Pandemic personal consequences

[MickiQ]

SheilaNaGig, We haven't seen our middle daughter in person for a month now and Mrs Q is worried we might lose her without seeing her again. She knows like me that this is very unlikely of course but you are absolutely right she doesn't feel like that. She's a mother and she is worried about her child. Son's G/F lives with us and she is putting in 12 hour shifts at the moment covering absences and the jobs that the nurses who are looking after the COV patients aren't doing.
I know nothing that I can say can make any difference but still feel that I have to say something, I suppose there are a lot of people like me who are watching from the sidelines whilst their loved ones are risking their life.

 

[SheilaNaGig]

SheilaNaGig, We haven't seen our middle daughter in person for a month now and Mrs Q is worried we might lose her without seeing her again. She knows like me that this is very unlikely of course but you are absolutely right she doesn't feel like that. She's a mother and she is worried about her child. Son's G/F lives with us and she is putting in 12 hour shifts at the moment covering absences and the jobs that the nurses who are looking after the COV patients aren't doing.
I know nothing that I can say can make any difference but still feel that I have to say something, I suppose there are a lot of people like me who are watching from the sidelines whilst their loved ones are risking their life.

Yes. This is very hard stuff. People keep comparing it to war and I suppose it is, at least in the sense that our loved ones are at the battle front, far away and in danger.

My sister just phoned me. Her son in NYC. He’s safe for the time being a time being at least, but she’s finding it incredibly hard not to be able to have him under her wing.

 

[ash]

Some broader, more generalised implications of this formed part of my thinking when deciding that actually no, my symptoms were not severe enough to really justify the risks of spending a large chunk of my life taking protein pump inhibitors!

Interesting - I noted ages ago that there is a risk factor of pneumonia with older people on PPI’s is mentioned on the PIL and became concerned when I found that the deaths for the virus are usually secondary pneumonia!! I’ve had the same concerns as you and stopped taking them last week but the symptoms came back so I went back on them. I’m really in a quandary what to do but starting to feel like I should come off them for now anyway.
I also don’t want to develop ulcers in this current health crisis ?!?!

 

[elbows]

I'm afraid I dont give that sort of medical advice, I was only speaking for myself and my situation with PPI's had nothing to do with ulcers or this pandemic, it was a decision I made years ago after only being on them for 1 month before I stopped.

 

[frogwoman]

My sisters being forced to go out to work and to meetings! (she works in construction) and she might get laid off in a few weeks anyway

 

[frogwoman]

And not really a personal consequence but I lived in Moldova 10 years ago and had to have two operations in one of their state hospitals. COVID-19 is really hitting them hard and one doctor has died. its quite upsetting knowing that the doctors and nurses who treated me on the ward and looked after me for a week might die

 

[MickiQ]

Got confirmed officially, stuck at work till May earliest
Not the end of the world, the meter is running and UKPLC looks pretty gash at the minute

How are you doing with your meds?

 

[bellaozzydog]

How are you doing with your meds?

tapering stage one not bad apart from shit dreams every morning just before my alarm

 

[Anju]

Two men wanted to come in together. I explained that two people, even if they are friends, is still two separate people and we’re only letting 4 in at a time . So one came in and the other stayed outside. The one inside didn't know what to buy so the one outside was shouting through the door. Then he started shouting directly at me, telling me what he wanted to buy (why didn't he come in while his friend stayed outside )

So I opened the door a crack, to stop him shouting. So he put his mouth to the gap and kept on shouting, with his face about 6inches from mine. So I shut the door. So then his mate told me I was disrespectful, this is a shop, I'm supposed to be serving people, I'm out of order. I tried to explain “it’s nearly closing time, it’s been a long day, our policy is..., your friend in shouting very close to my face, it’s making me feel anxious... “ Yeah, so they both fucked off, withdrew their custom. If I get this virus I’ll know who gave it to me.

So sorry to hear this. The level of selfishness is unbelievable. I went to our local big Tesco yesterday and it was all good for a while. People keeping their distance and not reaching over or around others to get stuff. Unfortunately a group of young guys came in who had obviously been played football. All hyped up and leaning on each other getting really close to people and one shouting "quarantine" at people. Really frustrating as I didn't feel able to intervene when they were approached by the security guard and were verbally abusive to him and had to make do with standing and staring at them.

They should give you tasers.

 

[prunus]

My mum (76, severe angina, has difficulty climbing stairs or walking up hills) has come down with a fever, cough and aches this morning. She and my dad have been isolating hard for 3 weeks or more. Not actually a pandemic consequence necessarily yet, but she and we are naturally anxious .

(edit: got my own mum’s age wrong she’s 5 years older than I thought. Maybe I am too...?)

 

[Mation]

Two people at work have died, thus far. I don't know them and haven't had contact with them (I don't think!), but it's upsetting for all the reasons.

14-days' self-isolation begins today. Housemate has symptoms.

 

[Mation]

[one of those quadruple posts that turns into a double-post on refreshing the page]

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

All my upcoming hospital appointments have cancelled. This isn't surprising, but I was slightly amused by the urgency in the text - all caps, PLEASE DO NOT ATTEND YOUR NEXT DERMATOLOGY APPOINTMENT! As if I had been begging them to let me go.

My TV installation has also, even more understandably, been put way back. The email was still the standard one saying "It won't be too long before you will change the way you watch TV forever. " Then giving an installation date for June.

