Posted by JimAZ on 12/22/10 6:05pm
Msg #365796

Sick borrowers - how would you handle it?

I arrived at signing last Saturday and both borrowers had raging head colds. Snezzing all over the place with separate tissue boxes. I have all the flu and Pnemonia shots and use hand sanitizer in my car after all sigings. I completed a very uncomfortable signing.

Now I have the same raging nasal congestion and have turned down five local jobs this week as a result. Doesn't seem fair,,,do one job and lose five,,,but what's fair in this business.

Just interested in any input from the more seasoned folks on this forum on this winter sick season issue. I will appreciate any of your experience's input, but will ignore criticism and "forum bullies".

Bye way I let them keep the signing pens I provided.

Reply by James Dawson on 12/22/10 6:37pm
Msg #365798

Wow....that's a hard one. I probably would have done what you did but now that I know what your end result was, I'd probably asked them if they were at the "contagious stage" and if they didn't know I would ask to reschedule. No one has an obligation to endanger themselves no matter want. I went into a filthy house once and I asked to meet somewhere else.

Reply by Raimond on 12/22/10 7:01pm
Msg #365802

I don't think the LO would accept a re-schedule for this.
I keep one of those medical masks in my briefcase, never had to use though.
You could have also taken a dose of that "Airborne" medication when you got home...

Reply by JimAZ on 12/22/10 7:09pm
Msg #365805

Thanks Raimond. I did everything to prevent except the Airborne medication. Silly thing is it's in my medicine cabinet. I will remember that next time.

Reply by JimAZ on 12/22/10 7:01pm
Msg #365803

Thanks for your input James. I was more concerned about the date sensitive documents and getting them signed. Afterall, I had my "Superman" outfit on and shouldn't be infected LOL. Guess I was wrong,,,sniffle, sniffle,sniffle. I'm not sure I would do anything different the next time either. Gotta get the current job done and not worry about future jobs if there are any.

Reply by aanotary on 12/22/10 7:37pm
Msg #365807

I had a dandy last night. The young son did not feel good. Every time he whined or made a move the parents jumped up and left the table. Then for a bold finale he vomited in the kitchen about 2 feet from me-! Yikes. Signing took 2 hours - I asked the parents if they wanted to postpone for a later date. Gigantic stack of papers. ( they wanted to continue with the signing) I ran out of there and washed my hands in sanitizer- wanted to drink the stuff.

Reply by JimAZ on 12/22/10 8:13pm
Msg #365820

Thanks aanotary,,, I don't feel so badly. Vomit would have been followed by me doing the same. Then signing would need to be rescheduled no matter what. My situation seems tame compared to yours and thank god for sanitizer.

Reply by LisaWI on 12/22/10 7:01pm
Msg #365804

Re: Home Remedies

I love Airborn. I believe it works. My kids pick up colds occasionally from school and bring them home. (I know, arent they sweet ) I take an Airborn, maybe a couple of doses, and it seems to work.
Also get yourself some grapefruit seed extract from your local coop or store that sells organic products. A couple drops in some juice a few times a day will help your respitory system and is a natural antibiotic. I swear by it. It has to be the "seed" extract though, not just grapefruit extract.
Knock on wood here but my family and I have been using home and herbal remedies for years now and I believe they work. My kids have great immune systems and if they get sick, its only for a couple of days and its gone. I havent had to take them to the doctor for anything for quite awhile.

Reply by JimAZ on 12/22/10 7:15pm
Msg #365806

Re: Home Remedies

Thanks Lisa. My daughter used to live in WI and probably knows remedies we don't know in AZ. Your input is appreciated and I will try it.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 12/22/10 7:55pm
Msg #365818

Re: Home Remedies...Careful

Anyone taking Lipitor (and possibly other cholesterol-lowering drugs) should not eat or drink grapefruit products - grapefruit interferes with an enzyme in the body which breaks down the lipitor, causing a higher than expected level of lipitor in the body and possibly producing side-effects.

My PSA for the day...

Reply by JimAZ on 12/22/10 8:17pm
Msg #365821

Re: Home Remedies...Careful

Thanks Linda, I don't take Lipitor, but I do take cholesterol lowering drugs so will talk to my doctor about your input.

Reply by Mary Ellen Elmore on 12/23/10 11:18pm
Msg #365949

Re: Home Remedies...Careful

Also, some hypertension medicines such as Lisinopril, which is an ACE Inhibitor are less effective when you consume grapefruit products.

I had to go without grapefruit for years!

Funny thing, within 2 weeks of my divorce I have not had to take any hypertension meds!!!!! The children noticed the dates of my divorce and the blood pressure lowering were coincidental!

I am an avid user of natural medicines and home remedies but always check with your doctor and also do your own research and compare at least 3 RELIABLE sources.

Reply by MW/VA on 12/22/10 7:44pm
Msg #365811

I've had it happen, too. I have immune system problems as it is. It also works both ways & I've had to work when I was sick. Airborne really works. After the fact, try to get hold of anything with ginger in it--tea, etc. I also started leaving pens with borrowers last year when the H1N1 scare was going around. It's cold & flu season & we're exposed almost everywhere.

Reply by JimAZ on 12/22/10 8:42pm
Msg #365822

Thanks for your input Marilynn. You are absolutely right. It is cold & flu season and we need to minimize our exposure as best we can. The suggestions on this forum have been helpful to me and I hope everyone else.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to all you hard working NSA's

Reply by JulieD/KS on 12/22/10 9:14pm
Msg #365827

I've had it happen. They were sick as dogs....I just kept my hands away from my face and immediately put anti-bacterial waterless hand cleaner on my hands when I got to my car. Needless to say, I was a little miffed at them for being so insensitive. They should have rescheduled. And guess what? Title left some docs out of the package and I had to go BACK the next day! I managed to not get sick. Not sure how.

Reply by SReis on 12/22/10 9:58pm
Msg #365834

How about meningitis???!!!

Had a closing once where towards the very end of it the borrower told me she was on the way to the hospital after the closing to see if she had meningitis. I was shocked to say the least. Completed the signing since we were pretty much done anyway & ran out to CVS to buy sanitizer, although I am pretty sure that does NOT protect against it. I was less concerned about me & more about my kids that I could be bringing the virus home to. Luckily I/we were fine, not sure whatever happened w/that borrower. It just amazes me how ignorant some people can be!!!

Reply by MW/VA on 12/22/10 10:04pm
Msg #365838

Re: How about meningitis???!!!

Hand sanitizer is not a bullet-proof vest that some have come to believe in this germaphob society.
Most viruses are air-born. It would be better to carry around a surgical mask for such situations. LOL

Reply by Grammyzoom on 12/23/10 7:36am
Msg #365851

Do not shake hands
Wear a mask
Leave the pens with the borrower
Take Airborne
Take a bath in Sanitizer
Buy plenty of Kleenex!

Reply by Ilene C. Seidel on 12/23/10 7:40am
Msg #365852

I carry surgical masks in my car. Don't take your pens if you let the borrowers use them or use the wipes on them as you put them back in your brief case. I even wipe down my steering wheel with antiseptic wipes. Also ask them to keep their distance they will surely understand. And don't shake their hands if they had any sense they would have declined.