Ebola outbreak - general thread #4

[LinasK]

<modsnip>

I'm not Sonya610 but I think I know where she's coming from...maybe not but here's my take on her post that I can honestly relate to...

HIV back in the 80's was reported on as mostly something that homosexuals passed to one another, as well as intravenous drug users - the world media pushed this theory on us that weren't gay or drug addicts that we were sort of safe so to speak, not really much to worry about just don't have sex with somebody that "could" be infected. As it turned out they were all wrong. Bad blood supplies, many individuals having unprotected sex, drugs, cleaning an infected person, etc. So some of us, myself included, didn't take it as serious as we should have.

H1N1 - Never took this serious at all bc media reported it as being related to birds and I don't go near birds at all, not even if one flies into my car window, grill or tire. However, in some areas of the US (as well as the world) H1N1 was a problem. Media hyped it in certain areas and downplayed it in others.

SARS - I never once took this seriously as I thought it was contained to Asia. Again, media reporting.

Ebola - Well, this I do take serious completely bc it's one of the most infectious diseases out there with no known cure and a high fatality rate. However, the difference here is that I learned about Ebola years ago when in college. HIV, SARS, H1N1 were diseases/viruses that only made the news when they were first discovered. Actually, HIV was discovered many many MANY years ago but was only given some kind of name in the 80's when the CDC & WHO put a label on it. Ebola some of us may take as something more serious bc we know more about it, even if we're only a tiny bit educated on it.

I agree with Sonya and think people should take this very seriously. I also would like to add that the media better get their $h!+ together and start reporting logically. They need to knock it off misleading people into thinking they're safe if they're in the same room with someone that has Ebola. If a person is within 5-6 feet of a person infected with Ebola and they're skin isn't protected, and the Ebola infected person sneezes - well... Sweat, blood, etc. Public restrooms are out of the question for me unless I have a pack of Clorox wipes with me, restrooms freak me out anyway. Ebola can survive on clothes, bed linens, etc. Ebola can absolutely survive on railings for a very short period but never the less can survive.

Excellent post!!!:clap::clap::clap::goodpost:

 

[chipmunk]

Thanks. What a good idea.

Re Organ failure/supportive care. When I had food poisoning I was unable to drink much water at all. IV fluids 8 days + 2 bags sodium bicarb for acidosis. Yes, did reverse ATF/ATN (acute renal failure). Not typical ARF had hemolytic crisis from rare hem condition on top of it.

 

[fabvab]

I worked in health care for 17 years. IMO insurance totally dictates treatment. If you had an actor memorize a script with symtomology , history,,and went through an assessment you would be two totally different people. If Act 1 had awesome insurance and ACT 2 had the worst - the differences would astound those who are lucky enough to live where healthcare is delevired in a differnt matter.

In the situation above (same person doing the assessment) the diagnois would probably be differetn as (justify lack of treatment on paper) .

Check out the salaries of the CEO of our health insurance folks:

led CEO pay.

Its criminal-- imagine how much care could be given wiht the roughly 70 million of the top 9 guys ---thats a lot of help going to 9 people

http://www.healthcare-now.org/health-insurance-ceo-pay-skyrockets-in-2013

I don't disagree with you on this at all. But...I took my mom to the emergency room about 6 weeks ago. The intake clerk only wanted her drivers license and wouldn't let her even talk about insurance. They then came in and took her insurance info AFTER the doctor had treated her.

The person taking insurance info upon walking into my mom's room, immediately stated, "I can only talk to you after you have been treated by the doctor". This was in Oklahoma.

My husband works in a hospital and thought this might be a new rule under Obama care.

 

[CARIIS]

That is the media one more time! HIv is dramtically on the rise and has been for some time as of 2013 :

HIV cases rise at fastest rate in 20 years

Dramatic increase among young men and Indigenous people as health experts fear vigilance message no longer getting through

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/oct/20/hiv-message-not-getting-through


Why HIV, syphilis, and gonorrhea are rising among homosexuals



https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/why-hiv-syphilis-and-gonorrhea-are-rising-among-homosexuals

More recently and remarkably, the primary face of AIDS is a woman from the global south&#8212;

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2820057/

Or maybe just sensible?

