis. It's a horrible infection and luckily some of these kids have survived after a long ICU course. I have cared for immunocompromised kids who have contracted aspergillus.
<br />
<br />That being said, I did horseback riding in which I was in barns for a year and did some minor camping trips into the woods with ponds. I never contracted a fungus. However, that was when I was younger. I did notice I had more asthma type symptoms after each riding session. I was also allergic to the environment (horse or hay or dust?) and that's why I stopped after a year.
<br />
<br />Now, I will wear a TB type mask (N95) to go anywhere where I think a fungus (and other microbes) could be. I wore the mask to the State Fair this past summer while going in the barns... My dr insisted and I concurred with her. I got funny looks, but heck, I was protecting myself and that's all that matters.
<br />
<br />So, I would encourage masks if going into a dusty, dark, moist environment, such as a barn or shed, or even the woods. One day pseudomonas will most likely show up, but you will want to keep it at bay for as long as possible.
<br />
<br />So enjoy her being as normal as you can be, but realizing that it's hard to protect her from pseudomonas as it lives in the soil etc.
<br />
<br />jenn
<br />30 yo cf

 

[Ratatosk]

I wipe off DS' hands after we've gone shopping, gymnastics, to the park... DS is in gymnastics and goes to preschool. I try not to go nuts about germs, though he does throw me for a loop once in awhile. Like the time he told me he found gum at the playgroun. Bleah! He survived, I survived.

Most of my stress stemmed from our local cf clinic and we stopped going there and opted to see his doctor at the regular clinic instead. The crowded waiting room, not cleaning rooms, community toys caused me soooo much stress.

I do try to avoid indoor playgrounds and areas when they're crowded, especially during cold and flu season.

 

[Ratatosk]

I wipe off DS' hands after we've gone shopping, gymnastics, to the park... DS is in gymnastics and goes to preschool. I try not to go nuts about germs, though he does throw me for a loop once in awhile. Like the time he told me he found gum at the playgroun. Bleah! He survived, I survived.

Most of my stress stemmed from our local cf clinic and we stopped going there and opted to see his doctor at the regular clinic instead. The crowded waiting room, not cleaning rooms, community toys caused me soooo much stress.

I do try to avoid indoor playgrounds and areas when they're crowded, especially during cold and flu season.

 

[Ratatosk]

I wipe off DS' hands after we've gone shopping, gymnastics, to the park... DS is in gymnastics and goes to preschool. I try not to go nuts about germs, though he does throw me for a loop once in awhile. Like the time he told me he found gum at the playgroun. Bleah! He survived, I survived.

Most of my stress stemmed from our local cf clinic and we stopped going there and opted to see his doctor at the regular clinic instead. The crowded waiting room, not cleaning rooms, community toys caused me soooo much stress.

I do try to avoid indoor playgrounds and areas when they're crowded, especially during cold and flu season.

 

[Ratatosk]

I wipe off DS' hands after we've gone shopping, gymnastics, to the park... DS is in gymnastics and goes to preschool. I try not to go nuts about germs, though he does throw me for a loop once in awhile. Like the time he told me he found gum at the playgroun. Bleah! He survived, I survived.

Most of my stress stemmed from our local cf clinic and we stopped going there and opted to see his doctor at the regular clinic instead. The crowded waiting room, not cleaning rooms, community toys caused me soooo much stress.

I do try to avoid indoor playgrounds and areas when they're crowded, especially during cold and flu season.

 

[Ratatosk]

I wipe off DS' hands after we've gone shopping, gymnastics, to the park... DS is in gymnastics and goes to preschool. I try not to go nuts about germs, though he does throw me for a loop once in awhile. Like the time he told me he found gum at the playgroun. Bleah! He survived, I survived.
<br />
<br />Most of my stress stemmed from our local cf clinic and we stopped going there and opted to see his doctor at the regular clinic instead. The crowded waiting room, not cleaning rooms, community toys caused me soooo much stress.
<br />
<br />I do try to avoid indoor playgrounds and areas when they're crowded, especially during cold and flu season.

