Coronavirus and GPA

[richard052018]

drz


The lack of preparedness in the US is terrifying, especially considering what's going on in "first world" nations like Italy. As for myself, I've got about 6 weeks of food/supplies (yes, including toilet paper) and have no plans to leave the house after the next day or two (beyond shuttling my child wherever she needs to be). My employer has approved the telework. After 6 weeks if the shelves are empty it will be like the Cormac McCarthy novel/movie "The Road" anyhow.


I don't know what to expect or how vulnerable I am to this illness (doubt any of us truly know). I'm in my mid 40s, no real health issues of concern before GPA. The pred has put weight on me (I can't get below 8mg without issues: diagnosed 2 years ago). RTX I hear is h3ll on the immune system. They say 50-70% of the population will be infected with a 1-3% death rate (concentrated on the elderly and those with immune system issues), so I'm sadly preparing for the worst.


I'm myself am not worried about dying (if anything, it would relieve the crippling fear I live with daily). I just worry about the people I will leave behind, mainly the wife and kid. They don't deserve it.


Not the life I planned for myself, but I'm sure we can all can say this.


What we need right now is a real miracle. Praying for all of you.

[drz]

One bright spot is Mayo just developed a validated test for Covid -19.

The results from the test will be available “within 24 hours,” said Matthew Binnicker, a clinical microbiologist and director of the Clinical Virology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
“We have the expertise to create tests such as this one, and we felt it was our obligation to help ease the burden that the CDC and public health laboratories are feeling at this time," he added.
The samples will also be sent to the CDC or the Minnesota Department of Health “for appropriate follow-up testing and confirmation,” per the statement, which noted the results will then “be communicated with public health officials, per their respective guidelines.”
The test, called "Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS CoV-2), Molecular Detection,” has been “fully validated.” Data from the test “will be submitted to the Food and Drug Administration for review and emergency use authorization,” officials said.

[drz]

It is amazing how fast things can change as people react to the Covid-19 pandemic. Shortly after my last post our State canceled all the high school basketball tournament games, all nursing homes and senior assisted living places in my town went on restricted visitation with procedures to try screen visitors and all staff by checking their temperature and required hand washing to enter. Only essential people are supposed to visit and deliveries will be left at door. All doors are locked for entrance but not exit for safety. Most local community events were also canceled. On a national level it seems like our Congress is trying to speed up testing and offering financial help to assist in dealing with the pandemic.

I just read that Norway is basically shutting down everything.

How are things for us users all around the world in different locales? How safe do people feel? Anyone in a hot spot area? Anyone tested so far?

[chrisTIn@]

How are things for us users all around the world in different locales? How safe do people feel? Anyone in a hot spot area? Anyone tested so far?

I wrote a few words in the off-topic section, as it was my birthday today.
Our country is also in kind of a 'lockdown' now.
Most people who can work online do so, and stay home.
Others who work in vital sections as light, energy and transport of food and medication still go to their workplaces.
Schools will be closed tomorrow. People who work in healthcare and public services as police can still bring their children to school, they will be taken care of. We don't want the grandparents of these children to take care of them, and maybe be exposed to the dangerous virus. Children seem to have a somewhat lesser chance to be infected, but there is discussion about the fact whether they can transmit the virus.
Teachers are working on online programs, so most pupils can also do schoolwork at home.
The region I live has many people who are infected. At this time the hospitals can still do their work, but the situation worries me.
I stay at home with my husband, we see our daughter at 'skype' or 'facetime', but we can't hug her at the moment. We communicate with friends on whatsapp or by phonecalls.
Groceries will be delivered at home.
We only leave the house when strictly necessairy, for groceries we forgot, or to go to the pharmacy. I will call the pharmacy tomorrow, to see whether they can deliver medication at our home.
My husband and I both had a bit of a cold, but we did'nt get tested so far. You only get tested when you have a fever, and/or have difficulty breathing.
In general, all efforts are made to 'flatten the curve'. That means, that by taking all this precautions they hope we will not have to big a peak in victims, so that our healthcare-system will be able to manage things, and provide room at intensive-care units for the people who need it most.

[NatriceRomeo]

I wrote a few words in the off-topic section, as it was my birthday today.
Our country is also in kind of a 'lockdown' now.
Most people who can work online do so, and stay home.
Others who work in vital sections as light, energy and transport of food and medication still go to their workplaces.
Schools will be closed tomorrow. People who work in healthcare and public services as police can still bring their children to school, they will be taken care of. We don't want the grandparents of these children to take care of them, and maybe be exposed to the dangerous virus. Children seem to have a somewhat lesser chance to be infected, but there is discussion about the fact whether they can transmit the virus.
Teachers are working on online programs, so most pupils can also do schoolwork at home.
The region I live has many people who are infected. At this time the hospitals can still do their work, but the situation worries me.
I stay at home with my husband, we see our daughter at 'skype' or 'facetime', but we can't hug her at the moment. We communicate with friends on whatsapp or by phonecalls.
Groceries will be delivered at home.
We only leave the house when strictly necessairy, for groceries we forgot, or to go to the pharmacy. I will call the pharmacy tomorrow, to see whether they can deliver medication at our home.
My husband and I both had a bit of a cold, but we did'nt get tested so far. You only get tested when you have a fever, and/or have difficulty breathing.
In general, all efforts are made to 'flatten the curve'. That means, that by taking all this precautions they hope we will not have to big a peak in victims, so that our healthcare-system will be able to manage things, and provide room at intensive-care units for the people who need it most.