HIV has been dramatically reduced in the Western world; H1N1 was never a problem, SARS was never a problem.

Plus I am familiar with the term electrolytes and recognize the importance of proper hydration.

 

[SweetT]

There is a wonderful anti-nausea/vomiting drug called Zofran! Often given to chemotherapy patients.

Oh yea thanks! Forgot about that one.. And btw he went home last night.. He's with the angels today.

 

[chipmunk]

Go to a cycling shops and buy it in pill form. My husband is a cyclist and buys tablets like In this link to prevent dehydration during bike rides in summer heat. Our cycling shop had them in small individuals packages on the counter for a dime each pack.

http://gearjunkie.com/electrolyte-tablets-nuun-zym-camelbak-elixir

I'm glad if the pill, likely a combo of minerals, helps prevent electrolyte depletion in your husband. But a pill can not stop dehydration.
Only fluids can prevent dehydration. So I understand you meant electrolyte depletion.

 

[Sonya610]

More recently and remarkably, the primary face of AIDS is a woman from the global south—

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2820057/

Since you quoted my post I feel the need to respond.

The mods have specifically asked us NOT to bring race into the discussion.

As such I cannot comment on the unusually high HIV statistics among the female population in the south. I will only say it is linked to ethnicity and cultural customs.

 

[SStarr33]

Oh, I had known that, about there only being supportive treatment, I just wasn't making the connection that the powder would be used for the supportive treatment even though it really should have been obvious...

I guess my mind has been on prevention mode, thinking what one would buy to keep from getting the ebola, that I hadn't even thought of what one should have in case they actually got ebola!

The other thing is you can make your own. I have just started researching this and it seems very simple. Water, salt, something to supply potassium (I have seen both salt substitute and baking soda recommended), sugar and a flavoring.

I'm going to keep looking into it since it is way cheaper and the ingredients are so easy to get.

 

[Jersey*Girl]

I used to have a farm, so I have lots of pump sprayers and all types of gear that will help if the you know what hits the fan. I am jealous of your respirator and have not pulled the trigger yet at Amazon. I did, however, order some re-hydration powder.

I would like to request a photo of you suited up when you get all your gear:biggrin:

Curiosity got me.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedialyte

Pedialyte is similar to rehydration fluids used by the World Health Organization (WHO) such as "New Oral Rehydration Solution"

http://theboatgalley.com/rehydration-powder/

I have looked and looked for rehydration powder in the pharmacies here in the US and never found it. In Mexico, Central America, South America and Africa you can find the packets in every pharmacy . . . and lots of other places as well. Why not in the US?

And there — in the infants department but not in the pharmacy — was Pedialyte powder — in 4- and 8-packs.

Dehydration due to vomiting, diarrhea, etc.. is a huge factor in Ebola deaths. The organs shut down in half the cases WITHOUT noticeable bleeding.

Electrolytes added to water are very important when treating dehydration.

Bags of sub-q fluids are ideal but most folks don't have those on hand, and they do expire.

Thanks!

I had googled it, but I didn't get what its use is for in this case.

But now that you posted the above, I'm thinking maybe for supportive treatment if you do get ebola?

Pedialyte is not some mysterious cure for Ebola, nor is it hard to find. It's a substance designed specifically to rehydrate infants. It may or not work for adults, but it's certainly not a cure for Ebola. Because of my chronic illnesses, I have constant problems with dehydration.

I can drink a gallon of water per day and my chronic dehydration isn't helped at all. I'm not sure why some people think that rehydration is a cure for Ebola?

