Coping with Covid-19

in a weird way, I kind of find it exciting as if it was a dystopian novel its all very strange and weird, its sad to see people die and become ill and I dont like the way people are selfishly hording  everything. It weird, I dont find it fun just strangely different to normal life. Saying that I have NF1 and a brain tumor which has been there since birth, I often joke about that. I guess its just the way I cope with things.

May I add the following to fight Covid19 virus as per the advice of one the doctors:

1. take Vitamin C and Zinc twice a day

2. gargle water with salt

3. drink warm water every 15 minutes

4. wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds

5. wear mask/s or PPE's when leaving the house

6. STAY HOME

People have different coping strategies for being isolated with this virus around.

I live in a block of flats, with flats below,  above and around me.  

In my bathroom the smell tonight is unbelievable,  I don't know if it's Cannabis or Marijuana,  but my neighbours are getting well and truly stoned.

I ordered pasta from Amazon.

Dont ring 111 unless you meet the criteria like fever and cough for 7 days and getting worse.

If you need general help, use the online service.  If not you will have to battle with 100s of people in front of you in the queue.

I had the need to contact the out of hours doctor on the weekend for an ear infection (and a need for antibiotics), when I rang in I was told the queue was over 50, which I think is code for the max they will ever say is its over 50, there was probably far more than that.  I went to 111.nhs.uk, filled in the forms and a doctor called me back 3 hours later.  it took 5 mins to do the online questions.  Took 20+ mins on the phone with the doctor and 20 mins at tesco to get the scrip filled.

Are you thinking you have Covid, mouse2?

Im running Folding@Home (and have done since the projects started in 2000).  They have already made some progress on Covid-19 and published it and it has now aligned with even more labs around the world working on a cure.  Also add on the 10x more donors.  We are on the verge of hitting 1 exaFLOPS of power, roughly 4x more powerful than the worlds fastest supercomputer.

https://foldingathome.org/2020/03/10/covid19-update/

I will be bringing another GPU online later, a 970 thats been sat in a wardrobe, that will join my 1050ti.  Thats some extra work done everyday.

I am also hammering the gym. on a daily basis.  lots of weight training, bits of cardio.  that is about an hour everyday.

Slowly im coming to the point of acceptamce of the current situation.  Well its either going to be that or a probable addiction to diazepam.   One way or the other I will get through it.  Then going to hit the local autism centre and get involved.

Their awful I phoned them twice. They didnt listen just read a script. I could hardly speak at the time as was struggling for breath as well. Gp gave me tablets and inhalors as he could hear me wheeze over the phone and breathless. I think I'm at day 10 its getting worse

We shopped online at asda. Pretty much nothing came but I did get 1 pack of toilet paper. I eat alot of vegetables and fruit yet only oranges and bananas arrived. No tinned or frozen veg either. I've ordered cereals but the dairy free milks out of stock lol. I'm just getting creative. I had a head injury so wasent going out very much before I got sick. I see people crowding supermarkets and think that's how theyll get I'll. Stay safe 

Indeed. I think a lot of people who are self-isolating probably don't have it, but they can't be sure. Once we get more testing available, it will set a lot of people's minds at rest.

I hope you feel better soon. There's an online NHS 111 survey with Covid-19 related questions, which then gives you the specific advice you need to follow. I know it's not a diagnosis, but I did the survey when I had a fever and found it helpful.

Take care of yourself. 

Is there anyone who could help you with the shopping if you have to self-isolate? If not, it might be worth trying to book an online delivery a couple of weeks in advance, just so you have that as a back-up. I've seen lots of small, local businesses offering food delivery now that they've had to close their cafes and restaurants, so that might be something to look into as well.

I'm hoping the supermarkets will start to calm down soon, so that might make things easier (even if it's just a case of getting online delivery slots).

I'm hoping we'll be able to get more fresh produce once the supermarkets settle down a bit. Lots of vegetables might be the best way forward (e.g. in stews or casseroles). You could also (once you can get them) try fruits that need to be peeled before eating, like oranges - the inside won't have been touched and you could wear gloves to peel them.

It sounds like you're finding some good ways to keep busy I hope things improve for your nephew soon - it's good that he has you to support him. 

That sounds amazing - I suppose that knowing you're contributing to a solution must provide some comfort. 

Sorry to hear you're struggling. I think the lack of routine makes it really difficult to cope. If it helps at all, I created a weekly timetable for myself last night (allocating time for things like housework, cleaning, exercise, relaxation, creative pursuits, learning new things etc.). I've actually found it really helpful to have a guide to refer back to when I'm feeling a bit lost as to what I want to do next. I really rely on my routines, so creating a new one has been comforting.

