HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Why are people so irresponsible when they're sick?!

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 8/16/2015 8:37 PM (GMT 0)
Ugh! My neighbor high fived me when I left today and when I came back he was like "I'm so sick...been sick with this cough and fever for a week!" I want to strangle him!

Don't high five me or touch me if you're sick! Last time that I got seriously sick, it put me into a huge life-changing flare. And he knows that I have UC! People just don't get how big of a deal this stuff is for us UC folks.
Posted 8/16/2015 11:06 PM (GMT 0)
I sympathize, but I must confess that I never think about getting sick from other people, maybe I should? I dont know really, I had no idea that getting sick from someone can bring on a major flare. If its that easy to pick up a bug, couldnt you get that from just using a public restroom? People dont always wash their hands after using the bathroom, which I find incredible, but there it is..
Posted 8/16/2015 11:18 PM (GMT 0)
I quit shaking hands/high fiving many years ago, nothing to do with UC at the time, after I got soooo sick with respiratory crap that took my entire vacation 2 weeks and took months to get better (I know who gave it to me). Have done fist bump for over 10 years which some people think is political or secret gang signal (it's not, I'm a white 60 y.o. female haha). Have not had a cold or any other communicable illness since doing this.
Posted 8/16/2015 11:42 PM (GMT 0)
imagardener..Mmmm sounds like a good idea. I must say I avoid kissing people at all costs when I greet them, not because I am frightened of catching something, but purely because it makes me uncomfortable, but it probably makes sense not to kiss folks as well!
Posted 8/17/2015 2:24 AM (GMT 0)
I think germaphobes are more prone to thinking that way...I do it too, hate when sick people act like them being ill is not a big deal because it doesn't affect them the way it can affect most people that are germaphobes after all, there's a reason why many become germaphobes, usually cuz they/we have a better chance of getting sicker easier...

Because I'm a germaphobe, I don't tend to get sick very often cuz I'm always conscience of others around me so I can avoid or take precautions if necessary.

World might be a less sickly place if everyone was a germaphobe but some people just aren't wired that way lol.
Posted 8/17/2015 10:50 AM (GMT 0)
@Worriedgirl3 i totally agree with that, that's why i carry around a hand sanitizer

imagardener2 said...
I quit shaking hands/high fiving many years ago, nothing to do with UC at the time, after I got soooo sick with respiratory crap that took my entire vacation 2 weeks and took months to get better (I know who gave it to me). Have done fist bump for over 10 years which some people think is political or secret gang signal (it's not, I'm a white 60 y.o. female haha). Have not had a cold or any other communicable illness since doing this.

haha, i might just start doing fist bumps instead too

Peace Out homie smilewinkgrin
Posted 8/17/2015 11:46 AM (GMT 0)
I hardly ever get sick now but when I did, I avoided people who were ill like the plague! I used to hate when a friend would come over my house with a sick child - kids are little germ factories that touch everything. But being sick also give me issues with my UC.
Posted 8/17/2015 12:43 PM (GMT 0)

Red_34 said...
I hardly ever get sick now but when I did, I avoided people who were ill like the plague! I used to hate when a friend would come over my house with a sick child - kids are little germ factories that touch everything. But being sick also give me issues with my UC.

Kids ARE such germ factories. Yet, oddly enough I am a second grade teacher. I think that this is why I am so careful with germs.I figure that since I am already at a disadvantage with my job, that I may as well be extra careful during your non-work time.
Posted 8/17/2015 1:33 PM (GMT 0)
I can only shake my head and agree. I think people need to consciously be better at keeping their germs to themselves. I do feel bad for people who are sick but I mean, come on, please don't make me sick too!
I am unlucky because I sit right by a printer and lots of people come and go. My boss is apparently not a fan of covering his mouth so when I see him coming I tend to either hold my breath or try to look away.
'Tis a sad thing.
Posted 8/18/2015 2:18 AM (GMT 0)
This is one of those things that chaps my hide! I work in healthcare providing hands on care to patients and my coworkers will come to work sick so they don't have to waste their PTO on a sick day. Then before you know it, their illness is spreading like wildfire through the department, not to mention it's irresponsible when caring for sick patients having urgent surgery or healthy patients having elective surgery! Makes me furious.
Posted 8/18/2015 6:02 AM (GMT 0)
I never ever get sick and I thought most UC people were like this? Isn't the whole reason why we have an autoimmune disease is because are immune systems are freakin crazy?

