Coping with stress on current pandemic
I think most of our forum members here are considered at a higher risk for having a severe case of Covid-19 than most people in the general population. Most of us probably live in a country which has not done an outstanding job in managing the pandemic too. There are some countries that seem to have done a pretty exemplary job in managing the pandemic but I don't think we have many members on the forum from those countries.
For me the greatest sources of stress from the current pandemic is the anxiety I have about catching the virus and having to go through intubation again where my prognosis is not very good. And also if one is lucky enough to survive there is a high likelihood of having further serious damage to various organs in our body.
The other daily source of stress is from the necessary self isolation in order to try avoid catching the virus in the first place. Having a suppressed immune system has required me to take more precautions from developing frequent infections. I also have developed allergic reaction to several types of antibiotics which can make treating them more complicated.
I live in rural Minnesota in a senior housing complex that has a nursing home, assisted living, hospice, and light assisted living area which is the most independent part and where I currently reside. Minnesota did not do a very good job initially in protecting people in nursing homes and other congregate care facilities and over 80% of our deaths in the state happened in these facilities. They then improved their efforts and reduced the death rate down to about 30% occurring in the congregate care facilities. The death rates of also decreased somewhat as a percentage of our population which is encouraging for our safety. But it might almost mean that more younger people are getting infected as the virus spreads more.
Our facility like most nursing homes and congregate care facilities and most businesses has been essentially locked down for several months. Initially we were not allowed to leave our rooms unless we had to go for some emergency medical care and this isolation was a serious strain for most of us. At that time staff would bring our mail take orders for groceries and deliver them, and deliver any packages that we received. Our contact with other people was limited to telephone or Internet video chats.
Things are loosened up a little bit now in that we get our own mail and can leave the facility to go for walks outside as long as we wear a mask or maintain a safe social distance to avoid getting infected. Visitors are still prohibited from entering our facility unless they are considered essential for providing helping care for our elderly residents. Our average age is in the upper 80s and it ranges from the mid 70s to upper 90s.
Many of our residents either don't understand the need to take precautions to avoid infection or have reached the age where they don't care since they figure their life is soon to be over with anyway. Our staff and administration do not provide any regular social interaction for us residents anymore but many residents still insist on taking their walkers and going outside and sitting next to each other so they can visit even though this would not be considered a safe procedure.
Our administration like all congregate care facilities in Minnesota is still taking considerable precautions to avoid any infections. Doors are locked. Any visitors have to self screen for temperature and wash their hands. All staff wear a mask while in the building. All the staff and residents have been tested for the coronavirus three times.
Most of the daily news seems to focus on topics that would engender stress such as the widespread social protests, reports on the status of Covid-19 cases around the country and the world, as well as the usual aspects of negative things like accidents and crime. Unfortunately with the current pandemic there are fewer healthy distractions and opportunities for positive social interaction. Professional sports and concerts are extremely limited and things like parties or dining out are considered very dangerous and generally not available.
So this begs the question of how are we going to manage our isolation and anxiety over the pandemic which is apt to persist for many more months and perhaps longer for those of us that will be considered at high risk for complications.
So how are you managing things? Maybe we can share some hints to try help each other.
Re: Coping with stress on current pandemic
Yep it's the isolation that is the kicker to this. Fine when you have a family around you (well..maybe hahahaha) but not so fine when you're locked down for a reason you don't understand to protect you from something you can't see. Many people either don't understand technology enough to be able to make use of it to alleviate isolation or simply don't have access to it. I managed fine but then I have loud music that I love and technology all around me.
But...one of the best things that I did for myself that anyone can do is stop looking at the news or find a news source that doesn't highlight the rubbish and peddle misinformation and panic. Soon as I stopped the media rubbish I started to feel better. I read recently that without the media, 90% of our problems wouldn't exist. I tend to think that the intent of this is correct - if not the statistic. The media feeds on fear - it's how they sell ads. Ads make money. Scared people click. Cha-ching. Sorry...I rant hahaha.
That's my number one tip anyway :smile1:
Re: Coping with stress on current pandemic
Dear DrZ,
Thank you for sharing your feelings. I understand and I care.
I copy parts from post that I wrote on facebook:
The worst thing for me during the pandemic is to find out how selfish and uncaring to the others so many people can be.