I'm struggling with contamination fears too. It sounds like you're taking all the precautions you can, so all you can do is follow the government guidance and focus on controlling the things you can control. I know that's really easy to say (and I'm finding it challenging myself), but you really are doing your best, so it might be worth trying to find other ways to manage your anxiety (like exercising in your home gym).

You're not on your own - lots of us are really struggling. We can't control what other people do, unfortunately, but I'm hoping people will start taking this more seriously, especially if the government implement stricter measures. Please take care of yourself and talk to others (virtually, or in person if you live with them) whenever you need to. You might find The Samaritans helpful if you'd rather not talk to anyone else.

We'll get through this - try to focus on the small steps you can take to adjust to what's going on and look after your wellbeing.

Just hang in there.

Often after being ill, you start to feel better and you get this sense of well being. 

In the outside world, the madness continues. 

On TV the politicians were saying,  no need to panic buy or stock up, there is plenty for everyone. 

This lunchtime I went out to my local shopping area.  First people I saw, were a young couple, the man was carrying two large plastic shopping bags full of goods, his partner was struggling with a heavy rucksack on her back.

Along the journey I saw people carrying 16 packs of toilet paper.  There was none left in the store when I got there.  I'm down to my last 26 rolls.

Not everyone has cars, I saw one person going into the store with a suitcase,  with wheels. 

I did my panic buying early.  Today I spent £0.00 in the shops.

The supermarkets an issue as we were running low in the house then went into isolation as I'm quite ill. Their not testing so I've just got inhalors and 7 tablets a day! I'm up now at 3.30 as I'm struggling to breath again but it seems to be improving. I've been ill for about 2 weeks now! It would be good to know if I have covid as I can help others when I'm better. I had a head injury and didnt realise that made me more susceptible to illness. What ever I have it's awful. Want this over :( 

Being alone is no problem for me.

I have hundreds of books and DVDs to keep me busy.

My worry is food.

If I get the government letter ordering to self isolate for 12 weeks, then I'm dead.  I've only got four weeks of food in my flat.

The government warns us not to panic buy and then advises us to stay indoors at home for 12 weeks.

We need to panic buy to enable us to survive isolated at home for 12 weeks!

Honestly, the isolation thing hasn't been that huge of a change for me.  The thing that's annoying me the most this very second is the lack of fresh groceries.  I miss my salad!  But even if I could get the produce, for now I feel like it's just a bad idea to eat anything that someone else might have handled - but won't have heat applied to it prior to consumption.  Sigh.

Keeping myself busy with the usual things, walking my dogs (at night and/or early morning so there's nobody around), working out (alone, at home, as usual), working/tinkering with tech stuff, a little bit of casual studying, some video games, youtube and catching up with whatever TV/films I feel like watching.  My nephew's recently crashed his car and has been having a pretty bad time all round lately, so I'm hoping to give him a hand to get that straightened out in the coming days.

Also, today I've set up BOINC to crunch numbers for Rosetta@home on my home lab.  Ok, so this doesn't exactly help directly in coping with current events, but hopefully can make some small contribution toward the eventual development of a vaccine.

I have to say i am barely coping at present.  The anxiety is getting too much and the darker thoughts started to creep in not long back.  The problem today is I didnt work out, but did do some housework.  So tonight I am flipping out quite a lot.  Ordinarily my routine involves 2 hours at the gym everyday, but thats gone to hell due to all of this.  i have built a home gym so I can work out a little if I want.  i need to find some stuff to do to keep me sane.  Your list is pretty good DuckBread.

Another major source of worry is my parents and their health.  Today my father took me to the hospital to pick up a prescription and when i went to get it done at a tesco chemist, he left the car and went to the cash machine.  This has spiked my anxiety levels considerably.  he did wash his hands when we got home, but tbh the car is now contaminated as far as im concerned and needs cleaning.  Oh and the look on the NHS staff's faces when I picke dthe scrip up.  I did wear a mask and gloves, but the look screamed fear.

I just want this to end.  I have no idea how long I can continue with it all.  When they said 3 months that was fine, but now they are talking years in isolation and I see people all over the place just going around doing what the hell they want regardless of the consequences.  More stress.  Hit the benzos tonight and its lessened things a little, but not brilliantly.  Maybe its time to up the dose a bit.

Pizza is always a great idea

For me, it's the internet, phone/Duo conversations, housework and music.

I ordered a pizza from the pizza joint at my local village. The place even has it's own App for online orders; and deliveries on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.