Hospital, Visiting Patient having surgery

@blm1007blm1007 Barbara - Aside from masking, I don't see any need for other precautions unless the person is immunocompramised. Then all visitors should be screened, masked and gowned.
Unless the patient is infectious there is little risk to you, so gowns and gloves are not needed.
I spent a lot of time last winter with a friend undergoing aggressive chemo. We were simply asked to mask and sray away at any hint of illness.
What is your concern?

Handwashing is the number one way to prevent and help stop the spread of infection.

Anytime you go into a hospital you are more likely to pick up things such as viruses etc. I would wear a mask and wash hands often and be mindful not to touch your face unless you have just washed your hands. And keep a distance from people as best you can. My husband has not had a virus for over a decade but came down with a bad cold after coming with me for my infusion treatments at our local hospital. Somehow miraculously I did not get the cold!

@sueinmn @irenea8 @cwal I want to try to avoid the Flu, RSV, Covid, Virus, Cold etc. etc. or anything to add to what is already there, the BE and routine and all that goes along with it, and then having to "cure" another illness. Other than Covid Feb. 2024 I haven't had any of the others recently or in years. I am fortunate overall.

Truth be, I must wash my hands fifty times a day but in thinking of all to do with visiting in a hospital the hand washing didn't flash in my mind........ but it would have once I arrived to the front door of the hospital. Probably because I thought of glove wearing.

I appreciate hearing all and will keep all in mind.
Barbara

@blm1007blm1007 Handwashing & hand sanitizer are both better than gloves. That's why it is the first line of defense for medical personnel. Gloves are reserved for when they will be exposed to blood and other body fluids or in a sterile setting.

@blm1007blm1007 As others have pointed out, to me, it’s not so much the person you are going see (unless as Sue points out they are infectious) but the whole environment, door to door, as they say. Whenever I go to the doctors office or hospital, I mask religiously. I do not shake doctors’ hands (why they handshake in the first place is beyond me). I try to touch as little as possible. I wash my hands the minute I leave the appointment and then use hand sanitizer the moment I get to my car. I always wear clothing to appointments that I can machine wash in hot water, and machine dry. I change as soon as I get home and wash immediately. Unfortunately, since starting treatment, I am frequently at the hospital/medical offices, often multiple times a week, and so I am very cautious. I made it through the winter with no illness (other than this pesky NTM infection) and I attribute that to strong prevention practices. Good luck!

bayarea58 @sueinmn Thank you....The gown thought was about keeping things off of my clothes but would be best to, no matter gown or not, change and wash the clothing items.

Yes, I mask when seeing the doctors and ask in many medical circumstances for them to mask if I have to take my mask of for examination. So far none have had a problem with my request. Most of the time when I can I try to be sure to distance myself from them, As I have said to many 'we just don't know what may be brewing inside and going to come out in a day or so" and therefore the need to protect myself when with others who think "Oh I'm O.K. ,, I feel fine." They may be fine but I like to error on the side of caution. It is really important to verbalize this to the younger tech's...they wouldn't get it unless you, so to speak, hit them over the head. 🤔

I do keep the sanitizer and wipes in the car. I also started keeping rinse water in a bottle and paper napkins to do a final cleanse/rinse. Sanitizer is hard on my "Elder Roots" skin. Oh well!!!

In my mind the gloves were to remind me not to touch my face and thinking to protect myself....however....I get it, gloves are more for those possibly being "exposed to blood and other body fluids or in a sterile setting". I'll just have to know what I am going to be possibly exposed to.!

It is such a feat to make it for long periods of time and not come down with another temporary or permanent health problem..

May we all have many more seasons without something new.
Yes, strong prevention practices and a strong respect and appreciation for what this remarkable machine called a body is.
Barbara

@blm1007blm1007 Barbara- My approach to living is to live life fully, sensibly and without fear of every possible negative outcome. It leaves me just enough time for a good diet, some exerc, and reasonable precautions. This has served me well for more than 70 years, and MAC and Bronchiectasis are just a couple more bumps in the road of life. Frankly, going to my grandsons' school is probably riskier than visiting my friend in the hospital, but I don't skip either one. On the other hand we do decline close contact indoor gatherings when it is flu season (except church)

@sueinmn
I know that in my case I have to be more careful than that. I cannot "live life fully" in terms of taking chances or going places etc. Those days are gone and I have to accept that. Hopefully most people can instinctually or intuitively feel what level of caution is reasonable for them. Everyone is at a different age also which greatly factors in. And everyone is different in terms of immune response. That being said living in fear is not the right approach either.

@irenea8| @sueinmn I agree with you both overall. But we all have different factors working for us and against us.
For each of us living life fully can be different for each of us, for all of us.
True, we shouldn't live in fear, we should take precautions, and we must find a balance for all of it. It takes time to find that balance and for me I am slowly trying to find it.
Fortunately for myself I reached 83 and am able to adjust to how the last few years have unfolded even with this huge change due to the BE. I say huge change because of all one needs to now take into account and think about in consideration of ones requirements for oneself. Some cannot go without nebulizing daily and others can do without such a daily routine due to "we are all different." The NJH doctor said to me: "I's sorry to say your illness requires the most time and work." Again, that can be different for different people.
Each of us experiences BE and infections differently and some find it easier to manage than others. One of the things that also plays a role in the big picture is the job of being able to find a good doctor that is up to the task of knowing the what, how and when for what patients need in their journey with BE and the infections.
Some are unable to come to peace with it and some can. Again, for various reasons we are all different and how life unfolded for us plays a role in that.
So glad we are able to communicate and give our thoughts to each other to help us along the way.
May we all have an easy day of it.
Barbara