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All kidding aside... COVID feelings


Square Wheels

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No facts for this thread, how is this viral threat making you feel?

If I get a little warm, I start thinking I have a fever and that tickle in my throat must be another symptom.

I am very stressed about work.  We don't have answers.  We're making this up as we go.  We will be judged on how we managed this crisis.

I am not convinced this is not the end.

16k dead in 4 months, if this continues it may be over 100k by the end of the year.  Or maybe far worse.

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I am not that worried because I am taking steps to protect myself and others. I am also not in situations that allow high degrees of hazard. When I look at the numbers and compare to historical situations of similar nature, I am not seeing a threat that exceeds expectations. Government response has been to 'flatten the curve' to ensure treatment capacity exists and at risk populations get a bit more protection. This is not the plague.

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I don't see how we are going to prevent getting exposed to it, we can just try to slow it down so we don't all get it at once. I think the young people want to get it and get it over with while there are still medical people to help. I don't know where it will go but expect a long haul.

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this was posted on my works website. It's bullshit.

 

COVID-19 UPDATE

Printing Businesses are considered an Essential Business
Last Friday March the 20th, the Governor of Illinois, issued COVID-19 Executive Order No. 8. The declaration mandates a Stay at Home order for all people living in Illinois except for essential personnel. Wortman Printing is considered an “Essential Business” as described in the Executive Order. As printers we provide communication services through the World of Print to many critical industries as outlined in the Governors order.
https://www2.illinois.gov/IISNews/21288-Gov._Pritzker_Stay_at_Home_Order.pdf

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9 minutes ago, Longjohn said:

we can just try to slow it down so we don't all get it at once

This is the goal.  If we can stretch it out, fewer people will die.  Not just by flattening the curve, but by giving us time to get more medical supplies, develop medicine, maybe even develop some human immunity.

The economy is a tough guess.  We were headed for a cyclical recession anyway, this just tipped it over.  And the drastically fast drop in the economy, and rise in unemployment is known to be temporary.  Once we get the all clear, the economy will ramp up very quickly.  Though there will be casualties that won't return.  It certainly made the planned recession worse.  And somehow we have to pay the bill when it comes due.  A lot of things will not be the same for a long time.  I read an editorial talking about how it's highlighting the need for a lot of social safety nets we as Americans have been ignoring.  Don't be surprised if support for universal health care goes up dramatically.  I think a lot of corporations have made good decisions for people over profits, they may re-focus now.  We've learned dependence at  a time when we were tearing ourselves away from each other.  Priorities will be changed - for the better.

I don't expect to have a problem if I get infected.  I'm more concerned about who I may infect.

Right now, we're all stressed.  It shows even here.  Let's all keep it in mind, keep giving each other some latitude

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I am not hopeful. 

I have resigned to the fact that it will end me if I contract it because I already have respiratory and immune issues.  I am ok with that.   I worry about my mother who has been dealt a horrendous number of blows in the past 5 years.  She has renal failure and attends dialysis 3 days a week which keeps her too close to a lot of sick folks. 

I look around at the numbers of people who are not making attempts to distance themselves and figure a little reprieve in new cases will coax everyone into letting their guard down.  It disgusts me.

Realistically, I think it will be rotating through the masses until there is an injection.  

I think there will be a lot of people taken far too early and I feel very strongly that globalism is at the centre of it.  In the same capacity that electronic trading expedites the collapse of markets. 

This isn't the first and won't be the last. 

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Anymore I’m the older person and with a diabetes a higher risk in my family group.  I’m taking precautions and making necessary lifestyle adjustments but am not overly stressed about it.  Neither my wife nor I have been financially impacted either so no sleepless nights.

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31 minutes ago, ChrisL said:

Anymore I’m the older person and with a diabetes a higher risk in my family group.  I’m taking precautions and making necessary lifestyle adjustments but am not overly stressed about it.  Neither my wife nor I have been financially impacted either so no sleepless nights.

I am not financially impacted....meaning I still have a job and still work. 

45 minutes ago, Square Wheels said:

I want to cry.

I'm abit haunted by the reality for my sister-doctor who is on the front-line of care.  Because she is afraid for herself, etc. now. But she tries not to think about it.

For lst time in several decades, I referred to her as my baby sister (because she is in birth order) in my email of concern and love to her after I read this from another Toronto emergency medicine doctor who just lost his otherwise healthy 77 yr. old father in law to cv-19:  https://nationalpost.com/news/a-toronto-doctor-describes-what-its-like-to-watch-his-father-in-law-die-from-covid-19-in-seven-days?video_autoplay=true  I cried abit...it was around 5:00 am today when I read this.

image.thumb.png.9efb2586da78c77a62b6febbf37a6590.png

 

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25 minutes ago, Wilbur said:

Realistically, I think it will be rotating through the masses until there is an injection.  

