Ocrevis Question

[ArmyBrat]

So I'm about 4 weeks past the second half of my first Ocrevis infusion. It's cold and flu season and I have nieces I see ALL the time who are in elementary school and/or day care. Let's just say they are walking petrie dishes. I don't want to limit contact with them or keep them at arms length (the 2 year old will particularly not understand). How have you all been coping with cold and flu season? Is it even an issue? I did get my flu shot a month before the infusions started, but those are never a guarantee...

[Linda3579]

That's the same thing I struggle with. I have had two bad colds since I started ocrevus and one lasted a month. I spend lots of fun time with my grandchildren. It is really hard to keep my distance from them. I wish I had an answer for you. Having a compromised immune system is the down side of Ocrevus. I am starting to notice some good improvements in my walking so it seems like it's well worth the risks. Wishing good luck and happy Holidays.

Linda

[Jesmcd2 CommunityAmbassador]

Hi ArmyBrat nice to meet you 😊 I'm not on Ocrevus. But I hadn't had my flu shot yet, so I am being hyper sensitive to germs!😄 All I can think to say is Lysol, and hand washing as soon as they come to see you?💕

I'm sure others have better ideas! 😊

Jes 🌠🎄

[SometimesCrazy in reply to Jesmcd2]

I think that right now is the time to focus entirely on you. This is the drug we have waited for. Just the fact that you have to worry about this makes me worry for you. There is nothing wrong with taking a little time out for just you. That two year old won't even remember the time apart. None of the children will. xxoo

[TheTamster]

Call me crazy, but I think there are things kids will easily adjust to that adults are harder to train for. First, congrats on getting your flu shot, especially because a lot ofadults I know don't get them. And adults are likely to come into contact with you too, even when they are at that especially contagious stage just before the bug fully catches them.

Second, insist that the kids cough into their elbows. Kids usually are pretty good at that now-a-days, but they may need to be reminded. I still see a lot of adults who need to learn to cough into the elbow, not the hand.

Third, as for handwashing...it isn't always that easy to get up and wash with soap and water a lot. But if you can keep a handy hand-sanitizer --something in a cute bottle that people are attracted to (there are multitudes of these things around) -- you can do a few things that will help you and everyone around you. Cautionary note here though -- make sure that it isn't available for the little ones to ingest. But you can.....

.....make putting on hand sanitizer a fun thing to do...

.....explain to grown-ups that you are doing this because you want to get maximum time with the kids -- so they see it as a way of you being able to show love in a safe way instead of as a way to keep the kids at arms' length...

.....make it a learning opportunity for the kids, who are in school with those germs a lot and need learn to minimize contact with the germs on their desks, buddies' hands, doorknobs, pencils, crayons, etc..

...give the kids their own little hand sanitizer (for the ones who are old enough). My daughter got a present one year of a cute little hand sanitizer she can stick on her backpack and that has just a wee touch of shine/glitter that makes her love putting it on.

Fourth, keep a box of tissues handy -- but also keep a trash near it that doesn't have a lid to open and close. Everyone needs to learn that dirty tissues go into the trash -- not into pockets or purses. It's easier to do when there are plenty more tissues available. And put hand sanitizer right there, next to the tissues.

Fifth, make sure you clean your own hands after you use the remote control, computer, laptop, video games, etc.

Sixth, you can always have a kids' book, like "Germs Make Me Sick" handy to help answer questions kids have, and it's educational, to boot!

I am sure that there are more ways, but this is what I can think of. I hope you and your family all have a happy and healthy holiday!

[Jesmcd2 CommunityAmbassador in reply to TheTamster]

Hi TheTamster awesome advice!💕 You have kids?

Jes 🌠🎄

[ArmyBrat in reply to TheTamster]

Awesome advice! Thank you. As I’m reading it, it was all common sense stuff that I probably should have thought of, which of course never happens in the moment, only way after the fact. Happy Holidays to you and yours!