(That one is very slightly irksome because I actually already have a dish, box and cables already, so the entire set-up will be putting in a new viewing card, which I can do myself, but I don't expect them to take things like that into consideration really).

I had to go for a blood draw. They set it up in a vacant office with only a couple of nurses wearing full gear and n95 masks. Next week I have an appointment to see the doctor--by computer. Its a pointless operation. He'll just rubber-stamp my meds and charge me $180.

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

Update! They now say they just didn’t know the rules about self isolating and will be abiding by them now. If that’s true it means the idea of sending a paper letter to everyone isn’t such a bad idea. Ignorance is a crap excuse but still.

You have to wonder what kind of bubble some folks live in to have missed this.

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

Mentioned in an email to my mother that I was getting good at making flatbread. She said "can't believe you are reduced to living on flatbread! Do you need a sub?" No, I have money, I just like eating flatbread and hummus and pickles.

I'm beginning to think that being quarantined is a bit like being pregnant. You crave all kinds of odd things. First week I craved pudding. This week its crackers and peanut butter. Generally, it whatever you don't happen to have on hand.

 

[FridgeMagnet]

I'm beginning to think that being quarantined is a bit like being pregnant. You crave all kinds of odd things. First week I craved pudding. This week its crackers and peanut butter. Generally, it whatever you don't happen to have on hand.

I got some good practice in by doing Veganuary but I reckon I am going to want red meat soon.

 

[Epona]

I'm beginning to think that being quarantined is a bit like being pregnant. You crave all kinds of odd things. First week I craved pudding. This week its crackers and peanut butter. Generally, it whatever you don't happen to have on hand.

I don't normally eat much sweet stuff but I found myself making a fruit crumble last week and I fancy another one now

 

[hash tag]

A friend has just told me it is her wedding anniversary today. This has reminded me it was mine a few days ago

 

[Mation]

Two people at work have died, thus far. I don't know them and haven't had contact with them (I don't think!), but it's upsetting for all the reasons.

Turns out I knew them both to smile and say hello to, if not their names, until today.

 

[Shechemite]

Not massive in the grand scheme of things (and of zero financial consequence) obviously - but the volunteering I was doing prior to this was perhaps my main source of fulfilment (did some patient engagement/advocacy stuff with my Trust)

Feel pretty lost (and useless) without it to be honest.

 

[blameless77]

Yes, it's the proper govt thing. Might apply for a mortgage holiday too but not sure yet. Not being able to keep working is worrying me though. I'm easily bored and sitting around doing nothing is not something I cope with well.

Volunteer!

 

[Shechemite]

Not massive in the grand scheme of things (and of zero financial consequence) obviously - but the volunteering I was doing prior to this was perhaps my main source of fulfilment (did some patient engagement/advocacy stuff with my Trust)

Feel pretty lost (and useless) without it to be honest.

Volunteer!

Sensitivity fella

 

[Shechemite]

On the plus (sort of) side, one of the cafes I go to has asked if I can help with the phone checks on people.

 

[Epona]

A lot of the volunteering around here has switched from fairly casual event stewarding to heavy physical labour (loading food and supplies) for 10 hour shifts, which I can't realistically do - so I understand

 

[LDC]

Not massive in the grand scheme of things (and of zero financial consequence) obviously - but the volunteering I was doing prior to this was perhaps my main source of fulfilment (did some patient engagement/advocacy stuff with my Trust)

Feel pretty lost (and useless) without it to be honest.

Sorry to hear that. IME it's often the smaller things that you're not expecting to matter that can feel like the big deal in these situations sometimes.

 

[FridgeMagnet]

I was thinking of buying a scooter for this same exact reason - not that I need to travel right now anyway but fuck the tube if I do. I don't mind looking like a bellend because I do if I'm walking too.

So I did order a folding kick scooter in the end, which was predicted to arrive in May, and I thought that was fine tbh because lockdowns will probably be over by then and there will be more point in moving about. In fact it arrived today Seems sturdy enough as long as I don't jump up and down on it. I will have to take it out early when there's literally nobody about (extreme social distancing) to practice though as I can see myself falling off on shitty pavements.

ETA: at the moment the only real effect will be that I have a further reach when going on exercise, so can avoid some of the shitty too-crowded streets and go to some more interesting places. Not really good for carrying any amount of shopping I suspect but I don't need to go far for that anyway, I can just walk.

 

[hash tag]

Is that an electric scooter or a trick scooter?

 

[two sheds]

Not massive in the grand scheme of things (and of zero financial consequence) obviously - but the volunteering I was doing prior to this was perhaps my main source of fulfilment (did some patient engagement/advocacy stuff with my Trust)

Feel pretty lost (and useless) without it to be honest.

I was going to sign up for the NHS volunteering - only phoning people because I'm not going anywhere - but they're not accepting anyone for a couple of weeks. Possibility after that though.

 

[Shechemite]

I was going to sign up for the NHS volunteering - only phoning people because I'm not going anywhere - but they're not accepting anyone for a couple of weeks. Possibility after that though.

Cheers mate

 

[two sheds]

Cheers mate

NHS England » ‘Your NHS Needs You’ – NHS call for volunteer army

www.england.nhs.uk

suspended while they process the volunteers they've got:

Recruitment to this scheme was temporarily paused on 29 March 2020 to process the initial 750,000 applications. Further information will follow.

GoodSAM

GoodSAM

www.goodsamapp.org

Eta you need a jpeg file of your driving licence as I recall - I'd just about done that when they suspended it.