This.

I stopped going to thai hookers and gay bathouses and full-blown raves, and mostly stopped hanging out in ER's for the free broadband, so I don't have immediate worries. 

 

I would love to hang out in the mountains with friends, but don't want to put them at risk if I were to visit.  I would also like to hang out in Ohio a bit, but same thing.  Traveling anywhere assumes a bit of risk, too.  This blows.

I also don't want any of you bastards to get it and be the outlier who expires from this.  I think many here who aren't retired are gonna lose jobs, too.  Suckage all the way around.

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53 minutes ago, Square Wheels said:

I am very stressed about work.  We don't have answers.  We're making this up as we go.  We will be judged on how we managed this crisis.

I am not convinced this is not the end.

Me too.  We are tweaking our plans daily.  The recovery will be as hard as the event. 

47 minutes ago, donkpow said:

Government response has been to 'flatten the curve' to ensure treatment capacity exists and at risk populations get a bit more protection.

I am not sure flatten the curve has been successful given the lack of seriousness displayed by many. The asymptomatic carriers are killing us. 

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I'm scared.

I don't see a lot of people taking this seriously around here. A guy at work kept crowding me, I kept backing away, he told me he wasn't sick, I asked him how the fuck he knew I wasn't ?

I don't like that I'm still working, scared shitless about bringing it home, Mrs. Further won't survive it.

I like that I still have a pay check coming in but I wouldn't trust our management to run water downhill, let alone control this.

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Yeah, I'm couped up.  I remain hopeful that all will end well but the economy tanking makes it harder.  It's difficult to have an economy when there are no actors.  Until there is an injection as many have stated, I suspect the economy will continue to move up and down.  It's scary the territory it's in now, but if we can get a predictable curve going then folks won't be so panicky and maybe the markets will chill. In the end, I believe we will recover.  I think the markets do OK but the sooner there is a vaccine obviously the better. Or we get used to this wave after wave of self-quarantine.  I do worry about my job in that I just refinanced my house and bought a new car on loan.  My first payments on both of those happen in April.  So I'm in he hole amigo.  All my retirement is in stock but I have 10 years before that so I am fairly confident that it has plenty of time to recover.

How do I feel?  Every time I go out and practice good strategy like sanitization and social distancing (about once a week) I think of how simple it is and it's easy to dupe myself into a false sense of being.  But every time I return home, I am grateful I am not showing any symptoms and tell myself to remain in house and cut back on the odds even more.  I worry about my wife that has to go to work at her healthcare facility.  I'm grateful she does and I'm grateful all the staff continues to sacrifice themselves to provide care for the rest of us.  But I worry.  There's more chance that I breaks out in her office and brings it home than me making 6 foot transactions with people out there. I also have heart disease and while I have stents, I don't think this is a time to get cute with definitions.  I'm playing this conservatively and I suspect our governor is going to enforce a stay at home Draconian rule tonight at 5:30 on TV like a few other states in the country have.

Honestly, it's a good time to go solo bike riding -- and if you've never played video games -- this seems like an ideal time to do so.  

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1 minute ago, Airehead said:

well said Kirby

Thanks, but I also realize how petty my response can sound when there are so many people on the front lines risking their health to help others.  Realizing the sacrifices others are making does help me put my own anxiety in perspective even if it doesn't stop it.

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41 minutes ago, petitepedal said:

When my sister was attempting suicide on a regular basis and yanking my mother's chain (solo parent) I was the rock...the stability..I am trying to maintain that now. I am doing my best to follow 6ft distance and hand washing..but I am the person on the point in my building..on maintenance guy is on the brink of cracking. I say I have a good strong faith and if it is my time..well it is...I leave behind no one. So for now yeah its gonna get worse..I am scared..but I am the rock. I may breakdown when it is all over.

Very solid rock.  Good job.

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I feel like there are two extremes: anxiety, because you can’t work because your work isn’t considered essential and you’re worried how you will pay your bills, and you’re directly providing patient care, you’re stressed, scared and wondering if you’re going to get sick and expose yourself family, too. I can’t contemplate the group that isn’t upset by this.

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Work computer came home with me today.  Tomorrow, will be interesting.  

I have no webcam, so attire could be less strict.  No more worry about my coworker.  She had her hands on her mouth and nose, as she stood outside of my desk.  I said "Stop touching your mouth."  She didn;t even reply.  Just stone faced me, and walked away.  

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I don't worry about getting sick except I don't want HoSmudge to get this virus. As it is he caught the cold I had, but this virus would be pretty tough on him. 

As far as employment goes, I'm in healthcare and we received an email from our union president tonight telling us no one is being laid off.