It just makes me MAD to hear people counting lives by statistics or saying that those who died from covid19 were already old or sick. The old and the sick deserves to live and a decent society MUST protect them. ALL LIVES ARE SACRED.
It shocks me when so called "pro life"/ christians/ practicing jewish/ people of faith - dismiss the obligation of the society to protect the vulnerable.
I feel like the world is split into 2 groups: on the one side are the sick, the old and those who care for them (THANK YOU MY WEGGIES FRIENDS, I LOVE YOU) and on the other side are the young and healthy people. And a deep abyss split between the two sides.
The pandemic is very bad in Israel now. More then 60,000 cases in a tiny country, more then 2000 cases per day and peoole are dying EVERY DAY. The disgusting media dismisses the dead. Except from a case in which the family told the story of a teacher in a kindergarden who was infected by a child that his selfish parents sent to the garden eventhough they should have kept him in quarantin.
Maybe a society like that deserves to get a pandemic. Although it doesn't seem that they have learned any lesson.
People who died from covid19 are not just statistical numbers. They have faces, names, life stories, families. May they rest in peace.
And the disgusting selfish gov. does nothing. They prioritize the economy although it is stupid to think that the economy can florish while the virus is around and in so many numbers.
It is not only not caring about the old, the sick and the dying but also about the medical teams who will be soon collapsing.
And what also bothers me is to find out how ANGRY I am.
I wouldn't mind dying from the covid19 but I would do everything not to risk my old parents or my kids who needs me daily.
Our only hope is in The Lord, maker of heaven and earth.
Re: Coping with stress on current pandemic
In the last few days as the pandemic is growing in crazy numbers and the **** gov. does nothing, my WG has reacted to the stress. Eventhough I should now be "covered" by rtx and 10mg arava, while tapering down the pred, the switch from 7mg to 6 mg was tough: eyes has become red again, nose bleedings, joints pains and coughing again. I upped the pred back to 7mg and nebulized budezon. Today is the second day. I hope it can stop the wg from acting up more.
Re: Coping with stress on current pandemic
What helps me to endure ? Only my Faith.
I pray every morning and during the day when things are too much to bear. I also watch daily livestream Mass and also reflections on the readings which are accompanied by stroll and chat with videos of the sunrises over the sea of Galille, here: https://www.facebook.com/experiencemagdala/
Re: Coping with stress on current pandemic
I have found these emails helpful to me.
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If you know others who are living with a chronic condition and will benefit from important coronavirus updates, community, and support, email them about this program or share it on social media. Let them know we're all in this together.
We welcome you to email us at [email protected] with any feedback about this program or email.
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Re: Coping with stress on current pandemic
The Vasculitis Foundation has an educational Webinar tonight geared for us. You can register at their web site.
https://www.vasculitisfoundation.org/
This is a reminder that "VF Road to Wellness Webinar: A COVID-19 Update" will begin in 1 Day on:
Tue, Aug 4, 2020 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM CDT
Lot of good info presented. They will have more to address the rest of questions.
Re: Coping with stress on current pandemic
Yep, I am still here. Finally had my Rituxin infusion on Monday. Due to covid, my doctor retiring and establishing with a new doctor, I was two months overdue. I get them every six months, and I will admit the last month was pretty rough with the joint and muscle pain.
I can cope with our ‘Twilight Zone’ world by not watching the news. Switch from one station to another and they are as different as night and day. Some people only watch what they want to hear. I say ratings = $$$ and that is what it is all about.
I am lucky that I have my husband and two dogs to keep me company and stay positive. Creative cooking has kept me busy. Sometimes a little too creative. I made Cajun cream chicken over fettuccine- too much Cajun and not enough cream- whew. My poor husband didn’t want to complain for fear of getting cut off from his food source.
My indoor herb garden is a wonderful project. I have a dozen herbs under a grow light and they are thriving.
Another thing I have been doing is reading. I have an out of state membership to one of the largest libraries in the country. Wonderful not to spend money on a one time only book. Just download it on to the kindle and read. Recently, I have selected books on subjects we are all familiar with, the devastation of WWII. Reading about that can give you areal wake up call about our lives today.
