StokerPoker

TOILET PAPER...seriously. I don't know if anyone else has had any experience with what is being called "the flu" this year. it's actually NOROVIRUS and it can be very problematic. I work in a nursing home and it has spread like wildfire. Most of our residents have it and quite a few of the staff as well. The symptoms include violent diarrhea and vomiting and they can come on quite unexpectedly. It's funny that managment finally posted some articles from the Michigan Department of Community Health that state we need protective equipment that has not been provided to us. At about midnight I started having cramps and at 4:30am I started vomiting. shortly after the diarrhea started. My shift was supposed to end at 7am, but I knew I had to go home. I waited for the worst of the cramps to pass and started my commute. I was very afraid I wasn't going to make home, but thankfully I did. I'm sure I would have felt better if I could have stopped somewhere and let loose a time or two. So I think I'm going to add TP to my tool pouch just in case. if nothing else I can use it to blow my nose. Here are links to the articles that have been posted. If you have any of the symptoms I urge you to stay home and away from those you care about. You are contagious 3 days to 2 weeks AFTER you stop having symptoms and I've seen people with symptoms for up to 4 days. this is a serious illness for the young, old and immuno-suppressed, and very uncomfortable and painful for anyone else.

https://www.michigan.gov/documents/GEC_165404_7.pdf

https://www.michigan.gov/mdch/0,1607,...7573--,00.html

and these were not posted at my place of employment but I think they are informative:
https://www.michigan.gov/documents/dh...4_179961_7.pdf
https://www.michigan.gov/documents/dh...t_179953_7.pdf

muteseh

I had this and yeah, it is horrible. Symptoms lasted two days, but I was out of commission for three. I also lost seven pounds.

StokerPoker

not the most pleasant weightloss plan.... Glad you're ok now

StokerPoker

more links...and remember to avoid dehydration. drink lots of fluids even if they may end up coming out one end or the other

https://firstaid.webmd.com/gastroente...t_firstaid.htm
https://www.webmd.com/content/article/102/106515.htm

Psydotek

I carry toilet paper in my camelbak when i ride. Just 1/3 of a roll stashed in a ziploc bag. A full roll just takes up waaaay too much space.

I was sick the last week of December, felt like i wanted to throw up all afternoon at work so i left early. I tried to sleep but couldn't get more than an hour at a time and ended up taking the next two days off from work because the diarrhea kicked in the next morning... It's a terrible feeling knowing that you don't have to go to work while also knowing you're in no condition to go for a bike ride either...

DataJunkie

That is probably a good idea for me. I have a terrible stomach that causes me issues from time to time.
The last time was while riding a touring bike on compacted snow and ice. The stress caused my stomach severe issues. There is nothing quite like using a port-a-potty that had just been cleaned at 10F. ugh Cold arse!
I also easily overheat and that causes stomach issues. It is just plain odd that I have to strip down in 15F temps when I stop to catch the light rail and then put the clothing back on when I cool down.

StokerPoker

yeah a whole roll is too big, but it's good to have enough for an emergency. I've been sitting in bed for almost 5 hours now since I got home and I can't sleep but I know I shouldn't go near my bike. I did go back out to make sure I turned off all my lights though. I planned on making some room in the garage today and getting a couple of bikes ready for craigslist but that's going to have to wait...

DataJunkie

I wonder if they make travel sizes. I suppose baby wipes would work.

CliftonGK1

For carrying TP, take a trick from my ultradistance/ultralight backpacking experience:

Buy single ply and take it off the cardboard tube. Folding it instead of rolling it allows you to pack it flatter in your pannier/backpack/whatever. Keep it in a Ziploc to keep it dry.

Alternatively, and even lighter, buy 2-ply and separate the plys. Fold up each individually and double the amount that you get from a single roll, as well as cut weight because each layer of a 2-ply sheet is thinner than what you get for a single ply roll. (This is for serious weight weenies only.)

StokerPoker

actually, I think Charmin does

CrosseyedCrickt

yeah, I have several travel size TP rolls, about 1 inch in diameter
I cary them to clean up after fixing a flat or to blow my nose
plenty of places for me to top and "unload" on my way home so no need to cary it for any "other" purposes.

Chuck G

Get a travel size pack of flushable "adult wipes" or "moist wipes". Not to be gross but moist wipes or baby wipes clean up messy BM easier than TP (I have 3 kids). They are also good for general cleanup.

vrkelley

Toilet paper? Don't you have any pines handy? JK Hope all are feeling better.

chephy

Yeah, I think I might've had it just before the New Year's. It only lasted for a day, but oh my, what a day!

BTW, this is one advantage of bicycle commuting: if you feel like you suddenly need to go very much, you just pull off the road and look for a coffee shop with a public toilet (in a busy area) or some bushes (in a not-so-crowded area). Now imagine this happens to you on a bus or in a car which is stuck in a freeway jam.

mcoons

I wear Depends, just in case...

I had this a couple of years ago and it was miserable(luckily I was not bike commuting).

Lately, I've taken the hand washing to an extreme (humming Happy Birthday, and today I even saw where somebody sang it twice!), and the antibacterial handwash will be my constant companion when I visit the Big Apple next week...

I think it has gotten more prevalent in the last few years, but there only seems to be occasional articles except when a whole cruise ship gets sick.

There are also the travel facial tissues that would work well...some are even scented!

