Re: To mask or not to mask?

[Guest guest]

MB

Been masking, will continue to mask. Will not deceive myself to believe

that its perfect protection. Ok, thats my simple situation and choice.

I did discover that the masks I have been purchasing are N95 masks. I

have been using them once only. The main place I use them is anytime I

go to the doctor's building that houses lots of Primary Physicians. For

instance, I will go to my nephrologist on the 8th floor on Monday and

ride the elevator. I will be masked. I also rush to the back of the

elevator so no one faces me on the ride. I do not talk on the elevator

to anyone.

I am very conscious not to take my hands to my face and wash them

immediately upon reaching the 8th floor and immediately upon leaving the

building I wipe them and then wash them at the first convenience store.

As to the masks being hot and everything else said, they absolutely are.

Wearing glasses, they cause my glasses to fog up too.

I realize that I'm exposed to germs everywhere I go in life. However,

doctor's offices and pharmacies are the two places of most extreme

exposure. I use the drive-up window at the pharmacy and wear gloves.

If swine flu continues to grow here locally, I will do more to avoid

public places and I will wear masks and gloves in more situations. I

would not go to a concert in Dallas at this time. 15,000-20,000 people

is just a bit too much risk, with many sitting behind you and coughing.

We do have more schools closing in this area. The extent of travel

between here and Mexico makes DFW an area of greater risk. We also have

some commercial buildings identified and extra precautions taken.

Still, for the day, I feel relatively safe, as long as their is no

" feline " flu as most of today will just be with Marli and Mandi.

>

> Here is a link to a story on MSNBC about using masks to protect

ourselves against infection in general and this latest flu outbreak

specifically.

> http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30464365/from/RSS/

> Bottom line for me is I will order some N95 masks for myself just to

have them when/if the time comes that I need them. In the meantime I

will concentrate on handwashing, and staying out of situations where I'm

in a close confined area with large groups.

> I hate this folks, don't we have enough to worry about already?

>

> Beth

> Moderator

> Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08

>