posted
Have the roomate wash his hands and you too!
Often.
Posts: 819 | From East Coast | Registered: Apr 2009
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- What preventative measures can you take?
Feel the Love. As there are many kinds in the world, when we feel love for any other human, our immune system works better.
But, we have to FEEL the love and not just help out all huffy about it. Studies have shown that it makes a difference.
Offer you love and support, try to nourish him with good foods and that will create the very best environment for you both.
What can you do to make his life better at this time. You'll feel better helping him out just for the sheer humanity of that. And, if you should need his support at a time in the future, hopefully, he will be as nurturing then to you as you will be to him now.
Sure, it's a good thing to say, "well, guess we'd better be sure we have all the basic hygiene rules covered, eh?' And hand washing - paper towels - are important at this time (sorry, trees). Or separate hand towels, totally.
If you share a bathroom, keep your toothbrushes in a drawer and insist on closing the toilet lid before flushing. I have a note taped to my handle for guests to see "CLOSE LID; then FLUSH."
Don't make it about him but about the two of you as a team of smart guys being sure all the bases are covered. If you can, add humor. Laughing is always good.
Bring in funny DVDs, make his favorite foods if that fits your diet - or adapt so that there are healthy choices. If you can do some of this, offer to call his friends or family to have others come over to help. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
Vitamin C probably wouldn't hurt. Lemon water and honey is always good, too. Maybe even with some apple cider vinegar.
Keeb has good advice, as usual.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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canefan17
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 22149
posted
Good stuff.
I'll rent a funny movie for us to watch lol
He'll get a kick out of the fact that I got the advice online from you guys : )
I'm gonna make sure he cover his dang mouth when he coughs or sneezes.
He's one of those people who doesn't cover their mouth and then when you ask them to... says, "I'm not contagious." lol
Am I the only one who thinks it's funny when someone gets sick... goes to the doctor... and then says to you, "don't worry.. I'm not contagious."
Posts: 5394 | From Houston, Tx | Registered: Aug 2009
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-------------------- You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have. Posts: 807 | From South Dakota | Registered: Jul 2005
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
I would go stay with another friend or family member for a couple days. I'm serious. GI viruses are highly contagious and not fun.
If you can't stay somewhere else, keep your distance from him. Use a separate bathroom if possible. Ask that he washes his hands frequently. Wipe down common surfaces (kitchen counters, faucet handles, door knobs, refrigerator door handle, etc... with chlorox wipes daily.
Stay well hydrated. This will help if you get sick too (which hopefully you will not).
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
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Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Have you ever watched the CBS sitcom "The Big Bang Theory"?
It's a wonderful, quirky comedy and it has something you could use: Roommate agreement.
In humor, if you've not yet seen this show, rent the first season on DVD. See how Sheldon (head geek #1) has a roommate pact that is often referenced.
You could tell your roommate, "well, you may not be contagious, but I'd do better with some basic agreements for our continued chance on this planet."
Sit down with one or two web lists from a basic health site and go over them together and see what will work for your domicile.
If you share kitchen duties, you could find a food hygiene guideline. As I have to hire some domestic help, this is a frequent problem. NO ONE, it seems cares about dropping something on the floor and putting it back into my food source.
So, having the Food Safety guidelines to go over takes the heat off of me as they see me as overly worried about germs after they've just come from pet care and don't wash their hands before dipping into the jar of almonds on the counter top. Argh !
The response when I remind them that what they are doing could contribute to Salmonella is that they never have any problems or they never get sick.
If you sit down together with 3rd party guidelines, it also take the heat off of the other person. This is just an objective project from which both parties can learn and benefit.
I don't keep my countertops spiffy but I also never eat food that has dropped onto them without first rinsing. As long as you keep your hands out of your mouth and know where your food has been, that helps.
posted
No you are not the only one who thinks it's funny when someone says they're not contagious. I always wonder how they can know that for sure.
I agree with everyone's suggestions. And yes if at all possible like Sammy suggested, go stay with someone else for a few days. GI bugs are nasty and very contagious.
If that isn't an option for you, a couple of things: when it comes to food prep, I wouldn't let him do it (assuming you're up to it). I would also be using paper towels instead of a common hand towel in the bathroom. And I'd also tell him to cough into the crook of his elbow. And load up on clorox for cleaning and purell for hand sanitizing. And absolutely take your vit c and d.
Keebler I had no idea about this organization. Thanks for the info. I will check it out. You really ought to write a book. Your knowledge about so many things is amazing and so helpful.
And yeah the way people handle food grosses me out. I've gone to the supermarket deli for turkey, cheese, etc. Two people on different days were sweeping the floor with their gloves on and when I got on line asked me what I needed! What I needed was for them to remove their gloves, wash their hands and put new gloves on! And that's what I told them. One response was "uh, ok" and the other was "well I didn't touch the floor" He received a mini-lecture from me. I like this place but now only will try to go earlier in the day when one particular lady is on duty.
Recently I went to lunch for a special occasion at a take out chain restaurant and ordered a sandwich. The young guy making the sandwiches was doing a very good job and was being sanitary. But that wasn't good enough. An older lady holding the underside of a box with gloves got annoyed that he wasn't working fast enough. She threw the box down and using the same gloves that touched the bottom of the box started assembling my sandwich with a drama-queen attitude. I watched her do this and then walked to the cashier and asked for my money back. Turns out this older lady was the manager(!) and the cashier had to get her approval to give me my money back. The drama-queen manager of course asked me what was wrong. I told her. She pointed out that she didn't touch the floor!! (is this a standard response?) My reply was that she might not have touched the floor but that box sure as heck did and whatever was on the bottom of that box was on the gloves that assembled my sandwich. I got my money back and haven't been back since.
Years ago we used to go to a restaurant that was close by and reasonable. One time I was seated facing the kitchen (not a good seat for me lol). I saw how they made the salads. Every waiter/waitress just dived in with their hands and picked lettuce from a big container. No tongs, no gloves. We stayed away for a very long time. We went there again a few months back and I asked the waitress if they now use gloves or tongs when preparing the salad. She told me they didn't. So we won't be going back there any time soon.
A bagel place that I go to very rarely (reduced carb diet) is super clean. They change gloves with each order and especially after handling money. So some establishments really do get it.
The whole pet thing and then touching food...that just doesn't fly with me either. We have pets but I purell myself after touching them, and especially before preparing food. Picking up food from the floor and putting it back on the plate is just gross and unnecessary.
I'm not "spiffy" either. In fact you'd think a tornado came through my house. But I am very particular about food and keeping the kitchen and bathroom clean and sanitized.
I am very surprised by the lack of knowledge of food-borne illness in the restaurant industry. We have had burgers arrive rare when we asked for well-done. I have been served under-cooked chicken more than once (eew). I have had dirty utensils and drinking glasses.
I make most meals at home. But maybe I should just not go out to eat at all or better yet open a restaurant of my own (wish I had the energy, resources and $$)
Sorry to veer off-topic. Best of luck canefan with your roommate and the whole situation.
-------------------- You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.'
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