Our tiny white lights all over the main part of the house set a mood to transport us to another place. The other evening a neighbor’s gentle German Shepherd followed our dogs inside. Actually it was my tiny dogs chasing the Shepherd. The neighbor stuck his head in to call the dog and couldn’t figure out what the lights were all about. My husband said he probably thought we were having a seance. No, I am not a witch, and I can’t talk to the dead! But this subject proved to make interesting phone conversations. If you could talk to someone, who would it be. No one got maudlin. But the best answer I heard was, JIMMY HOFFA! Who would you talk to and why? Don’t get serious on me, let it bring you a laugh. You wouldn’t believe some of the stuff I heard.
Keep your chin up. Like everything else in life, this chaos will pass and the sun will shine again.
Masha
Re: Coping with stress on current pandemic
Quote:
Originally Posted by
drz
I think most of our forum members here are considered at a higher risk for having a severe case of Covid-19 than most people in the general population. Most of us probably live in a country which has not done an outstanding job in managing the pandemic too. There are some countries that seem to have done a pretty exemplary job in managing the pandemic but I don't think we have many members on the forum from those countries.
For me the greatest sources of stress from the current pandemic is the anxiety I have about catching the virus and having to go through intubation again where my prognosis is not very good. And also if one is lucky enough to survive there is a high likelihood of having further serious damage to various organs in our body.
The other daily source of stress is from the necessary self isolation in order to try avoid catching the virus in the first place. Having a suppressed immune system has required me to take more precautions from developing frequent infections. I also have developed allergic reaction to several types of antibiotics which can make treating them more complicated.
I live in rural Minnesota in a senior housing complex that has a nursing home, assisted living, hospice, and light assisted living area which is the most independent part and where I currently reside. Minnesota did not do a very good job initially in protecting people in nursing homes and other congregate care facilities and over 80% of our deaths in the state happened in these facilities. They then improved their efforts and reduced the death rate down to about 30% occurring in the congregate care facilities. The death rates of also decreased somewhat as a percentage of our population which is encouraging for our safety. But it might almost mean that more younger people are getting infected as the virus spreads more.
Our facility like most nursing homes and congregate care facilities and most businesses has been essentially locked down for several months. Initially we were not allowed to leave our rooms unless we had to go for some emergency medical care and this isolation was a serious strain for most of us. At that time staff would bring our mail take orders for groceries and deliver them, and deliver any packages that we received. Our contact with other people was limited to telephone or Internet video chats.
Things are loosened up a little bit now in that we get our own mail and can leave the facility to go for walks outside as long as we wear a mask or maintain a safe social distance to avoid getting infected. Visitors are still prohibited from entering our facility unless they are considered essential for providing helping care for our elderly residents. Our average age is in the upper 80s and it ranges from the mid 70s to upper 90s.
Many of our residents either don't understand the need to take precautions to avoid infection or have reached the age where they don't care since they figure their life is soon to be over with anyway. Our staff and administration do not provide any regular social interaction for us residents anymore but many residents still insist on taking their walkers and going outside and sitting next to each other so they can visit even though this would not be considered a safe procedure.
Our administration like all congregate care facilities in Minnesota is still taking considerable precautions to avoid any infections. Doors are locked. Any visitors have to self screen for temperature and wash their hands. All staff wear a mask while in the building. All the staff and residents have been tested for the coronavirus three times.
Most of the daily news seems to focus on topics that would engender stress such as the widespread social protests, reports on the status of Covid-19 cases around the country and the world, as well as the usual aspects of negative things like accidents and crime. Unfortunately with the current pandemic there are fewer healthy distractions and opportunities for positive social interaction. Professional sports and concerts are extremely limited and things like parties or dining out are considered very dangerous and generally not available.
So this begs the question of how are we going to manage our isolation and anxiety over the pandemic which is apt to persist for many more months and perhaps longer for those of us that will be considered at high risk for complications.
So how are you managing things? Maybe we can share some hints to try help each other.
Hey drz, how are things going there now? How is it by you?
My son lives in a place where everyone is living their life as pre COVID days, for better or for worse, after being locked up for three months, he left the stress behind. Not to say that we are not concerned.
Crazy world now where even with today's technology there is still tons of misinformation out there. I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but I just have trouble believing anything.
Everyone should be well and safe, Godspeed!
Sent from my moto z4 using Tapatalk
Re: Coping with stress on current pandemic
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Aneinu
Hey drz, how are things going there now? How is it by you?
My son lives in a place where everyone is living their life as pre COVID days, for better or for worse, after being locked up for three months, he left the stress behind. Not to say that we are not concerned.