Happy birthday!
What country do you live in?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[chrisTIn@]

The Netherlands!

[Masha]

This thing has taken us all by storm.
I will start with a little levity. The police in Oregon put out a statement for people to stop calling 911 because they ran out of toilet paper.
I live in an active adult community, you have to be over 55 to move in, most people are septuagenarians. We have individual homes. There are amenities like clubhouse, pools, gym etc. Fortunately management closed everything for the next month and said if people use the outdoor facilities they do it at their own risk. After my diagnosis three years ago I realized people would attend meetings and clubs no matter how sick or contagious they were. If they walked past me, I would have a cold that went into something serious. I realized then that I couldn’t change anyone else, I could only change myself. So I stopped all threatening interaction. We remained here because as you all know, some days I just didn’t have the strength to get the mail let alone move. We like our house and eventually accepted we would just go with good days, bad days. Today I say Wegeners might be a blessing because I can handle staying in. There are 12 houses on our block, people in their 70’s and 80’s. Absolutely, not one household in good health, cancer, diabetes, strokes. Think of it and it’s here. Well, I talked to some of them over the phone and they refuse to stay home, going mall shopping, out to eat, casino trips. They say if they had to stay home they would go crazy. Wegeners, you taught me how to play it safe. Now get this, I am the youngest one on my block. Neighbors have been kind enough to offer to shop for us. Not necessary. Last year when both my husband and I were simultaneously sick, I swore I would always be prepared in the food and paper goods, not extreme hoarding but we’ll get by just fine. We also have two grocery stores doing deliveries for $5, but I hear their shelves are currently empty.
Now, you will all find this interesting. My checkup at Duke was scheduled for this week. Not infusion, just a basic consult and I am actually feeling pretty good. At first we had hotel reservations and picked a nice restaurant. I even had a few shops I wanted to checkout. Then this Covid19 mushroomed like grease lightening. Next, I heard Duke was going to online classes. I cancelled my appointment and received a warm and encouraging note from my doctor in complete agreement that we should stay home and stay safe. Coming from someone who has specialized in this field confirms my decision.
We have sidewalks and walking trails, so we won’t be confined inside. Very small front yards, so I will do a lot of people watching. My husband is going places through the travel channel.
We do not have a handle on how many people this has hit in the US. Whenever I hear that older adults with a compromised immune system are most at risk my stomach does a somersault.
I am not taking this lightly, the unknown is frightening. At first I was watching too much news, but tonight we watched a ridiculous movie and ate pasta. So glad we have two poodles who keep us in stitches.
drz, John, Richard and all, I am so glad you reached out and told us what is going on in your homes and neck of the woods. This contact with all of you faced with our challenges helps. I am praying for all of us.
Stay safe.
Masha

[richard052018]

Masha,

It is sad to hear (a story I hear all over) that people are not taking this seriously. For your elder neighbors, maybe they'll get it when they are gasping for air and there are no available ventilators, or better yet, if you're over 80 (or 70, 65, 60) and the government tells you "you're on your own", as they are about to do in Italy.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...sive-care.html

Even better, all of these selfish people that can't be troubled with fighting a pandemic by staying indoors are going to bankrupt the healthcare industry, then when people like us go to get our RTX infusions, there won't be any money left to pay for them (if there will be any RTX at all, it's manufactured in China).

Maybe future generations will learn from our decadence that it cannot exist without gratitude and responsibility. Maybe American leaders will also learn it isn't wise to outsource critical infrastructure like the production of medicine to our geopolitical rivals.

As they say, Good Times create Weak Men, Weak Men create Hard Times, Hard Times create Strong Men, Strong Men create Good Times, and the cycle repeats.

I apologize for being so fatalistic. I hope horribly wrong on all this. I just wish I had my old strength to protect my family, and I'm experiencing every emotion that goes with having that strength taken away.

[gilders]

Masha,

It is sad to hear (a story I hear all over) that people are not taking this seriously. For your elder neighbors, maybe they'll get it when they are gasping for air and there are no available ventilators, or better yet, if you're over 80 (or 70, 65, 60) and the government tells you "you're on your own", as they are about to do in Italy.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...sive-care.html

Even better, all of these selfish people that can't be troubled with fighting a pandemic by staying indoors are going to bankrupt the healthcare industry, then when people like us go to get our RTX infusions, there won't be any money left to pay for them (if there will be any RTX at all, it's manufactured in China).

Maybe future generations will learn from our decadence that it cannot exist without gratitude and responsibility. Maybe American leaders will also learn it isn't wise to outsource critical infrastructure like the production of medicine to our geopolitical rivals.

As they say, Good Times create Weak Men, Weak Men create Hard Times, Hard Times create Strong Men, Strong Men create Good Times, and the cycle repeats.

I apologize for being so fatalistic. I hope horribly wrong on all this. I just wish I had my old strength to protect my family, and I'm experiencing every emotion that goes with having that strength taken away.

It's not just Italy who are having to deny treatment to the most vulnerable.
It is happening in the UK. An elderly gentleman was suffering from COVID-19 and when their daughter phoned 999 (911 equivalent) they were told that the hospitals are overwhelmed and they suggested that loved ones came to be around him (defeats the object of self isolation). He died at home 13 hours later with no kind of care provided.

[chrisTIn@]

It's very sad to read this, Gilders.
I hope you can take precautions, and can get the help you want when needed.