I hope you don't get your neighbor's cold. I can't imagine having to deal with more sickness on top of this awful disease. I will say that before I got UC, I was always one of those people who just stayed home from work if I was sick. But the people that didn't....errrrr bothered the crap out of me.
Posted 8/18/2015 11:53 AM (GMT 0)
I wholeheartedly agree - this is a major peeve of mine. I am definitely more prone to getting colds/fly as most of you are I'm sure, because while our immune systems' do technically go haywire, you get "immune fatigued" after prolonged activation which means that we are immune compromised, plus the added problem of the meds we are on to dampen down our immune system. So for me, my first sign of getting a cold is someone else next to me with a cold!! I'm going on an overseas trip in 5 days and cannot believe the amount of people around me with the flu that I'm trying to avoid - seriously stay at home or just try and not bark all over me. I think they are so inconsiderate because this is the only time they are essentially sick all year, whereas we spend most of our lives battling to be well.
Posted 8/18/2015 3:04 PM (GMT 0)
"I think they are so inconsiderate because this is the only time they are essentially sick all year, whereas we spend most of our lives battling to be well"

This is very well put!
Posted 8/18/2015 3:46 PM (GMT 0)
Yes in college the girl sitting next to me came to class with the flu. She stayed home one day and came to school on Tylenol.
This was before I was diagnosed but I was so angry at her.
Thankfully I used to have a very good immune system do I didn't catch it. But others did.
Posted 8/18/2015 6:49 PM (GMT 0)
I completely get it, Worriedgirl. I'm the same way. I've told people that I'm on immune-suppressing medications and they just don't get it. They continue to tell me they're sick and then get close to me and breathe on me. Oh, and I'm sure you can relate to this, too, when people say things like, "Oh, I've had this for 2 days, I'm not contagious anymore!"
Posted 8/18/2015 6:59 PM (GMT 0)
Wow I think everyone needs to chill. Not everyone is interested in your problems - they have their own. It's up to us to deal with our problems. I've had chicken pox 3 times due to suppressed immune system ... Nobody gave it to me on purpose ... And in adulthood and with low immunity it can be fatal. But hey it wasn't ... Can't believe the fuss about a cold. Maybe I'm too forgiving ... But I think not! Live in a bubble or accept the risks of life in a community.
Posted 8/18/2015 7:04 PM (GMT 0)
I suppose when people are dealing with an often debilitating chronic disease, it's pretty normal they don't appreciated getting another sickness on top of it, even if it is just a cold...which can really bring some of us down hard especially compared to healthy people, so I think the concern is definitely warranted.

I also think that people that are sick with a cold or flu that don't care if others catch it from them are pretty selfish and self-absorbed mindless goof-balls.
Posted 8/18/2015 7:29 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with so many of you. In general, people need to be a bit more diligent about hygiene and staying home when you are truly sick. How hard is it to cover your cough?
Posted 8/18/2015 7:33 PM (GMT 0)

GloGirl504 said...
I completely get it, Worriedgirl. I'm the same way. I've told people that I'm on immune-suppressing medications and they just don't get it. They continue to tell me they're sick and then get close to me and breathe on me. Oh, and I'm sure you can relate to this, too, when people say things like, "Oh, I've had this for 2 days, I'm not contagious anymore!"

Love that line!! My dear father in law told me that he was no longer contagious with a bad, bad flu. Well, he hacked all over me and my food at brunch for over an hour. A few days later, I had his flu and was put on antibiotics. A few weeks later, the antibiotics had made my UC so bad that I was hospitalized. I should have spoke up.
Posted 8/18/2015 7:38 PM (GMT 0)
I'm on Remicade and 6Mp but I don't worry about getting sick from other people. I make sure I am very hygienic and wash my hands regularly, several times a day but end of the day there are always going to be thing which are outwith your control so there is no point getting upset over it. End of the day life must go on...
Posted 8/18/2015 8:12 PM (GMT 0)
The elderly and people with compromised immune systems and children are the most vulnerable and every year on my local news during flu season, this is brought up, while they report on the death toll from influenza for each season...people do actually die from catching someone else's flu, so for some it's a big deal, not to mention, who the hell wants to catch any flu?!?!?!?!

People that don't care just show their selfishness IMO.
Posted 8/18/2015 8:58 PM (GMT 0)
One thing I hate is when a cashier sneezes or coughs into their hand while they're serving me at the supermarket, then touches all of my food. I hate that!
Posted 8/19/2015 2:36 PM (GMT 0)

ElpisUnbreakable said...
I never ever get sick and I thought most UC people were like this? Isn't the whole reason why we have an autoimmune disease is because are immune systems are freakin crazy?

I was on Remicade for a year and steroids most of that time as well, and I never got a cough or cold the whole time.

As for people coming into work with a cold, has anyone considered that maybe they are worried about losing their jobs if they take too many days off sick?
Posted 8/19/2015 4:25 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, well it's one thing when some people don't get allowable sick days at work or they've used up all their sick days, they could at least be conscience about how to try to not to spread their germs all over the place and everyone else. When I get a cold I am very considerate about not passing it around to others and it would be nice if others did the same....that's the difference.
Posted 8/19/2015 4:31 PM (GMT 0)
My pet peeve is when people cough and don't do so in their elbow.
Like I know we learnt in nursery sharing is caring. But I'm pretty sure that doesn't apply to your cough or cold.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12