Crazy world now where even with today's technology there is still tons of misinformation out there. I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but I just have trouble believing anything.
Everyone should be well and safe, Godspeed!
Sent from my moto z4 using Tapatalk
Behaving like there is no covid - doesn't mean that it is not there. Worse - it only causes more spread of it due to not caring.
Israel is in a huge problem now because of this kind of attitude: they have opened up almost everything and now we are almost 130,000 cases and 1000 deaths in a tiny crowded country. The hospitals announced that they are on the edge of collapsing which means that also other kind of patients will not be able to get any treatment.
It is not about ones's own life. It is about each and every one of us having responsibility for the others, not to infect them, and not to bring the health system to collapse.
And I dont count people lives by statistics. People are dying here every day. Each one has a name, face, family, life history. Each one deserves to be protected and to live. Each one is precious in the eyes of The Lord.
Re: Coping with stress on current pandemic
Hi everyone,
I am still working as a paramedic in St Louis. I was really worried when the pandemic came here. The fire dept I work for insists we wear N100 on every call and we wear simple masks around the fire house if we cannot social distance, such as responding to calls. Wearing an N100 when your lungs aren’t so hot is a burden & it causes anxiety if I have to go up a flight of stairs. I still have my moments when I am torn. I have Rituxin infusions every 4-6 months, I am sure you all can sympathise-weird crap happens that wasn’t on your radar all the time!
I find that people give me anxiety about Covid. There is a huge population in the US that think it’s a hoax, no more than the flu. The CDC released statistics and 6% of Covid deaths in the US only listed Covid. The others listed things like: pneumonia, stroke, ARDS ect, which Covid causes. The conspiracy theorists has said this proves the CDC has lied and of the 185,000 + deaths only 6% were caused by Covid.
I have run my fair share of Covid positive patients. People also think that you get it, you either recover or you die. In my experience, it causes other problems that have long term problems. This includes heart failure, strokes, permanent lung damage. These people are not old either, nor do they have known preexisting illnesses. Imagine having a stroke in your 20’s and being debilitated after?
I can also honestly say that politics has me stressed. In my opinion politics should have no baring in the pandemic... but here we are. I do not watch the news, I read it so I can read what I want. It is a very disheartening time.
In closing I think of my fellow Weggies all the time. I hope you all remain safe and healthy.
Natty
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Re: Coping with stress on current pandemic
Vaccine expert Dr. Peter Hotez on Friday predicted the coronavirus will continue to plague the United States “for years and years, even after vaccines are out and we get people vaccinated.”
Hotez, the director of the Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, told MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace that COVID-19 in the U.S. was “still spiraling out of control,” noting recent forecasts that 300,000 people could die from the disease by December.
“Sometimes we talk about it as though it’s the past and the worst is over. The worst is yet to come,” Hotez concluded. “We’re going to double the number of deaths over the next few months and now we know it’s not just deaths. We’re seeing long-term injury to the lungs, to the vascular system, to the heart, neurologic deficits, cognitive deficits. This will plague the country for years and years, even after vaccines are out and we get people vaccinated.”
The midwest of USA has not had the large number of Covid-19 cases like many of the more populated areas but now it is the area where things are increasing the fastest. And Fall is coming which means flu season will also begin soon so it looks like we will be hunkering down and isolating for a lot longer.
My Senior Living complex has been lucky so far with no Covid-19 cases reported so far in staff or residents. The death rate in our county is also still low compared to much of the USA.
I miss the live concerts and lectures and social activities like eating out. The one plus I have found from zoom meetings is I can usually hear the speakers much better plus there is no worry about dressing up and getting ready to go. And it is much easier to leave the meetings if you find it boring. Another plus is being able to hear talks from experts around the world with out leaving your home.
So how are things in your area and how are you getting along?
Re: Coping with stress on current pandemic
Quote:
Originally Posted by
drz
Vaccine expert Dr.
Peter Hotez on Friday predicted the
coronavirus will continue to plague the United States “for years and years, even after vaccines are out and we get people vaccinated.”
Hotez, the director of the Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, told
MSNBC’s
Nicolle Wallace that COVID-19 in the U.S. was “still spiraling out of control,” noting recent forecasts that
300,000 people could die from the disease by December.