And my 401k is sitting in its safe fund.

So far, so good. Fingers crossed.

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I am with SW.  Any little symptom, I assume it is the virus.  

I get annoyed by people wearing masks at the grocery store.  I am sure some may have risks that justify them but I suspect many are just paranoid and selfishly using a mask that a healthcare worker needs.

Sitting at home feels like the 'Passover' scene in "10 Commandments." We're all just hunker down waiting for the angle of death to pass.  This is going last a couple weeks (months?) and we don't have sheep's blood to paint above our doors.  The Jews really had it good.

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As many of you have stated previously, we are facing two distinct threats. One, is the pandemic that is a threat to our health. The second is the recession, triggered by many factors, but the pandemic is the catalyst spreading fear and anxiety. The impact to many by businesses closing and the effects of the quarantine efforts to stem the impact of this novel disease. 

We are in this together and will pull through this. My approach is that fear and anxiety raise our stress levels. The effect of stress on our bodies includes reducing ability to fight infections and increases the risk of acquiring this or other illnesses. To combat this, I practice mindful meditation, eating well and exercising regularly to keep my immune system strong and able to fight off infection. I also practice social distancing and washing my hands regularly as my wife has a weakened immune system. She is still fighting a possible MRSA infection after three rounds of antibiotics. I will remain aware of the risks but will not let fear and uncertainty impact how I live my life. 

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4 hours ago, Old#7 said:

As many of you have stated previously, we are facing two distinct threats. One, is the pandemic that is a threat to our health. The second is the recession, triggered by many factors, but the pandemic is the catalyst spreading fear and anxiety. The impact to many by businesses closing and the effects of the quarantine efforts to stem the impact of this novel disease. 

We are in this together and will pull through this. My approach is that fear and anxiety raise our stress levels. The effect of stress on our bodies includes reducing ability to fight infections and increases the risk of acquiring this or other illnesses. To combat this, I practice mindful meditation, eating well and exercising regularly to keep my immune system strong and able to fight off infection. I also practice social distancing and washing my hands regularly as my wife has a weakened immune system. She is still fighting a possible MRSA infection after three rounds of antibiotics. I will remain aware of the risks but will not let fear and uncertainty impact how I live my life. 

Agreed. Fear does not help. It's good for self preservation. Do your best to keep yourself safe. Beyond that, it is a detriment. 

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Me:

"Why the fuck are people hoarding?"

 

Brother-In-Law:

"I know, they're friggin idiots. Those same people who have already been to store 8 times. Also, I hadnt gone for a few weeks because every time i tried a place it was so packed with idiots i just gave up. But I did manage to get into Safeway for minute last night and it was packed mostly with old bitchy people ."

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18 hours ago, RalphWaldoMooseworth said:

My fambly is dispersed over NJ-MD-PA-OH-TX so we are used to long distance communicating.  My wife thinks it is weird that my main communication with my mother is email, but it works for us!

My brother the doctor sends postcards.  Some years he will send me 30 or more. And he does this to most of the family. Crazy.

He is an infectious disease specialist, so this crisis is right up his alley.  I haven't talked to him since the early days, when he didn't think it would amount to much.

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19 minutes ago, BuffJim said:

My brother the doctor sends postcards.  Some years he will send me 30 or more. And he does this to most of the family. Crazy.

He is an infectious disease specialist, so this crisis is right up his alley.  I haven't talked to him since the early days, when he didn't think it would amount to much.

Seems like now's a good time to check in with him! Or is he too busy?

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23 minutes ago, roadsue said:

And...found out on Sunday that my nephew who lives in NYC has Covid-19 symptoms, but cannot get tested. He’s pretty sure he’s got it, though. I feel disheartened that testing is so limited. 

Everybody says you can't get tested here until after you are being hospitalized for it, that is when they produce the test.

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27 minutes ago, BuffJim said:

My brother the doctor sends postcards.  Some years he will send me 30 or more. And he does this to most of the family. Crazy.

He is an infectious disease specialist, so this crisis is right up his alley.  I haven't talked to him since the early days, when he didn't think it would amount to much.

He probably doesn't want to talk about that much now.

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31 minutes ago, BuffJim said:

My brother the doctor sends postcards.  Some years he will send me 30 or more. And he does this to most of the family. Crazy.

He is an infectious disease specialist, so this crisis is right up his alley.  I haven't talked to him since the early days, when he didn't think it would amount to much.

Maybe he was basing his guesstimate of early Chinese propaganda. 

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33 minutes ago, roadsue said:

And...found out on Sunday that my nephew who lives in NYC has Covid-19 symptoms, but cannot get tested. He’s pretty sure he’s got it, though. I feel disheartened that testing is so limited. 

It isn't that testing is so limited, it is that demand is so big. 

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