 

[MicheleGazelle]

What has worked for me to balance these two things (protecting myself and having a life) is to make my home a sanctuary where we keep out chemical cleaners and anything else that bothers us and we have developed practices for not letting stuff get into our home after we have gone out in the world and exposed ourselves to stuff, plus peroxide wipes and a few other things help keep problems down while I am out in the world. I know a lot of people swear by hand-sanitizer and disinfecting wipes, but I don't like them. Peroxide wipes meet my picky standards of actually killing stuff without poisoning me in the process. (I found some at Target. Haven't seen them anywhere else.) These days, I just keep paper towels and a bottle of peroxide at my desk at work, plus a bottle of diet tonic water. But when I had a car, keeping peroxide wipes in the car was a godsend.

I have also found that some practices help minimize the dangers of having a life. A few examples: I try to sit up front at large meetings (near the door) and try to be the very first person out the door to avoid mingling too much with the crowd. I try to avoid sitting on upholstered furniture in public places unless it is leather or vinyl. I have stopped drying my hands in the bathroom at work and just walk to my desk with wet hands and use the paper towels there, which haven't been touched by anyone but me. I have found that some folks make me ill to be around them and some don't, so whom I spend time with makes a big difference. I have found throwing out paper that was handled by a sick person matters more than physically avoiding them -- ie keeping the paper they touched is a bigger danger to my health than talking to them.

When I get home after being exposed to something, I promptly shower, put my clothes in water to soak (with peroxide and diet tonic water and sometimes tea bags), irrigate my sinuses and take some supplements to ward off a problem. If it is bad enough, we also sometimes pour peroxide and diet tonic water over my hands. We also leave our shoes by the front door.

 

[MicheleGazelle]

What has worked for me to balance these two things (protecting myself and having a life) is to make my home a sanctuary where we keep out chemical cleaners and anything else that bothers us and we have developed practices for not letting stuff get into our home after we have gone out in the world and exposed ourselves to stuff, plus peroxide wipes and a few other things help keep problems down while I am out in the world. I know a lot of people swear by hand-sanitizer and disinfecting wipes, but I don't like them. Peroxide wipes meet my picky standards of actually killing stuff without poisoning me in the process. (I found some at Target. Haven't seen them anywhere else.) These days, I just keep paper towels and a bottle of peroxide at my desk at work, plus a bottle of diet tonic water. But when I had a car, keeping peroxide wipes in the car was a godsend.

I have also found that some practices help minimize the dangers of having a life. A few examples: I try to sit up front at large meetings (near the door) and try to be the very first person out the door to avoid mingling too much with the crowd. I try to avoid sitting on upholstered furniture in public places unless it is leather or vinyl. I have stopped drying my hands in the bathroom at work and just walk to my desk with wet hands and use the paper towels there, which haven't been touched by anyone but me. I have found that some folks make me ill to be around them and some don't, so whom I spend time with makes a big difference. I have found throwing out paper that was handled by a sick person matters more than physically avoiding them -- ie keeping the paper they touched is a bigger danger to my health than talking to them.

When I get home after being exposed to something, I promptly shower, put my clothes in water to soak (with peroxide and diet tonic water and sometimes tea bags), irrigate my sinuses and take some supplements to ward off a problem. If it is bad enough, we also sometimes pour peroxide and diet tonic water over my hands. We also leave our shoes by the front door.

 

[MicheleGazelle]

What has worked for me to balance these two things (protecting myself and having a life) is to make my home a sanctuary where we keep out chemical cleaners and anything else that bothers us and we have developed practices for not letting stuff get into our home after we have gone out in the world and exposed ourselves to stuff, plus peroxide wipes and a few other things help keep problems down while I am out in the world. I know a lot of people swear by hand-sanitizer and disinfecting wipes, but I don't like them. Peroxide wipes meet my picky standards of actually killing stuff without poisoning me in the process. (I found some at Target. Haven't seen them anywhere else.) These days, I just keep paper towels and a bottle of peroxide at my desk at work, plus a bottle of diet tonic water. But when I had a car, keeping peroxide wipes in the car was a godsend.