“Sometimes we talk about it as though it’s the past and the worst is over. The worst is yet to come,” Hotez concluded. “We’re going to double the number of deaths over the next few months and now we know it’s not just deaths. We’re seeing long-term injury to the lungs, to the vascular system, to the heart, neurologic deficits, cognitive deficits. This will plague the country for years and years, even after vaccines are out and we get people vaccinated.”
The midwest of USA has not had the large number of Covid-19 cases like many of the more populated areas but now it is the area where things are increasing the fastest. And Fall is coming which means flu season will also begin soon so it looks like we will be hunkering down and isolating for a lot longer.
My Senior Living complex has been lucky so far with no Covid-19 cases reported so far in staff or residents. The death rate in our county is also still low compared to much of the USA.
I miss the live concerts and lectures and social activities like eating out. The one plus I have found from zoom meetings is I can usually hear the speakers much better plus there is no worry about dressing up and getting ready to go. And it is much easier to leave the meetings if you find it boring. Another plus is being able to hear talks from experts around the world with out leaving your home.
So how are things in your area and how are you getting along?
I recently watched a podcast with Dr Z and Dr Oriff, director of vaccine education at Philadelphia children’s hospital. He said in order for herd immunity to happen with a vaccine over 2/3 of the population would have to get it. For the US that would be over 300 million people! I am unsure how I feel about the vaccine. It feels rushed. The quickest vaccine ever developed was for the measles. Development started in 1964 and it was released in 1967. This vaccine is only taking a year.... what do you think?
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Re: Coping with stress on current pandemic
Personally, I don't know what to believe. Many of the experts who have made predictions have been proven wrong. They don't come out and admit that either. It doesn't stop new predictions either. This new surge in America has produced new cases but not nearly as many deaths. And yes, one death is too many, but the media and politics overplay it. Some say that it's a weaker strain. Again, I don't know anything, but the politics/media here stink. The press is free no longer.
Everyone should stay safe, well, smart and Godspeed! Protect yourself, your loved ones, your community and the world.
A
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Re: Coping with stress on current pandemic
Predictions are hard, especially about the future :-)
Re: Coping with stress on current pandemic
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Aneinu
Personally, I don't know what to believe. Many of the experts who have made predictions have been proven wrong. They don't come out and admit that either. It doesn't stop new predictions either. This new surge in America has produced new cases but not nearly as many deaths. And yes, one death is too many, but the media and politics overplay it. Some say that it's a weaker strain. Again, I don't know anything, but the politics/media here stink. The press is free no longer.
Everyone should stay safe, well, smart and Godspeed! Protect yourself, your loved ones, your community and the world.
A
Sent from my moto z4 using Tapatalk
Please read this one:
https://abcnews.go.com/Health/cdc-de...ry?id=72759172
Dr. Fauci was the one who established the treatment protocol of ctx plus pred for weggies more then 20 years ago. Before that WG was a deadly disease.
I have a facebook friend who has WG more then 25 years. Dr. Fauci was her wg dr. I copy her testimony:
"I was treated at NIH at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (which he is the director)... I met him many times, he knew of my case and if I happened to be inpatient on Friday’s he lead grand rounds which was always quite interesting. Wegener’s is one of the first diseases he researched on. It was kind of his “baby” so to speak. Cytoxan & Prednisone treatment started with his research... there use to be a couple really great videos on YouTube about him telling how and when he started researching Wegener’s and all the trials, tribulations, and triumphs... That is what has been insane during Covid was to see a doctor I knew and interacted regularly with for about 14 years on TV and at seeing on White House briefings. (And now angered at how horribly the president has treated him). He really is a kind and caring doctor."
End quote.
I would trust the testimony of a fellow weggie over the media.
Re: Coping with stress on current pandemic
Quote:
Originally Posted by
drz
Vaccine expert Dr.
Peter Hotez on Friday predicted the
coronavirus will continue to plague the United States “for years and years, even after vaccines are out and we get people vaccinated.”
Hotez, the director of the Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, told
MSNBC’s
Nicolle Wallace that COVID-19 in the U.S. was “still spiraling out of control,” noting recent forecasts that
300,000 people could die from the disease by December.
Agreed but I think that the main reason this virus will continue to plague certain countries even long after the vaccine has been found and distributed won't have anything to do with the strength of the virus itself, but it'll probably be a result of a few ignorant people in every community who are going to remain stubborn/uncooperative when that time comes.
