Mark, your health seems to be good. Do you limit yourself in certain situations ... for example, would you voluteer in your kids classroom, knowing full well how germy those little people can be? Just curious. I signed my husband up to volunteer yesterday, and he was giving me a hard time about not signing up myself. It got me to thinking. Would it/could it be something I could do?

As for face masks ... I don't wear them. I don't see the point. I'm pretty good with handwashing and using hand sanitizer ... and not touching my nose, mouth, eyes, etc.

i was a 4th grade teacher for 17 yrs. i used common sense handwashing handwashing handwashing. i still volunteer in my sister's classroom and my neice's and nephews' classrooms.

i will use common sense and not go during the height of flu season... but i still volunteer.

i don't use a mask.

Mi Midge,
thanks for asking, i do not limit my activities, except in one area air travel.

I am now at the point where is I can drive in less than 5 -6 hours, I'll drive rather than fly. I seem to get sinus infections when I fly. I'm not sure if it is the change in air pressure, takeoff and landing, that moves around gunk in my sinuses or the confined area of a plane and the spread of germs.

I've also concluded that by the time I drive to the airport, park a car, check in a hour before takeoff, rent a car at my destination, return the car, go back to my parked car . . etc, I really don't save all that much time. Besides since it appears that where I travel, there are no nonstop / direct flights (are there any non stops to anywhere any more?) .

Flying is not as much fun as it was 40 years ago when ties and jackets were the normal dress for air travel and the airlines made you feel like a guest rather than a commodity to be moved from one place to another.

I used to fly over 200,000 miles a year and spend 100 nights a year in hotels . . .no longer . . thanks G-d

I used to fly alot more than I do now. I think the change in air pressure does do a number on our sinuses for sure. Plus, airports are REALLY germy places.

i also dont fly and try not to stay in hotels/motels. i tend to get sick after hotel/motel stays. i agree with mark about flying not worth it.

the reason we got a camper was to allow me to travel and stay healthier it has worked staying out of motels/hotels keeps me healthier.

we are able to travel now and it is much easier for me in the camper.... less germs and not having to haul luggage in and out of places everynight or 2 helps.

we traveled 7,500 milles this summer and stayed in the camper and ate out much less... i got sick a few times...but much better than traveling without my home behind our car (trailer). very doable way for a bubble person to travel!

also mark i wonder if you getting dx much earlier in your life than most of us has lessoned the damage? you describe your health as good... wonder if earlier dx helped?

i am glad my daughter was dx early hoping it will help keep the damage to lungs,ears, and sinuses down and she is not retired at age 46 like her mother. i have hearling loss sinus scarring and lung damage from the repeated infections as so many on here do.

mark do you think damage was lessoned for you receiving IVIg early on?

yeah I don't wear a mask eather when I first started ivig family members tried to get me to but its to hard to breath in them and it just draws attention you don't need. I kind of just tend to avoid the big enclosed crowded areas because ppl dont use much common since and we have to protect are selfs......

another reason ppl have problems on air plains is ventilation and they dont clean the air plan that often to save on money

Until June, I would have described my health as good too (except for arthritis). I don't limit anything I do. I also have always helped out in my daughters class (2nd grade now). If I see someone sick, I won't sit next to them, shake hands, etc but thats it. Now my health SUCKS :(

My pulmonologist told me I need to wear a mask. I hate it, but do it. I've also heard that it's not very effective. I usually use some masks that are water-proof ones that my dentist uses. I don't know whether they have the rating or not as I don't have a box on hand to check. I'm using some other ones that I don't like right now. My dentist is awesome though, he orders them for me and gives me his purchase price.

I only wear a mask to protect from irritants like smoke. I live in texas and smoke blows in from farmers in Mexico burning their fields each year. If I am going to be outside for long during that time I will use a mask. Also, if I cut the grass I will wear one.