I have also found that some practices help minimize the dangers of having a life. A few examples: I try to sit up front at large meetings (near the door) and try to be the very first person out the door to avoid mingling too much with the crowd. I try to avoid sitting on upholstered furniture in public places unless it is leather or vinyl. I have stopped drying my hands in the bathroom at work and just walk to my desk with wet hands and use the paper towels there, which haven't been touched by anyone but me. I have found that some folks make me ill to be around them and some don't, so whom I spend time with makes a big difference. I have found throwing out paper that was handled by a sick person matters more than physically avoiding them -- ie keeping the paper they touched is a bigger danger to my health than talking to them.

When I get home after being exposed to something, I promptly shower, put my clothes in water to soak (with peroxide and diet tonic water and sometimes tea bags), irrigate my sinuses and take some supplements to ward off a problem. If it is bad enough, we also sometimes pour peroxide and diet tonic water over my hands. We also leave our shoes by the front door.

 

[MicheleGazelle]

What has worked for me to balance these two things (protecting myself and having a life) is to make my home a sanctuary where we keep out chemical cleaners and anything else that bothers us and we have developed practices for not letting stuff get into our home after we have gone out in the world and exposed ourselves to stuff, plus peroxide wipes and a few other things help keep problems down while I am out in the world. I know a lot of people swear by hand-sanitizer and disinfecting wipes, but I don't like them. Peroxide wipes meet my picky standards of actually killing stuff without poisoning me in the process. (I found some at Target. Haven't seen them anywhere else.) These days, I just keep paper towels and a bottle of peroxide at my desk at work, plus a bottle of diet tonic water. But when I had a car, keeping peroxide wipes in the car was a godsend.

I have also found that some practices help minimize the dangers of having a life. A few examples: I try to sit up front at large meetings (near the door) and try to be the very first person out the door to avoid mingling too much with the crowd. I try to avoid sitting on upholstered furniture in public places unless it is leather or vinyl. I have stopped drying my hands in the bathroom at work and just walk to my desk with wet hands and use the paper towels there, which haven't been touched by anyone but me. I have found that some folks make me ill to be around them and some don't, so whom I spend time with makes a big difference. I have found throwing out paper that was handled by a sick person matters more than physically avoiding them -- ie keeping the paper they touched is a bigger danger to my health than talking to them.

When I get home after being exposed to something, I promptly shower, put my clothes in water to soak (with peroxide and diet tonic water and sometimes tea bags), irrigate my sinuses and take some supplements to ward off a problem. If it is bad enough, we also sometimes pour peroxide and diet tonic water over my hands. We also leave our shoes by the front door.

 

[MicheleGazelle]

What has worked for me to balance these two things (protecting myself and having a life) is to make my home a sanctuary where we keep out chemical cleaners and anything else that bothers us and we have developed practices for not letting stuff get into our home after we have gone out in the world and exposed ourselves to stuff, plus peroxide wipes and a few other things help keep problems down while I am out in the world. I know a lot of people swear by hand-sanitizer and disinfecting wipes, but I don't like them. Peroxide wipes meet my picky standards of actually killing stuff without poisoning me in the process. (I found some at Target. Haven't seen them anywhere else.) These days, I just keep paper towels and a bottle of peroxide at my desk at work, plus a bottle of diet tonic water. But when I had a car, keeping peroxide wipes in the car was a godsend.
<br />
<br />I have also found that some practices help minimize the dangers of having a life. A few examples: I try to sit up front at large meetings (near the door) and try to be the very first person out the door to avoid mingling too much with the crowd. I try to avoid sitting on upholstered furniture in public places unless it is leather or vinyl. I have stopped drying my hands in the bathroom at work and just walk to my desk with wet hands and use the paper towels there, which haven't been touched by anyone but me. I have found that some folks make me ill to be around them and some don't, so whom I spend time with makes a big difference. I have found throwing out paper that was handled by a sick person matters more than physically avoiding them -- ie keeping the paper they touched is a bigger danger to my health than talking to them.
<br />
<br />When I get home after being exposed to something, I promptly shower, put my clothes in water to soak (with peroxide and diet tonic water and sometimes tea bags), irrigate my sinuses and take some supplements to ward off a problem. If it is bad enough, we also sometimes pour peroxide and diet tonic water over my hands. We also leave our shoes by the front door.