No one said it was a cure. Re-hydration powder was brought up, it is not available in the usa, the pedialyte powder is available in the usa but is not easy to find according to the link I posted. Yes Pedialyte is available and in lots of places too. jmo idk

That's NOT what I said. I said that I drink up to a gallon of water a day and still stay dehydrated. I'm miserable and can't drink more than a gallon of water a day. Add into that the half gallon of juice and milk I drink every day. Eventually, I'll most likely die from my chronic dehydration and the resulting organ failure. What I was trying to convey is that dehydration alone is not the cause for Ebola. Nor is rehydrating the cure.

My lips are dry, cracked, and bleeding. I can barely get from one room to another because of the dizziness caused by chronic dehydration. But my chronic health problems are not communicable diseases like Ebola and I'm not endangering anyone else.

Yes - she did home IV treatment. Amazing woman.

I think IV fluids will obviously be the best way of replenishing and avoiding dehydration, but in the absence of IV, if families are now supposed to try and nurse their relatives at home (isn't that what they are now saying in Sierra Leone?), I expect oral rehydration salts will be the next best thing. Although it won't really help in patients who have severe vomiting.

Wow, thank you for that tidbit. The stuff on ebay is more than I can spend right now, but I wouldn't mind picking up a few of those packs.

Sorry for all the quotes but trying to keep it all in context. Electrolyte rehydration can be self made. My favorite is a bottle of water, 2 tsp sugar, 1/2 tsp salt, lemon wedge jammed in and orange slice jammed in. If my potassium still seems low, I eat 1/2 a banana. I exercise & have done this for years. It works for hangovers too with naproxen sodium lol.

Also, pedialyte packets are sold in grocery stores, just double the water & packets for adults. GNC sells similar stuff, they just label it different. Look for recovery hydration products, they're in tablet, powder, liquid & gel forms. There's an awesome gel pack on the market right now that tastes awful but works great for runners & long distance cyclers, forget the name but its high in potassium & replenishes your system in like 5 minutes. Of course, none of this would work intravenously, it's all oral.

DeeDeah, very sorry for your illness. Have you tried coconut water? You can mix it with ice, add a banana, rice powder, a tsp or 2 of peanut butter powder, then a small pkg of mango in a blender - it's amazing and very packed with protein that still good even for patients with diverticulitis or similar diseases. It's like a treat believe it or not.

 

[SStarr33]

Oh, I had known that, about there only being supportive treatment, I just wasn't making the connection that the powder would be used for the supportive treatment even though it really should have been obvious...

I guess my mind has been on prevention mode, thinking what one would buy to keep from getting the ebola, that I hadn't even thought of what one should have in case they actually got ebola!

We do need to think about prevention mode--I'm glad you mentioned it because I have been meaning to bring it up. We all need to get our immune systems in the best shape possible.

 

[SStarr33]

Sorry for all the quotes but trying to keep it all in context. Electrolyte rehydration can be self made. My favorite is a bottle of water, 2 tsp sugar, 1/2 tsp salt, lemon wedge jammed in and orange slice jammed in. If my potassium still seems low, I eat 1/2 a banana. I exercise & have done this for years. It works for hangovers too with naproxen sodium lol.

Also, pedialyte packets are sold in grocery stores, just double the water & packets for adults. GNC sells similar stuff, they just label it different. Look for recovery hydration products, they're in tablet, powder, liquid & gel forms. There's an awesome gel pack on the market right now that tastes awful but works great for runners & long distance cyclers, forget the name but its high in potassium & replenishes your system in like 5 minutes. Of course, none of this would work intravenously, it's all oral.

DeeDeah, very sorry for your illness. Have you tried coconut water? You can mix it with ice, add a banana, rice powder, a tsp or 2 of peanut butter powder, then a small pkg of mango in a blender - it's amazing and very packed with protein that still good even for patients with diverticulitis or similar diseases. It's like a treat believe it or not.

LOL, JG, look at my post above yours. We are on the same page--thanks for the recipe.

 

[Jersey*Girl]

The other thing is you can make your own. I have just started researching this and it seems very simple. Water, salt, something to supply potassium (I have seen both salt substitute and baking soda recommended), sugar and a flavoring.

I'm going to keep looking into it since it is way cheaper and the ingredients are so easy to get.