StokerPoker

well, unfortunatly I have to go back to work tonight. even if I show up we will be short of help. I have to bring at least one change of clothes and shoes because I cannot wear anything I wore at work home. this sounds exciting. they finally got masks for the employees, but they want us to take them off when we are finished providing care and put them back on. I'm pretty sure this is an infection control violation. We are also supposed to wear a gown while providing care, but there are 2 problems with this. in this case it should be a disposable gown, but all we have are the fabric gowns that hospital patients wear (oddly most came to us on residents coming from the hospital) and they want us to wear the same one while caring for each person. this makes absolutly no sense to me, and I'm sure it goes against infection control policies. If I follow the orders from administration I am violating the rights of my residents and my responsibilities as a CNA. but if I don't, I will be without a job and face other consequences. this puts me in a crappy (excuse the pun) position and I really don't like it.

BigDaddyPete

I'm pretty sure this explains what is happening at my house this weekend. Misery, especially for the 2 year old. But he started it. I am feeling a little unsure of riding to work tomorrow. I don't want to explode.

StokerPoker

thankfully my niece doesn't have it. she's a year and a half old. we've been careful around the house here but with 3 of us working in the same place and having it it's amazing she's ok.

robcycle

Stoker, your responsibility is to the residents, not the institution. If they are doing something that is unsafe and AGAINST THE LAW, perhaps you should bring it up in a matter-of-fact way. Something like "Isn't this a Health Code violation?" or "Boy, I bet OSHA would love this." They are accountable, and they know it. Knowing that someone might let the proper authorities know might help to speed things along. And as for wearing one gown for all residents, it sounds like they are trying to keep YOU from getting sick (too late), not acting in the resident's best interest. And thanks, being a CNA is largely a thankless job. You are way overworked, underpaid, and underappreciated. It takes a special person and, fankly, we could use a few more.

To everyone else, sorry for the OT rant. I'm with the tissue crowd. A small packet meant for a suit pocket will do the trick, and biodegrade, which I don't think babywipes will.

Thanks for your tolerance.

-Rob.

StokerPoker

well, it's more than an OSHA issue. as it is, the State knows about the "outbreak", but I'm sure they don't know about the lack of safety equipment. You are right that m responsibility is the residents. that's why I'm angry. the problem is we don't have the supplies to deal with this and managment doesn't seem to think it's an issue. at this point, I don't have a way to get enough protective gear even just for my shift from an outside source. Saying I'm going to call OSHA, the State, or anyone else will not do anything but put me on their sh*t list. It certainly wouldn't cause anything to be changed. I wouldn't be the first or the last to try this. I guess what I have to do is see what I have to deal with when I get there tonight and decide the best course of action. Saying I'm going to report something won't help I would actually have to do it.
and thank you Rob. You are right that it is a mostly thankless job. I'm lucky enough that some people appreciate what I do even if I am not directly helping them. I'm also lucky enough to have a few residents that do appreciate my help and can and will thank me. That makes all the difference. If I was doing this just for a paycheck I'd have quit long ago. In fact, I got close to saying I've had enough once and as I was walking down the hall to go outside for a minute someone yelled "hey!" I went in to the room and it was one of my most difficult residents at the time. then he said, "I love you!! You're my dad!!!" and I knew I was never going to give up. it didn't even matter that 5 minutes before he was yelling F-you in my face.
so anyway....
and you really weren't off topic...this thread really had 2 purposes and you hit on both of them

Robert C

I almost always pack a partial roll. In China there is no tp in most of the restrooms; not even the ones that charge for use.

As far as the Flu, I would say that this topis is somewhat timely. Yesterday I had the opportunity to tour a hospital In Wohan, China. It was a pretty good deal, everything included: ambulance, ER, EKG, chest x-ray, and recovery room came to less than 400 RMB (about $50 USD). Basicly, I was not feeling well and had to sit down, then some big chinese guy was carrying me, then I was in an ambulance (I was in a maze of alleys and motor vehicles were not able to get in).

The medical care was very good 1970's grade. After an hour in the ER they remembered to take my temperature, I was feeling better at that point, it was only a bit over 104f; however, I was still loosing it on both ends.

So, other than saying, "Me too." About all I can add is to remmeber to not over-exert when you are ill and the weather is real cold.

(sorry about the bad spelling, I am still recovering from a bout of the flu)

StokerPoker

Glad you're ok. though it is often called the Flu, it isn't. Influenza is strictly a virus of the respiratory system. the "stomach flu" is actually a misnomer, but a very common one that has become widely accepted. but anyway, that's just me being picky and nobody cares about that.
I'm glad there was someone who was able to get you to the ambulance and it is unfortunate that you were that sick. Yours may or may not have been the Norovirus. That's what is going around here. Most people don't actually get a fever that high. I have to ask if you have type O blood. it's been noted that people with type O blood usually end up with a much more severe infection with the Norovirus.

As far as your payment, I have to pay $75 US for the ER and that's with insurance, and sometimes I wonder if I really get better than 1970's care.

and the no TP in the bathrooms thing...is that why left handed people are outcasts and it is an insult to offer to shake hands with your left? I believe that's how it is in India.

straightedge

I have almost the exact same thing in my Camelbak. I unrolled a ton of it and folded it up and stuck it in the ziploc bag and sucked all the air out, it hardly takes up any room. I originally stuck it in there when we were going on a 80-mile round trip ride through the middle of nowhere. Luckily haven't had to use it, but I should probably replace it, it's been in there for a while

chephy

Actually... yes! Such notions are especially strong in places where there hasn't been much to wipe your bum with such as vegetation (think deserts... )