I must have been typing while you were posting. Jinx!

 

[CARIIS]

I am confident we have , here, a organized individual. Count me out!


Does anyone (cant count on a news person anymore) have a notion of really where this is outside of Africa?


I am sorry, but I cant keep track of &#8220; might&#8221;, planes &#8220;quarantined&#8221;, 45 :monitored&#8221;, 5 &#8220;possible &#8220;not &#8220;confirmed&#8221; , 3 &#8220;suspected&#8221;, 6 are&#8221; not&#8221; positive, 12 are &#8220; awaiting&#8221;,4 need &#8220;confirmation&#8221; on the confirmation of the confirmation on the tentative test related to the preliminary non conclusive test of the test. Ambulances in isolation but not quarantine(!)


or...those that are in isolation but not real isolation as it relates to monitoring of which 12 of those are motored but not quarantined, but under house arrest, but not really sick , but might and could in 12 days, or 8 days but minus 4 days because nooon knows when onset happened as it relates to the 21 days period which may or may not be correct cause who knows it could be 19 days or 24, or in a hospital, or on a couch,in a mattress, a school playground, from here or there, or went there but did not go there but might have been through there.


HELP!


Whew!


A sentence like:


Outside of Africa we have *advertiser censored* number of lab confirmed positives.

Ha that lady up there shaking her finger at me (the ad) reminds me of a really rotten teacher I had, Stirring feelings!!!!

 

[Sonya610]

While hydration and such may be a great thing...

The best plan is do NOT get infected! Surviving once infected is at best a 50/50 chance, and that depends on the strain.

 

[jjenny]

Ebola patient in Nebraska shows modest improvement.

http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2014/10/11/3351141/ebola-patient-shows-modest-improvement.html

 

[CARIIS]

UK should expect a 'handful' of Ebola cases in the coming months, England's chief medical officer says - @BBCNews
Brazil's health ministry says 47-year-old man under observation for a possible case of Ebola after travel to Guinea has tested negative for the disease - @Reuters



NYPD spokesman says doctors have ruled out Ebola in Brooklyn, NY, teen hospitalized after traveling to Sudan - @NYDailyNews

Ebola outbreak: Teresa Romero conscious, sitting up on her own


3 more people quarantined in Madrid, bringing total to 16

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ebola-outbreak-teresa-romero-conscious-sitting-up-on-her-own-1.2796268

T E R R I F I C

[h=1]Ebola outbreak puts Washington U research on hold[/h]Several Washington University doctors working in parts of West Africa where the deadly Ebola virus is raging have abandoned their research.

Read more here: http://www.bnd.com/2014/10/11/34498...ngton.html?sp=/99/673/150/&rh=1#storylink=cpy
​

More are gonna start doing this is media does not get there stuff accurate

[h=1]Britain feels ready after Ebola outbreak test[/h]Britain is ready to cope with an Ebola outbreak, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt declared Saturday, following a nationwide exercise to test the country's readiness. [h=1][/h]

The eight-hour exercise featured actors pretending to have Ebola plus doctors, nurses and the ambulance service treating them around the country.
It was followed by a simulated meeting of the government's emergency committee COBRA, chaired by Hunt.

 

[fabvab]

I'm glad if the pill, likely a combo of minerals, helps prevent electrolyte depletion in your husband. But a pill can not stop dehydration.
Only fluids can prevent dehydration. So I understand you meant electrolyte depletion.

Yes, you are correct.

 

[LinasK]

Oh yea thanks! Forgot about that one.. And btw he went home last night.. He's with the angels today.

I'm sorry!:grouphug:

 

[jjenny]

Not sure if you posted this yet… Ebola scare in Brooklyn was a false alarm.

I wonder what he actually has. Sounds serious.

 

[Brightbird]

There is a wonderful anti-nausea/vomiting drug called Zofran! Often given to chemotherapy patients.

Although I guess if you have Ebola, vomiting is the body's way of rejecting the virus. Keeping it down might be counter-productive.